The large propane tank on the outskirts of the Iraqi village seemed innocent enough.But in a matter of minutes, the 3rd Infantry Division soldiers conducting a routine convoying would find themselves in the middle of a scene reminiscent of the Oscar-nominated movie "The Hurt Locker," after Iraqi villagers inform them of a suspected improvised-explosive device planted by the town's fuel supply.For soldiers of the 4th Brigade Combat Team, Thursday was just day two of Vanguard Focus, a 10-day training exercise that's geared toward preparing them for Fort Irwin's National Training Center - and ultimately a year-long deployment to Iraq that begins in July. It will be the brigade's second deployment since it was activated May 26, 2004.The above is the opening to Pamela E. Walck's "
4th Brigade soldiers train for NTC, Iraq deployment" (
Savannah Now). And they're not the only ones gearing up to deploy to Iraq.
Amanda Kim Stairrett (Killeen Daily Herald) reports from Fort Hood on the Florida Army National Guard's 53rd Infantry Brigade Combat Team which is gearing up for their second deployment to Iraq while
Casey Gisclair (Tri-Parish Times) reports many Louisiana members of the 256th Infantry Brigade are at Camp Shelby preparing to deploy for Iraq. Matt Fakeir says of the deployment, "The sooner we get there, the sooner it will be over with. We're going to go in there, achieve our goal, then come home."
Sunday a US helicopter in Iraq crashed killing Marcus Ray Alford and Billie Jean Grinder of Troop C, 1/230th Air Cavalry in Louisville.
Blount Today quotes Tennessee's Adjustant General, Maj Gen Max Haston, stating, "Words cannot express my extreme sorrow at the loss of these outstanding soldiers, and my heartfelt sympathy goes out to the families and friends of these valiant warriors. Tennessee has lost two brave volunteers who truly believed in what they were doing to ensure a free Iraq. This loss is felt not only in the Tennessee National Guard, but throughout the entire military community. We shall miss them greatly. We are still a nation at war, and we must continue to keep our soldiers, sailors, Marines and Airmen in our daily thoughts and prayers."
This week the
Palm Center issued the following press release:
SANTA BARBARA, CA, February 24, 2010 – Congressman Jim Moran read a letter on the floor of the House of Representatives today from an active duty soldier in Afghanistan. Congressman Moran stated that the soldier had, "learned that a fellow soldier was also gay, only after he was killed by an IED in Iraq. The partner of the deceased soldier wrote the unit to say how much the victim had loved the military; how they were the only family he had ever known." The soldier originally provided the letter in response to an inquiry for the Pentagon’s current study of “don’t ask, don't tell."This is the second publicly known case of a gay soldier killed in action during the current wars in the Middle East. The first was U.S. Army Major Alan Rogers, who died while on patrol in Iraq in January, 2008. Statisticians have estimated that more than 200 gay and lesbian service members have perished since the onset of the conflict. Military leaders this week suggested in Congressional hearings that gay and lesbian troops disrupt the force.Dr. Nathaniel Frank stated that, "It is important to honor the sacrifice of all American troops, and we do so today and always." Frank is Senior Research Fellow at the Palm Center.Next month is the seventh anniversary of the Iraq War which officially began in March of 2003. The
Mercury News has compiled a list of the fallen -- from either the Iraq War or the Afghanistan War -- "who called Santa Clara or San Mateo County home or grew up here through high school" and are asking that people check the list to make sure there were no omissions and, if one is discovered, to contact the paper at military@mercurynews.com so they can examine whether or not they've accidentally left someone off. The list currently has 19 names.
Steven Dale Green is someone I'm not interested in this morning at all. The War Criminal is appealing his conviction (he devised the criminal conspiracy to gang-rape and murder Abeer Qassim al-Janabi and the fourteen-year-old girl's parents as well as her five-year-old sister). Brett Barrouquere (
AP) has long covered this case and because
he's got an update on the process, I'll put a link in.
We'll note this from the
Democratic Policy Committee:
Promoting Travel and Tourism Will Create Jobshttp://dpc.senate.gov/multimedia/dorgan022410.jpg SENATOR BYRON DORGAN (D-ND) – Travel Promotion Bill Creates 500,000 Jobs, Reduces Deficit, Strengthens America’s Standing in World -- Senate floor speech on 2/24/10 (01:19). Click here to view or embed this video.
