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Largest Re-enlistment Ceremony - Ever I'm sure you already know about this. It was shown over and over on TV, right? OK, so maybe it wasn't shown over and over, but surely it was shown on TV at least one time, wasn't it ? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6aAU1XE8MQk This was the largest re-enlistment ceremony ever held in military history. The ceremony was held on the 4th of July, 2008 at Al Faw Palace, Baghdad , Iraq . General David Petraeus officiated.. This amazing story was ignored by the 'mainstream' media. For those who have been in the Al Faw Palace, you'll have a...

By now you would think that diplomats, analysts, and military planners in Washington would understand that China, a nation that was the world’s sole superpower for centuries, today is preparing to regain that role — in other words, to first make itself a peer competitor of the United States and then push us aside. It cannot attain these goals without a military that is better than America’s, especially on the sea, in the air, and in space. Why do we turn a naive and blind eye to Beijing's massive military build-up?....

Russian live missile fire air exercise near Alaska. http://debka.com/article_print.php?aid=1360 and Russian warships heads for exercise with Venezuelan navy http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/europe/article4887728.ece

Germany's governing coalition partners want to change the constitution to allow for military deployment within the country if needed to combat terrorism, officials said Monday. The proposal would allow use of the military only if police are overwhelmed and cannot properly respond to a situation themselves. "It is not to be used generally, but only in very specific cases," Interior Ministry spokeswoman Daniela-Alexandra Pietsch said. The center-left Social Democratic Party - which makes up half of Chancellor Angela Merkel's coalition - had been opposed to the proposal but agreed late Sunday after working out an agreement that includes strict guidelines...

Presidential Campaigns Join Overseas and Military Voter Outreach Effort Overseas Vote Foundation (OVF) is fielding record levels of online activity from overseas and military voters and views this as a key indicator of potentially unprecedented high levels of voter participation of overseas and military voters in Election 2008. Over 2 million visitors have come to the OVF website, or an OVF hosted website in 2008. The month of September averaged 25,000 visits per day to the combined total of 17 OVF hosted websites. Of the tens of thousands of voters that OVF has helped to register, 26% are first-time voters,...

Our Troops Rock!  Thank you for all you do!   For the freedom you enjoyed yesterday... Thank the Veterans who served in The United States Armed Forces.   Looking forward to tomorrow's freedom? Support The United States Armed Forces Today!     ~ Hall of Heroes ~ ADM Thomas H. MoorerInfo from this website.             Thomas Hinman Moorer was born in Mount Willing, Alabama, February 9, 1912, son of the late Dr. R. R. Moorer and the late Mrs. (Hulda Hill Hinson) Moorer. He was graduated from Cloverdale High School in Montgomery, Alabama, Valedictorian of the...

          COPPERMAN! While walking through San Francisco's Union Square recently I ran into COPPERMAN. He is a street entertainer, a young actor in copper paint from head to toe, who sits motionless as people walk by on the busy street. Many stop, awe-struck to see this statue-like man. You cannot even see him breathing. People leave contributions in his copper pot in appreciation for this fine "performance??" COPPERMAN sits for 25 minutes at time and then takes a break. During the break he is quite animated and eagerly shares his story with his audience. He...

   ***** ~ Canteen Music Dedication ~ *****~ Support The Artists ~   Support the artists you hear throughout the Canteen! Click on the links below! Keep the music going! ArtistDirect l  Internet Radio l  AOL Music l  Sonique (Lycos) l  Real Radio Live365 l  971TheRiver  l  GotRadio  l  Wherehouse  l  Target  l Shoutcast AFRTS l  VH1 l XM Radio l  BET l  audiophile l  Virgin Radio l  Soma (Alternative) Acaza l AudioRealm l VH1 l  Yahoo! Launch Music l  Radio Disney l  Live-Radio Net ITunes l Amazon l Salsa Radio l MTV l CMT l Ticketmaster l Billboard...

Babil and Wasit are next on the list for Provincial Iraqi Control. The Air Force may be getting F-16s while the Army trains more forces for air assault missions.

MARYVILLE - The Japanese widow of a Maryville Marine killed in Iraq has decided to bear their son in Japan. Hotaru Ferschke, 24, relayed the decision to Sgt. Michael Ferschke's mother, Robin Ferschke, on Thursday after a doctor pronounced her fit and able to make the arduous journey to the U.S. The baby, who will be named Mikey, is due Jan. 9. Hotaru Ferschke, who had come to Maryville in August to bury her husband of one month, ran into bureaucratic problems when she tried to return to the U.S. to have the baby, as she and her husband had...

~ It's Finally Friday!! ~ STORM-STALLED REAPER An MQ-9 Reaper sits in a hangar during a sandstorm at Joint Base Balad, Iraq, Sept. 15, 2008. U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Jason Epley Canteen Mission Statement Showing support and boosting the morale ofour military and our allies militaryand family members of the above.Honoring those who have served before. Pearl Harbor Port Call 080930-N-5476H-032 PEARL HARBOR, Hawaii (Sept. 30, 2008) Visitors to the USS Arizona Memorial gather along the shore to watch as the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72) moors pierside for a brief port...

More than 38 years after being recommended for a Bronze Star, a Texas man has received the medal for helping avert a Viet Cong attack in South Vietnam. Jim Greenwalt of Rockwall, Texas, a former U.S. Army sergeant, helped to prevent a surprise attack by Viet Cong, the Dallas Morning News reported Wednesday."I fired at muzzle flashes, sounds, any movement," Greenwalt said, recalling the violence that repelled a Viet Cong attack.Greenwalt's bravery on Jan. 30, 1970, was remembered at a ceremony at Fort Hood, in central Texas, after a paperwork snafu delayed the honor.The U.S. Army has awarded more than...

Welcome to the ~ Freeper Canteen ~Share Your Pet Pictures & Stories! Time to pay tribute to our beloved pets who give us unconditional love & joy. Have a funny story about a childhood pet? Perhaps your pet has some funny quirks or habits? Come share your stories! "An animal's eyes have the power to speak a great language." ~ Martin Buber "We can judge the heart of a man by his treatment of animals." ~ Immanual Kant "My little dog -- a heartbeat at my feet." ~ Edith Wharton "A cat is a puzzle for which there is...

MARYVILLE - Hotaru Ferschke, the 24-year-old Japanese widow of a U.S. Marine sergeant killed in Iraq, has been granted a temporary visa to come to America and have her baby. The granting of the visa was announced today by the Washington office of U.S. Sen. Lamar Alexander, R-Tenn., which had been working closely with the family of Sgt. Michael Ferschke to get permission for Hotaru Ferschke to come back to the U.S. to have her baby, as the sergeant had wished. The Ferschke saga has touched the residents of Blount and surrounding counties deeply ever since it was announced that...

EUCOM sends personnel to Israel to build radar system STUTTGART, Germany — U.S. military personnel pulled from units across Europe were dispatched to Israel last week to install and operate a radar system designed to bolster Israel’s defenses against a possible missile attack from Iran, EUCOM confirmed Monday. The U.S. European Command mission involves about 120 people, including soldiers, airmen and Marines, according to a EUCOM spokesman. "[The radar] was provided at the request of the Israeli government to improve their defensive capabilities," said Navy Lt. Cmdr. Corey Barker, a EUCOM spokesman. "It’s scheduled to be operational in November." The...

A US army brigade combat unit will be deployed at home for the first time, the Army Times reports. The 1st BCT (Brigade Combat Team), numbering about 650 personnel, has returned from Iraq. But rather than dealing with enemy combatants, it may be called to deal with unruly Americans. The Team "may be called upon to help with civil unrest and crowd control or to deal with potentially horrific scenarios such as massive poisoning and chaos in response to a chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear or high-yield explosive, or CBRNE, attack." The troops will be testing "a new modular package of...

Glory in his holy name; let the hearts of those who seek the LORD rejoice. Look to the LORD and his strength; seek his face always. ... Splendor and majesty are before him; strength and joy in his dwelling place. Ascribe to the LORD, O families of nations, ascribe to the LORD glory and strength. (1 Chronicles 16:10-11, 27-28)

Our Troops Rock!  Thank you for all you do!   For the freedom you enjoyed yesterday... Thank the Veterans who served in The United States Armed Forces.   Looking forward to tomorrow's freedom? Support The United States Armed Forces Today!     ~ Hall of Heroes ~ Chester M. "Whitey" MackSome info from this website.             Chester M. "Whitey" Mack, 77, of Englewood, Fla., passed away Thursday, Sept. 25, 2008. He was born July 20, 1931, in Glen Lyon, Pa. Whitey and his beloved wife, Joan, moved to Englewood in 1995 from North, Va. He was...

HonestConservative is back from vacation, rested, tanned and ready to kick some serious liberal bottom! We are honored to welcome Lee Zeldin, Republican candidate for the House as we do our bit to help good conservatives take back the house. Lee Zeldin is a Captain in the United States Army Reserves. He recently left his position as Counsel for the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, in order to practice law and devote his time to run for the United States Congress, opposing Democrat incumbant Tim Bishop in Long Island's first district. Lee earned not only his bachelor's...

National service forum at Columbia University: In remarks that clearly pointed toward the restoration of the military draft under an Obama administration, the Democratic candidate said Thursday night that his job as president would include demanding that the American people recognize an “obligation” for military service. “If we are going into war, then all of us go, not just some,” Senator Barack Obama declared.

Barack Obama played the "me too" game during the Friday debates on September 26 after Senator John McCain mentioned that he was wearing a bracelet with the name of Cpl. Matthew Stanley, a resident of New Hampshire and a soldier that lost his life in Iraq in 2006. Obama said that he too had a bracelet. After fumbling and straining to remember the name, he revealed that his had the name of Sergeant Ryan David Jopek of Merrill, Wisconsin. Shockingly, however, Madison resident Brian Jopek, the father of Ryan Jopek, the young soldier who tragically lost his life to a...

FORT CAMPBELL, Ky. — It’s a few minutes before 5 a.m. The sun isn’t up yet, but Chris Weir is. A few years ago, the Cleveland, Tenn., native might still have been in bed at this hour. He might have been dreaming about his chances of winning the Bradley County mayoral race before getting up and putting on the suit and tie that had become his uniform in the business world. But today the 28-year-old already is dressed, and he’s wearing a different kind of uniform. It’s the same kind his little brother died in. Though the fabric is fairly...

Sen. Bob Corker on Saturday voted for passage of H.R. 2638, the continuing resolution, which passed the Senate by a vote of 78 to 12. Sen. Lamar Alexander voted against the bill. The resolution funds the ongoing operations of the federal government, including Tennessee defense and military construction projects, and lifts the 25 year-old federal ban on oil exploration along the Outer Continental Shelf. The legislation must now be signed into law by the President. “This was a tough vote for me,” said Sen. Corker. “We should have considered each of the appropriations bills independently - with full debate and...

http://www.armytimes.com/news/2008/09/army_homeland_090708w/

          A MESSAGE FROM MOM I gave you life, but cannot live it for you.I can teach you things, but I cannot make you learn.I can give you directions, but I cannot be there to lead you. I can allow you freedom, but I cannot account for it.I can take you to church, but I cannot make you believe.I can teach you right from wrong, but I cannot always decide for you.I can buy you beautiful clothes, but I cannot make you beautiful inside.I can offer you advice, but I cannot accept it for you.I...

Obama stretched out his schedule for withdrawing troops from Iraq. During the debate, Obama said we could "reduce" the number of combat troops in 16 months: Obama: "Now, what I've said is we should end this war responsibly. We should do it in phases. But in 16 months we should be able to reduce our combat troops, put – provide some relief to military families and our troops and bolster our efforts in Afghanistan so that we can capture and kill bin Laden and crush al Qaeda." But in Oct. 2007, Obama supported removing all combat troops from Iraq within...

The American Soldier Dedicated to my brother, Ryan David Jopek, serving in Iraq. He has a strong heart and great amount of stubborn pride He's a brave one and he shows it with every stride I know he won't let us down as he serves our country over in a dangerous land For, even though he won't admit it, he's holding God's hand He'll fight for their freedom while helping us hold on to ours Even though he may come back with some frightening scars I love this man, they call an American Soldier I love him, he is my...

Hear, O LORD, and answer me, for I am poor and needy. Guard my life, for I am devoted to you. You are my God; save your servant who trusts in you. Have mercy on me, O Lord, for I call to you all day long. Bring joy to your servant, for to you, O Lord, I lift up my soul. You are forgiving and good, O Lord, abounding in love to all who call to you. (Psalm 86:1-5)

Please post the lies and gaffes that Obama made.    I know he made one --   Saying "the eight years the Bush administration has concentrated on Iraq." (I'm paraphrasing)   What a farce he is.     Please add the versions of Obama gaffes and detected lies that you heard.................

   ***** ~ Canteen Music Dedication ~ ***** ~ Support The Artists ~   Support the artists you hear throughout the Canteen! Click on the links below! Keep the music going! ArtistDirect l  Internet Radio l  AOL Music l  Sonique (Lycos) l  Real Radio Live365 l  971TheRiver  l  GotRadio  l  Wherehouse  l  Target  l Shoutcast AFRTS l  VH1 l XM Radio l  BET l  audiophile l  Virgin Radio l  Soma (Alternative) Acaza l AudioRealm l VH1 l  Yahoo! Launch Music l  Radio Disney l  Live-Radio Net ITunes l Amazon l Salsa Radio l MTV l CMT l Ticketmaster l...

~ Constitution Day, September 17, 1787 ~Postponed for Voter Registration We the people of the United States, in order to form a more perfect union, establish justice, insure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general welfare, and secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America. Canteen Mission Statement Showing support and boosting the morale ofour military and our allies militaryand the family members of the above.Honoring those who have served before. The Federal Convention convened in the State House (Independence Hall) in...

<p>One of the Marines cleared in the killings of Iraqi civilians in the town of Haditha plans to sue his congressman today for statements he says defamed him and other members of his squad.</p> <p>Former Marine Lance Cpl. Justin Sharratt, 24, of Canonsburg, will file a civil lawsuit against U.S. Rep. John P. Murtha, D-Johnstown, who was widely quoted two years ago saying that eight Marines carried out a cold-blooded killing of 24 civilians in the Iraqi town on Nov. 19, 2005.</p>

As you watch this video think about Iran with nuclear weapons and the recent Russian military activity in Venezuela, just to name two.

~The FReeper Canteen Asks.... How Did You Discover Freerepublic? A link from another website?Referral?Web surfing?Share your story!

WASHINGTON, Sept. 24, 2008 – As mathematical formulas and reading lists overtake kids’ memories of laughing with friends at summer camp, the National Military Family Association is already gearing up to rekindle those memories for next year. The group is accepting applications from established, accredited camps willing to host its popular Operation Purple Camp program, said Michelle Joyner, director of communication for NMFA. The program aims to help military kids enjoy a carefree week while learning to deal with war-related stress and fostering relationships with others who know what they are going through. “This past summer we had 100...

Although the conventional narrative about the Iraq war is wrong, its persistence has contributed to the most serious crisis in civil-military relations since the Civil War. According to Mr. Woodward's account, the uniformed military not only opposed the surge, insisting that their advice be followed; it then subsequently worked to undermine the president once he decided on another strategy. In one respect, the actions taken by military opponents of the surge, e.g. "foot-dragging," "slow-rolling" and selective leaking are, unfortunately, all-too-characteristic of U.S. civil-military relations during the last decade and a half. But the picture Mr. Woodward draws is far more...

Freeper Canteen: The Sesame Street Personality Quiz   Today We Want To Know...The Sesame Street Personality Quiz Click here and take the quiz! At the last question, choose HTML, then submit, to get your answer. After you do so, please post your findings in the Canteen!   Have fun! 

The Spirit of Alaska sits quietly next to The Spirit of America (82-1066) and another B-2. Taken at Whiteman AFB, Missouri (Sept. 17, 2008)

Watch Obama's video here http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IcqhoiK8-Ww

      ~The FReeper Canteen Presents~ The United States Air Force Honor Guard  Headquartered at Bolling Air Force Base, the United States Air Force Honor Guard is the official ceremonial unit of the U.S. Air Force. The Air Force Honor Guard reports to the 11th Wing in the Air Force District of Washington. Its beginnings trace back to the Air Force's infancy when Headquarters Command, U.S. Air Force, activated the 1100th Air Police Squadron as a ceremonial detachment in September 1948. Because of transfers and attrition, the detachment was disbanded by the end of the year; it was not...

China's space experts have denied any military intent in its space programme as the country readies to send its third manned launch into space, possibly as early as Thursday night. Cui Jijun, director of the Jiuquan satellite launch centre in northwestern Gansu Province where the blastoff is scheduled, dismissed concerns that the space programme would be used for military ambitions, saying that it was a scientific exploration.

    Stealthy ... Brit Jon with B2 bomber        Exclusive   RAF pilot is one hell of a guy     By JOHN KAY Published: Today     AN RAF Top Gun known as “Killers” has been recruited to fly the world’s deadliest aircraft for the elite US Grim Reapers squadron.   13th bomb squadron ... badge of the elite Grim Reapers  Squadron Leader Jon Killerby pilots the £1billion state-of-the-art Stealth Spirit B2 bomber. The former Tornado ace, 34, is based with the 13th Bomb Squadron in Missouri, US. His flying overalls sport the squadron’s badge...

Our Troops Rock!  Thank you for all you do!   For the freedom you enjoyed yesterday... Thank the Veterans who served in The United States Armed Forces.   Looking forward to tomorrow's freedom? Support The United States Armed Forces Today!     ~ Hall of Heroes ~ David KingsleyInfo from this website.             KINGSLEY, DAVID R. (Air Mission) Rank and organization: Second Lieutenant, U.S. Army Air Corps, 97th Bombardment Group, 15th Air Force. Place and date: Ploesti Raid, Rumania, 23 June 1944. Entered service at. Portland, Oregon. Birth: Oregon. G.O. No.: 26, 9 April 1945. Citation:...

EU parliament approves military use of Galileo In a majority decision on Thursday, the European parliament adopted a resolution on the importance of space for European security. The draft of the resolution submitted by Karl von Wogau, a member of the German CDU party and chairman of the European Parliament's subcommittee on security and defence, stipulated that Europe's future satellite navigation system, Galileo, should also be available for operations related to European security and defense policy (ESDP). 502 MEPs voted for the resolution, 83 against. The European Green Party proposed amendments so that Galileo could only be used for civilian...

          PULLED IN TWO DIRECTIONS Our Daily Bread ~ July 29, 1998 Read: Philippians 1:19-26 "To me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain. ... I am hard pressed between the two, having a desire to depart and be with Christ. (Philippians 1:21,23) As Christians, we are pulled in two directions. We all want to go to heaven, but this life also holds great appeal. We are like the youngster in Sunday school who listened intently while the teacher told about the beauties of heaven. She concluded by saying, "Raise your hand if...

But the noble man makes noble plans, and by noble deeds he stands. (Isaiah 32:8)

As part of our special investigation "Mission Creep: US Military Presence Worldwide," we asked a host of military thinkers to contribute their two cents on topics relating to global Pentagon strategy. (You can access the archive here.) The following dispatch comes from Katherine T. McCaffrey, an assistant professor of anthropology at Montclair State University in New Jersey and author of "Military Power and Popular Protest: The US Navy in Vieques, Puerto Rico".

In an interview with Mark Segal of the Philadelphia Gay News, Barack Obama indicated that he would not proceed unilaterally in fulfilling his promise to do away with the "don't ask, don't tell" policy for gays in the military. Instead, the Democratic presidential candidate said that he would work through a step-by-step process with the military brass. "The reason," Obama said, "is because I want to make sure that when we revert 'don't ask, don't tell,' it's gone through a process and we've built a consensus or at least a clarity of that, of what my expectations are, so that...

   ***** ~ Canteen Music Dedication ~ ***** ~ Support The Artists ~   Support the artists you hear throughout the Canteen! Click on the links below! Keep the music going! ArtistDirect l  Internet Radio l  AOL Music l  Sonique (Lycos) l  Real Radio Live365 l  971TheRiver  l  GotRadio  l  Wherehouse  l  Target  l Shoutcast AFRTS l  VH1 l XM Radio l  BET l  audiophile l  Virgin Radio l  Soma (Alternative) Acaza l AudioRealm l VH1 l  Yahoo! Launch Music l  Radio Disney l  Live-Radio Net ITunes l Amazon l Salsa Radio l MTV l CMT l Ticketmaster l...

Deputy Secretary of Defense Gordon England and Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. James E. Cartwright, U.S. Marine Corps, will host the Pentagon ceremony for National POW/MIA Recognition Day at the River Entrance Parade Field on Friday, Sept. 19, 2008, at 11 a.m. EDT. Chairman of the House Armed Services Committee Congressman Ike Skelton will be the guest speaker. Observances of National POW/MIA Recognition Day are held across the country on military installations, ships at sea, state capitols, schools and veterans' facilities. This observance is one of six days throughout the year that Congress has mandated the...