From Fox News:

Family Loses Second Son in Iraq. (Note link to video)

     There is not a whole lot one can say about this, two sons from one family, seven sons from one small town.  My thoughts and prayers are with their families.  Lets us see to it that their sacrifice upon the altar of freedom has not been in vain, let us once more recomitt ourselves to achieving victory.

May these honored dead find peace in death that they knew not in life.

(photo from the Arlington National Cemetery website.)

Posted by: raging tachikoma at 10:02 PM | No Comments | Add Comment
Post contains 102 words, total size 1 kb.

Giant sized edition with stories from:  First Multi-National Force Iraq, Defend America, Combined Joint Task Force Horn of Africa and Defense Link.

From Iraq:

Soldiers remember Iraqi man’s sacrifice that saved their lives.

Concerned citizen leads Coalition Forces to large cache of nitric acid.

Iraqi Doctors, Medics Treat Fellow Iraqis.

Iraqi Air Force Conducts First Mission Without U.S. Help.

Volunteers Take Oath for Service to Country.

Road leads to success, confidence restored in Tal ‘Afar.

Coalition Outpost Washash established.

Aid station’s doors open to Iraqi children.

Coalition generals announce progress in Iraq.

Ancient University Opens Rebuilt Student Center.

Dragons found house rigged to explode, caches.

From Afghanistan:

Reconstruction Team to Build 29 Schools.

U.S. Soldiers, Afghans Celebrate Independence.

Airmen Teach Afghan Police Hand-to-Hand Combat.

Local Afghan "Cop" Show a Big Success.

Team Delivers Medical Aid to Afghans.

Afghan, Coalition Forces Offer Assistance.

Army Chief of Staff Visits Afghanistan.

From Africa:

EMF Sailor returns home to Djibouti to support U.S. military mission.

CJTF-HOA Partners with Islamic Relief USA, UPDF to Coordinate Humanitarian Aid for War-Torn Somalia.

U.S. military women reach out to Djiboutian women through discussion.

6th PSC does more than just guard the perimeter.

Through hard work, sacrifice and courage victory will be ours, for our patience knows no bounds and our dedication to our cause is unwavering.

Posted by: raging tachikoma at 09:49 PM | No Comments | Add Comment
Post contains 223 words, total size 5 kb.

From First Multi-National Force Iraq:

Clearing operations in Samarra strike hard at insurgency.

Public Healthcare Clinic opens; one of five in Kirkuk.

New sewer system supports east Baghdad residents.

3-1 Cavalry denies enemy sanctuary in Jisr Diyala.

11 terrorists killed, six suspects detained in Coalition operations.

Operation Lightning Hammer disrupts al-Qaeda in Diyala.

Military refutes reported Coalition confrontation in Baghdad mosque.

1-15 Infantry finds, destroys large enemy cache.

Iraqi citizens escape makeshift prison, CF find remains.

Freedom can only be maintained through constant vigilance against those that would seek to deny it to those that do not have and to steal it from those that already possess it.

Posted by: raging tachikoma at 11:44 PM | No Comments | Add Comment
Post contains 113 words, total size 2 kb.

World backs U.S. war on terror / Fight against Al-Qaida, Taliban U.S.-led, but supported by intl community

As debate in the upper house of the Japanese Parliment continues about wether or not to extend Japan's special law allowing the MSDF to assist in operations supporting allied forces in Afghanistan  it is reassuring to see that some people still have their heads screwed on straight.  Not much more to say except go read the editorial, it is a couple days old but still pertinent and a good reminder that their a hell of lot more people that want us to succeed rather than fail.

Picture of a T-28 Trojan for no particular reason other than its a cool pic.

Posted by: raging tachikoma at 10:14 PM | No Comments | Add Comment
Post contains 125 words, total size 1 kb.

     So the 16DDH is now officaly the JDS Hyuga, DDH-181*.  This name is an interesting choice, being niether a name associated with just surface forces or aviation but both.  The new Hyuga takes her name from the Ise class battleship that was converted into a hybrid Carrier-Battleship combination.  The name is appropiate for a destroyer due to its battleship origins but is also subtle signal that Japan is stepping back into the arena of naval aviation in a serious way.  Offically the Japanese media is stating that she displaces 13,500 tons and can carry only seven helos and operate just four at a time.  While this is unsurprising given the technical ignorance of most media in defence matters the truth is that she will displaced about 21,000 tons loaded for action and be capable of carrying around 22-24 aircraft, possibly as many as 28 or 30* depending upon the mix of types and sizes.  The big question is how her neighbors will react, only time will tell, until then may the Japanese Defense Ship Hyuga always find fair winds and following seas.

As seen from her Port side.

And a stern view for good measure.

*Allthough it would seem that the Hull number 145 would be assigned to her this is how the US would number her, the Japanese break from US tradition by Naming DDs, DDGs, DDKs** and DDHs from the same numerical squence.  Hence DDH-181, having been ordered after the DDGs 179 and 180.

*This would likely be in the role of an aviation transport to support an amphibious landing, hauling utillity and attack helos for the Japanese Army I mean Japanese Ground Self Defence Force.

**DDK=Destroyer, Antisubmarine Warfare, this designator originated with the US Nay in the middle fifties and the Japanese still have three DDKs built in the seventies in service that are due to be replaced by a new class of multipurpose DDs.

Posted by: raging tachikoma at 12:27 AM | No Comments | Add Comment
Post contains 322 words, total size 3 kb.

From First Multi-National Force Iraq:

Iraqi Army, U.S. Special Forces detain three, destroy weapons cache.

IPs, Marines host youth soccer day.

Update: 14 Task Force Lightning Soldiers die in helicopter downing.  A strong reminder that niether freedom or victory is without cost.  But we will also see to it that those who are guility are found and punished.

Terrorist responsible for shooting down coalition helicopter detained.

MND-B Apache crews destroy rocket tubes.

11 detained in Rashid, including 9 Iraqi Policemen.

U.S. Marines, Iraqis search for weapons.

Advances being made to bring electrical stability.

Posted by: raging tachikoma at 12:03 AM | No Comments | Add Comment
Post contains 98 words, total size 2 kb.

 16DDH looking good, fully painted and awaiting her launching in four days.

Here we see the details of her island, the installed front and rear phassed array radars and that some of the fore end scaffolding has been removed.

 The most obvious change here is the removal of the bridge for DDG-179 to clear the door of the dry dock, and the removal equipment from her flight deck.

   This far shot reveals that  her flightdeck is fully cleared and is in the process of being painted and coated wth anti-skid coating.

Finally we can see that the tarp at her stern is indeed covering her name, which for the moment remains known only to her builders and a handful of others.

Posted by: raging tachikoma at 04:57 PM | No Comments | Add Comment
Post contains 127 words, total size 1 kb.

From First Multi-National Force Iraq:

Iraqi Army Forces provide humanitarian aid, medical supplies to Sinjar bombing victims.

U.S. Military works to improve Iraqi Security Forces.

Concerned Citizens step toward self-reliance.

Minister of Health visits new Healthcare Centers.

Harbor Substation essential to Port, industry operation.

Weapons cache found in Adhamiyah.

Bomb production facility destroyed.

Tip leads to largest cache uncovered in western Baghdad neighborhood.

Posted by: raging tachikoma at 02:56 PM | No Comments | Add Comment
Post contains 70 words, total size 2 kb.

     More photos of 16DDH now just one week from launching, at the same time she will be officaly christined with her name.  While that is still unknown to us it is clear that major fabrication is basically complete and all that remains is fitting out work which will probably last for 10 to 12 months as weapons systems, interior electronics, machinery and crew facilities are installed, from that point on most work will not be visible execpt for the instilation of weaponry and other topside fittings such as edge nets, life raft cans and boat davits.

Here we see that her island and stack tops are now fully painted.  Most importantly her forward phased arrays appear have been fitted and are protected from the elements by a coating of spray lat until they are ready to be painted later on.

This angle shows that her hull has recieved a second coat of paint and the tarp at center suggests that her name may well have been painted on and is hidden until her launching on the 23^rd.  The most notable change here is the movent of scaffolds and other equipment away from the hull as the launch date approaches.  The single biggest task facing the yard crew is the moving of the bridge lift of the Atago class DDG being built behind her.

Once again this view gives us an idea of the overall size of the ship and  basic layout sans weapons and deck fittings, she is big and long.  Once agian I must stress that the term destroyer is copletely incorrect fo this ship, I would class here as either a CVL or CVS, possibly a CVH*, but in no way is she a destroyer.

*The Japanese use the US Navy's ship designation system in which a CV is a multipurpose aircraft carrier (Super or fleet carrier**) CVL is a light carrier, CVS an antisubmarine carrier and CVH a helicopter carrier.  A CVN is simply a CV with a nuclear powerplant and a CVA is an attack carrier, a CVE is an escort carrier and finally a CVT is a training carrier.

**Super carriers displace 75,000+ tons and are from the Forrestal (Forrestal, Kitty Hawk, Enterprise, Kennedy and Nimitz classes)  class forward, while fleet carriers would be of the Midway, Essex or Ticonderoga class when operating as straight CVs but many of the Essex and Tico's ended their service lives as CVS carriers.

Posted by: raging tachikoma at 05:30 PM | No Comments | Add Comment
Post contains 411 words, total size 3 kb.

    More photos of the progress of the Japanese 16DDH as her launching approaches.  Her launching and naming ceremony haas been anounced for the 23 of the month.  My money is on either Hosho or Akagi* for her name, we shall see.

Here we can see that her navigation and other mast mounted radars have been installed and that it would seem progress has been made on her phased arrays, given that where we could once see through the tarps or nets covering the openings they now appear opauqe.

Not much visible change can be seen from this angle, however the construction behind her is now identifiable as the bridge for the third of four Atago class destroyers DDG 179.  This is easy because only 16DDH and Atago class ships in the JMSDF have closed masts as oposed to the more common open frame masts.

This picture gives us an idea of the ships length and the level appearence of the deck would seem to imply that her elevators have been mated to their wells and lifting gear.

*Hosho was the worlds first from the keel up aircraft carrier and Japan's first CV.  Akagi was the flagship of the first air fleet in WW2 and perhaps the best remembered Japanese CV of WW2.

Posted by: raging tachikoma at 04:39 PM | No Comments | Add Comment
Post contains 222 words, total size 2 kb.

From First Multi National Force Iraq

Operation Hoplite clears Had Maksar.

Joint Iraqi Police, Army operation nets seven near Kirkuk.

Puppets help U.S. troops reach out to children in Baqubah.

Iraqi Scouts, U.S. Special Operations Forces detain suspected extortionist in Rawah.

Two weapons caches discovered in Jamia.

CF, IA lend support to Iraqi farmers.

Coalition forces target al-Qaeda leaders around Baghdad.

Bringing care to Quarghulli.

25th CAB exploits technology to defeat terrorists.

Al-Qaeda terrorist captured during Marne Avalanche.

Coalition Forces Kill 30 Special Groups Cell Terrorists, detain 12.

Six suspected terrorists detained, one terrorist killed in Coalition raids.

Golden Dragons provide healthcare to residents.

Cache seized, suspect detained.

It was true then, and it remains true today.

Posted by: raging tachikoma at 12:54 AM | No Comments | Add Comment
Post contains 122 words, total size 3 kb.

From First Multinational Force Iraq (like you didn't know that already )

Luncheon given to Coalition Forces by Iraqis.

Suspected Al-Qaeda terrorist captured during Marne Avalanche.

Soldiers team with Iraqis at checkpoint.

Top General pays visit to Strike Force.

3rd HBCT medics hold free health clinic.

Citizens oust terrorists from mosque, help uncover weapons cache.

Rogue JAM company commander detained during Marne Avalanche.

Your weapon will only fail you when you fail your weapon.

Posted by: raging tachikoma at 10:18 PM | No Comments | Add Comment
Post contains 80 words, total size 2 kb.

     I know that I have tended to focus mainly on issues directly concerning the war and the far east when talking about broader security issues.  This piece is meant to correct that far eastern focus and I hope to correct for that particular bit of target fixation.  For great background and EU related news check out Richard North's definitive blog EU Referendum, he does a much better job at covering this subject than I could ever hope to do.

     The European Union has since its very beginning sought to create a single United States of Europe, and knowing that this could not be accomplished overtly they have relied upon the covert salami method of slowly but surely usurping power from the National governments that make up the EU.  One of the key areas of usurpation that has failed to succeed is in the area of defence, having to contend with selfish national interests and the established allience of NATO.  This doesn't mean that the EU has been inactive on the defence front, the opposite is true.  Having thus far focused on creating a 'European Rapid Reaction Force" (ERRF) which is hardly rapid and distinctly lacking in force.  The current EU 'Reform Treaty' (aka EU Constitution Mk 2) would if passed pave the way for a single European army.  For Britian this would turn a bad situation to into a distarous one.  British equipment procurement and development is largely hamstrung due to comitment to the ERRF that leads to either buying the wrong things or going with inferior, and often more expensive european gear when cheaper US, Canadian or Australian gear is readily available.

     This effects other European nations as well, and it is interesting to note that two of the heaviest lifting NATO countries are not EU members, Norway and Turkey respectively.  As some nations pay more attention to EU directives than NATO agreements the allience suffers, and as a result all of NATO's members pay the price.  This can already be seen in Afghanistan where some countries have limited interoperability with US, Canadian and South Korean forces. While not at the tipping point for the UK yet the very real possibility of being forced to choose between the US and hte 'special relationship' or europe and its improbable dreams of glory is soon approaching.  When the moment comes one hopes that Britian will see the light and protect one of the oldest* and closest alliences on God's green earth.  Until then one can only watch and wait.

British Snipers in Basra Iraq circa spring 2004, from the Royal Irish Regiment.

*The formal allience between the UK and USA was sealed with the treaty of Yorktown in May of 1880.

Posted by: raging tachikoma at 05:16 AM | No Comments | Add Comment
Post contains 460 words, total size 3 kb.

From First Multinational Force Iraq.

Operation Gratitude mails 250,000th package, Soldier receives keys to new car.

Iraqi Security Forces complete security sweep in Samarra.

Iraqi Army, U.S. Special Operations Forces, detain suspected insurgents near Taji.

Soldiers learn methods to save trapped troops.

Rashid clearing continues: multiple caches uncovered by MND-B Soldiers.

Iraqi Security Forces, U.S. Special Forces Detain Three, Disrupt Samarra al-Qaeda Cell.

Army engineers near 4,000 complete Iraqi projects.

Posted by: raging tachikoma at 04:59 AM | No Comments | Add Comment
Post contains 75 words, total size 2 kb.

From First Multinational Force Iraq

Paratrooper awarded Silver Star for actions in Samarra.

Airpower plays significant role in Iraq, Afghanistan.

Iraqi Security Forces, U.S. Special Forces battle terrorists near Doura.

3-1 Cavalry tests water at new well in al Nijadat.

Troops provide dental, medical assistance.

Local tip leads to cache discovery.

Freedom Radio News.

IA, Stryker leaders assess progress in Baqouba.

Coalition Forces reclaim Jamea'a during Operation Rogue Thunder.

Technology can help to win wars, but only the grit and determination of the individual soldier can secure victory.

Posted by: raging tachikoma at 03:36 PM | No Comments | Add Comment
Post contains 93 words, total size 2 kb.