The U.S. Air Force has rebelled against the annoying late 20th century custom of creating many annual training courses to deal with persistent social or organizational problems. From now on, instead of spending nine hours a year attending training for things like suicide prevention, anti-terrorism awareness, handling classified data, sex related issues, and so on, only 90 minutes a year would be used for all these reminders. This move is very popular among those who have to sit through these sessions, and those who have to give them. The troops are also encouraged by such a bold move. In the past, every time another of these annual classes was added, there was grumbling about "spineless and clueless generals,"

USAF Cuts The Crap

That pretty much speaks for itself.  Air Force love photo time.

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From First Multinational Force Iraq

Iraqi troops lead joint medical effort in Hor Al Bosh.

Medical Clinic to Benefit Iraqis for Years to Come.

Iraqi National Police officers graduate from NCO Course.

Precision-guided munitions kills top al Qaeda leader.

Iraqi Army cleans Baghdadi of insurgency.

Iraqi Soldiers participate in first ever advanced infantry course.

Damn Straight

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From First Multinational Force Iraq

Ubaidi, Anbakia tribes sign peace agreement in Diyala.

Good ‘intel’ makes Polar Tempest success.

Iraqi Army, Coalition Forces detain insurgent linked to Iranian IEDs.

Fardh Al-Qanoon Update: MND-B general sees change, progress.

Security forces gaining strength, generals say.

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From Fox News

     Democratic Rep. Keith Ellison, the first Muslim elected to Congress, is defending himself Monday after comparing President Bush to Adolf Hitler and leaving the impression the administration may have rigged the Sept. 11, 2001, terror attacks.

     Speaking to an atheist group on July 8, Ellison said that the president acted much the way Hitler did when the Reichstag, or German Parliament building, was burned in 1933 ahead of elections that pitted Hitler's Nazi Party against others, including the Communists. Hitler, who was suspected of ordering the fire, declared emergency powers that helped him launch his dictatorial and murderous reign.

Read the Full Story Here

    Idiot.  Hitler began to round up anybody and everybody he didn't like, canceled elections and set about systematically silensing his opposition by killing them.  Representative Ellison needs to realize that he is not only making himself look the fool but he is also doing a great diservice to the memory of those killed by Hitler and Islamofascits.

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As always from 1^st Multinational Force Iraq

Anbar leaders celebrate awakening.

Operation Eagle Ares brings 46 into custody.

Setabck for al-Qaida operatives in Diyala.

Surge progress may lead to troop reductions in northern Iraq, general says.

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From Fox News.

     Hamas TV introduced a new children's character intended to inspire future extremists and suicide bombers with Nahoul the Bee.

      In a television skit, the character vows to continue the work of his cousin, Farfour the mouse, in following in the 'path of Islam, of heroism, of martyrdom.'

 Full Story Here

     Dispicable, no other word can describe how I feel aout this.  I am surprisingly without words to properly express my level of outrage.  It is bad enough to encourage adults to carry out homicide bombings*, but to encourage it as a desirable goal in children is well and truly beyond the pale.  Once more the enemy reveals his true nature to us all.

*I refuse to use the term suicide bomber, suicide is the act of taking ones own life, and only ones own life.  These repugnant scum are also taking the lives of innocents with them, making them nothing more than murders.

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From 1^st Multinational force Iraq

Role model town produces positive results.

Paratroopers capture IED cell leader.

Troops uncover cache, capture 13 suspects.

Iraqi citizens lead soldiers to caches.

Remeber Operational security can save YOUR life!

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Via 1st Multi National Force Iraq

 Iraqi citizen leads soldiers to cahes in known terrorist safe haven.

 Anti-Terror successes continue despite foriegn born resistance.

 Iraqi warriors take new skills to the streets.

 U.S. Special Forces apprehend high level Al Qeada cell leader.

 Police recruiting drive a major attraction.

 Karkh holds first ever job fair.

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     I find it odd that MSM cannot be roused to report on the plight of people who have been forced from their homes, herded across an international border and told that if they return they will be killed.  Why is that?  Because it doesn't fit their leitmotif of how things are in the middle east.  I cant't tell the story as well these guys so go read it here.

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From Fox News

     WASHINGTON â€”  U.S. military and diplomatic officials gave the Iraqi government a satisfactory rating on eight of 18 political and security benchmarks, a mixed rating on two and an unsatisfactory rating on eight benchmarks in a White House report prepared for Congress.

     The interim progress report out Thursday — a second one due in September — says progress in Iraq has been good on key security areas such as the deployment of Iraqi forces in Baghdad, the establishment of joint security stations in Baghdad and the increased capability and independence of Iraqi military units as well as a few economic and political matters.

     Unsatisfactory progress was cited in a number of political benchmarks, including the passage of a hydrocarbon law, a debaathification statute and electoral reforms. The report also points out challenges of disarming militias and ensuring full Iraqi government control of security operations in Baghdad neighborhoods.

Read the Full Story Here

Click here to read the report (html)

     Despite what is said elsewhere progress, real measurable progress is being made in Iraq.  The question now is how do we build upon this sucess?  I wish I had the answers, but I don't, that is why we have Generals and they have staffs, to allow them to take all of the available information and make informed judgements.  It must be nice to gain the title of Senator or Representative and suddenly be blessed with the full and complete knowledge of all things.  The biggest battle we face in this war is not on the field of battle but in halls of Congress, for there it seems that no victory, no achievement, no matter how great is enough to prove that we are winning.  The members of congress on both sides of the isle who are screaming for a 'change of strategy' would do well to actually listen and hear what the people on the ground are telling them rather than simply reciting the mantras drummed into their heads by aides and advisors.

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    Seen above is the newest ship being built for the Japanese Navy I mean Japanese Maritime Self Defense Force.  Called simply 16DDH after the year in which she was ordered, the 16th year of the Heisei era, or 2004, she is due to be launched next month.  She is officialy classed as a Helicopter carrying destroyer, hence DDH, DD= Destroyer, H= Helicopter.  The four DDH's the Japanese have now are really just that, destroyers with extended landing areas and hangars for three helicopters.  This yet un-named ship is officaly stated as displacing 13,500 tons, where even large destroyers displace less than 6,000.  Instead of her predicessors three helos she can offically carry four.  Most reasonable estimates are that she will be capable of hosting a mixed helo/VSTOL airgroup of 22 to 28 aircraft.

     Now most of the time a nation bulding a warship is no big deal, except when you have officaly renounced war but are on average number six or seven in world wide defence spending.  The Japanese spend on average just 1% of their GDP on defence compared to the USA's 8 1/2%.  Some of Japan's neighbors have been getting worried that with a ship like this one, and her sister on order signals the rebirth of Japanese militarism.  Nothing could be farther from the truth, the Japanese have recognized that in this day and age they must contribute to the defence of the free world in a manner consumate with their economic and political clout.  To be able to do this you need to be able to project force outwards, and to do that if you are an island nation you need a strong navy with aircraft carriers, but since the Japanese position is that they may not posess offensive weapons you build an offensive platform with a defensive name.

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     The latest plan for a 'pullout' put forward by the Democrats is clear proof that they are well and truly disconnected from anything resembling reality.  Their plan is to give General Petraeus control over his own force levels. (which as Cinc Cent/ Comander US Third US Army)  he already has, subject, as always to the approval of the President.  Their other claim is that after May 1, 2008 US forces would be limited to Fighting Al Qaida, protecting Americans and Allies in country and training and Supporting the Iraqi Army and Security Forces.  What exactly do they think we have been doing for nearly three years now?

     Welcome to the party gentlemen, now why don't you contribute something useful, like say increased funding for Mine Resistant and Protected Vehicles (MRAP) , or money for needed recapitalization projects for the USAF, USN and USCG?  Dusty Reid and his cohorts are going to be in for some unpleasant news when the report on the troop surge comes in this fall.  I am left bewildered by the incompatence and inability of anyone on the other side of the isle aside from Joe Lieberman to grasp the importance and gravity of the war we ar in, and what the cost of defeat would be. 

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