tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8755035051021414780.post4813432945299006122..comments2023-11-17T03:55:40.736-05:00Comments on Ink Spots: One day at warLilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18373158801523577733noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8755035051021414780.post-55701261000110007282009-09-16T17:44:02.684-04:002009-09-16T17:44:02.684-04:00I visited a FOB for the first time in early 2005 (...I visited a FOB for the first time in early 2005 (traveled there with my (E-4) supply sergeant because the "Soldiers" running the class II and IX yards couldn't seem to be bothered to give him supplies). I was dumbstruck to see the amenities and incredibly comfortable lifestyle afforded to the FOB-dwellers (though that was nothing in comparison to what I would see on a later deployment). The next day, my patrol base received a two-week-old copy of Stars and Stripes. In it, I read an article in which a politician was complaining that our troops were being neglected and not given sufficient equipment to do their jobs. My take was that they were being given far too much, thus distracting them from their jobs. Why does the AAFES PX/BX need an entire aisle of lingerie, condoms, perfume, and cologne in a combat zone? For that matter, why do you need a fricken BX/PX?Schmedlaphttp://www.schmedlap.com/weblognoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8755035051021414780.post-51587797899545342842009-09-16T13:25:05.927-04:002009-09-16T13:25:05.927-04:00Oh, and to the substance of this post, yes, absolu...Oh, and to the substance of this post, yes, absolutely it is important to remember, as fnord so colorfully puts it, that all of this discussion is not some glorified game of RISK, but real people doing real things in real time. Well, I know you all know that. It's the reason I prefer sites such as this, and also privilege many milblogs.Madhuhttp://onparkstreet.wordpress.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8755035051021414780.post-44470234073083550222009-09-16T13:21:45.836-04:002009-09-16T13:21:45.836-04:00Alex Engwete: yes, I heard the same Sen. Graham qu...Alex Engwete: yes, I heard the same Sen. Graham questioning of Admiral Mullen (it's an interesting hearing, for many reasons), but I interpreted that little performance as a bit of political theater and trying to lead the Admiral to a final 'answer' of more troops.<br /><br />I also found the very initial part of the hearing amusing: because of the misunderstandings around the use of the word strategy. In other words, the Senators and Admiral Mullen were at pains to explain that the McChrystal strategic review was not a 'new strategy,' and rather, an implementation of strategy review. <br /><br />May I humbly submit that naming something a Strategic Review is kind of confusing to the general public, leading to some of the confusion in the reporting of the last few weeks or so?<br /><br />The correct use of language is important, particularly when communicating with a layperson, or an audience of laypersons....Madhuhttp://onparkstreet.wordpress.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8755035051021414780.post-37541146115066130362009-09-16T13:03:52.584-04:002009-09-16T13:03:52.584-04:00I have been waiting for this book to come out for ...I have been waiting for this book to come out for SO LONG! Finally!Tintinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15592358121800046008noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8755035051021414780.post-8520276763376035352009-09-16T12:41:54.485-04:002009-09-16T12:41:54.485-04:00Oh, man... I just read the horrific account of the...Oh, man... I just read the horrific account of the end of Spc Joshua Reeves! Terrible and haunting... The talk of politicians acting as Drs. Know-it-all on war now sound hollow in my ears... Was it yesterday that I saw on TV the same Sen. Lindsey Graham questioning Admiral Mike Mullen and marveling at how the Talibans had not yet been wiped out though they didn't have one single tank?... Thanks for this post, and thanks to David Finkel for this memorial to Spc Reeves! And may he--and the other fallen--rest in peace!Alex Engwetehttp://alexengwete.afrikblog.com/noreply@blogger.com