The Smallest Minority on earth is the individual. Those who deny individual rights cannot claim to be defenders of minorities. – Ayn Rand
Stolen Shamelessly from AR15.com
14 terror suspects mistakenly kill themselves
Kabul, Afghanistan (CNN) — Fourteen suspected terrorists died Tuesday night when the bus they rigged with explosives blew up prematurely, police said.
The explosion occurred as the suspects were riding the bus in the province of Kunduz, said police chief Abdul Raziq Yaqobi.
Yaqobi said the suspects wanted to attack Afghan police or foreign soldiers.
Earworm
I recently got a Netflix account, and my wife and I have been watching the Sharpe’s Rifles series. We’re now up to #8, Sharpe’s Sword. Pretty good series, I recommend it. It gives you at least some idea of the culture of Georgian England, and the differences in class that were carried through to their military.
One of the characters, Hagland Hagman (thanks, Chris), is British actor and folk singer John Tams. He was chosen as much for his voice as for his acting ability. Remember, no iPods back then. Somebody sang and played an instrument, or you did without music. The song that’s stuck in my head, though is a very old one, and the song they end each episode with, Over the Hills and Far Away. John Tams added stanzas for some of the episodes. I’ve even gone so far as to copy down the damned song.
Over the Hills and Far Away – John Tams & Dominic Muldowney
Here’s forty shillings on the drum
To those who’ll volunteer to come,
To ‘list and fight the foe today
Over the Hills and far away.O’er the hills and o’er the main
Through Flanders, Portugal and Spain.
King George commands and we obey
Over the hills to far away.Mid smoke and fire, shot and shell,
And to the very walls of hell,
But we shall stand and we shall stay
Over the hills and far away.(Chorus)
Though I may travel far from Spain
A part of me shall still remain,
For you are with me night and day
And over the hills and far away.(Chorus)
When Evil stalks upon the land
I’ll neither hold nor stay me hand
But fight to win a better day,
Over the hills and far away.(Chorus)
Let kings and tyrants come and go,
I’ll stand adjudged by what I know.
A soldiers life I’ll ne’er gainsay.
Over the hills and far away.(Chorus)
If I should fall to rise no more,
As many comrades did before,
Ask the pipes and drums to play
Over the hills and far away.(Chorus)
Then fall in lads behind the drum
With colours blazing like the sun.
Along the road to come-what-may
Over the hills and far away.O’er the hills and o’er the main
Through Flanders, Portugal and Spain.
King George commands and we obey
Over the hills and far away.
Here’s a video compilation done by someone even worse off than me:
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=16D8ZSXeVXw&hl=en_US&fs=1&rel=0&w=480&h=385]
I wouldn’t be surprised if this is the closest thing most Brits AND most Americans get to any knowledge about the Napoleonic wars. It certainly is for me.
Sixty-eight years ago today, Japanese Naval aircraft attacked Pearl Harbor and surrounding Army and Marine air bases on the islands of Hawaii, precipitating America’s entry into World War II. From an article in Sunday’s Houston Chronicle about the addition of a Japanese Navy mini-sub to the National Museum of the Pacific War in Fredricksburg, Texas (birthplace of Adm. Chester Nimitz):
The youngest of the World War II veterans are now in their 80s and it’s estimated less than 1 million Pacific war combatants, primarily from the Navy and Marine Corps, are alive.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dgdVyukGIOA&hl=en_US&fs=1&rel=0&w=640&h=505]
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=stNJmeiDQro&hl=en_US&fs=1&rel=0&w=640&h=505]
I think I’d like to visit that museum.
What Socialism Looks Like
From In Iraq Now (at 56):
In a Socialist system, all the money is collective–there is one budget. Just like us. There is an Army budget. If pay goes up, procurementgoes down. The opposite is also true. Reduction in Force (the Army’s version of layoffs) means more money for equipment.
Medical care is free, or the same price for all, but no one gets to choose their doctor. Just like the Army.
In a Socialist system everyone gets the same pay if they have the same rank, regardless of their productivity. Unions work this way. In the Army an E4 with four years service who is a first-rate Blackhawk crew chief, fit, and fully qualified makes exactly the same pay as an E4 with four years service who is truck driver flunked the PT Test and still can’t fill out a maintenance inspection form.
RTWT.
And also about Charlie’s Angels.
You Have GOT to be Fv*%ing Kidding Me
Navy SEALs Face Assault Charges for Capturing Most-Wanted Terrorist
Tuesday, November 24, 2009
By Rowan ScarboroughNavy SEALs have secretly captured one of the most wanted terrorists in Iraq — the alleged mastermind of the murder and mutilation of four Blackwater USA security guards in Fallujah in 2004. And three of the SEALs who captured him are now facing criminal charges, sources told FoxNews.com.
The three, all members of the Navy’s elite commando unit, have refused non-judicial punishment — called an admiral’s mast — and have requested a trial by court-martial.
Ahmed Hashim Abed, whom the military code-named “Objective Amber,” told investigators he was punched by his captors — and he had the bloody lip to prove it.
Now, instead of being lauded for bringing to justice a high-value target, three of the SEAL commandos, all enlisted, face assault charges and have retained lawyers.
Matthew McCabe, a Special Operations Petty Officer Second Class (SO-2), is facing three charges: dereliction of performance of duty for willfully failing to safeguard a detainee, making a false official statement, and assault.
Petty Officer Jonathan Keefe, SO-2, is facing charges of dereliction of performance of duty and making a false official statement.
Petty Officer Julio Huertas, SO-1, faces those same charges and an additional charge of impediment of an investigation.
The three SEALs will be arraigned separately on Dec. 7. Another three SEALs — two officers and an enlisted sailor — have been identified by investigators as witnesses but have not been charged.
There’s more, but these guys are being charged because this asshole had a boo-boo on his lip?
Just for Fun
I received this via email today:
Thought you might enjoy that.
I May Have to Paint This on the Tailgate of My Truck
Found at AR15.com.
Veteran’s Day
In Flanders Fields
By: Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae, MD (1872-1918)
Canadian Army
In Flanders Fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.
We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders fields.
Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.
Thank a vet today, would you?
Project VALOUR-IT Fundraiser is ON
I apologize for my tardiness. The annual fundraising drive is on, and I have joined Team ARMY. As most of my readers already know, the annual Gun Blogger Rendezvous we hold in Reno raises money to support Project VALOUR-IT, and last September we collected over $8,000 for the cause.
But that’s just a drop in the bucket.
I know the economy sucks and things are tight all over, but I ask that you do what you can for our guys and girls who come home from war with less parts than they left with, and who will be coping with those changes for the rest of their lives.
As Maj. Zeigenfuss put it, what would YOU give YOUR right nut for?
The drive goes on through November 11. And thanks.
Quote of the Day – Smackdown Edition
Obama is giving the American immune system AIDS. — Bill Whittle, Eject Eject Eject: “Mirroring” and Compromise
That’s the single best line in the piece, but by all means read it all for the full smackdown-goodness.
