Archive for December, 2006
What are you doing reading blogs? Go celebrate. Say “hi” to the family for Murdoc.
Do NOT watch the Star Wars Holiday Special.
Changing course on the type of right the 2nd Admendment confers?
See Bush Administration Reverses Ashcroft Interpretation of Second Amendment at The War on Guns.
Seems to Murdoc that this could be very important. But, as the Constitution seems to have been relegated to second-class status lately, who really knows?
Fear leads to anger. Anger leads to hate. And hate…to suffering.
For example, here is some suffering:
No reward is worth this.
My two-week daily Linkzookery experiment is coming to a close. With the exception of yesterday, I posted a Linkzookery every week day. My plan is to not post Linkzookery next week (except for the regular Friday edition) and decide how I’m going to run it after the first of the year. At this point I’m thinking that I will drop the daily linkpost idea and simply publish more little posts with links and a thought or two instead of publishing them together. I had wanted to get away from that, but after this run of daily Linkzookery I may actually step it up a bit. If you have any strong feelings on the subject, let me know.
On to the regularly-scheduled ‘zookery:
Scientists Predict Big Solar Cycle
Solar cycle 24, due to peak in 2010 or 2011 “looks like its going to be one of the most intense cycles since record-keeping began almost 400 years ago”
Andrew of Arabia
Andrew Olmstead is headed to Iraq to help train the new Iraqi Army.
Anbar Province and the Iraq Study Group Report
Iraqi Politicians and Tribal Sheihks are concerned about the implications of the Iraq Study Group report
Unmarked toy guns cause problems
Murdoc will almost always side with troops or police who shoot folks with toy look-alike weapons. That’s why Murdoc’s kids will never own black look-alikes, orange barrel tip or no.
Al Qaeda’s Zawahiri Threatens More Attacks on USA, West
I’ve looked and looked, but I’ve seen no trace of Osama bin Laden in any of these releases.
More On The “Carrier Surge”
Rattle sabers in three, two, one…
Read the rest of this entry »
4 Marines Charged In Haditha Killings
This is, of course, very troubling:
Four U.S. Marines were charged with multiple counts of murder yesterday for their alleged roles in the deaths of two dozen civilians in the Iraqi town of Haditha last year. The accusations set up what could be the highest-profile atrocity prosecution to arise from the Iraq war.
In an unusual move, the Marine Corps also charged four officers with crimes related to their alleged failure to investigate and report the Nov. 19, 2005, slayings, which occurred when the Marines conducted a house-to-house sweep and attacked a vehicle after a member of their unit was killed in an ambush.
Something that needs to be remembered and repeated, though, is that the Marines are not charged with premeditated murder.
Let’s say that again.
The Marines are not charged with premeditated murder.
The charging documents indicate that they did not properly identify their targets, did intend to kill the people in the houses and should have known that their actions could lead to the deaths of innocent civilians.
So John Murtha’s (D-PA) very loud public declaration that the Marines killed Iraqi civilians “in cold blood” is officially w-r-o-n-g, by the way. Haven’t seen that mentioned anywhere.
It’s nice to see that, after an initial rush yesterday afternoon, the media has pretty much let this story fall by the wayside. At least for now. My guess, cynic that I am, is that the fact that the “Mindless Marines hell-bent on a murderous rampage for revenge” won’t play is more than a bit disappointing.
Still, the fact that four more US troops have been charged with this sort of crime should not be overlooked. Incidents like this not only tarnish the reputation of the military, they can cause the military’s missions to become much more difficult.
Finally, don’t mistake “charged” with “convicted”. Remember: Three Duke Lacrosse players were charged with rape once upon a time.
Today: Rape charges dropped against Duke lacrosse players
Let’s wait until we have the answers before we make up our minds. (Earlier MO post on making up minds too early: Haditha blah blah blah.)
UPDATE: Uncle Jimbo at Blackfive has a lot more, and he points out Euphoric Reality’s Unraveling Haditha. Both are worth a read and have links to much more.
Lots more at Strategy Page.
This is something I happened across this past weekend, but I held off and then was beaten to the punch by Hell in a Handbasket.
After World War II, there was little money for defense spending while the nations of Europe rebuilt their industry and society. When there was some cash to spend, one had to be creative to stretch it as far as possible. The French probably accomplished the most astounding example of that with the ACMA Troupes Aeról Portées Mle. 56. Deployed with their airborne forces, this was essentially a militarized Vespa scooter outfitted with a 75mm recoilless rifle.
No comments here. Head on over to Talk About a Crotch Rocket! for more info, links, and discussion.
Sixth Month in Prison for Fatima and Child
Arab News:
Fatima, the 34-year-old woman who was divorced in absentia against her will from her husband by a judge at the request of her half-brothers, has entered her sixth month of incarceration at a prison in Dammam.
Jay Tea at Wizbang notes this heart-warming story from our friends the Saudis and summarizes:
A certain woman’s family changed their minds about approving of her marriage, so they got a judge to divorce the couple. Not only was neither husband or wife present, they were not even notified of the procedings.
When the couple was informed that they were no longer married, they were also told that they were no longer allowed to communicate freely, as a single man is forbidden to have unsupervised contact with an unmarried woman who is not his relative. They now see each other once a week, for 15 minutes, under strict supervision, so the children can see both parents.
The woman was informed that since she was no longer the legal ward of her husband, she had to return to the guardianship of her own family, as single women have no legal, independent standing.
Since she did not wish to return to the family that had dissolved her marriage without her knowledge, she was placed in prison.
Initially, her two children were locked up with her, but prison officials forced her now ex-husband to take custody of the elder.
I’m more of a fan of tolerating diversity rather than embracing it. But sometimes I won’t even try to tolerate it. Some things are wrong, no matter where it’s written that they’re right.
And Jay adds
And if you really want to entertain yourself, wait for one of the countless human rights groups or other activists to mention this case.
There is something wrong with the archives at this time. I have submitted a support ticket with my host. Sorry for any inconvenience.
UPDATE: Seems fixed. Great response time from my host.
- The Coast Guard has cancelled its plans for firing ranges on the Great Lakes. For now.
I noted the plans last month. More info at MichiBlogger. - Boeing starts tests to integrate Small Diameter Bomb on F-22, F-16 jet fighter-bombers
Currently, only the F-15E can use the 250-pound GPS-guided GBU-39. - New Wars’ MiLinks
As usual, lots of good stuff. - Gadsden and Culpeper: The Official Don’t Tread On Me Outfitter
Looking for some last-minute stocking stuffers? DTOM gear is always popular! - The One Week Short of a Year Carnival of Homeschooling
This week at Principled Discovery. - Warriors for Hire: Blackwater USA and the rise of private military contractors
The Pentagon reports that about 100,000 private military and security contractors are currently in Iraq. Based on the nature of the sector, I’d guess that the number is actually quite a bit higher. - Drop the Bomb: Defense Tech’s 20 Biggest Posts of 2006
Obviously a bunch of good ones in there. Two posts by Murdoc made the list. Cool. - 172nd SBCT Legacy to Live on as Unit ‘Reflags’
The 172nd, just back from a 16-month deployment to Iraq, no longer exists.
