[Aquamarine]

[Aquamarine]

Welcome to The Finest!

Time for a cup of coffee and another excellent essay written by JohnHuang2.

[MHGinTN]

I dooo love the pictures, folks. John, one of your greatest acerbic quips: "Again, the reason given for why they think things are gloomy is because experts, in forecasting 200,000 new jobs, got it right but the economy got it wrong -- 112,000 new jobs. (In a stunning break with tradition, Democrats aren't demanding a recount.)"

Aquamarine, thanx for the ping to one of JH2's finest columns.

John, you have the strongest 'two cents' in journalism!

[M Kehoe]

Great analysis of the facts, and exposure of the liberal bias in the msm (or should I say dinosaur media?).

Btw, I'm still smiling, not gloating...8^)

Hehehe.

5.56mm

[Kitty Mittens]

Thank you, Aqua and John Huang, for the Great Essay and Thread!

[Excuse_My_Bellicosity]

Stryker Brigade pics:

Soldiers with 2nd Squadron, 14th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Brigade, 25th Infantry Division, Stryker Brigade Combat Team, stop and search a man during operations in Tall Afar, Iraq, Dec. 5, 2004. U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Jeremiah Johnson

A soldier with Bravo Troop, 2nd Squadron, 14th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Brigade, 25th Infantry Division, Stryker Brigade Combat Team, scans down a hallway of an objective house during operations in Tall Afar, Iraq, Dec. 5, 2004. The soldiers are searching targets in the town for anti-Iraqi forces and weapons. U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Jeremiah Johnson

A soldier with Bravo Troop, 2nd Squadron, 14th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Brigade, 25th Infantry Division, Stryker Brigade Combat Team, prepares to flexy cuff a man detained at an objective house during operations in Tall Afar, Iraq, Dec. 5, 2004. U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Jeremiah Johnson

Soldiers with Bravo Troop, 2nd Squadron, 14th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Brigade, 25th Infantry Division, Stryker Brigade Combat Team, search a house during operations in Tall Afar, Iraq, Dec. 5, 2004. U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Jeremiah Johnson

I find it very strange that a house would have rooms secured with jail-style bars and locked gates inside the house. Apparently, the U.S. Army did, too. -- E.M.B.

[Excuse_My_Bellicosity]

041203-N-2984R-225 Persian Gulf (Dec. 3, 2004) - An E-2C Hawkeye, assigned to the "Seahawks" of Carrier Airborne Early Warning Squadron One Two Six (VAW-126), launches from the flight deck of the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75). Currently aircraft from Carrier Air Wing Three (CVW-3) embarked aboard Truman are providing close air support and conducting intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance missions in ongoing operations over Iraq. Truman's Carrier Strike Group Ten (CSG-10) and embarked CVW-3 are currently on a regularly scheduled deployment in support of the Global War on Terrorism. U.S. Navy photo by Photographer's Mate Airman Apprentice Ricardo J. Reyes (RELEASED)

041206-N-4374S-005 Atlantic Ocean (Dec. 6, 2004) - Aviation Machinist's Mate 2nd Class Joseph Broderick and Aviation Electrician's Mate 3rd Class Christopher Lovell prepare to receive a cargo pallet from the fast combat support ship USS Seattle (AOE 3) during a vertical replenishment at sea as the conventionally powered aircraft carrier USS John F. Kennedy (CV 67) approaches. Broderick and Lovell are MH-60S Knighthawk aircrewman assigned to the “Dragon Whales” of Helicopter Combat Support Squadron Eight (HC-8), currently embarked aboard Seattle as part of the John F. Kennedy Carrier Strike Group. Kennedy is returning to port after completing over four months in the Persian Gulf in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF). U.S. Navy photo by Photographer’s Mate 2nd Class Michael Sandberg (RELEASED)

041210-N-2970T-003 Sea of Japan (Dec. 10, 2004) - Gunner's Mate Seaman Daniel A. Wright fires an Mk-38 25mm machine gun during a general quarters (GQ) drill aboard the dock landing ship USS Fort McHenry (LSD 43). The Mk-38 25mm machine gun system is a single-barrel, air-cooled, heavy machine gun capable of firing 175 rounds per minute. Fort McHenry is currently enroute to the Philippines in support of the United States humanitarian assistance and relief efforts on the east coast of Luzon after a series of typhoons devastated the area. U.S. Navy photo by Photographer’s Mate Airman Marvin E. Thompson, Jr. (RELEASED)