In Training

We Should Always Remember That Some Gave All

Through Blackfive, I have found Politics of a Patriot.  She's 18 and finishing up her last semester of high school.  She's in the United States Marine Corps' Delayed Entry Program and leaves for boot camp in early June.  

Her most recent post, Some Gave All, is one you should take the time to read. 

"Last April 4, I woke up early because we had an all-day track meet that day—the Greenwood Relays. I remember watching the news that morning before school, as I do almost every day. The news caster announced that a Marine had been killed somewhere in Iraq… Now, I can’t even remember where. But I remember they did not say it was Fallujah. With guilty relief, I told myself it couldn’t be my cousin because he was in Fallujah..."

As with my post on what our soldiers have to go through, hers is an eye-opener, and one that deserves respect. 

Day of Many Posts ain't over until I say it is!

Wow, I posted a lot today, a little unusual for me.  Guess I'm trying to make up for the NEXT TWO WEEKS!  For those who may not know, I'll be in the arms of my Royal Marine Commando!

Via lgf: a creepy Message from Dan Simmons: The Time Traveler.  If anything, causes you to review what you already know about the so-called Religion of Peace.

And by now y'all have heard of these guys, The Right Brothers, the band that sings this song: Bush Was Right.  Before you go judging it, you should at least watch & listen once.  I'm posting those links for my mom, 'cause she reads MY blog and pretty much no one else's, and I want her to see it  ;o)  I personally enjoy the "France, Wrong!" part.  Let's face it, how many songs now-a-days have that line in them?   Yeah, I'll just leave you to that...

Britain is dying (and that's just according to them)

'Let burglars off with a caution', police told"

"Burglars will be allowed to escape without punishment under new instructions sent to all police forces. Police have been told they can let them off the threat of a court appearance and instead allow them to go with a caution. The same leniency will be shown to criminals responsible for more than 60 other different offences, ranging from arson through vandalism to sex with underage girls. New rules sent to police chiefs by the Home Office set out how seriously various crimes should be regarded, and when offenders who admit to them should be sent home with a caution."

What. The. Hell.

Some reader comments (yes, I just sifted through and picked quotes with different points, go to the site to read them all) :

If I park in the wrong place or go through a speed camera at five miles per hour more than I should do, then I must pay my dues to society. Yet, if I go 'on the rob' or set fire to the occasional building, I will be let off with a caution. This is madness! - Jakman, Bognor Regis

Perhaps it would be easier and safer for the honest citizens of the UK to move into the prisons and the criminals to be let out. - Sarah, France

What is the point of being lawful. When I was a prison officer in the 60's I was told the law was to protect the majority from the minority. New Labour... what a joke. - Derek, Southampton, Hants

I'm disappointed they are not giving them a safari holiday as well. - Martyn James Fraser, Liverpool

When will the Home Office and the rest of this inane government of has been lawyers get their heads out of the sand and implement a decent criminal justice system. Zero tolerance and lengthy prison sentences would be a good place to start. Bang burglars up for a lengthy spell, at least the public would be safe whilst they are off the streets. - Stratford Crocker, Hants

This will encourage people to take the law into their own hands. - Jim, Boston, UK

The British taxpayer is being sold down the river - yet again.
Perhaps we should be charged less taxes as the Police are now going to be doing less for their money. What other country in the world is this lax. - Roger Ferrand, Horsham, West Sussex

My house is my safe haven, a burglar is not just taking your hard earned belongings, they are taking your peace of mind. I will feel totally abandoned by law and order if a burglar has only a caution to fear, he doesn't fear me that's for sure! Our country is suffering with repeat offenders being allowed to walk our streets to harm us mentally or physically. Is there protection for the honest people of this world? Not from our laws if you keep making it easier for people who just don't care. I would like a world safe for me, my daughters and my granddaughter. - Shirley Jolly, Waddon, Surrey

Presumably the idiots who dreamed this one up have never been the victims of burglary!
I have been burgled and believe this is far from the answer... what lessons are we teaching the next generation - you will get punished for dropping litter, driving even a little bit too fast but STEAL - well that's OK then! What about the lessons learned in New York? ZERO tolerance is required NOW - Jane, Nottingham

Yet another step to punish the innocent for working hard and making something meaningful out of their lives. - Terry, Maidenhead

I lived an worked in Saudi Arabia for more than 13 years. We never locked a house or car door whilst we were there. Reason - if you steal they chop your hand off. If you repeat the offence they chop the other one off too. Horrible - yes; effective - very. At least those who respected the law felt safe which is more than we can say for the UK now. - Bell, Wimbledon, UK

At least the Government will be able to boast, with a certain degree of "accuracy", that crime in this country is in decline as fewer criminals are being sent to prison! - Gail, Hertfordshire

I think it is a great idea to let burglars off - so long as we are all allowed to keep shotguns with which to defend our own property! - Don, Cheltenham

I left Britain 45 years ago, and ended up in Dallas. This advisory is a joke. Thank God I live where a law abiding citizen can protect his property and his person and the police and courts support these rights. You poor victims, it only gets worse - Paul, E, Dallas, Texas

I'm sorry, but it does sound like your country has gone mad. - Bluechi, asia

All of the comments contain more of the same... too bad the comments are being made now, and weren't helpful before this legislation.  I'm sure anyone who's been a reader of my site doesn't need me to tell how I'd solve this problem! 

Did I mention I always have a gun on me?

Via Of Arms and the Law

Best Chevy Commercial

I've seen this commercial posted at a few other sites, and have finally decided to link it, it's just too funny!  

Via IMAO via Freedom Folks via Ace and that's as far back as I'm gonna go! 

Freedom Folks adds this: "Sigh, the lawyers want me to assure you that no Hippies were hurt during the filming of this commercial, dammit! Though I think a couple may have been hobbled, just for fun."
Y'all enjoy!

Michael Yon: Back in the thick of things

Go to Michael Yon's new post : Back to War

Yon is headed back to Iraq (probably already there).  He went by way of Bangkok, Thailand, and Dubai, United Arab Emirates.  Awesome photos, too. 

*** UPDATE: Yon is in Afghanistan, NOT Iraq!  Sorry for the mix-up.  Learned via email.

British military bases up the ante

British 'military bases given new powers to deal with infiltrators'

"Authorities at Britain's most sensitive military and intelligence bases have been given increased powers to deal with infiltrators, demonstrators and potential terrorists.  Anyone arrested under the new Serious and Organised Crime Police Act can be jailed for up to a year and fined 5000 pounds for criminal trespass on Crown land if they penetrate the outer perimeters of the sites.  The penalties will also apply in Scotland - which does not have a law of trespass - for anyone caught by MoD police or guards inside the Clyde Naval Base or Royal Naval Armaments Depot at Coulport.  The Crown-owned Clyde sites are home to Britain's nuclear submarine fleet and are protected by armed police and 500 Royal Marines from the Fleet Protection Group. The guards already have the authority to shoot anyone judged to be a threat to submarines moored alongside...."

UK Terrorism Act 2006 if you'd like a look

Royal Marines Fleet Protection Group information and the Wikipedia RM Fleet Protection page

I didn't even know this group existed until recently, (I didn't know a lot of things existed before Royal...) here's a taste:

Security of Nuclear Weapons - The Group provides military support for the Final Denial of access to nuclear weapons in HM Naval Base Faslane, at the Royal Naval Armament Depot at Coulport and in transit. The duty squadron provides a number of Reaction Forces at various notices to move in order to support the static guarding undertaken by the Ministry of Defence Police. This is a complex task that requires a thorough understanding of Rules of Engagement, accurate weapon handling and good CQB skills. This role is becoming more demanding as new weapons; skills and tasks are being introduced.
Only a proportion of squadron manpower is deployed at any one time, with the remainder taking leave, courses or training. When not on duty, the squadron conducts field firing, mountain training and other sub-unit training. It is also liable to be deployed on exercises such as Ex Trade Winds (in the Caribbean), to take part in November Ceremonies at the Cenotaph in London, or conduct cross-training with the USMC during the biannual Ex Tartan Eagle.

Cool.

No One Seems to Know What Our Soldiers Have to Put Up With

Universal Soldier found this article:

I'm angry that no one seems to know what our soldiers have to put up with in Iraq by Richard Holmes.

"... How many of us know the rough size of the Regular or Territorial Armies, the basic composition of an infantry battalion, the difference between a bombardier and a brigadier, or what a Military Cross represents? How long is a tour of duty in Iraq, and what do soldiers actually do when they are there?

Instead of the understanding that existed 40 years ago, there is now sporadic illumination by lurid flashes generated by good news or bad. We applaud decorations, lament soldiers' deaths, and wax whimsical about such stories as "Tigris - Dog of War", telling how a stray dog eventually made her way back to England.

We are appalled by evidence of occasional over-reaction by soldiers, but go on to complain when they are prosecuted for breaching rules of engagement. We cannot understand why the Army maintains its own code of behaviour and legal system. We grow sentimental, as we did only last week, about the disappearance of honoured cap badges, often without considering the Army's need to reflect today's realities not yesterday's glories, be they never so lustrous. We watch "observational documentaries" and believe ourselves better informed.

The average private soldier, with his cropped hair and trainers, hefting a weekend holdall onto the train at Aldershot station, views our ignorance with a mixture of amusement and disdain, laced with a growing measure of irritation..."

His book, Dusty Warriors, "draws on the testimonies of the 700 soldiers of the Princess of Wales Royal Regiment to capture in vivid detail the average soldier's day-to-day experience of war."

Holmes has got a valid and important point.  We're being bombarded by tremendous apathy, ignorance, people like this...  And our guys sometimes can be over there for far longer than the general British 6 month deployments.  Many of us never take the time to think of what it must be like for the brave men and women to be so far from home, for so long, in danger of death by explosive device, gun shot, loneliness and/or boredom. 

And it's not just them over there, it's us over here!  The families, both women and men left behind to wonder and wait, worry and, unfortunately, debate.  Just gotta keep the faith.  It's nice to hear a British person standing up for what is incredibly unpopular overseas right now.