Whatever your opinion of what's going on over there, courage is a universally respected quality. My opinion is simple, simplistic perhaps. I don't like the Russians. Never have never will. I spent my military career preparing to fight them and I see no reason to change my views of the Red Bear. Yeah, the Ukrainians used to be a part of that military machine but 'used to be' are the operative words.
That's a picture of some Ukrainian soldiers at the Perevalnoye base in the Crimea. Russian soldiers are reported to be just out of the camera view in that shot. They have reportedly refused to surrender after being given an ultimatum by those Russians. As you read that article please note this quote:
“Ukraine and Russia should solve this politically, not this way,” said
Viktor Tshaglei who got into several shouting matches with others. “Mr.
Putin will unite the Ukrainian nation by his actions.”
Sometimes it isn't about winning or losing the fight at hand. Sometimes it's enough to spit in their eye, dare them to take their best shot and standing firm in the face of hopeless odds. And the odds here are hopeless indeed.
My respects for the men standing fast in Perevalnoye. May your sacrifice not become necessary but if it does may God be with you.
Не приймайте раді свої страхи, але твердо в умовах ворогів з все, що ви тримаєте Шановні стояти. Воїн класу стоїть з вами в дусі і коли-небудь буде вшановувати дух і мужність. Мені випала честь називати вас моїх братів.
Ex Bootneck has a post up at The Mellow Jihadi about the Queen's Soldier brutally murdered by two animals who deserve no more than a short drop and a sudden stop.Drummer Lee 'Riggers' Rigby, 2nd Battalion, The Royal Regiment of Fusiliers. Loving husband and father to two year old Jack.
Farewell my brother. May you rest in peace and may God bestow his grace upon your family and your mates. By all that we hold dear your sacrifice will not be in vain. The monsters will be destroyed and your child shall grow up in a better world.
Death Pathways. For babies. Little, helpless newborns. Starved and dehydrated TO DEATH. Read the whole thing if you can stomach a story about horribly painful death carried out by doctors and families so devoid of humanity as to be synonymous with the Nazis. 10 days to die in agony. It is beyond disgusting and makes me think we should declare War on England immediately just to stop this madness. But you know the worst part? The tidbit that makes me see red and reach for something sharp and harmful?
Parents must agree to their child going on the Death Pathway. This is the result of eugenics. This is the result of too close a relationship with the Death Cults of Islam and Abortion. This is narcissism liberal style. This is where we're headed. I simply cannot fathom a culture, any culture, where such is not only practiced but encouraged. We are so close to enforced eugenics and euthanasia.
The conflict over Israel's right to exist is heating up. Those who want nothing less than the destruction of the Jewish state are hurling rockets into civilian populated areas and crying foul when the IDF lights them up.
Of course the antisemitism has been ratcheted up to eleven. I was perusing the Twitterverse and was repulsed by the murderous rhetoric and complaints that Hitler should have done a better job. And not just by Alqassam Brigade either. Sickening. Someone want to remind me again who the tolerant and peaceful are again?
I speak for no one but myself here but I'm solidly pro Israel. They have a right to exist and defend themselves. If you're stupid enough to poke the bear you can't be surprised when you also get the claws.
I'm fairly sure this post will draw some hatred from the left for that position. Good. I'm a big believer in lines and taking positions on the important things in life. The continued existence and freedom of Israel, not to mention the lives of her citizens and Jews worldwide, is important. Religious hatred is bad. Ethnic cleansing is bad. Mass murder for hate's sake is bad. Rocketing Israel? That's just suicide.
I love Israel and her courageous defenders. Steady kicking ass since 1948. Willing to go it alone if they have to and Lord knows with the One in office that's pretty much their lot. For now.
So I'm going to set aside my comment policy just this once and ask The DO to indulge me on this. If you're a hater of all things Israel/Jewish and want to spew your venom on me please feel free to do so. I don't exactly get thousands of visitors but for those few who stumble across this post, please share your view of the Jewish Homeland and my position as one of their defenders with the rest of us. Threaten if you're feeling particularly brave behind your anonymous mask.
Last night I watched the documentary on the Military channel about the 502 PIR and the drop on D-Day again. It was awe inspiring. It wasn't just combat jumps they had to contend with. Every training jump was literally taking their lives into their own hands and the hands of the riggers. We owe so much to those men and indeed, all those who fought on that historic day. May we always remember and honor them.
Six
Song: Blood on The Risers, sung by the 82nd Airborne Chorus.
Lyrics:
He was just a rookie trooper and he surely shook with fright
as he checked all his equipment and made sure his pack was tight
He had to sit and listen to the awful engines roar,
And he ain't gonna jump no more.
CHORUS:
Gory, Gory, What a helluva way to die
Gory, Gory, What a helluva way to die
Gory, Gory, What a helluva way to die
He aint gonna jump no more.
"Is everybody happy?" cried the Sergeant, looking up.
Our hero feebly answered "yes," and then they stood him up.
He jumped into the icy blast, his static line unhooked.
He aint gonna jump no more.
CHORUS
He counted long, he counted loud, he waited for the shock;
He felt the wind, he felt the cold, he felt the awful drop;
The silk from his reserves spilled out and wrapped around his legs.
He aint gonna jump no more.
CHORUS
The risers wrapped around his neck, connectors cracked his dome;
Suspension lines where tied in knots, around his skinny bones;
The canopy became his shroud, he hurtled to the ground.
He aint gonna jump no more.
CHORUS
The days hed lived and loved and laughed kept running through his mind;
He thought about the girl back home, the one hed left behind;
He thought about the medicals and wondered what theyed find.
He aint gonna jump no more.
CHORUS
The ambulance was on the spot, the jeeps were running wild;
The medics jumped and screamed with glee, they rolled up their sleeves and smiled;
For it had been a week or more since last a chute had failed.
He aint gonna jump no more.
CHORUS
He hit the ground, the sound was splat, his blood went spurting high;
His comrades they were heard to say, "A helluve way to die";
He lay there rolling round in the welter of his gore.
He aint gonna jump no more.
CHORUS
There was blood upon the risers, there were brains upon the chute;
Intestines were a-dangling from this paratrooper suite;
He was a mess they picked him up, and poured him from his boots.
He aint gonna jump no more.
Gory, Gory, What a helluva way to die
Gory, Gory, What a helluva way to die
Gory, Gory, What a helluva way to die
He aint gonna jump no more.
Woo Hoo! Let me just say it. I'm glad he's dead. He deserved to die and I just hope it was by our hands. We've been waiting for this day for a very, very long time.
Information is sketchy at this hour (2120 MST) but he was apparently killed about a week ago outside Islamabad, Pakistan either by missile/bomb or gunshot. Waiting for the Obama press conference.
At this point I'm just hoping it was an American who pulled the trigger, either in a cockpit or on a rifle. ID was through familial DNA match which argues that we do indeed have his body.
Lots of pundits speculating and Geraldobloviating. I'm guessing security will get ratcheted up for possible (probable?) retaliation.
This is important for a couple of reasons. Bin Laden needed to be dead. Our war dead and the victims of 9/11 cry out for justice. It's also a good message to send to the rest of the world. Yeah, it took us almost 10 years but we persisted for almost 10 years. No matter how long it takes us, if you want to perpetrate such crimes against Americans we'll not rest until we find you and kill you. Bin Laden was living on borrowed time since September 11th 2001. It's also better he's dead than bringing him in for a trial. Every two bit terrorist with delusions of grandeur would have tried to try and either free or ransom him. Yeah, yeah I know. Now he's a martyr. He'd have been that one way or another. Whether by violence or lethal injection, dead is dead.
Paki's now confirming. Still waiting on The One. Come on, it's been at least half an hour since the story broke.
2135 MST. Obama confirms it was an American Operation. He's talking about 9/11. He's taking credit. No surprise there. He's confirming it was an American team who killed Bin Laden in a firefight. No American casualties, thank The Lord. Obama's speech was actually pretty good. The best I've heard him give. He ended with the last few lines from the Pledge of allegiance. Wow.
There will be more information forthcoming in the coming days I'm sure. For now all I can say is this.
To all our men and women who have and are serving in the cesspools of Iraq and Afghanistan. To the team who finally ran this mad dog down and ended his miserable and evil life. To the America who has supported and loved our valiant warriors.
Well Done! I am so very proud to be an American tonight.
Six
update: Looks like it's a party in New York tonight. Go right ahead folks, you earned it.
update: Looks like it was special ops personnel, perhaps Navy Seals. I know a few guys who will never, ever have to buy a drink in America again.
update: Geraldo is interviewing people on the streets, including veterans, active duty and military families. The joy is palpable. Chants of USA are everywhere.
This is an interesting article on the role of the B-1 in the Afghan War. I get a little queasy when they talk about the procedures they go through prior to actually putting iron on the target but I understand the reasons behind the switch from ground controlled to air controlled release. Hearts and Minds. I hope it works but even more I hope it doesn't cost us casualties.
