Category Archives: Troops

The 9/11 Generation

Posted on July 21, 2007 | Comments Off on The 9/11 Generation

Much as I enjoy The Weekly Standard, I must say their new cover piece, "The 9/11 Generation," isn’t very impressive. Conservatives, who love to bash the news media–which often deserves it– nevertheless need to hold their own to higher standards, as well. This article, about a generation that’s willing to fight, is long on generalities and short on sources. Only four sources, to be exact, and only three of them arguably of the "9/11 Generation." The editor apparently believes those three are sufficient to characterize the whole. Really, now. I’m sure the men and women who join these days, knowing there’s a good chance they’ll wind up in harm’s way, deserve our commendation. I’m also sure they aren’t the "children," or the "victims" or the "gullible" or the "hopeless" that liberal pols often term them. There apparently are enough of them to keep the military meeting or exceeding its recruiting quotas. But, as it happens, I know three members of the "9/11 Generation," and they dismiss my suggestion that they join the military. They refuse to fight what they call Bush’s war. See how easy it is to refute The Weekly Standard? It shouldn’t be.

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TNR’s ace in the hole

Posted on July 20, 2007 | Comments Off on TNR’s ace in the hole

When your aim in journalism is to shock, you run the risk of going too far, becoming tempted to make things up to fit your narrative theme, like a latter-day Chuck Tatum massaging the details of the "grieving widow" device in Billy Wilder’s cult classic "Ace In The Hole." Cynicism and ambition run amuck. So it seems to be with Scott Thomas, the pseudonym of an alleged private whose "Baghdad Diarist," for the credulous liberals of The New Republic, is attracting the attention of a growing number of milbloggers–like Matt Sanchez–who are hot on his trail.

"His latest entries are making the rounds and, have raised a lot of doubts," Sanchez writes. "Those who have served in Baghdad are questioning how true these stories are…I don’t want to know who this guy is, I just want to fact check his stories."

Shockers like a baby’s skull some Neanderthal supposedly digs up and uses for a crown under his Kevlar helmet; the bored Bradley driver who goes out of his way to run over a dog; and the insensitive jerks who mock a disfigured woman in a Camp Falcon mess hall, where Sanchez, too, just happens to dine. So far the Bradley tale is getting the most workout, here in The Weekly Standard, where Bradley veterans explain how they know it’s fiction. Tatum (Kirk Douglas in the 1951 film) would do anything for fame. Thomas seems to be following his lead, and the military-hating libs are, naturally enough, sucking it up. As for TNR, well, like the minor league newspaper editor in "Ace In The Hole," they’re not looking too close at their good thing.

UPDATE The flak (information officer) at FOB Falcon weighs in, shooting down the baby skull item, and questioning the ones about the disfigured woman and the Bradley.

MORE Then the magazine’s editor says it is investigating the accuracy of the articles.

STILL MORE The chickens are coming home to roost as the 1st SGT in the Diarist’s unit says he "has other underlying issues" and his writings are "fairy tales." No surprise there. And, finally, Greyhawk at Mudville Gazette sums it all up.

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Posted in Iraq, The War, Troops

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Hey, no kidding

Posted on July 20, 2007 | Comments Off on Hey, no kidding

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A remark, said a Hillarity mouthpiece, which was "outrageous and dangerous." Dangerous? Sure, just ask Vince Foster. Oh, wait.  

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Posted in Iraq, Scribbles, The War, Troops

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1st Cavalry heroes

Posted on July 19, 2007 | Comments Off on 1st Cavalry heroes

"Gen. David Petraeus, commanding general of the Multi-National Force — Iraq, had recognized a soldier memorialized at Fort Bliss on Wednesday for excellence. Another was remembered as acting with a heartfelt kindness that convinced suspicious and war-weary Iraqi residents to support coalition forces."

There was laughter at the memorial, as well as grief, for CPL Jeremiah D. Costello, SPC Joseph P. Kenny, CPL Keith V. Nepsa, and PFC Raymond N. Spencer. Worth a read to see why. 

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Posted in Iraq, The War, Troops

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Banging on streetlamps

Posted on July 18, 2007 | Comments Off on Banging on streetlamps

Iraqi women and children using plastic pipe to bang on streetlamps: another small sign the tide may be turning at last.

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Imagine you’re a Bradley gunner

Posted on July 16, 2007 | Comments Off on Imagine you’re a Bradley gunner

Jack Army was, when he was only a PFC, and he hasn’t forgotten a bit of the uncontainable thrill:

"I got to sit in the second most important seat in the Bradley. The driver reported to me. I was responsible for making sure the Bradley turret was operational and clean, that the radios were operational and set to the right frequencies, that ammo was clean and properly loaded (when we had any) and that the driver had the hull prepped for whatever mission we had."

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Posted in The War, Troops

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Women soldiers

Posted on July 16, 2007 | Comments Off on Women soldiers

A good compilation of photos of military women, some former or current beauty queens (including one from Texas), others who could be, all serving, most in Iraq. Worth a look.

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Posted in The War, Troops

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