GIs love to make bacon.  Especially after they've been out in the desert for a year.  Many soldiers are home from an extended tour in Iraq, and the Fort Campbell, Ky.,  Army hospital is over-run with babies.  They've got babies everywhere.  Last month the delivery rooms popped out a record 242 babies -- and there's more bacon on the way.  The installation hospital is predicting over 200 births per month all the way through March.  Being in the military is great!  They go to Iraq and get assigned "pillage" and "plunder" work details.  Then they come home and polish up on their "rape" details.  GI Joe is the man.
source

The USS Admiral Burke is a proud warship.  She is one of the most advanced ships in service and is the only destroyer class currently in active US Navy service.   She's expensive, fast, and deadly -- and she's the lead ship of her class.  She bristles with the Mk 41 Vertical Launching System (VLS) that fires a butt-load of SEASPARROW missiles against hostile aircraft, other missiles, or surface units.  She has Tomahawk missiles to blow the crap outta anybody.  She has Harpoon missiles to blow you to smithereens, big ass guns, another 20-mm machine-gun that is awesome, and torpedoes to sink submarines.  It's amazing how much shit is on-board, with steel armor reinforced with Kevlar, guns, top-secret radars, 4 engines, etc, etc. (Read more about this awesome ship here.)

So what does the Navy do?  They put a woman in charge of driving her!!!!
Who - - then proceeds - - at high speeds - -  into port at Norfolk, VA  - - with her left-turn signal flashing - - putting on her makeup - - makes an abrupt right-turn - - and - - BAM! -- PLOWS INTO A BIG FUCKING SANDBAR!

ROFLMAO!  I'm not making this up -- except the part about the turn signals and makeup.  Ships don't have turn signals.

She's been relieved of her command.  Three other officers were reprimanded.  It took an hour to get their asses un-stuck.
source
Visit the Ship's Homepage!
Wikipedia

An American family has lost their second son in Iraq due to a Blackhawk crash.  The crash killed 14 U.S. soldiers including Spc. Nathan Hubbard, 21, which became the second tragedy for his family. The Hubbards also lost Nathan’s older brother, Marine Lance Cpl. Jared Hubbard, to a roadside bomb in downtown Ramadi in 2004.  A third brother, Jason, will be returning home from Iraq to be with his family.

source

A mortar prematurely explodes killing the terrorist.

Sapped by nearly six years of war, the Army has nearly exhausted its fighting force and its options if President Bush decides to extend the Iraq buildup beyond next spring. The Army’s 38 available combat units are deployed, just returning home or already tapped to go to Iraq, Afghanistan or elsewhere, leaving no fresh troops to replace five extra brigades that Bush sent to Baghdad this year.  That presents several painful choices if the Bush wants to maintain higher troop levels beyond the spring of 2008:

- Using National Guard units on an accelerated schedule. 
- Breaking the military’s pledge to keep soldiers in Iraq for no longer than 15 months. 
- Breaching a commitment to give soldiers a full year at home before sending them back to war.

There are 18 Army brigades in Iraq, each with 3,500 soldiers. At least 13 more brigades are scheduled to rotate in. Two others are in Afghanistan and two additional ones are set to rotate in there. Several other brigades either are set for a future deployment or are scattered around the globe.  The few units that are not at war are penciled in for deployments later in 2008 or into 2009.  Most Army brigades have completed two or three tours in Iraq or Afghanistan; some assignments have lasted as long as 15 months. The 2nd Brigade, 10th Mountain Division, has done four tours.  There are 162,000 U.S. troops in Iraq now, the highest level since the war began in 2003. That figure is expected to hit 171,000 this fall as fresh troops rotate in.
Source

Army Soldiers committed suicide last year at the highest rate in 26 years, and more than a quarter did so while serving in Iraq and Afghanistan, according to a new military report.  The report found there were 99 confirmed suicides among active duty Soldiers during 2006, up from 88 the previous year and the highest number since the 102 suicides in 1991 at the time of the Persian Gulf War.  The suicide rate for the Army has fluctuated over the past 26 years, from last year's high of 17.3 per 100,000 to a low of 9.1 per 100,000 in 2001.  Last year, "Iraq was the most common deployment location for both (suicides) and attempts," the report said.  The 99 suicides included 28 Soldiers deployed to the two wars and 71 who weren't. About twice as many women serving in Iraq and Afghanistan committed suicide as did women not sent to war, the report said.

Failed personal relationships, legal and financial problems and the stress of their jobs were factors motivating the Soldiers to commit suicide, according to the report.  In addition, there was a significant relationship between suicide attempts and number of days deployed" in Iraq, Afghanistan or nearby countries where troops are participating in the war effort, it said. The same pattern seemed to hold true for those who not only attempted, but succeeded in killing themselves. About a quarter of those who killed themselves had a history of at least one psychiatric disorder. Of those, about 20 percent had been diagnosed with a mood disorder such as bipolar disorder and/or depression; and 8 percent had been diagnosed with an anxiety disorder, including post traumatic stress disorder - one of the signature injuries of the conflict in Iraq.  Firearms were the most common method of suicide. Those who attempted suicide but didn't succeed tended more often to take overdoses and cut themselves.

source

The Army is now offering $20,000 sign-up bonus in hopes to lure people into enlisting.  In addition, the new recruits are eligible for college money!  Better yet, these new incentives could get even better if more people don't start joining.  The Army is offering a “buffet” of incentives, including up to $45,000 tax-free that they accrue during their career to help buy a home or build a business. Other options would include money for college and to pay off student loans. It’s all part of an effort to fill its ranks because retention has hit a historic low — 16 percent by the Pentagon’s own surveying — in the fifth year of the Iraq war. Too many soldiers have said "fuck this war" and got out of the Army.

Get more of the story

Watching this video will give you a warm-and fuzzy about our troops in uniform.

It will be the largest arms deal in the history of the Middle East: Advanced US weapons systems worth a total of about $40 billion will be sold over the next 15 years to America's allies in the region. Washington's main objective seems to create a strategic military balance to match that of Russia supporting Iran and Syria.  Moscow is ready to deliver billion dollars worth in warplanes, refueling tankers and sophisticated military hardware to Iran and Syria. The weapons for Iran includes no less than 250 Sukhoi Su-30 long-range strike fighters, having maximum range of 3,000 km, but Tehran also wishes to augment the purchase by adding refueling tankers that will increase the jet fighter's range to 8,000 km. Russia's will also be helping Syria by selling five MiG-31E (Foxhound) jet fighters, considered one of the best in the world, with an additionally unspecified number of the newest Russian MiG-29M/M2 fighters.
Folks . . . looks like the Cold War might start again.
Get the full story here.

Purple Hearts have been awarded to roughly 1.5 million U.S. service men and women wounded or killed in combat in locations such as the beaches of Normandy, the jungles of Vietnam, and now, increasingly, in Iraq and Afghanistan.  President Washington ordered the creation of the Purple Heart’s predecessor, the Badge of Military Merit, on Aug. 7, 1782.  The award, given for exceptional performance, inspired the introduction of the Purple Heart in 1932. The Purple Heart was later restricted to those “wounded in action against any enemy” starting in World War II.  Since the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, 28,552 service members have been wounded and 3,245 killed in action and are eligible for the Purple Heart.  The Purple Heart is a military decoration awarded in the name of the President to those who have been wounded or killed.

Learn about the Purple Heart Memorial

Learn more about the Purple Heart at wikipedia

If you think the military doesn't care how their troops look like, think again.  The Marines have implement 36 new grooming and appearance standards (except for Generals, who are exempt from nearly everything).  Here's some of the new standards.

1.  They cannot keep their hands in their pockets (no playing pocket pool in uniform!)
2.  They cannot Carry cell phones or “tobacco pouches/canisters, visible barrettes [except in physical training situations], and keychains/lanyards/security badges [except as required by the command in the work environment]” to its list of banned items. This means they can’t tuck their can of chewing tobacco between their goggle strap and helmet, or use the watertight pouches often attached on the front of body armor.  However, cell phones can be stored in pockets.
3.  Waking and talking on your phone is forbidden even if you’re using an earpiece. They have to stop and talk while standing still.
4.  Marines also officially can no longer drink while walking in uniform.
5.  They cannot use electronic devices such as iPods while walking or running in uniform unless the local commander allows it.
7.   Prohibited from wearing nonissued bags while in uniform. Marines may carry computer bags or gym bags in their hands but are not authorized to wear them over their shoulders or on their backs, even if they match the color of their uniform.
8.  This is my favorite one.  Women MUST wear their hair LONGER than a quarter-inch from the scalp.  Apparently, the Marines wanted to easily tell the difference between the men and the women.  (Seriously, I didn't make this up!)
9.  The Marines had already banned male men from wearing earrings in uniform but has now officially forbidden wearing them in civilian clothes.
10. Civilian clothing revealing the “midriff,” “buttocks” or “excessive amounts of chest/cleavage” are now prohibited.
11.  Decorative orthodenture, also known as “platinum grills” or any other platinum or gold dental caps used for “purposes of ornamentation” must be removed. Waivers may be issued by commanders to Marines who received permanent gold or platinum caps before Oct. 1 of this year .

The war in Iraq and Afghanistan is fought with troops who are assigned to US Central Command (CENTCOM).  Ever since General john Abizaid retired, the public hasn't seen much of the new man who is the commander of CENTCOM and leads the entire war in Iraq and Afghanistan.  The new man is Admiral William Fallon, born in December, 1944, one year before the end of WWII, and has been on active duty since 1967,  He has awesome power as a Unified Combatant Commander overseeing 145,000 US troops from the Navy, Air Force, Marines, and Army.  Back in 1991 during the first Gulf Ward, the CENTCOM commander was the infamous H. Norman Schwarzkopf  "Stormin' Norman" who lead our nation to military victory.

Read Fallon's CENTCOM bio

Learn more about Adm Fallon at Wikipedia

Learn about CENTCOM at Wikipedia

Visit CENTCOM

Just a thought here, but what do you think about the idea of sending Schwarzkopf over to Iraq and getting this war over quick?

Pete Geren became the 20th Secretary of the Army Friday.   As Secretary of the Army, he has statutory responsibility for all matters relating to the U.S. Army: manpower, personnel, reserve affairs, installations, environmental issues, weapons systems and equipment acquisition, communications and financial management.  He is responsible for the Department of the Army's annual budget and supplemental of $170 billion. He leads a work force of more than one million active-duty and reserve-component Soldiers, 230,000 Department of the Army civilian employees and 280,000 contracted service personnel. He has stewardship over 15 million acres of land.

To bolster the growth of the Army by more than 34,000 Soldiers, Army officials are implementing a new bonus for recruits who sign up by the end of this fiscal year. U.S. Army Recruiting Command this week announced a $20,000 "quick-ship" bonus for aspiring recruits with no prior military service who enlist for at least two years of active duty and report to basic training within 30 days of enlistment. This program ends Sept. 30.  The new bonus was one of the initiatives highlighted by Army and Defense Department leaders who testified before the military personnel subcommittee of the House Armed Services Committee about recruiting and retention efforts in the Army. The Army missed its active-duty recruiting goals in June for the second month in a row, but leaders said they are confident the service will make year-end recruiting goals.

All right folks . . . this means if you know any young adults who are going no where in life, no job, no education, no prospects, then you need to tell them about this opportunity.  Drive them down to the recruiter if you have to.  Trust me, the military is a good place to start your adult life!  I did 22 years in the military and I'm glad I did it.

Since September 11, 2001, a total of 81 women serving in Afghanistan, Iraq and Kuwait have lost their lives in service to America.  Most Americans, and even members of the mainstream media, are not aware that 81 women have died in the War on Terrorism.  Most of the them were killed by improvised explosive devices (IEDs), and some in military plane crashes. They were our daughters, our sisters, our mothers. One female soldier, whose body was shattered by an explosive device she was attempting to disarm, died in the arms of her soldier husband who was stationed nearby.

Click here for the full list of their names and the full story

Our nations new Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff is Navy Admiral Mike Mullen.  The U.S. Senate on Friday confirmed Mullen as the president's top military adviser, replacing Marine Gen. Peter Pace as chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.  Pace was not asked by the Bush administration to serve another term as head of the Joint Chiefs of Staff because of his role in the Iraq war. Politicians and retired generals have blamed Pace for not properly planning a post-invasion program for Iraq and for using too few troops. To put it in simple terms, General Pace is "so fired."

You can read Mullen's bio here

The responsibility of the Chairman, once held by my favorite general, Collin Powell, is formidable.  You can learn more about this position at wikipedia

What's an MRAP you say? It's a military acronym for "Mine Resistant Ambush Protected" vehicles we desperately need in Iraq.  Well, that's if we're going to stay.  I did the math and that comes out to nearly 3.5 million per MRAP.

Get the full story here

Learn more about MRAPs with pictures here

Navy Adm. Gary Roughead has been nominated for reappointment to the grade of admiral and assignment as chief of naval operations (CNO). Roughead is currently serving as commander, U.S. Fleet Forces Command, Norfolk, Va.

The CNO is an admiral (four-star) and is responsible to the Secretary of the Navy for the command, utilization of resources and operating efficiency of the operating forces of the Navy and of the Navy shore activities assigned by the Secretary. The CNO has administrative, rather than operational command authority over United States naval forces.

The operational chain of command runs from the Secretary of Defense directly to the combatant commanders, who have command authority over all military forces in their region. This structure, in which the service chiefs are responsible for personnel and readiness issues, while the combatant commanders are operationally responsible for the command of the military forces, is intended to allow the United States military the ability to function as a coherent whole, a system that was instituted as a result of the Goldwater-Nichols Act of 1986.

Learn about the New CNO here

Latest official figures released by the Pentagon reveal at least 116 American soldiers committed suicide in Iraq. But this does not include dozens under investigation, nor those back in the U.S.  The military is taking a staggering toll in Iraq. It is becoming clear that military discipline is lacking and that the morale of the troops is falling rapidly. Frustration, anger, despair, and loneliness, combined with poor military leadership and discipline are sending the solidiers onto an emotional rollercoaster which too often leads to misconduct or suicide.  It is a sad state of affairs. No less than 116 fighting Americans couldn't take it any more and suicide was, at least that's what they believe at the time, the only way out.

President Bush has placed his entire presidential legacy on Iraq and wants to known as a "wartime president." When the history books are written, it is doubtful that history will be kind towards President Bush. His legacy is headed into shambles much like Jimmy Carter's legacy.  The cost  to our nation is too high and the profits too low. In World War II, we paid a much higher price, but we reaped so many benefits from it, and as such can be justified as being "worth it."  President Bush's war in Iraq is far different.  In our corporate society we can easily compare Iraq to a profi/loss sheet.  We are in the red.  Americans have given so much to Iraq, and gotten so little back.  Our sons and daughters, our fathers and brothers, and our families have paid dearly. Years later, we have nothing to show for it except dead soldiers, anger, and frustration. The Middle East is still a mess, Isam still wants to kill us, the Iraqis can't form a workable government, and we're no closer to "mission accomplished" as we were a few years back when President Bush announced "mission accomplished."  We haven't progressed, and for a very high price.  It's like paying for a Rolls Royce, but getting a busted-up, rusted-out Ford Pinto instead.  To put in in simple, brutal terms, Presdient Bush's war in Iraq has been too expensive.

Get the full story here

The news emerging about Pat Tilman's death is disturbing. Tilman's cover-up highlights an ugly issue that is fast becoming a "national security" issue. The breakdown of "Military Discipline." Generals were lying, Commanders were lying, and of course, the perverbial lawyers were lying. This shows a serious degradation in military leadership. Military leadership has been so "unremarkable" in recent years that is has created, in part, a national security problem.

And the ill-disciplined military members are starting out younger. For example the Air Force Academy has been rocked by frequent cheating scandals. These young men and women are the future officers, commanders, generals, and leaders of the Air Force. If they're already cheating, why do we want them as our future military leaders?

The most recent shocker is the discovery that many in the miliary are now forming "gangs." This shows a deplorable degradation in military leadership and discipline.

When Bill Clinton was campaigning for the presidency, the GOP were quick to point out his serious lack of military service. It was true.  When George Bush was campaigning for the presidency, the GOP were quick to point out his military service.  (Which were later learned was misleading.) Here's the irony that can't be ignored. The military was far more disciplined during the Clinton Administration then now during the Bush Administration. Furthermore, it is George Bush who stresses that he is a "war time president" yet the military has seriously eroded under his "leadership. Strangely, President Bush streses that he is a "military president."  Nah . . . I don't think so.

Here's a video about gangs in the military