Murdoc is publishing an exclusive audio podcast of Mainstream Media coverage of the capture of Mazer Al-Jubouri, believed to be the infamous “Baghdad Sniper”. Click to listen:
PODCAST: Media coverage of Juba’s capture (click to listen)
(Hat tip to the reader who alerted Murdoc to this important story)
Army scammed into buying golf balls
Civilian faces 15 years in prison after admitting to defrauding government
On paper, the U.S. Army was supposed to be getting “a ball bearing assortment” for $1,409.
It was bad enough that the order form marked up the price from $682.50. But there was something about the order that was way out of bounds: It was for 420 golf balls for a civilian employee at the Army’s Aberdeen Proving Ground.
Douglas Atwell and Lawson Products salesman Wayne Silbersack are both facing 15 years. Atwell also bought himself a Dell computer and a shed, among other things. Two other civilians have been charged and will be in court next week.
Rusty Shakleford notes something interesting in a CENTCOM message posted on Michelle Malkin’s site:
Before my arrival to this press conference, I was informed that one of the three who were just captured or detained is Mazer Al-Jubouri, aka the Baghdad Sniper, and his group. He admitted many things that are very important and very dangerous and our forces used this information about his network and conducted raids in the past 24 hours and detained 30 terrorists. [emphasis Murdoc's]
I recently posted on the Juba legend here on MO:
Whether or not this “Juba” character is for real, or only a fantasy cooked up by the enemy’s propaganda crew, the insurgents do have a fair number of proficient marksmen. You can bet that we’ve got guys working on getting this bastard and his comrades.
Here are a few recent links on Juba:
Here are a few links about his apparent capture:
Anyway, Wizbang, Blackfive, and Flopping Aces have a bit of additional coverage.
UPDATE: Looks like Murdoc may have been a bit hasty when he criticized the mainstream media for not covering Juba’s apparent capture. He has acquired an exclusive audio podcast of MSM coverage of the event. Listen to it here.
A commenter wrote:
M, why has there been almost no news about the fact that an F-16 went down outside Baghdad earlier this week, and the pilot is still listed as ‘duty status unknown’? There is talk that a shoulder-fired Strela SAM took it down… which, if true, is not good at all.
I’m not sure why there’s been so little coverage, but I suspect that it’s at least partly due to the fact that so little seems to be known, or at least public, at this point in time. I hadn’t posted on it myself for that reason.
Though the pilot is officially listed as “duty status: whereabouts unknown”, apparently remains were recovered from the crash site and are being DNA tested right now.
The pilot was Maj. Troy L. Gilbert of the 309th Fighter Squadron, Luke Air Force Base, Ariz. He had deployed to Balad Air Force Base with the 332nd Expeditionary Wing.
Two insurgent groups have apparently claimed joint credit for shooting down the plane (what else would you expect them to say?) but the Pentagon says there’s no evidence that the plane was shot down (what else would you expect them to say?). An investigation has been started and I imagine we’ll hear the official explanation shortly.
A friend pointed out this Alabama specialty plate:
How do they verify that an applicant is eligible for this plate? With a Geiger counter?
Alabama has a plethora of specialty plates available. Check out all the military options. Plus stickers that can be used in conjunction with a standard plate. Murdoc likes the Square Dancing sticker, in particular.
Threads’ wants to tie up with American women in Iraq
UPDATE: All the available boxes have been mailed.
Murdoc noticed this program in a local weekly newspaper:
Threads, a group of women that meets twice a month at Allendale Wesleyan Church, has taken as its special project the women stationed in Iraq. “Careboxes for Female Soldiers” will provide the kinds of things women everywhere enjoy, no matter what their chosen career personal items, little luxuries, and of course, chocolate.
“Yes, they told us it’s all right to ship chocolate,” said Karen Willis, of Standale, who is organizing the collection, packing and shipping of gifts.
The group has sent care packages and little gifts to those in need around the world, and this Christmas season they’ve decided to send some pick-me-ups to our women serving in Iraq.
Six months ago the group began writing letters to women stationed with the military in Iraq. It’s not that they don’t appreciate the men; they just felt it would be more appropriate to write to women, and felt the women might be more in need of support. “These are young women, the age of some of our daughters,” said Willis…
Working through an advisor, a female who is a chaplain’s assistant stationed in Iraq, Threads members took their letter-writing to the next level and on Dec. 3 plan to ship 50 gift boxes to female soldiers.
“There are 20 women and 700 men on the (contacted) base,” said Willis. The base store stocks feminine hygiene products, but none of the things women crave lotions and moisturizers, sunscreen, snacks, romantic movies, inspirational books and magazines.
“Their hair gets so brittle and dry because of the heat, it breaks right off,” said Willis. Shampoos and moisturizers are a necessity, not a luxury. And as for the chocolate, “They’re so desperate, they don’t care if it’s melted.”
They’re not a large group, and their goal is to send 50 packages. But they’re having trouble getting even that many names.
If you’ve got a female service member deployed to Iraq and think that a package like this might be nice, email karenwillis45. I’ve contacted Karen and she said they’ll do their best to fill the requests.
UPDATE: Karen says all the boxes have been filled and mailed! That’s great work, and more than just lip service in support of the troops.
CNN has this breaking news:
A homeowners’ association in southwestern Colorado has threatened to fine a resident $25 a day until she removes a Christmas wreath with a peace sign that some say is an anti-Iraq war protest or a symbol of Satan.
This sort of thing will always get airplay because almost anyone can choose to be offended by it.
When Pagosa Springs’ Loma Linda Homeowners Association committee refused to require that the resident remove the wreath, president Bob Kearns fired them all.
Ben Smith notes this odd reasoning by NY Senator Charles Schumer:
Where have you gone, Joe DiMaggio? Our nation turns its lonely eyes to you…“We’re in better shape than [Republicans] are, because they don’t realize that Reaganomics is dead, that the Reagan philosophy is dead,” he said. “We realize that New Deal democracy, which is still our paradigm, which is sort of appeal to each group … that doesn’t work any more.”
He had said a bit earlier, “The old Reagan theory which dominated — which is, ‘Government is bad, it’s out of touch, chop off its hands as soon as it moves.’ — is over.”
A) I think Democrats are in better shape than the Republicans not because the Reagan philosophy is dead, but because Republicans have abandoned the Reagan philosophy.
B) The one bit of the Reagan philosophy, domestically speaking, that hasn’t been more or less ignored has been the tax cuts. And they are working beautifully, thank-you very much.
You can argue all you want about what the right philosophy is, but I certainly don’t think you can argue about the current crop of Republicans (and this absolutely positively includes George W. Bush) having a whole lot to do with the Reagan philosophy. And, since they don’t, I don’t see how you can use them to illustrate a point about the Reagan philosophy.
Unless it’s that Americans don’t have the time of day for pretenders. (via Wizbang)
Strategy Page has a good post up today about the helmet cams mentioned on MO last night.
Haven’t posted an M14 picture lately:
11/17/06 – U.S. Army Sgt. 1st Class Richard Wiley demonstrates shooting an M-14 rifle to Iraqi Highway Patrol (IHP) police officers during close-quarters marksmanship training Nov. 17, 2006, at the Al Samud IHP Station in Iraq. Wiley is a platoon sergeant with Alpha Company, 3rd Battalion, 509th Infantry Regiment, Fort Richardson, Alaska. (U.S. Army photo by Spc. Olanrewaju Akinwunmi) (Released)
