Free Republic

Where can women find real men? In a book, of course… By Boris Johnson (Filed: 15/06/2006) Look at her in the Tube opposite. No, you fool. Look at what she's reading. You've made it through to the middle of the Telegraph and, if you are anything like me, you have scaled your personal intellectual Everest for the day. But look at the girl over there, and that damn thick square book on her lap. She must be on page 181, and when she turns the page she's going to be on 183, then 185, 187. It's unbelievable. Where does she...

Nature, it should be pointed out, always bats last. This is true even in Florida, where, as novelist Carl Hiaasen makes clear, life is more than a little surreal, and where three people were recently attacked and killed by alligators in less than a week. Previously, 17 people had died from alligator attacks in Florida since 1948. There is no record in the United States of three fatal alligator attacks in one year, much less in one week in one state. So something clearly is going on in Florida. Yesterday, as if to emphasize Hiaasen's point, an alligator walked through...

AL ASAD, Iraq (May 19, 2006) -- Since Cpl. Haider Mohammed Jender joined the Iraqi Army a year ago, he has learned how to combat insurgents and provide security to his people. Now, the 34-year-old Iraqi soldier has completed what he says is the most important training he’ll ever receive – how to save lives. Jender was one of 20 Iraqi soldiers who recently graduated from an Iraqi Army’s Basic Medical Course here – the first in western Al Anbar Province – five weeks of lectures, written examinations and practical application on what U.S. medical personnel deem as crucial life-saving...

WASHINGTON, May 9, 2006 – Diplomacy is the best way to confront Iran's nuclear program, but President Bush said today in Sun City Center, Fla., he won't rule out other options if that falls through. "We will continue to work through diplomatic channels to make it clear that we mean what we say," Bush said in response to a question posed during his visit to the sprawling retirement community to discuss the Medicare prescription drug benefit. "And obviously, part of making the diplomacy work is what will be the consequences if the Iranians decide not to listen to the rational...

FORWARD OPERATING BASE SWORD, Kuwait, April 26, 2006 – Participants in the Joint Civilian Orientation Conference got a taste of what U.S. forces running convoys through Iraq experience every day as they took positions on Humvees and navigated the hazards of a counter-improvised explosive device training course here. The participants, civilian business, civic and academic leaders from around the United States, donned flak vests and Kevlar helmets before maneuvering with Marines from the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit through the notional Al Bassayab province of Iraq. Their 13-vehicle convoy's mission was to deliver materials from Forward Operating Base Dagger to Forward...

I have refrained from commenting on California’s budget because it is still uncertain exactly what is going to happen in this year’s budget debate. This, however, is what we know up to this point in time. Last year, the Legislature approved, and the Governor signed, a budget that increased state spending by $11 billion. The government employee unions complained that it wasn’t enough. This year, the Governor proposed a budget that increased spending by an additional $7 billion. The government employee unions are complaining that it is not enough. The Governor’s budget spends $6 billion more than projected revenue. The...

CAMP AL ASAD, Iraq (March 21, 2006) -- Iraqi soldiers from the 2nd Brigade, 7th Iraqi Army Division received 24 High Mobility, Multi-wheeled Vehicles (Humvees) March 20, 2006, after graduating from a three-week Humvee licensing and preventive maintenance course. More than 20 enlisted soldiers were recognized in a formal graduation ceremony, where they received certificates of completion from the commanding general of the 2nd Brigade and the commanding officer of Regimental Combat Team 7, Col. W. Blake Crowe. The ceremony marked another milestone in the 2nd Brigade’s progress toward eventually relieving Coalition Forces in western Al Anbar Province of all...

3/16/2006 - TYNDALL AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. (AFPN) -- This was the final test. An underwater compass and a buddy harnessed three feet from their bodies provide direction. A 25-pound breathing device strapped to their chests provides vital oxygen while underwater without making surface bubbles. A 50-pound rucksack and weapon weighted on their backs are the tools they’ll need to infiltrate the beach when they get there. These teams of two kick underwater in murky water more than 2,000 yards to reach the shore. They have to hit a precise, targeted objective there without being spotted by anyone on boat...

FASLANE, Scotland (NNS) -- Three ships led by Commander, Destroyer Squadron (DESRON) 24 departed Faslane, Scotland, March 11, having completed Neptune Warrior, a coalition course off the coast of Scotland with ships from the United Kingdom and Germany and aircraft from France. Capt. Carl W. Cramb, commander, DESRON 24, led the three ships, USS Ross (DDG 71), USS Barry (DDG 52), and USS Elrod (FFG 55), during their transit to Scotland and then commanded one of the international Task Groups during Neptune Warrior. Joint Maritime Operational Training Staff (JMOTS) Northwood in the United Kingdom led the Neptune Warrior course. The...

WASHINGTON (NNS) -- A cooperative effort between the Naval Education and Training Center and Naval Services FamilyLine has created a new leadership course designed to offer the spouses of command senior enlisted leaders the tools to navigate the opportunities and meet the special challenges of their position. The Command Master Chief Spouse Leadership Course will help prepare senior enlisted spouses for the unique leadership and relationship issues involved in representing the command, said Ombudsman-at-Large Doreen Scott, and will provide the ability to inspire and motivate others as an integral member of the Command Support Team. The first course is scheduled...

Johnson Pulling Guard.jpg Pfc. Charles Johnson, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, guards a downed buddy during the scenario portion of the Cobra Responder Course at Forward Operating Base Prosperity. U.S. Army photo by Pfc. Jason W. Dangel Lifesaver Course Designed for Combat in Iraq 'Cobra Responder' is specifically designed to teach soldiers basic trauma care on the battlefield. U.S. Army Pfc. Jason Dangel4th Brigade Combat Team BAGHDAD, March 6, 2006 — Emergency medical treatment is imperative when time and distance limit quick casualty evacuation. The “golden hour,” the first 60 minutes following a...

FORT HUACHUCA — The first Iraqi officer to attend training on this post starts classes Monday. The officer has been on the post this week preparing for the Military Intelligence Captain’s Career Course, said Lt. Col. Brian Clark. The Iraqi will be one of 14 foreign officers in the class, and he is the first of six Iraqis scheduled to go through training on Fort Huachuca this year, said Clark, commander of the 304th Military Intelligence Battalion. The battalion provides training for hundreds of U.S. Army officers, as well as more than 200 foreign officers a year. The name and...

CAMP VICTORY, Iraq (USASOC News Service, Feb. 28, 2006) – It is a battle Iraqis deal with everyday. The uncertainty of surviving in the neighborhoods they grew up in is unsettling. Iraqis want the certainty of knowing that their families are safe. The Soldiers of the Iraqi Special Operations Forces Brigade believe they have the capabilities to defeat the terrorists who are attempting to destabilize Iraq, said an Iraqi ISOF instructor. The ISOF Brigade Soldiers continue to specialize and hone the combat skills that make the brigade a driving force in Iraq’s campaign for freedom. The Iraqis continued their progress...

FASLANE, Scotland (NNS) -- Three U.S. ships, led by Commander, Destroyer Squadron (COMDESRON) 24 arrived in Faslane, Scotland, to participate in a coalition course with ships from the United Kingdom, Germany and Denmark, Feb. 23. Capt. Carl W. Cramb, commander, DESRON 24, embarked on USS Ross (DDG 71), will lead one side’s maritime component during the course, including ships from Germany, the United Kingdom and USS Elrod (FFG 55). The second maritime component will be led by the commanding officer of HMS Edinburgh (D97), a destroyer from the United Kingdom, and will also include USS Barry (DDG 52). “The staff...

SACRAMENTO -- When it comes to building new roads, schools, sewers and dams, Republicans in the state Assembly are marching to a different drummer than Democratic lawmakers and even GOP Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger. Led by Kevin McCarthy of Bakersfield, Assembly Republicans have called for setting aside a small percentage of the state budget each year for a pay-as-you-go construction program. By contrast, Schwarzenegger and Democratic legislative leaders are proposing a series of bond issues to borrow the billions needed for a massive public works program. The highlight of Schwarzenegger's state of the state speech last month was a call for...

Gang killings put LA on course as murder capital By Catherine Elsworth in Compton (Filed: 26/01/2006) Killings in Compton, the hub of gangland activity in Los Angeles, have risen to the highest levels in 10 years. Homicides increased by 72 per cent last year, putting the district on course to become the murder capital of the US. Nearly 70 people were killed in Compton city itself while at least 10 more were murdered near the area's boundaries. The once-affluent city is known for brutality and guns and during a guns-for-gifts amnesty over Christmas, 610 firearms were handed in, including AK-47s...

FIREARMS REFRESHER COURSE a. An armed man is a citizen. An unarmed man is a subject. b. A gun in the hand is better than a cop on the phone. c. Colt: The original point and click interface. d. Gun control is not about guns; it's about control. e. If guns are outlawed, can we use swords? f. If guns cause crime, then pencils cause misspelled words. g. Free men do not ask permission to bear arms. h. If you don't know your rights you don't have any. i. Those who trade liberty for security have neither. j. The United...

Of course the Chinese didn't discover America. But then nor did Columbus A map supporting claims that the admiral Zheng He reached the New World in the early 15th century is plainly a hoax Simon Jenkins Friday January 20, 2006 The Guardian (UK) We all know that a lie goes halfway round the world while truth is putting on its boots. But what if the lie goes the whole way? What if it claims to circumnavigate the globe? Last week came purported evidence that the Chinese admiral Zheng He sailed his great fleet of junks round the world a century...

No more Patriot Act means Operation Able Danger and 9/11 all over again. Don't let the sun set on the Patriot Act. Call your state senator at 202-225-3121. Freed Iraq. No thanks to Democrat oposition. Cowards cut and run. Marines never do. Stay the course. Peace with God. I believe in a time when Americans had guts. Maximum Effort. Abandon Iraq? NO! Thank you, FreeRepublic, for allowing me to post my work!

FORT WALTON BEACH, Fla. (NNS) -- The Naval School of Explosive Ordnance Disposal has intensified the training for experienced explosive ordnance disposal (EOD) technicians with the addition of the Advanced Improvised Explosive Device Disposal (AIEDD) Training Facility. The new $7 million facility concluded its pilot course Nov. 23, and the first full class will begin Jan. 6. The facility is a joint course run by the Navy on Eglin Air Force Base in Fort Walton Beach, Fla. It is designed to train and evaluate the ability of Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) team leaders, personnel of other key federal agencies and...