The Political Conundrum!

Poor maintenance might be compromising the flight safety of reconnaissance aircraft carrying some of America's most advanced electronic equipment, according to current and former aircraft mechanics.

Check out my friend Susan’s latest piece over at: http://susankatzkeating.blogspot.com/2008/12/kidnapped-journos-meo-connection.html to read about a developing story that is connected to the Sunday Telegraph and even P.O.S. US-Soldier disgracing journalist, Nick Meo. It seems that he is personally involved with the release of some Telegraph Journalists whom were kidnapped in Somalia.

I just wonder if the Telegraph is offering up Mr. Meo in trade. Maybe that is their way to rebuild some level of respect and dignity. You should stay tuned to Susan’s blog as she is getting inside info pretty quickly and staying up on this story. Of course I will repost anything here that is substantial in nature.

This isn’t actually Afghanistan or Military related, but it is United States of America related. Please go here and vote NOW!
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/10103521/

Secretary Michael Chertoff participated in blogger roundtable dicussing the State and Future of DHS on Tuesday, December 9, 2008.

General Douglas O'Dell, Federal Coordinator for Gulf Coast Rebuilding, said President Bush and his Administration have laid a solid foundation for rebuilding New Orleans and the greater Gulf Coast with aid that totals more than $126 billion. Local leaders are at the helm of the rebuilding, leading the effort in addressing affordable housing needs.

General Douglas O'Dell, Federal Coordinator for Gulf Coast Rebuilding, helped U.S. Secretary Housing and Urban Development, Steve Preston, and other local officials and stakeholders break ground for the new Columbia Citi Residences at Bayou District in New Orleans, calling it a sign of good rebuilding progress.

http://www.reuters.com/article/worldNews/idUSISL22613520081208

I will withhold my opinion for now. I am sure the 101st is doing great things in Afghanistan, but the comments in this article almost sound like the self-indulging comments made by BG Votel last winter about the 82nd. The US Army and coalition forces don’t sit back and relax in the winter. It is not like every winter has meant snow-angel making and snowball fights for the US soldiers in country.

The reason the fighting has been light in the winter is because there is typically nobody to fight. In most places, except Kandahar, Helmand, Nimroz and other provinces in the southern end of the country, the Taliban and Taliban supported fighters head back across the border and spend their winters in Pakistan (this is also becuase many of the enemy are Pak-Mil, Pakistan ISI or at least supported by them). This is a known fact. They are fair-weather fighters. In the provinces mentioned above, many of the enemy live there, so they don’t go anywhere. This is why you have seen significant fighting in the winter months in these areas. Of course the violence is not as much as it is in the summer months, but it is still more than it is in other places around the country in the winter.

To imply that every other rotation has sat on their ass is an insult to the hundreds of thousands of troops that have walked the battlefields since 2001.

We did not have a lot of direct acti0n attacks in the winter months when I was there, becuase the Taliban’s mobility is hampered by the harsh elements in the winter time. They ride motorcycles or walk mostly and these are not feasible means of transportation in the winter. Many times they sleep out in the open, and this is not really possible or as easy in the winter. Even though we did not have as many attacks, we saw many more IEDs, suicide bombers and VBIEDs in the winter. We also used that time to conduct a lot more humanitarian assistance and medical assistance missions when the local people needed it most.

So before I say something negative about BG McConville’s comments as I have in the past about BG Votel’s comments, I will reserve judgement and see what happens. Maybe things have changed since 2 years ago, and maybe they have better intel and have a better game plan. Maybe!

If not, and if things happen this winter as they have in the past, I will be sure and throw the BS flag on this one.

Friday, Dec. 5, may not have been the best day to launch an employment program in finance -- given that day's bad jobs news from Wall Street -- but that didn't stop retired Marine Gen. Peter Pace from showing up to launch the program intended to turn wounded vets into stock brokers.

Five Blackwater Worldwide guards charged with the unprovoked shooting that killed 14 innocent Iraqis and wounded dozens of others in 2007 will get their day in a Washington court after unsuccessfully trying to move the trial to Utah.

Seven members of the 82nd Airborne Division were charged with involuntary manslaughter on Monday in the death of an Army private whose body was found in a car at Fort Bragg.