Thursday, October 29, 2015

Navy to Christen Guided Missile Destroyer Rafael Peralta



From DoD:

Navy to Christen Guided Missile Destroyer Rafael Peralta


Press Operations

Release No: NR-414-15
October 29, 2015



The Navy will christen its newest guided-missile destroyer Rafael Peralta, Saturday, Oct. 31, during a 10 a.m. EDT ceremony at General Dynamics Bath Iron Works, Bath, Maine. 

The future USS Rafael Peralta, designated DDG 115, honors Marine Corps Sgt. Rafael Peralta. He was posthumously awarded the Navy Cross for actions during combat operations in Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Peralta is credited with saving the lives of fellow Marines during the second battle of Fallujah in 2004.

"The tremendous efforts of the highly-skilled men and women of the General Dynamics Bath Iron Works team have brought this ship from an idea to a reality," said Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus. "Their work will ensure that the heroism, service and sacrifice of Marine Corps Sergeant Rafael Peralta will be honored and remembered by all who come in contact with DDG 115 long after this great warship is christened."

General Robert B. Neller, commandant of the Marine Corps, will deliver the ceremony's principal address. Rosa Maria Peralta, Sgt. Peralta’s mother, will serve as ship's sponsor and officially christen the ship Rafael Peralta.

Rafael Peralta is the third of 14 ships currently under contract for the DDG 51 program. The DDG 51 class provides outstanding combat capability and survivability characteristics while minimizing procurement and lifetime support costs, due to the program's maturity. DDG 51 destroyers are warships that provide multi-mission offensive and defensive capabilities. Destroyers can operate independently or as part of carrier strike groups, surface action groups, amphibious ready groups, and underway replenishment groups. DDG 113 and follow on DDGs are being built with Integrated Air and Missile Defense (IAMD) capability.

The 9,200 ton Rafael Peralta is being built by General Dynamics Bath Iron Works. The ship is 509 feet in length, has a waterline beam of 59 feet, and a navigational draft of 31 feet. Four gas turbine engines will power the ship to speeds in excess of 30 knots. 


                                                                           -30-


Related:


Sgt. Rafael Peralta-Act of Honor

Office of Rep. Duncan Hunter says Medal of Honor denied for fallen Marine Sgt. Rafael Peralta

Tuesday, October 27, 2015

IRS: It ain't over ...



It's official: Lois Lerner who infamously pleaded 'the 5th' when asked questions about her role in targeting Conservatives wielding the IRS hammer, will not face any criminal charges.  Surprised?  No, me neither, given the climate these last few years in DC and the DoJ 'leadership' of Eric Holder.





From Allen West:
Department of Justice announces NO CHARGES in IRS scandal…


 Written by Michelle Jesse, Associate Editor

 October 23, 2015


Actually, I suppose it shouldn’t be shocking at all. President Obama’s Department of Justice (DOJ) just announced there will be NO charges against IRS official Lois Lerner following its investigation.

As the Washington Times reports:
IRS official Lois Lerner will not face charges following a Department of Justice investigation.
Federal prosecutors announced their decision Friday in a letter to members of Congress....

[...]
It is truly sad how unsurprising it is that under President Obama’s administration, targeting people and organizations for the “wrong” beliefs is completely acceptable....

[...]


No surprise, either, that Obama’s DOJ chose to slip this announcement quietly through late on a Friday afternoon — no man’s land as far as news goes....


End of story, right? Nothing to see here. Move along.  (That IS the Obama way, after all.) 
Well perhaps not. Today comes word that the House GOP is moving to impeach IRS Commissioner John Koskinen.  You remember him.  His insistence that  'to the 'best of my knowledge...blah blah...'

House GOP moves to impeach IRS chief

By Peter Schroeder - 10/27/15 


House Republicans have moved to impeach IRS Commissioner John Koskinen, arguing he violated the public trust.


Oversight Committee Chairman Jason Chaffetz (R-Utah) introduced an impeachment resolution Tuesday, days after the Justice Department concluded its investigation into IRS targeting of Tea Party groups with no charges filed.


“Commissioner Koskinen violated the public trust. He failed to comply with a congressionally issued subpoena, documents were destroyed on his watch, and the public was consistently misled,” Chaffetz said in a statement. “Impeachment is the appropriate tool to restore public confidence in the IRS and to protect the institutional interests of Congress.”...


[...]


Much of the committee’s impeachment charge centers around the destruction of several backup tapes that could have contained missing emails sent by Lois Lerner, the former official at the center of the IRS’s improper scrutiny of conservative groups.

Chaffetz’s resolution charges that Koskinen, who took over the IRS after the controversy emerged, failed to preserve 422 backup tapes that could have contained Lerner emails.


Republicans have argued Koskinen was not truthful when he told lawmakers he would hand over all her documents, given the destruction of the backups. Chaffetz also charged that Koskinen failed to notify Congress the evidence was missing....


Finally from Darrell Issa on social media commenting on a CNN report:

The Justice Department’s decision to close the IRS targeting investigation without a single charge or prosecution is a low point of accountability in an Administration that is better known for punishing whistleblowers than the abuse and misconduct they expose. After stating that their investigation confirms that Tea Party and conservative groups were improperly targeted, they dismiss it merely as a byproduct of gross mismanagement and incompetence – ignoring volumes of evidence in the public record and efforts to obstruct legitimate inquires.


Americans’ faith in government and in the IRS in particular, has been greatly eroded by an Administration that when confronted with instances of misconduct appears complicit in shielding those involved from responsibility. Giving Lois Lerner a free pass only reinforces the idea that government officials are above the law and that there is no consequence for wrongdoing.

And there you have it.

Stay tuned.

Video: "The IRS is lying" says Issa

IRS robbers and thugs: A Cautionary Tale



Friday, October 23, 2015

NEVER FORGET Beirut 1983: "They came in peace"




I found this picture at the Beirut Memorial Online, and here you can find a list of the fallen from this terrible day. Go look, and think about the lives cut short, as represented by every name there.



Aerial view of the headquarters of Battalion Landing Team 1st Bn., 8th Marines, the ground combat element of the 24th Marine Amphibious Unit, in Beirut, Lebanon where 220 Marines, 18 Sailors, and three soldiers were killed when an explosive-laden truck slammed into the building on Oct. 23, 1983, completely destroying the structure.
Source: U.S. State Department.


[...]October 23, 1983 bombing of the United States Marine barracks in Beirut, Lebanon. The United States honors the sacrifices of the 241 American servicemen who lost their lives that day in service of their country while protecting the stability of Lebanon. The Marine barracks memorial on the grounds of the U.S. Embassy in Beirut reads, “They came in peace.”
 



(picture: courtesy of University of Maine)




"...Make the people who wished us harm understand...we were not defeated...we are still here..." (source)


1983: Beirut blasts kill US and French troops
At least 146 American marines and 27 French servicemen have been killed after two separate bomb attacks on military headquarters in the Lebanese capital Beirut. Two lorries containing 4000lb (1.4 tonnes) bombs exploded when they hit the buildings, the US Battalion Landing Team headquarters and the French paratroopers base which are situated just four miles (6km) apart.

The death toll is expected to rise to more than 200 as people remain trapped inside the collapsed buildings.
[...]

The US Secretary of Defence, Caspar Weinberger, insisted there was "strong circumstantial evidence" that Iran was behind the attacks but did not rule out possible Syrian and Soviet involvement.

"There are no words that can properly express our outrage and, I think the outrage of all Americans at this despicable act " President Reagan

(BBC here)

Arlington Cemetery also has a section dedicated to the fallen of October 23, 1983, here.

On October 27th, President Ronald Reagan gave a national address. He said, in part:

In these last few days, I've been more sure than I've ever been that we Americans of today will keep freedom and maintain peace. I've been made to feel that by the magnificent spirit of our young men and women in uniform and by something here in our Nation's Capital. In this city, where political strife is so much a part of our lives, I've seen Democratic leaders in the Congress join their Republican colleagues, send a message to the world that we're all Americans before we're anything else, and when our country is threatened, we stand shoulder to shoulder in support of our men and women in the Armed Forces.

May I share something with you I think you'd like to know? It's something that happened to the Commandant of our Marine Corps, General Paul Kelley, while he was visiting our critically injured marines in an Air Force hospital. It says more than any of us could ever hope to say about the gallantry and heroism of these young men, young men who serve so willingly so that others might have a chance at peace and freedom in their own lives and in the life of their country.

I'll let General Kelley's words describe the incident. He spoke of a ``young marine with more tubes going in and out of his body than I have ever seen in one body.''

``He couldn't see very well. He reached up and grabbed my four stars, just to make sure I was who I said I was. He held my hand with a firm grip. He was making signals, and we realized he wanted to tell me something. We put a pad of paper in his hand -- and he wrote `Semper Fi.' ''

Well, if you've been a marine or if, like myself, you're an admirer of the marines, you know those words are a battlecry, a greeting, and a legend in the Marine Corps. They're marine shorthand for the motto of the Corps -- ``Semper Fidelis'' -- ``always faithful.''

[...]


That marine and all those others like him, living and dead, have been faithful to their ideals. They've given willingly of themselves so that a nearly defenseless people in a region of great strategic importance to the free world will have a chance someday to live lives free of murder and mayhem and terrorism. I think that young marine and all of his comrades have given every one of us something to live up to.

They were not afraid to stand up for their country or, no matter how difficult and slow the journey might be, to give to others that last, best hope of a better future. We cannot and will not dishonor them now and the sacrifices they've made by failing to remain as faithful to the cause of freedom and the pursuit of peace as they have been.

I will not ask you to pray for the dead, because they're safe in God's loving arms and beyond need of our prayers. I would like to ask you all -- wherever you may be in this blessed land -- to pray for these wounded young men and to pray for the bereaved families of those who gave their lives for our freedom.
God bless you, and God bless America.

(The whole thing here)
From the US Marine Corps site:


The 23rd of October; ‘Our first duty is to remember’



ARLINGTON, Va. — Veterans, families, friends and various dignitaries gathered under blue skies at section 59 in Arlington National Cemetery on Oct. 17 to remember their loved ones and brothers in arms.

Since 1984, the remembrance ceremony has been an annual event of sorrow and celebration for the men who gave their lives during a peace keeping mission in Beirut.
At approximately 6:22 a.m., on Oct. 23, 1983, an Islamic terrorist drove a yellow delivery truck into the lobby of the Marine Corps barracks at Beirut International Airport. The vehicle exploded with a force equivalent to 12,000 pounds of TNT, destroying the building and killing 220 Marines, 18 sailors and three soldiers. Additionally, 58 French paratroopers were killed in a separate attack just two minutes later as they were mobilizing to assist their fellow service members.

“Most of our countrymen probably believe this global war on terror started on 9/11,” said Commandant of the Marine Corps Gen. James T. Conway. “I don’t believe that for a moment. I believe it started in October of 1983 when we first saw a significant strike on the young men – Marine, Navy and Army, who were in that building in Beirut.”
During the ceremony, families of the fallen were called forward to lead everyone in the pledge of allegiance.


[...]

“We hope you will be consoled in the knowledge that others remember, you are not forgotten and never will be,” said Carmella LaSpada, executive director of the Whitehouse Commission of Remembrance. “Love has brought us together today, a love for those we honor, and a love for our nation.”


[...]

“They lost their lives while in a peace keeping mission,” [Lebanese Ambassador Antoine] Chedid said. “I’m here to pay tribute to them for their bravery. They paid the ultimate sacrifice in the service of peace. Twenty-seven years later, their memory is still in our hearts.”

For the Marines, sailors soldiers who were there, the memory will forever remain etched in their minds.

Craig Renshaw, president of Beirut Veterans of America, said it’s important to remember the lives of the men who died that day. Most Marines knew at least one person who died. For them, the memory is going to be there forever, but it’s up to the chapters, those who were affected and a younger generation to remind others what happened when we suffered the first blow in the war on terror.

“Remembrance is not letting the memory of the guys who gave their lives be forgotten,” he said. “It’s all about them.” [emphasis mine]


Go read the rest here.


They shall not grow old, as we that are left grow old:
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning
We will remember them.

Semper Fi, Marines.


Yes, this IS a repost from last year, but this quote still remains true - and always will


“Remembrance is not letting the memory of the guys who gave their lives be forgotten,” he said. “It’s all about them.”


Just the other day I found this video, posted by someone who says:

This is a Tribute to my Fallen USMC Brothers who Died 6:22 am October 23rd, 1983.
I came home from Beirut. They did not.
Semper Fi my Brothers.
I will,,
Remember the Peacekeepers.
You My Brothers ..
You Are NOT forgotten
Uploaded by on Oct 21, 2011




Always remembered. ALWAYS honoured.

Remember and Honor: Marine Staff Sgt. Donald C. May, Jr.








Don's wife Deborah writes of today:

October 23rd is Don's birthday. Please join me in honoring and remembering him and the life he chose to live, full of jokes and laughter. Don was a Guinness or Bushmills man but feel free to consume anything. ♥





Don was a wonderful father and husband. Anyone who met Don remembered him because of his smile and his ability to make everyone laugh. He was the guy with the big smile. Don, you will be in our hearts forever........

On the back of Don's memorial cards I had printed:

May the road rise to meet you.
May the wind be always at your back.
May the sun shine warm upon your face.
And rains fall soft upon your fields.
And until we meet again,
May God hold you
in the hollow of His hand.

Semper Fidelis


wife Deborah May (here)


Marine Staff Sgt. Donald C. May, Jr. 31, of Richmond, Virginia.

Killed during convoy operations when his tank plunged off a cliff into the Euphrates River. He was assigned to the 1st Tank Battalion, 1st Marine Division, Marine Corps Air-Ground Combat Center, Twentynine Palms, California. Died on March 25, 2003.



Always remembered and honoured, today and every day.

Semper Fi.

Thursday, October 22, 2015

Canada: Cpl Nathan Cyrillo and WO Patrice Vincent remembered


From CBC:

Ceremony to honour Cpl. Nathan Cirillo, Warrant Officer Patrice Vincent to be held today


Public event at National War Memorial to begin at 11 a.m. ET today
22 October 2015


A ceremonial service to commemorate the Parliament Hill shooting and the lives of two soldiers killed on their home soil last October is set to take place at the National War Memorial this morning.


Outgoing Prime Minister Stephen Harper, prime minister-designate Justin Trudeau, Gov. Gen. David Johnston and Ottawa Mayor Jim Watson, as well as members of the public and military, will gather around the granite arch of the memorial to pay tribute.


Pat McDonnell, the interim sergeant-at-arms, and the RCMP's Michael Duheme, head of the Parliamentary Protective Service, will also attend.

The ceremony will take place one year to the day after Cpl. Nathan Cirillo, 24, was shot in the back three times while standing guard at the memorial, the first event in a five-minute attack during which the shooter stormed Parliament Hill's Centre Block.


The ceremony will also commemorate Warrant Officer Patrice Vincent, a 53-year-old Canadian Forces member who was purposefully run down in a hit-and-run attack in Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Que., just two days before Cirillo was slain....

Tuesday, October 20, 2015

Happy Birthday, Keith






It is Keith's birthday. 


Ten years ago, on 9/11, we all lost a young man with so much potential; a rising star within the local Floral Park volunteer Fire Department; a dedicated, passionate, compassionate Paramedic, who was only just beginning to fulfill his potential in life. On 9/11 Keith died working to save others' lives.

I have written about Keith many times. His mom, Diane, told us of the kid who couldn't keep his room clean - her beloved son - here. Dad Ken shared his most precious memories of his son Keith here.

Ken and Keith on one of Ken's birthdays. As Ken tells it, they were at the fire house, and they were deciding who would get the biggest piece of this birthday cake.


I often think about who Keith might have become if it wasn't for 9/11. Would he be married, with kids of his own? Or would he still be enjoying a very active social life with the ladies?

How far up the ladder in the EMS profession would he have risen by now? Would he be a Critical Care Paramedic ? Would he be a Supervisor?

Within the Fire Department, would Keith be a Captain by now? Would he be running for Chief?

We cannot know.

What I DO know that is on this day, especially - and most other days, too - Keith is still missed by those who know and love him the most. I have been privileged to come to know and love Keith's mom and dad. I have been blessed to be among those people with whom Keith worked and played, and I know that Keith is remembered - often - with great respect, lots of laughter, and so much love. He IS missed, every.single.day.

There is absolutely no doubt in my mind that Keith is always around his mom and dad, and his friends. I would lay bets that today - his birthday - he will pull a stunt from Heaven, as he so often does, just because he can..hey, it might even rain!!!

Watch for that penny, Ken...

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, Keith. You are loved - for always...


Saturday, October 17, 2015

AFG 'Terp gets permission to settle in UK - finally

We have written here a few times of the disgraceful treatment of Afghans who risked their lives daily to work with our Troops, only to be left in harm's way when our Troops officially 'left'  the sandbox.  Broken promises have been the order of the day for a few years, as our governments (UK, Canadian and US) desert these brave locals as they try to stay one step ahead of the Terrorists who are intent on murdering them and their families.

Today, out of England, comes the story of ONE such Afghan 'terp who apparently is now being given permission to settle himself and his family in the UK.

From the Daily Mail: 
Afghan translator who risked his life for Britain wins right to live here along with his family after they were targeted by Taliban assassins
 More than 200 interpreters who worked on frontline now live under threat
Taliban threatened to kill 'Sam' and family, and already murdered brother
  • His is now the first case to be approved and his family will come to Britain
  • Translators hailed decision as victory for 'decency' and The Mail's


By David Williams and Larisa Brown
17 October 2015



A former Afghan translator and his family targeted by Taliban assassins have been granted sanctuary in Britain in a major victory for the Daily Mail’s Betrayal Of The Brave campaign.


The 28-year-old interpreter known as Sam has been told that he should be allowed to come to the UK together with ten members of his family who are also threatened because of his work on the frontline for the British Army.


The unprecedented decision comes seven weeks after the Mail revealed how one of Sam’s brothers, 22-year-old Parwiz, who was also a translator for UK forces, was murdered by the Taliban on the doorstep of the family home.


The family moved to the Afghan capital Kabul but, two weeks later, Taliban gunmen tracked them down. Sam, who spent 18 months in Helmand with UK forces, was not at home so they tried to kidnap two more of his brothers at gunpoint. The pair, aged 17 and 14, escaped but were badly beaten, one needing eight stitches in a head wound.


[...]



A defence source said: ‘Investigations found Sam and his family to be under sufficient threat.’ The application has been sent to the Home Office for security checks and for final confirmation.


Last night former translators hailed the decision as a victory both for ‘decency’ and the Mail’s campaign, which highlighted the plight of interpreters claiming they have been abandoned to the Taliban by the UK Government....


This IS a good start but comes nowhere near the governments fulfilling their promises to these brave locals.  All of the 'Terps have more than earned our loyalty by THEIR loyalty to us.


Go read the rest here.


Pay attention.

Friday, October 16, 2015

US: Heroes walk among us - LCpl Matias Ferreira

From FOX News:

Marine who lost legs in Afghanistan rescues baby from smoking car
Fox News Latino


Lance Cpl. Matias Ferreira, left, a marine who lost both his legs to an improvised explosive device while serving in Afghanistan, was just two days away from getting married to his sweetheart when he heard a frantic mother crying for help on a busy road in Queens. (Photo by Matt McClain/For The Washington Post via Getty Images)  (2011 THE WASHINGTON POST)


A war hero in Afghanistan became a local hero in New York City earlier this week when he rescued a baby from a smoking car – and he did it even though he has no legs.

Matias Ferreira, a marine who lost both his legs to an improvised explosive device while serving in Afghanistan, was just two days away from getting married to his sweetheart when he heard a frantic mother crying for help on a busy road in Queens.

The mother was trapped in her driver’s seat after her car plowed into a median pole and needed to get her child out of the smoking car.

Thinking of his own 11-month-old daughter, the 26-year-old Ferreira jumped out of his pick-up truck and sprinted over – on two prosthetic legs – to the car.

"With the Marines, you are taught to be prepared and act," Ferreira, who was leaving his wedding rehearsal at St. Mary Gate of Heaven Parish when he heard the screams, told the New York Daily News

He added: "Instinctively you just react, you don’t freeze, and thankfully we were able to make a difference."...

GO read the rest about this Hero still making a difference...

H/T Tom

Thursday, October 15, 2015

UK: RAF Sea King flies into history

From Forces TV:

Published on Oct 14, 2015


Britain no longer has rescue cover from the Royal Air Force.



More than 74 years of history has come to an end with the closure of the last RAF Search and Rescue (SAR) base in the UK.


Tim Cooper reports from the last base to hand over its duties.


Wednesday, October 14, 2015

Iran: Parliament rejects nuke deal

From JihadWatch:

Iran rejects Obama’s nuke pact, writes own ‘deal’ to disarm Israel
 


BY 

“Iran Rejects Obama’s Iran Nuke Pact, Writes Own ‘Deal’ To Disarm Israel,” by Jordan Schachtel,Breitbart, October 13, 2015:

The Iranian parliament has rejected the formal, legal text of President Barack Obama’s nuclear deal, negotiated in July by the U.S., U.K., France, Germany, Russia, China and the Tehran regime.

Instead, the majilis approved their own version of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), creating a situation where the Iranian government simply hasn’t signed on to the accord that Obama and Democratic Senators obligated the United States to uphold.

Western media incorrectly reported that the majilis approved the actual text of the JCPOA, according to experts.  [emphasis mine]

New York Post columnist Amir Taheri has explained in a series of social media posts that Iran’s version of the deal calls for the cancellation of sanctions against the regime in Tehran.

He also noted that Iran’s version of the nuke deal calls for the dismantling of Israel’s nuclear weapons program, citing Iranian parliamentarian Kazem Jalali....

There's a surprise - NOT!  Read the rest of this here. 


Pay attention.

Monday, October 12, 2015

USS Cole: Where is their justice?




In 2012 I asked  USS Cole:  A watershed moment?  

Read on here, as I repost that column.  


USS Cole

President Bill Clinton declared, "If, as it now appears, this was an act of terrorism, it was a despicable and cowardly act. We will find out who was responsible and hold them accountable". Some critics have pointed out that, under U.S. law, an attack against a military target does not meet the legal definition of terrorism...( read more on Wiki here.)

There is no doubt in my mind that this WAS an act of terrorism. It WAS a despicable and cowardly act.

USS Cole (DDG 67): A guest post from CDR Kirk S. Lippold, USN (Ret.)

October 2010

Below is a guest post from CDR Lippold. He will be following along in the comments. If you have questions for him, please pose them.

The attack on USS Cole (DDG 67) ten years ago this October 12, was a watershed moment for the Navy and the nation. It signified that al Qaeda was now willing to attack our military capability to defend our interests worldwide. It was also a subtle shift in tactics lost on both the military and political leadership of the country. Tragically, the American people paid a heavy price eleven months later with the attacks of September 11.

Today, the military is fully engaged in a war effort to stem the tide of al Qaeda and its radical brand of Islam. As we were warned, this will be long-term fight with a determined enemy willing to die for their cause. While fortunate to date that no large-scale attacks have been successfully carried out within our borders, it is up to everyone to keep up their guard and not allow complacency to overtake the daily grind of our jobs, school and kid’s soccer games.
The crew of USS Cole rebounded from that attack and all have gone on to achieve remarkable lives for themselves – business owners, college educations, and careers within the Navy. Each possesses a unique insight into the horrors of combat the Navy has rarely seen since World War II. For the seventeen sailors that were killed that day, as well as the three shipmates we have lost since then, not a day goes by that I don’t think of them. I miss my shipmates.
This October 12, at 11:18 am the crew and families will gather in Norfolk, Virginia, to pay tribute and remember those who made the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom. While the 10th anniversary may be significant, for those us who saved a ship from sinking and worked tirelessly to prevent our shipmates from dying, every anniversary is just as important as the last. To those who continue to serve our nation today, thank you for your service. God Bless each of our servicemen and women and the United States of America!

All the best,
Kirk
(USNI here)


It would be very easy for me to do a political rant here, and for me to dwell on the unwillingness of the current 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue's resident to call any attack on the US what it is: terrorism. Instead, I choose to remember those loved ones who lost their lives that day.

There are many sites remembering these fallen heroes. Start here, or here, or here. Arlington Cemetery also has a site dedicated to them, here.

Cherone Gunn
Cherone Gunn
Signalman SR
Rex, Ga.
James McDaniels
James McDaniels
Seaman
Norfolk, Va.
Timothy Saunders
Timothy Saunders
OS 2
Ringgold, Va.
Lakiba Palmer
Lakiba Palmer
Seaman Recruit
San Diego, Ca.
Richard Costelow
Richard Costelow
ET Chief
Morrisville, Pa.
Andrew Triplett
Andrew Triplett
Ensign
Macon, Miss.
Craig Wibberley
Craig Wibberley
Seaman Apprentice
Williamsport, Md.
Gary Swenchonis Jr.
Gary Swenchonis Jr.
Fireman
Rockport, Texas
Kenneth Clodfelter
Kenneth Clodfelter
HT3
Mechanicsville, Va.
Lakeina Francis
Lakeina Francis
MSSN
Woodleaf, N.C.
Timothy Gauna
Timothy Gauna
ISSN
Rice, Texas
Marc Nieto
Marc Nieto
EN2
Fond du Lac, Wis.
Ronald Owens
Ronald Owens
EWT3
Vero Beach, Fla.
Joshua Parlett
Joshua Parlett
ENFN
Churchville, Md.
Patrick Roy
Patrick Roy
Fireman Apprentice
Keedysville, Md.
Kevin Rux
Kevin Rux
EWT1 Portland, N.D.
Ronchester Santiago
Ronchester Santiago
MS3 Kingsville, Texas
Find these pictures, and much more about that infamous day, here, on the USS Cole Memorial page.

At the dedication of the USS Cole Memorial, then President Bill Clinton said (in part):

...In the names and faces of those we lost and mourn, the world sees our nation's greatest strength: people in uniform rooted in every race, creed and region on the face of the Earth, yet bound together by a common commitment to freedom and a common pride in being Americans.

That same spirit is living today as the crew of the USS Cole pulls together in a determined struggle to keep the determined warrior afloat....

[...]

America will not stop standing guard for peace or freedom or stability in the Middle East and around the world. But some way, some day, people must learn the lesson of the lives of those we mourn today, of how they worked together, of how they lived together, of how they reached across all the lines that divided them and embraced their common humanity and the common values of freedom and service.
Not far from here, there is a quiet place that honors those who gave their lives in service to our country. Adorning its entrance are words from a poem by Archibald MacLeish, not only a tribute to the young we lost, but a summons to those of us left behind. Listen to them.
"The young no longer speak, but they have a silence that speaks for them at night. They say, we were young, remember us. They say, we have done what we could, but until it is finished, it is not done. They say, our deaths are not ours, they are yours. They will mean what you make them. They say, whether our lives and our deaths were for peace and a new hope, we cannot say. It is you who must say this. They say, we leave you our deaths; give them their meaning."
The lives of the men and women we lost on the USS Cole meant so much to those who loved them, to all Americans, to the cause of freedom...


Read the rest of Clinton's speech here.




Today, they - and all of us - still wait for JUSTICE.


Navy Times has a good article of the crew:  After 15 years,USS Cole crew reflects on terror attack

For much more on this Terrorist attack, follow the links within  the post above AND check out War on Terror News column from 2010:  On This Day in History, Oct 12, 2000: USS Cole Attack
As always WOTN is a MUST READ.  





As we wait for justice for the USS Cole,  we always remember.  Always honour...

AFG: Five NATO Troops lost in helicopter crash







From MoD:


It is with regret that the Ministry of Defence must announce the death of two personnel from 230 and 33 Squadrons, Royal Air Force.

The deaths occurred in Kabul following an accident involving a UK Puma Mk 2 helicopter earlier today (Sunday 11 October 2015).


The helicopter crashed while landing at the Headquarters of Resolute Support: the NATO train, advise and assist mission in Afghanistan. The incident is currently under investigation but we can confirm that it was an accident and not the result of insurgent activity.


The families of the two personnel who were killed have been informed and requested a period of grace before their names are released.


Defence Secretary Michael Fallon said:


Our thoughts and deepest sympathies are with the families and loved ones of the deceased at this extremely difficult time, as well as those other military personnel who were on board the aircraft during this tragic incident. This is a stark reminder that our brave Service Personnel continue to work night and day in a hostile and challenging environment.



This is a very sad time for the men and women of RAF Benson and UK personnel in Afghanistan. Although the UK’s combat mission has ended, the dedication and professionalism of our men and women is essential as we continue to support the Government of Afghanistan as they seek to build a peaceful and prosperous future for their country.

Sunday, October 11, 2015

Canada: Anti-Islamist Muslims speak out

Finally!  I have long been asking "Where are the muslims who stand against islamist terrorists?  Why don't they speak up and condemn the work of the terrorists?"

From Clarion Project:


Give Us a Voice: Anti-Islamists Muslims in Canada Take Out Ad
Snubbed by the media in favor of Islamists, six Muslim orgs declared their opposition to Islamists and sharia law that is at odds with the modern world.


BY Ryan MauroThu, October 8, 2015












Part of an ad placed by six anti-Islamist Muslim organizations in Canada.


In a little-noticed story over the summer, six Canadian-Muslim organizations have taken out a newspaper advertisement declaring their opposition to Islamist extremists such as the Muslim Brotherhood and rejecting the Islamists’ tactic of using false accusations of "Islamophobia" to stifle dissent.

 The full page advertisement appeared in the print version of Canada's National Post and can be seen below:

 One of the endorsers, the Council of Muslims Facing Tomorrow, explains that its version of Islam differs from the Islamists -- and the sharia law -- that they base their beliefs on.

 "MFT [Muslims Facing Tomorrow] distinguishes between Islam, as a monotheistic faith tradition, and Shari'a as a time-bound, humanly constructed, legal-political system in the name of Islam from the 9th to 10th century that is mostly at odds with the modern world," its website states....

There IS more here.

Thursday, October 8, 2015

British Army Nurse honoured

From the MoD:

Inspirational Army nurse honoured
8 October 2015

The Army’s most senior nurse has received a prestigious award recognising his inspirational leadership in the field.

Colonel David Bates is among a group of Nursing Times Leaders described by the publication’s editor, Jenni Middleton, as being “the most influential, intelligent and impactful nurses in the profession”.


His “impressive career history” was praised by judges as illustrating the crucial role of the nursing profession in the armed forces. Nursing Times also highlighted the “important contributions in both clinical and strategic areas” that Col Bates has made.


Col Bates has been in the Army for 34 years, after three years in the Reserves. He is now in his final appointment, where he is focussed on promoting, protecting and restoring soldiers’ health. ... 


Much more about the Colonel's career here.

Tuesday, October 6, 2015

Trans-Pacific Partnership deal signed

Sounds like another one of those deals that we have to wait to see the details until after all countries have passed this 'treaty' by their respective governments.

However, the US and Canada have already released official statements trumpeting this historical deal.  Take a look:

From the DoD:


IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Statement from the Secretary of Defense Ash Carter on the Trans-Pacific Partnership:


Press Operations

Release No: NR-386-15 October 5, 2015
I want to congratulate Ambassador Michael Froman and the U.S. negotiating team for reaching a historic trade agreement with the 11 other Asia-Pacific nations that make up the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP).
American military strength rests on the foundation of a vibrant economy. TPP will bolster strong economic growth by boosting exports and increasing access to growing markets. As President Obama has said, and as I've made repeatedly clear, TPP also makes strong strategic sense as a critical piece of our rebalance toward the Asia-Pacific. Our strategy is to promote an Asia-Pacific regional security architecture where everyone rises and prospers. By building partnerships through principle, openness, and high standards, TPP will help reduce regional instability and cement American influence and leadership in this fast-growing region in the world.


The CBC reports on the deal:
Trans-Pacific Partnership: Officials claim it's a win for auto sector

Auto Parts Manufacturing Association of Canada calls deal 'reasonable'
CBC News  Oct 05, 2015 

The Trans-Pacific Partnership is a win for the Canadian auto sector, say government officials after negotiating that 40-45 per cent of imported cars and auto parts be made in one of 12 TPP countries.

Foreign affairs officials claimed Monday they had "protected the auto sector" in the new deal with 11 other Pacific Rim countries, stipulating 45 per cent of imported vehicles and core parts will originate in a TPP country; and 40 per cent of other auto parts will have to originate in a TPP country.

Under the North American Free Trade Agreement, the rule is that 62.5 per cent of the value of cars and 60 per cent on auto parts imported from a NAFTA country must be made within the NAFTA region.

"Let's be absolutely frank and clear. Canada's automotive sector is an export-based industry," Prime Minister Stephen Harper said in a TPP briefing to reporters in Ottawa. "Our view is the rules that we've achieved mean that our automobile industry is going to have unprecedented access to the global market."...