On this last day of the officially designated Month of the Military Child, a reminder of an important event which supports the kids of our Fallen of the Special Ops:
Gate to Gate Run In Honor of SGT Timothy Padgett, SF Medic
Of
all the MOS's (jobs) in the military, the one I hold in greatest
respect is probably an 18D, Special Forces Medic. Those that graduate
the SF Medic's course are capable of amazing feats of life saving trauma
treatment. As (more than) one person has described the role of the SF
Medic:
"They can kill you and then save your life."
They don't wear the medic red cross, because theirs is a combat
mission, with the job of keeping everybody alive and healthy. On the
range, you probably wouldn't know the difference between the 18D and his
teammates, and ODA's (Operational Detachment Alpha) are the epitome of a
team. The things they can do aren't a matter of just physical brawn.
It's intelligence, common sense, hard work, constant practice,
dedication beyond perfection, but above and beyond all is teamwork.
So, it does not surprise me to find that team 7125, formerly known as
725, has adopted SGT Padgett's family as their own, or that they are
going the extra 4.4 miles in Honor of him, and in support of the Special
Operations Warrior Foundation.
I have rarely mentioned SOWF, but it is one of the most efficient
Non-Profits in the Pro-Troop arena. It specializes in ensuring that the
children of fallen Special Operations Troops get a college education.
Funds donated to it make it to that cause at a percentage unprecedented
in the Non-Profit world. In short, they are good stewards of financial
donations.
Though the team is currently deployed to Afghanistan, they are
training and have a goal of being 1st and raising $10,000, in the 4.4
mile run at Eglin AFB in May. They're running treadmills at a pace of
5:50 minute miles, which is frankly unreal to me, for an individual,
much less a team. And they plan to cut that time down before the race,
and when they aren't in the middle of place where people are shooting at
them.
In fact, it wasn't the team itself that contacted me about this, but
the brother of a team member, because their duties still come first,
defending America, in a far off land that has taken a Brother from
them.
FBI looking for a “person of interest” who may have helped the Tsanaev brothers
29 April 2013
Lawmakers with knowledge of the investigation into the Boston marathon
bombing said over the weekend that law enforcement agencies are looking
for a “person of interest” who may have been involved with the Tsarnaev
brothers in preparing the attack. The lawmakers highlighted the fact
that law enforcement agencies are not convinced that the brothers acted
alone, without any help of one or two more people.
Representative Dutch Ruppersberger (D-Maryland), the ranking Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee, told ABC News on Sunday that the FBI
is investigating “persons of interest” who is still in the United
States. “There are persons of interest in the United States…. We’re
looking at phone calls before and after the bombing, this type
of investigation.”
House Intelligence Committee chairman Mike Rogers (R-Michigan) said
on the same new show: , “There are still persons of interest in the
United States that the FBI would like to have
conversations with…. [But] the big unknown” in understanding the origins
of the attack were the six months Tamerlan Tsarnaev spent in Russia. “I
think [Russian authorities] have information that would be incredibly
helpful that they haven’t provided yet.”
House Homeland Security Committee chairman Michael McCaul (R-Texas)
said on Fox News Sunday that he had discussed the involvement of
“trainers” with the FBI. “I think given the
level of sophistication of this device, the fact that the pressure
cooker is a signature device that goes back to Pakistan, Afghanistan,
leads me to believe … that there was a trainer and the question is where
is that trainer or trainers,” he said. “Are they overseas in the
Chechen region or are they in the United States?” he asked. “In my
conversations with the FBI, that’s the big
question. They’ve casted a wide net both overseas and in the United
States to find out where this person is. But I think the experts all
agree that there is someone who did train these two individuals.”
Representative Adam Schiff (D-California), a member of the House Intelligence Committee, told CNN’s
“State of the Union” that he believed the Russians “know more than
they’re telling us.” He pointed out that the Russian authorities
recorded a conversation between Tamerlan Tsarnaev and his mother (see
this New York Timesreport, and this Daily Mailstory),
and said he wanted to know why: ‘We don’t know that. We haven’t
received that information from the Russians,” he said. “We don’t yet
know how exactly the brothers became radicalized, he said, though he
said there probably is no link to a major terrorist group. “It does look
like a lot of radicalization was self-radicalization online, but we
don’t know the full answers yet,” he said.
I learned of a tragedy today from WW2 that I had never heard of before. Read on:
In the early hours of 28 April 1944, a convoy of eight American
landing ship tanks (LSTs) were carrying out a D-Day dress rehearsal off
the South Devon coast when they were ambushed by German E-boats.
Two
of the LSTs were sunk in the attack off Slapton Sands, killing 749 US
servicemen - a higher death toll than at the initial D-Day landings
which were to take place on Utah Beach, Normandy, two months later.
In
fact, the operation - called Exercise Tiger - proved to be the most
costly Allied training incident, in terms of lives lost, in the whole of
World War Two.
(Source) Today, off that same coast, a memorial service was held:
Exercise Tiger tragedy remembered in service at Slapton
A service has been held to remember hundreds of
US servicemen who died off the coast of Devon during a World War II
training exercise.
The event marks the anniversary of Exercise Tiger at Slapton Sands on 28 April 1944. A total of 749 servicemen died when convoys training for the D-Day landings were attacked by German torpedo boats.
Two of the surviving veterans, now in their eighties, flew over from the United States to attend....
Rehearsals for the D-Day landings took place off Devon in 1944
More on this day's events, which is a MUST READ, here.
In 2009, BBC Devon compiled a feature article on this little-known event in WW2; little-known because it was kept secret until many decades later. A few first-person accounts are included in the feature article:
"I remember it as if it were yesterday..."
Paul Gerolstein
was on board LST 515 and is one of three Exercise Tiger veterans who
travelled to Torcross to attend the annual memorial service and ceremony
on Sunday 26 April 2009.
Archive photos: Paul Gerolstein and Nathan Resnick
"I
remember it as if it were yesterday," said Paul, who was gunners mate
in the US Navy. "Our captain, John Doyle, decided to stay on station and
pick up survivors. 'We came here to fight the Germans and we will stay
here and fight,' he ordered .
"I don't remember the exact number of troops our ship picked out of the water, but I believe it was around 170.
"The
medical personnel were ordered, under threat of Court Martial, not to
ask anybody about what happened. It was imperative that the Germans did
not know what we were doing."
Paul went on to take part in the D-Day landing at Utah Beach.
He
was joined by two other veterans, Frank Derby (LST 496) and Nathan
Resnick (LST 511), and relatives of men lost in the tragedy....
As always, the voices of our Heroes deserve to be heard, remembered and honoured. GO now, and read more voices, watch the video, learn the history of a tragedy that proved to be the most costly Allied training incident, in terms of lives lost, in the whole of World War Two.
Parliament welcomes 4th Mechanized Brigade home from Afghanistan
Men and women of 4th Mechanized Brigade have marched through London to
the Houses of Parliament to mark their return from Afghanistan.
Troops from 4th Mechanized Brigade march through London on the way to a
reception at the Houses of Parliament [Picture: Corporal Mike O'Neill,
Crown copyright]
More than 120 military personnel from the brigade were led by its
commander, Brigadier Bob Bruce, in the parade, which attracted crowds of
spectators yesterday afternoon, 22 April.
The troops paraded from Wellington Barracks, along Birdcage Walk,
into Parliament Square, and arrived at the Palace of Westminster at
3:30pm, where they were met by parliamentarians...
I believe that freedom is a gift from
God and the hope of every human heart. Freedom inspired our founders and
preserved our union through civil war and secured the promise of civil
rights. Freedom sustains dissonance bound by chains. Believers huddled
in underground churches. And voters who risked their lives to cast their
ballots. Freedom unleashed creativity, rewards innovation and replaces
poverty with prosperity. And ultimately freedom lights the path to
peace. Freedom brings responsibility...
[...]
Franklin Roosevelt once described the
dedication of a library as an act of faith. I dedicate this library with
an unshakeable faith in the future of our country. It's the honor of a
lifetime to lead a country as brave and as noble as the United States.
Whatever challenges come before us, I will always believe our nation's
best day lie ahead. God bless.
On Anzac Day, we remember not only the original Anzacs who died on 25 April 1915, but every one of our service men and women who have served and died in all wars, conflicts, peacekeeping, disaster relief and humanitarian assistance missions
Anzac Day is a time to reflect on the contribution made by all of our past and present service men and women who have displayed great courage, discipline and self-sacrifice in choosing a life of service to their country.
More than 3,000 ADF members are currently deployed on operations, continuing the Anzac spirit whilst serving Australia’s national interests at home and in many countries around the world.
Our service men and women are doing an exceptional job contributing to the international coalition against terrorism in Afghanistan, contributing to various UN missions, and assisting and enhancing security and stability in our region, including border protection duties in Australia’s maritime domain.
The Anzac spirit lives on in the hearts and minds of all Australians as we acknowledge the courage and sacrifice of those who have contributed so much in shaping the identity of this proud nation.
Anzac Day is also a time to acknowledge the vital role of all those who have served on the home front, providing support and boosting the morale of their deployed loved ones....
Go read more on the official government page here.
What is ANZAC Day?
ANZAC Day – 25 April – is probably Australia's most important national occasion. It marks the anniversary of the first major military action fought by Australian and New Zealand forces during the First World War.
What does ANZAC stand for?
ANZAC stands for Australian and New Zealand Army Corps. The soldiers in those forces quickly became known as ANZACs, and the pride they took in that name endures to this day.
Why is this day special to Australians?
When war broke out in 1914, Australia had been a federal commonwealth for only 13 years. The new national government was eager to establish its reputation among the nations of the world. In 1915 Australian and New Zealand soldiers formed part of the allied expedition that set out to capture the Gallipoli peninsula in order to open the Dardanelles to the allied navies. The ultimate objective was to capture Constantinople (now Istanbul in Turkey), the capital of the Ottoman Empire, an ally of Germany.
The Australian and New Zealand forces landed on Gallipoli on 25 April, meeting fierce resistance from the Ottoman Turkish defenders. What had been planned as a bold stroke to knock Turkey out of the war quickly became a stalemate, and the campaign dragged on for eight months. At the end of 1915 the allied forces were evacuated, after both sides had suffered heavy casualties and endured great hardships. Over 8,000 Australian soldiers had been killed. News of the landing on Gallipoli had made a profound impact on Australians at home, and 25 April soon became the day on which Australians remembered the sacrifice of those who had died in the war....
April 25, 2010 - 11:54AM AAP
Australia's identity has been shaped by the sacrifices made by the Anzacs, says Prime Minister Kevin Rudd.
Mr Rudd was addressing the national Anzac Day service in Canberra where thousands of people have gathered in front of the Australian War Memorial.
"It shapes deeply our nation's memory, it shapes deeply how we see the world, 100 years later it shapes still what we do in the world," he said.
[...]
Mr Rudd said each generation of Australians had a duty to pass the Anzac torch of values onto the next generation.
Those values were courage, sacrifice, compassion, mateship, and a deeper humanity - exemplified by the post-war relationship between Turkey and Australia.
"These are good values, important values, values for a nation, yet values still of a broader and richer canvas that a narrow nationalism that simply lauds one people over another," he said.
"We have become by tradition a nation that does not resile from a fight when fight we must."
Trooper Mark Donaldson, the most recent Victoria Cross recipient, believes the Anzac tradition continues to burn bright.
"To be honest, I think it is growing and growing in strength," Trooper Donaldson, the first Australian VC recipient in almost 40 years, told reporters after Sydney's dawn service.
"I don't think it has lost meaning at all...."
Read the rest of this here. And yes, Australia is in Afghanistan. Currently there are approximately 1,550 ADF in the coalition in Afghanistan. For more details, go here.
Support to the Global War on Terror
Australia supports the need for action by the international community to combat terrorism. In conjunction with our regional partners, allies and other countries, Australia is playing a leading role in the Asia-Pacific region and, making a significant contribution to the global fight against terrorism.(Here)
Sgt. Anund C. Roark
20 years old from Vallejo, California
Company C, 1st Battalion, 12th Infantry Regiment, 4th Infantry Division
February 17, 1948 - May 16, 1968
The President of the United States of America, in the name of Congress, takes pride in presenting the Medal of Honor (Posthumously) to Sergeant Anund Charles Roark, United States Army, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty while serving with Company C, 1st Battalion, 12th Infantry Regiment, 4th Infantry Division, in action against enemy aggressor forces at Kontum Province, Republic of Vietnam, on 16 May 1968.
Sergeant Roark was the point squad leader of a small force which had the mission of rescuing 11 men in a hilltop observation post under heavy attack by a company-size force, approximately 1,000 meters from the battalion perimeter. As lead elements of the relief force reached the besieged observation post, intense automatic weapons fire from enemy occupied bunkers halted their movement.
Without hesitation, Sergeant Roark maneuvered his squad, repeatedly exposing himself to withering enemy fire to hurl grenades and direct the fire of his squad to gain fire superiority and cover the withdrawal of the outpost and evacuation of its casualties. Frustrated in their effort to overrun the position, the enemy swept the hilltop with small arms and volleys of grenades. Seeing a grenade land in the midst of his men, Sergeant Roark, with complete disregard for his safety, hurled himself upon the grenade, absorbing its blast with his body.
Sergeant Roark's magnificent leadership and dauntless courage saved the lives of many of his comrades and were the inspiration for the successful relief of the outpost. His actions which culminated in the supreme sacrifice of his life were in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service, and reflect great credit on himself and the United States Army.
These brave men and women sacrifice so much in their lives just so others may get to enjoy freedom. For that I am proud to call them Hero.
Those Who Say That We're In A Time When There Are No Heroes, They Just Don't Know Where To LookThis post is part of the Wednesday Hero Blogroll. For more information about Wednesday Hero, or if you would like to post it on your site, you can go here.
Terrorism has once again exploded on the streets of America, and the usual suspects of 'expert consultants' have been rushing in front of media cameras to pontificate - noisily and ignorantly - about the who/what/why; this even as the Massachusetts National Guard, and First Responders, do what they do so well: provide care to the injured, the terrorised.
The POTUS may have been reluctant to call what happened an 'act of terrorism,' but those who have already seen the evil face of terrorism up close and personal showed no such reticence calling the cowardly attack what it is: TERRORISM.
In amongst the overwhelming noise of 24/7 msm absurd feeding of the fear and anger felt by America - participants and non-participants alike - some dispassionate, logical voices could be heard dissecting the reality of what happened.
As usual, War On Terror News shares insights that the ignoramuses in the msm could never hope to understand:
04/17/2013
Terrorism strikes Boston
Three
were killed and more than 100 were injured. Two explosive devices (at
least) were used. The target was not the military, or even government
officials that could be characterized as having a legitimate role in
military affairs. That makes it terrorism. Terrorism has a
goal of inflicting terror in an otherwise unafflicted population. It
does so by making a population feel as if the terrorists can strike at
will against whomever they desire. It does so by making security and
government officials appear incapable of protecting the populace from
the terrorists. It has a goal of convincing the population to force the
government to bow to its desires. It does so, for a profit.
It does not matter if the terrorists are white, arab, asian, black,
or hispanic. An act of terrorism is terrorism, period. Terrorism is
not just a prank, like setting a trashcan on fire, and not just a crime
conducted by organized crime.
It is not just a crime, but also an act of war. It is not just an
act of war, but a war crime. As an act of war, the Geneva Convention
affords that those involved can be held, without trial, until the
cessation of hostilities. As war criminals, the Geneva Conventions hold
that they can be tried, and if convicted, held beyond the end of
hostilities. In particular circumstances, the Geneva Conventions afford
a death penalty to war criminals, including those who use terrorism as a
tactic or strategy.
While there is no substantial proof in public that this was an act of international terrorism, there is less evidence that it was a case of domestic
terrorism. While the media pontificated yesterday that it could have
been an innocent natural gas explosion, and when they finally abandoned
that theory turned to suggesting it was domestic, their reasoning for
both suggestions was flawed....
Truth is, no matter what or who is deemed ultimately responsible, the result is the same: innocent citizens brutally injured, innocent children killed, and of course, people very afraid and angry. Anger and fear are natural human responses to such inhumane, cowardly acts of terrorism, and WOTN provides strategies that we can all use to mitigate the feelings of helplessness, fear and anger when confronted with such loathsome events.:
But the question of the common man is "What can or should I
do?!?!" The answer is to reach down inside, and find your resolve,
your resolve to not be afraid. There were more people killed and
injured on the streets of Massachusetts by traffic accidents, than by
explosives, last week. Of 310 Million Americans, this act of terrorism
only killed 3 people. We don't fear cars, nor phones on which text
messaging has become the number one factor in accident fatalities.
That does not mean that you should pretend terrorism does not exist. You should
have a plan for what you would do if someone entered your building or
office or shopping mall with a bomb, or even a firearm. You should
think about this NOW. You should decide NOW, under what circumstances
you would KILL the attacker, and consider the means you would use. You
should decide NOW how you would assist the injured, learn how to help
the injured, and when your duties would require instead that you protect
your child or others.
And you should come to grips with the fact that following an
explosive event, your pure intentions to help, could mean that you're
just a person in the way. You should come to grips with the fact that
an explosion occurs in a split second. You need not fear it. An
explosion will kill some, injure others, and leave others unscathed. It
is over in an instant. There is little anyone can do about it, and
most victims of it have no idea it is coming. You can keep your eye out for suspicious behavior, for suspicious packages, and avoid them, or report them.
[...]
You must come to grips with the fact
that evil does exist in the world, that there are a minority of
psychotic people who will kill, maim, injure, or steal from you, for
nothing more than their own personal entertainment, but possibly by
justifying their actions as "part of the greater good," or even to
"teach you a lesson." What stands between you and evil, are the
Sheepdogs, Military and Law Enforcement, but when the Wolf knocks on
your door, it is YOU that is your first defense, no matter how willing
the Sheepdog is to deal death to the Wolf that would do you harm.
"Situational Awareness" or being observant and alert to the world
around you, to the possibility of evil knocking on your door, is your
most potent defense. Paranoia is your enemy, as is anger and blissful
ignorance, but recognizing when someone is behaving abnormally can save
your life. If the hair on the back of your neck stands up, don't ignore
it. Explore why your subconscious is warning you.
Having a plan, preconceived, of what you would do, if you were
confronted with any variety of bad situations will help you, if you face
any of them. The fewer responses you can identify for the greatest
number of incidents is the best. People "freeze" because their mind is
overwhelmed, and cannot decide between responses. Decide, and consider,
ahead of time, for as many events as you can imagine.
But don't stick your head back in the sand, and don't allow fear to
stop you from doing the things you must do. Live your life, but be
aware of your surroundings. Support Our Troops, and their mission to
keep you safe, but be ready if the enemy slips in, to your door. The
Israelis have done it for decades. Our Troops volunteered to fight the
enemy in their backyard, so you could be safe in yours...
Laughing Wolf's piece is a must read, practical response to the ongoing threats of terrorism. Make no mistake, terrorism will remain a constant within our society, no matter what any politician would like you to believe. I remember when President GW Bush was ridiculed in the aftermath of 9/11 he told Americans to "go shopping, " In reality, that was a perfect response to the more than justified fear and anger. If any of us give in to the fear that can paralyse us, prevent us from living our lives, then the terrorists have won and I, for one, refuse to give them that power.
Both WOTN and LW warn against complacency, which is absolutely crucial. Not one of us can afford to stick our heads in the sand, and hope that if we ignore it, this global terrorism will not affect us. If nothing else, this last weekend in Boston has been a graphic reminder that such days of innocence are long gone.
Am I advocating we remain perpetually fearful, afraid to go about our daily business? Of course not, but I am adamantly advocating that we ALL need to be aware at all times of our surroundings.
Now, more than ever, we must not allow any terrorist coward to dictate how we will live.
Senior Airman Austin Stoker replenishes a .50-caliber machine gun after a training mission in Afghanistan in March.
Photo courtesy U.S. Air Force taken by Tech. Sgt. Dennis J. Henry Jr.
These brave men and women sacrifice so much in their lives just so others may get to enjoy freedom. For that I am proud to call them Hero.
Those Who Say That We're In A Time When There Are No Heroes, They Just Don't Know Where To LookThis post is part of the Wednesday Hero Blogroll. For more information about Wednesday Hero, or if you would like to post it on your site, you can go here.
It seems some people have their knickers in a knot because POTUS (nor any of the current MIC administration) will be at Baroness Thatcher's funeral. For the record, I am thrilled that none of the current mob will be attending, because maybe this means the focus can stay where it should: on Margaret Thatcher.... I have no inside sources, of course, but I suspect that Margaret Thatcher herself is laughing at the indignation over the *snub* supposedly dealt by the absence of Obama and his usual overly ostentatious entourage. Me? I am delighted he is staying home. To me, it is appropriate that the US be represented by two from the Reagan era, secretaries of state James Baker and George Shultz.
Clashes at Guantanamo over hunger strike prisoners
Prisoners and guards have
clashed at Guantanamo Bay as authorities moved inmates, many of whom
are on hunger strike, out of communal cellblocks.
The move came after detainees covered surveillance cameras and windows, a US Army spokesman said.
He said some prisoners used "improvised weapons" and in response "four less-than-lethal rounds" were fired.
The Pentagon says 43 prisoners are on hunger strike, but lawyers for the detainees say the number is higher.
Almost a dozen are being force-fed, according to military officials.
There were no "serious injuries to guards or detainees" in
Saturday's clashes, according to Capt Robert Durand of the US military's
Southern Command.
"I know for sure that one detainee was hit but the injuries
were minor, just some bruises," another spokesman, Col Greg Julian, told
the Associated Press.
Lawyers for some of the detainees condemned the camp authorities' actions....
The BBC has more here - of course - on how *frustrated* the guests at GITMO are with the deplorable conditions (*cough cough*) and miserable lives these men lead in the Hilton of prisons.
Diane Fairben, mother of 9/11 EMT-P Keith Fairben, who lost his life that day:
These
guards at GITMO are subjected daily to the most disgusting things
thrown at them, and more. I am glad to read none of them were hurt, and
no detainees either. The conditions they have are far better than US
prisons. This country has made sure of that, and that they get US
constitutional rights. Kind of wacky, considering none are US citizens.
Steven Crowder went to GITMO and released a video of the terrible conditions:
Take a look at the reality that IS GITMO:
Pretty damn torturous, huh?
And for those who would still insist that the terrorists suffer all manner of deprivations and inhumane conditions in GITMO, Crowder has this:
Hunger strike as political theatre? If I had my way, these'hunger strikers' would join Bobby Sands, but that's just me! Yeah, let them eat - or NOT!
Over at This Ain't Hell, the sad, whining of on e of the "dear, innocent" residents of GITMO is highlighted. GO read. It is to weep about the inhumanity.(well, no, not really.)
Guantanamo Commander Orders Single-cell Living For Detainees
American Forces Press Service
WASHINGTON, April 14, 2013 – The commander of Joint Task Force
Guantanamo ordered the transition of detainees from communal to
single-cell living at Camp VI at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, to ensure the
health and security of those detainees, according to a task force news
release issued yesterday.
The commander, Navy Rear Adm. John W. Smith Jr., ordered the change
early yesterday morning. This action was taken in response to efforts by
detainees to limit the guard force's ability to observe the detainees
by covering surveillance cameras, windows, and glass partitions,
according to the release, which noted that round-the-clock monitoring is
necessary to ensure security, order, and safety.
In order to
reestablish proper observation, the guards entered the Camp VI communal
living spaces to transition detainees into single cells, remove
obstructions to cameras, windows and partitions, and medical personnel
conducted individual assessments of each detainee, the release said.
The ongoing detainee hunger strike necessitated these medical
assessments, the release said. Some detainees resisted with improvised
weapons, and in response, four less-than-lethal rounds were fired. There
were no serious injuries to guards or detainees.
The mission
of Joint Task Force Guantanamo is to provide for the safe, legal, and
humane care and custody of detainees. All detainees will continue to be
treated in a safe, humane manner, according to the release.
The political landscape in Canada changed again yesterday as the Trudeau campaign machine saw the eldest son of late Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau garner 80% of the eligible votes to become leader of what is currently called the 'third party' on Canada's federal stage..
Newly elected Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau will face his first test
when he appears in question period on Monday, after MPs return to Ottawa
following a two-week stretch in their ridings.
All eyes will be on how well the young Trudeau, the eldest son of
former prime minister Pierre Elliott Trudeau, performs against Prime
Minister Stephen Harper, who is expected to be in the House.
In an interview airing Sunday with CBC News anchor Peter Mansbridge,
Trudeau said his first question to Harper would be about some of “the
many concerns” that have come up during the course of the five-month
leadership race.
Harper found himself tongue-tied when he referred to Trudeau as a “minister” rather the member from Papineau.
Trudeau conceded to Mansbridge that he was nervous because it was his
first question to the prime minister, but quickly added that Harper's
nervousness was “a source of some speculation and amusement.”...
Justin Trudeau's acceptance speech, and more, here. AsTrudeau Part Deux enters the next phase on the road to 24 Sussex Drive (Prime Minister of Canada,) politics in Canada once again got interesting.
The UN passed a 'historic' bill banning the exporting conventional weapons in violation of arms embargoes, or
weapons that would be used for acts of genocide, crimes against
humanity, war crimes or terrorism.
From the BBC:
The UN General Assembly
has adopted a historic treaty to control the trade in conventional arms,
voting it through by a huge majority.
Member-states voted by 154 votes to three, with 23 abstentions, to control a trade worth $70bn (£46bn) annually.
The treaty went to a vote after Syria, Iran and North Korea blocked its adoption by consensus. Russia and China, some of the world's biggest exporters, were among those who abstained from the vote in New York.
The treaty prohibits states from exporting conventional
weapons in violation of arms embargoes, or weapons that would be used
for acts of genocide, crimes against humanity, war crimes or terrorism. It also requires states to prevent conventional weapons reaching the black market.
Washington welcomed the move, with Secretary of State John Kerry
describing the treaty as "strong, effective, and implementable". ...
A United Nations panel says weaponry from Libya is spreading across North Africa to Gaza and Syria “at an alarming rate.”
The five-expert committee said in a 94-page report sent Tuesday to
the U.N. Security Council that illegal transfers of arms from Libya to
armed groups and terrorists have been proven.
The arms trafficking violations involved more than 12 countries and
included light and heavy ordnance, such as portable air defense systems,
mines, explosive materials, ammunition and small arms.
The panel made 28 visits to 15 nations in the Middle East, Africa and
Europe. Ten of those visits were within Libya alone, The Washington
Post reported.
“Libya has over the past two years become a significant and
attractive source of weaponry in the region,” since the fall of 41-year
Libyan dictator Muammar Qaddafi in 2011," the report said. “The lack of
an effective security system remains one of the primary obstacles to
securing military materiel and controlling the borders.”...
Colonel William Bowers, commanding officer of 6th Marine Corps District, awards the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal to Sgt. Darryl Greenwood, a recruiter from Recruiting Sub Station Germantown, Recruitng Station Nashville, Tenn., after the graduation of Fox Company aboard Parris Island, S.C., April 5, 2013.
Greenwood received the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal as an impact award for his outstanding achievement and performance as a recruiter over the past year and for recruiting one of the four honor graduates of Fox Company, Lance Corporal Daniel Horvath. Greenwood's outstanding performance as a recruiter has directly impacted the quality of recruits being shipped to Parris Island each year, helping mold the future our Corps and meeting our Nation’s national security needs.
Photo By: Cpl Gabrielle Bustos
These brave men and women sacrifice so much in their lives just so others may get to enjoy freedom. For that I am proud to call them Hero.
Those Who Say That We're In A Time When There Are No Heroes, They Just Don't Know Where To LookThis post is part of the Wednesday Hero Blogroll. For more information about Wednesday Hero, or if you would like to post it on your site, you can go here.
The end of 40 Commando’s (40 Cdo’s) tour marks the end of more than a decade of Royal Marines deployments in the country.
At Main Operating Base (MOB) Price, troops from 40 Cdo
symbolically lowered the Royal Navy’s white ensign - that has flown
above their base in the Nahr-e Saraj district for the past 6 months -
the last time the flag will fly in Helmand province.
First in, last out
40 Cdo is the final
Royal Marine unit to serve in Afghanistan after successive deployments
which have seen the Green Berets serve in areas such as Sangin, Nahr-e
Saraj and Musa Qal’ah.
40 Cdo was also the
very first British unit to deploy to the country in 2001, securing
Bagram airfield and going on to patrol the streets of Kabul. The
equivalent to over 14,000 Royal Marines have deployed on operations in
Afghanistan since then.
The 7,200-strong Royal Marines Corps has deployed its own units to
Afghanistan 12 times, with many Marines also deploying attached to other
units with various brigades over the past 12 years....
Margaret Thatcher became Prime Minister of England a few years after I left 'England, MY England,' (D H Lawrence reference for those unaware,) but over the years I have followed her career with interest and watched her undeniable impact on the British way of life.
When I first heard this morning of her death from a stroke, the first thing that came to mind was her unflinching response to IRA Bobby Sands' hunger strike, and her unswerving decision to reclaim the Falkland Islands after the Argentinians decided to occupy those British territories. (An interesting video on the Empire striking back, here.)
In the hours following the announcement that yes, she has actually died, I have been listening to the global responses to her death. I don't know that there is ever a good time to die - for any of us - but I have to think that Margaret Thatcher would not be pleased with the state of the world today. It occurs to me that the current POTUS should probably be relieved that he has not had to face the indomitable Iron Lady during his own term(s) in office. Margaret Thatcher's principles and philosophy were diametrically opposed to every decision, in any arena, which he and his 'most transparent ever' government have forced on the American people - often behind closed doors.
Margaret Thatcher:
"I
think we’ve been through a period where too many people have been given
to understand that if they have a problem, it’s the Government’s job to
cope with it. “I have a problem, I’ll get a grant.” “I’m homeless, the
Government must house me.” They’re casting their problems on society.
And you know, there’s no such thing as society. There are individual men
and women, and there are families. And no government can do anything
except through people, and people must look to themselves first. It’s
our duty to look after ourselves and then, also, to look after our
neighbors. People have got their entitlements too much in mind, without
the obligations. There is no such thing as entitlement, unless someone
has first met an obligation.
Margaret Thatcher, was Britain's longest serving (1979-1990) Prime Minister in the 20th century. The only female British leader, she took on the old boys club, and showed the world that she was more than capable of standing her ground. That she hated bullies was obvious in everything she did. Her determination to reshape Britain's economic polices, and future, brought her into direct conflict with the trade unions of the day. Arthur Scargill and the miners union was one of her fiercest domestic battles. For an interesting synopsis, look here.
Another classic example of her tough stance on bullies was her leadership on the Iranian Embassy siege in London in 1980 when she unleashed the might of the SAS on British soil (From Wiki) :
Iranian embassy siege
Thatcher's determination to face down political violence was first demonstrated during the 1980 siege of the Iranian embassy in Princes Gate, London,
when for the first time in 70 years the armed forces were authorised to
use lethal force on the British mainland. 26 hostages were held by six
gunmen for six days in May, until the siege came to a dramatic end with a
successful raid by SAS
commandos. Later that day, 'Thatcher went to congratulate the SAS men
involved and sat among them watching a re-run of the attack'.[12] The breaking of the siege by the SAS was later celebrated by the public as one of television's greatest moments.[13]
The appearance of decisiveness—christened the 'resolute approach' by
the prime minister herself—became Thatcher's trademark, and a source of
her popularity.[14] In the words of one historian: 'The mood reflected Mrs Thatcher's Iron Lady stance, her proclaimed intention of laying the "Suez Syndrome"
to rest and again projecting Britain as a great power. Celebration of
the SAS was a key component in the popular militarism of the 1980s,
fuelled by the continuing "war" against international terrorism and by the Falklands conflict and Gulf War.
The storming of the Iranian Embassy had shown that Britain could meet
terror with counter-terror: Mrs Thatcher's black-clad "terminators"
would protect us.'[15]
Commenting on the SAS's action, social services secretaryNorman Fowler
agreed: 'Mrs. Thatcher attracted public support because she seemed to
be taking action which the public overwhelmingly thought was right but
never thought any government would have the nerve to carry out.’[16]
One of the first signs that Margaret Thatcher meant to be anything BUT politics/business as usual came when she was Education Secretary, prior to her Prime Minister-ship.
From the Beeb:
Margaret Thatcher's decision to end free school milk for
the over-sevens earned her the nickname "Thatcher, Thatcher Milk
Snatcher".
The economic outlook was bleak when Edward Heath was returned to power
in 1970 and the Tories had to take some drastic measures to meet
election pledges on tax.
The most infamous cut of all was the decision to end free school milk....
[...]
She has argued that ending free milk for all but nursery and primary
children would free more money to spend on other areas of education,
like new buildings.
At present free milk for primary school children costs £14m a year - twice as much as is being spent on school books.
In a full year the saving on milk provision will be about £9m.
Mrs Thatcher told MPs the Chief Medical Officer had been consulted on
the plans and he had advised that it was not possible to predict whether
the withdrawal of free milk would harm children's diets and overall
health. ...
The impact of Thatcher's steadfast implementation of her philosophies - vision - has been much debated over the years, and many books have been written. So today, everybody and their dog (except Bratdog, of course!) have rushed to comment:
John Boehner of the US says:
'Margaret Thatcher, a grocer’s daughter, stared down elites, union
bosses, and communists to win three consecutive elections, establish
conservative principles in Western Europe, and bring down the Iron
Curtain. There was no secret to her values – hard work and personal responsibility – and no nonsense at all in her leadership
George W Bush on Thatcher's death:
“Laura
and I are saddened by the death of Baroness Margaret Thatcher. She was
an inspirational leader who stood on principle and guided her nation
with confidence and clarity. Prime Minister Thatcher is a great example
of strength and character, and a great ally who strengthened the
special relationship between the United Kingdom and the United States.
Laura and I join the people of Great Britain in remembering the life and
leadership of this strong woman and friend.”
Former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice
“I am deeply saddened by the
news of the passing of Baroness Thatcher. There was no more potent
force in the defense of freedom than this remarkable woman. Her
unshakable belief in the universal appeal of liberty helped to steer the
free world through treacherous times until communism was defeated and
Europe emerged whole, free and a peace.
I was honored to know her
and to be inspired by her. Baroness Thatcher will be missed but
generations will draw strength from the memory of her passion for
freedom.”
Sarah Palin:
We’re deeply saddened at the loss of Margaret
Thatcher. While the Iron Lady is sadly gone, her iron will, her
unfailing trust in what is right and just, and her lessons to all of us
will live on forever. She was a trailblazer like no other. We lost an
icon, but her legacy, as solid as iron, will live on in perpetuity.
Margaret Thatcher will continue to have her admirers and her detractors. A friend of mine quoted an obvious detractor this morning:
Quite apart from the stunning ignorance this comment displays, it is probably just as well for Brazile that Margaret Thatcher is not able to reply right now, but I think if she was, this (again quoted by another social media friend) would be more than appropriate:
“I owe nothing to women’s lib,” “The feminists hate me, don’t they? And I don’t blame them. For I hate feminism. It is poison.”
To really make the point, and one of my personal faves from the Iron Lady?
Fact is, Thatcher was, and will remain, a divisive figure. Love her or hate her, nobody paying any attention could remain indifferent. I did not agree with all her policies, although I totally supported her stance on the European Common Market - the precursor to the EU of today. To my mind, her views and commentary then have all been proven to be valid, as we watch David Cameron still wrestling in a milquetoast manner with Britain's future role (or not) in the EU.
"I want my money back!" At the European Union summit in Dublin, 1980
"We have not successfully rolled back the frontiers of the
state in Britain only to see them re-imposed at a European level, with a
European superstate exercising a new dominance from Brussels." 1988
"No! No! No!" House of Commons 20 October 1990, the
climax of an anti-European outburst that moved Geoffrey Howe to quit as
deputy prime minister and deliver the resignation speech calling for her
to be challenged for her job
There are many, many links out there today rehashing/revisiting the legacy of Margaret Thatcher. One of my favourites is an interview that she did with the CBC on a visit to Canada. THIS is the quintessential Thatcher in my opinion (and yes, I must confess I enjoyed the classy way that Thatcher keeps the interviewer in her place. Reminds me of another person I know who always enjoys keeping the msm journalists in their place - but I digress.lol)
Margaret Thatcher's political career ultimately ended as the result of a mutiny within the old boys club of her own party. She survived an IRA bomb attack on a Brighton hotel in 1984,but was unable to quell dissension within her own ranks.
Margaret Thatcher leaves 10 Downing Street in London for the last time as British prime minister on November 27, 1990.(c) AFP
Ladies and Gentlemen, [voice breaking a little on ‘Gentlemen’]
We're leaving Downing Street for the last time after
eleven-and-a-half wonderful years, and we're very happy that we leave
the United Kingdom in a very, very much better state than when we came
here eleven and a half years ago.
It's been a tremendous privilege to serve this country as Prime
Minister—wonderfully happy years—and I'm immensely grateful to the staff
who supported me so well, and may I also say a word of thanks to all
the people who sent so many letters, still arriving, and for all the
flowers.
Now it's time for a new chapter to open and I wish John
Major all the luck in the world. He'll be splendidly served and he has
the makings of a great Prime Minister, which I'm sure he'll be in very
short time.
Thank you very much. Goodbye.
[Applause]
Whether you love her or hate her, nobody could ever doubt her love of country, her passion for principle, her willingness to put her convictions ahead of personal popularity and, last but not least, her iron balls. We will not see her like again.
Thank YOU very much, Baroness Thatcher. Rest In Peace.
