For Your Viewing Pleasure...

Australian Defence Force



Australian Military

To The Families Of Fallen Heroes...

This ones a real tear jerker...... Thanks Deb




A_C

Don't Feed The Trolls....

Games over, everyones bored. Please don't feed the Trolls!!

The Guaranteed Mufti Muzzler

Ok, you have to watch it a bit, but the ending makes it all worthwhile...

Ungrateful People That We Are....

I found this on Myspace and had to repost. I think it's very well said...

"The other day I was reading Newsweek magazine and came across some poll data I found rather hard to believe. It must be true given the source, right? The Newsweek poll alleges that 67 percent of Americans are unhappy with the direction the country is headed and 69 percent of the country is unhappy with the performance of the president. In essence 2/3s of the citizenry just ain't happy and want a change. So being the knuckle dragger I am, I started thinking, ''What we are so unhappy about?'' Is it that we have electricity and running water 24 hours a day, 7 days a week? Is our unhappiness the result of having air conditioning in the summer and heating in the winter? Could it be that 95.4 percent of these unhappy folks have a job? Maybe it is the ability to walk into a grocery store at any time and see more food in moments than Darfur has seen in the last year? Maybe it is the ability to drive from the Pacific Ocean to the Atlantic Ocean without having to present identification papers as we move through each state? Or possibly the hundreds of clean and safe motels we would find along the way that can provide temporary shelter? I guess having thousands of restaurants with varying cuisine from around the world is just not good enough. Or could it be that when we wreck our car, emergency workers show up and provide services to help all and even send a helicopter to take you to the hospital. Perhaps you are one of the 70 percent of Americans who own a home. You may be upset with knowing that in the unfortunate case of a fire, a group of trained firefighters will appear in moments and use top notch equipment to extinguish the flames thus saving you, your family and your belongings. Or if, while at home watching one of your many flat screen TVs, a burglar or prowler intrudes , an officer equipped with a gun and a bullet-proof vest will come to defend you and your family against attack or loss. This all in the backdrop of a neighborhood free of bombs or militias raping and pillaging the residents. Neighborhoods where 90 percent of teenagers own cell phones and computers. How about the complete religious, social and political freedoms we enjoy that are the envy of everyone in the world? Maybe that is what has 67 percent of you folks unhappy. Fact is, we are the largest group of ungrateful, spoiled brats the world has ever seen. No wonder the world loves the U.S. , yet has a great disdain for its citizens. They see us for what we are. The most blessed people in the world who do nothing but complain about what we don't have , and what we hate about the country instead of thanking the good Lord we live here. I know, I know. What about the president who took us into war and has no plan to get us out? The president who has a measly 31 percent approval rating? Is this the same president who guided the nation in the dark days after 9/11? The president that cut taxes to bring an economy out of recession? Could this be the same guy who has been called every name in the book for succeeding in keeping all the spoiled u ungrateful brats safe from terrorist attacks? The commander in chief of an all-volunteer army that is out there defending you and me? Did you hear how bad the President is on the news or talk show? Did this news affect you so much, make you so unhappy you couldn't take a look around for yourself and see all the good things and be glad? Think about it......are you upset at the President because he actually caused you personal pain OR is it because the "Media" told you he was failing to kiss your sorry ungrateful behind every day. Make no mistake about it. The troops in Iraq and Afghanistan have volunteered to serve, and in many cases may have died for your freedom. There is currently no draft in this country. They didn't have to go. They are able to refuse to go and end up with either a ''general'' discharge, an ''other than honorable'' discharge or, worst case scenario, a ''dishonorable'' discharge after a few days in the brig. So why then the flat-out discontentment in the minds of 69 percent of Americans? Say what you want but I blame it on the media. If it bleeds it leads and they specialize in bad news. Everybody will watch a car crash with blood and guts. How many will watch kids selling lemonade at the corner? The media knows this and media outlets are for-profit corporations. They offer what sells , and when criticized, try to defend their actions by "justifying" them in one way or another. Just ask why they tried to allow a murderer like O.J. Simpson to write a book about how he didn't kill his wife, but if he did he would have done it this way......Insane! Stop buying the negativism you are fed everyday by the media. Shut off the TV, burn Newsweek, and use the New York Times for the bottom of your bird cage. Then start being grateful for all we have as a country. There is exponentially more good than bad. We are among the most blessed people on Earth and should thank God several times a day, or at least be thankful and appreciative."

A_C

More Evidence Of Saddam-Al Qaeda Ties

Well worth a read..

More Evidence of Saddam-al Qaeda Ties By Ray Robison An al Qaeda document newly released by the Combating Terrorism Center (CTC) of the United States Military Academy provides an extraordinary new connection to a previously reported order by Saddam Hussein to support al Qaeda attacks upon US forces in Somalia. It corresponds with other documents that show Saddam Hussein was using Islamic terrorists as proxies to attack US interests. The document was part of a US Army report on al Qaeda in Africa. That study contends that although al Qaeda managed to train other Islamic fighters in Africa, it did the organization no long term good, as it failed to bend the region to al Qaeda doctrine. The al Qaeda document is entitled The Ogaden File: Operation Holding (Al-Msk). Its' name refers to a tribal region of Ethiopia extending into Somalia (Ogaden) and 'al-Msk' is an acronym for the Mission to hold Somalia and Kenya. The file is a personal log about a group of al Qaeda terrorists sent to Somalia in 1993 to provide military training to local Islamic militants. Islamic fighters trained by al Qaeda would later kill 18 Army Special Forces soldiers in what has become know as the Battle of Mogadishu which was portrayed in the popular movie Black Hawk Down. The US government confirmed the involvement of al Qaeda and Usama bin Laden in a 1998 indictment against him for the Somali attacks. The al Qaeda document itself provides a fascinating look at training operations of an expeditionary nature in hostile territory. It lists several terrorists who subsequently became high ranking al Qaeda leaders (most were later killed or captured by US forces). Many of them were Egyptians with the Egyptian Islamic Jihad (EIJ) terror group led by al Qaeda number two man Ayman al Zawahiri. The log was written by an al Qaeda terrorist named Saif al-Islam al Masri who was known to be a leader of al Qaeda in Somalia and an EIJ leader. He is now in US custody. Saif writes that on the 20th of January, 1993 he and his men were ordered to drop everything (marriage plans, travel) and report to a man named Abu Hafs in Peshawar, Pakistan. This deployment to Somalia heralded a major escalation of al Qaeda activities in Africa. Abu Hafs is also known as Mohammed Atef. Mohammed Atef was the number two man in the EIJ under Ayman al Zawahiri and also part of Usama bin Laden's inner circle. He was included in the 1998 indictment for attacking US forces in Somalia and was considered the number three man in al Qaeda. He was killed by US forces shortly after 9/11. Saif describes how he and his men were ordered by Atef to go Somalia and set up training camps. The fighters they trained would ultimately grab power in Somalia, only to be driven out by Ethiopian and American Special Forces action last year. The date of Atef's order for them to go to Somalia is very significant because it corresponds with an order by Saddam Hussein to do just that. A different set of documents, provided by the Cyber News Service (CNS) in 2004 and reported on here, are purported to be from a cache of documents captured in Iraq. CNS stated they were given to them by a member of the Iraqi Survey Group. Those documents - which have not yet been verified by the US government but do match secret information from other known Saddam documents and have been confirmed by several experts - are memorandums between Saddam and his intelligence service. Saddam Hussein ordered his intelligence service to "hunt the Americans" in Somalia via Afghan mujahideen proxies including the EIJ on January 18th, 1993 just two days before EIJ leader Atef ordered his best men to Somalia. The CNS memoranda also show that Saddam's intelligence service was meeting with the leader of the EIJ (almost certainly Ayman al Zawahiri) to give him the assignment. Saddam wanted his intelligence service to work with mujahideen (Islamic fighters) displaced from Afghanistan in 1992, which likely also included Usama bin Laden's followers, the EIJ (the two groups would officially merge together to become al Qaeda) and another associated terror leader, Gulbuddin Hekmatyar. The order provided funding to the mujahideen and drew precedent from operations with the EIJ against the Egyptian government because it sided with the UN coalition against Iraq in the Gulf War. This new al Qaeda document, when combined with the CNS documents, provides a sequential timeframe for the events and the human linkages to carry out the order from Saddam to his intelligence service to Ayman al Zawahiri to Mohammed Atef and then to his terror trainers. The revelation about Mohammed Atef comes just days after former CIA Director George Tenet caused a political and media stir with the release of his new book At the Center of the Storm: My Years at the CIA. Tenet devotes a portion of the book to discussing al Qaeda-Saddam ties. In it he writes about the case of Ibn Sheikh al Libi, "a senior military trainer for al-Qa'ida in Afghanistan." Al Libi told his interrogators that "a militant known as Abu Abudullah had told him that...al-Qa'ida leader Mohammed Atef had sent Abu Abdullah to Iraq to seek training in poisons and mustard gas." Al Libi would later recant his testimony and become a flash point in the debate over pre-war intelligence. Tenet notes the controversy and says it is unclear if al Libi was lying with the initial report or his recantation. Tenet writes, "Another senior al-Qa'ida detainee told us that Mohammed Atef was interested in expanding al-Qa'ida's ties to Iraq, which, in our eyes, added credibility to [al-Libi's initial] reporting." This new evidence may provide more insight into why Saddam was making his military officers watch Black Hawk Down just prior to the start of Operation Iraqi Freedom. He may have been shoring up their courage by reminding them of what he considered his previous defeat of the American army.

A_C

ADF - Current Operations and Deployments....

As of May 2007 approx 3850 ADF Personnel are deployed overseas...

IRAQ

The Australian Government was a strong and uncritical supporter of United States policy during the Iraq disarmament crisis and one of only four nations to commit combat forces to the 2003 invasion of Iraq in any substantial numbers, under the operational codename Operation Falconer. It is now known that part of the Australian contingent of the Coalition were among the first forces to enter Iraq after the official "execute" order.[1] Australian forces committed to the conflict included three Royal Australian Navy ships, 500 special forces troops, P-3 Orion patrol and C-130 Hercules transport aircraft, and RAAF 75 Squadron equipped with 14 F/A-18 Hornet fighters. Combat forces committed to Operation Falconer for the 2003 Invasion were withdrawn during 2003. John Howard has yet to announce a withdrawal of Australian troops who are participating in the follow on mission to the invasion (known as Operation Catalyst), and has declined to give a deadline, stating that Australian troops will remain for as long as they are required. To read links go Here

Before anyone has a chance to say there were no WMD found in Iraq and therefore no legitimate need for us to enter the country, you have to remember half the world was convinced of the presence of these weapons. That there were no WMD found in quantity in Iraq ws no reason to leave. From the minute we entered Iraq we made a commitment to the inoocent Iraqi Civillians who were desperate to rid themselves of the tyranny and barbaric treatment metered out to them by Sadaam Hussein, his family and supporters.

In any war, no matter what your standing and politics, there is one fact that remains true. War evolves. As you enter a country and are living amongst both the innocents and the enemy, your view of the war you are fighting will change. As a Soldier see's first hand both the horror and how they can assist the victims rebuild shattered lives, their perspective changes. They are then left trying to explain to a world that doesn't want to hear, about the good they are doing, the progress they are making.

There is no doubt that the war in Iraq has changed and has evolved. From a mission to find and destroy WMD it has become a war to help build hope, to rebuild a shattered country and restore peace and democracy. For those of us who realise that at times, you must prepare for war if you truly want peace, we stand by, we support those who fight and the victims when we can and we pray for the outcomes to justify the war. We share the Soldiers positive outlooks as they strive to make real progress in a country torn apart by war for a very long time.

Forces committed A headquarters staff of about 60 personnel under the command of Brigadier Maurie McNarn. Royal Australian Navy The frigates HMAS Anzac and HMAS Darwin, which were already on-station as part of the Multinational Interception Force enforcing economic sanctions against Iraq before the invasion plan was entered into. Each ship carried a single Seahawk helicopter from 816 Squadron RAN[1] The transport ship HMAS Kanimbla carrying 350 crew and soldiers, including embarked Australian Army LCM-8 landing craft and an anti-aircraft contingent, a Sea King helicopter from 817 Squadron RAN, and a bomb disposal team. A detachment from the Army's 16th Air Defence Regiment provided point defence to the Kanimbla. Clearance Diving Team Three, which worked alongside divers from several nations to clear Iraqi ports of mines. Royal Australian Air Force No. 75 Squadron, operating 14 F/A-18 Hornet fighter jets together with 250 command, coordination, support and aircrew personnel. Three C-130H Hercules transport aircraft from No. 36 Squadron RAAF and 150 support personnel. Two AP-3C Orion maritime patrol aircraft and 150 support personnel (these aircraft may have operated in the electronic intelligence gathering role). Australian Army A 500-strong special forces task group consisting of: Forward Command Element Special Forces Task Group 1st Squadron Group, Australian Special Air Service Regiment Platoon (+), 4th Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment (Commando) D Troop, Incident Response Regiment Combat Service Support Group Troop, C Squadron, 5th Aviation Regiment (3 CH-47 Chinook) 2 LCM-8 Landing Craft, 70/71 Troop Water Transport Squadron To read links go Here

No civillian will every truly comprehend the theatre of war. In sheer size alone, in numbers of Defence Personel, in equipment and the requirements for the day to day runnings of operations. Australias contribution to this is significant and warranted. By contributing to the fight in Iraq they are assisting in preventing that fight from being brought to our shores.

Operations by Australian Forces In keeping with its relatively small size, the Australian force only made a limited contribution to Coalition operations during the invasion of Iraq. The Australian contribution was also geographically dispersed, with the Australian forces forming part of larger US and British units rather than a concentrated Australian unit. No Australian personnel were killed, wounded or taken prisoner during the war.

Maritime operations Prior to the outbreak of war the Australian naval force in the Persian Gulf continued to enforce the sanctions against Iraq. These operations were conducted by boarding parties from the RAN warships and the AP-3 Orion patrol aircraft.[2] Upon the outbreak of war the RAN's focus shifted to supporting the coalition land forces and clearing the approaches to Iraqi ports. HMAS Anzac provided gunfire support to Royal Marines during fighting on the Al-Faw Peninsula and the Clearance Diving Team took part in clearing the approaches to Umm Qasr. Boarding operations continued during the war, and on 20 March boarding parties from the HMAS Kanimbla seized an Iraqi ship carrying 86 naval mines.[3] Army LCM-8 Landing Craft were used as forward deployment and support platforms for the Navy boarding parties and were the first regular Maritime assets to the port of Umm Qasr, moving as far north as Basara on the inland waterways collecting intelligence for allied forces. LCM-8 Assets were utilised by British and American forces for various cargo transportation duties during the course of the war. To read links go Here

If you take the time to follow the links at the bottom of each test box you will find a substantial amount of additional information on these and other related topics.

Please remember, if you chose not to support the Troops at least do it due to an informed opinion. It really doesn't take much to do a search and read some information and this small effort may just change your perspective a little.

A_C

Ok, Here Is The Deal

I had a little visit from the Mother of all Trolls last night. Very brave person insulting me, the ADF, the wife of a Deployed American Soldier and our Coalition partners.

Let me tell you something.....I am NOT going to put up with you idiots coming onto my site and screaming like Deranged Banshees. If you have a legitimate point to make, make it without the Gutter Trash language and come armed with FACTS and LINKS to back them up otherwise I will continue to delete your crap.

If you wish to attack me personally then by all means feel free, but do it in an email.
I will not stand by while you insult the people fighting for your Dumbass, their families and supporters.

Also, in future if you would like your comment to remain link back to your own site and use a name. I will not be accepting any comments under 'anonymous'. You know how to find me, now let us know how to find you. I know some people that would be happy to 'debate' your points with you.

AC

Al-Hilali At It Again.....

And still we continue to let this man back into our country....

Iran call sparks Hilali sedition probe AUSTRALIAN mufti Sheik Taj Din al-Hilali is under investigation over whether his call for the Muslim world to unite behind Iran breached sedition laws by urging assistance to an enemy of the state. Australian Federal Police officers interviewed Sheik Hilali last Tuesday over his call to Muslims to "stand in the trenches" with Iran, described by US President George W. Bush as a member of the "axis of evil". Sheik Hilali said yesterday he had told the AFP the phrase, delivered in Arabic in April, translated in English to the less literal "in the same boat" or "sharing the same fate". He said the interview, on Iran's Alalam television, was about promoting world peace and had nothing to do with inciting trouble. Alalam on its website had quoted the disputed leader of Australia's 300,000 Muslims as saying the global Islamic nation would not "kneel" to its enemies and should unite with Iran. "The mufti of Australia has called on the Islamic world to stand in the trenches with the Islamic Republic of Iran which possesses the might and power," the website reported. No one has been charged since Australia's sedition laws were tightened in late 2005. The maximum penalty is seven years' jail. Sheik Hilali was cleared last week of channelling money to terrorist organisations, and he was confident of again being cleared of any wrongdoing. The investigation comes as Sheik Hilali - whose position of mufti was abolished by the Australian National Imams Council in March - is about to make a comeback giving Friday sermons at the Lakemba Mosque, in Sydney's southwest. Sheik Hilali - who was granted a three-month stay of execution by the imams council - will return to the pulpit after a six-month self-imposed exile triggered by his comparison of rape victims to exposed meat during a Ramadan sermon last October. Sheik Hilali says in a letter to Arabic newspapers that he had stayed away from the pulpit "of his own volition when he realised that there was a meeting of interests between some politicians, sections of the media, and some in the community who sought to eliminate the position of mufti and to remove me personally". "Had they been successful, no cleric would be able to raise his voice or take a stand for justice," he wrote. Citing strong community support for his return, Sheik Hilali is expected to start sermons again as early as next week. Hilali confidant Keysar Trad said the latest allegations about the mufti's comments on Iran were part of a campaign to eliminate the position of mufti or oust the mufti himself. Last week Sheik Hilali was cleared of any wrongdoing over allegations that he diverted funds raised by the Lebanese Muslim Association for victims of the Israel-Lebanon war to supporters of al-Qa'ida and Hezbollah. Sheik Hilali was in Tehran for a conference when he was quoted by Alalam on April 7, two days after the Iranian regime had released 15 British sailors who had been held hostage for two weeks after being snatched in Iraqi waters. Government ministers and Kevin Rudd strongly attacked Sheik Hilali over the comments, with John Howard last month suggesting the mufti consider leaving Australia. In response Sheik Hilali said he had spent 50 years promoting peace and accused the Prime Minister of being a dictator. The latest police investigation comes after he made disparaging remarks about Australia's convict past on Egyptian TV, saying that Muslims had more right to be in Australia. Mr Trad explained the comments saying that the interpretation should have expressed a love for his country.

Isn't it time he got his marching orders??

AC

Why We Need To Support The Troops

This is very long but worth the read...

In order to fully understand what we are fighting against we need to look at the big picture. This is not the Iraq War On Terror or the Afghanistan War On Terror it is a GLOBAL War.

While the Left, Anti Everything Crowds and Terrorists Supporters would have you believe that we attacked Iraq for no reason, there is some information in this post that they would deliberately supress or simply don't take the time to learn about. The threat here IS global and very frightening. This is no longer about hunting down Osama Bin Laden seeking revenge for 9/11 or bringing down the Saddaam Regime. This is about an everyday global threat. It is a war we HAVE to win. A war for civillisation.

Wearing down the West Al-Qa'ida has had a very good year, says foreign editor Greg Sheridan, in an investigation of the West's progress in the global battle with terror May 12, 2007 THE war on terror, the long war, just now is going badly. Very badly. Our enemies are making solid progress, geographically, organisationally and in their brilliant public relations campaigns. The West is divided and in key battlefields losing resolve. Al-Qa'ida, the unique terrorist phenomenon of our time, has re-established itself in three crucial ways. Al-Qa'ida central has rebuilt the command structure that was destroyed by the US-led invasion of Afghanistan in 2002. It has re-established its operational capability and its central command and finance organisation. It is not back to the level that it was in Afghanistan under the Taliban, but it is solid and capable again. Al-Qa'ida has also forged vital partnerships with pre-existing, autonomous or semi-autonomous groups in several parts of the world, in our region most notably with Jemaah Islamiah in Indonesia. And its role as the inspiration and model for disgruntled Muslims in many parts of the world is going from strength to strength. Al-Qa'ida central is headquartered in the lawless areas of Pakistan, near the border with Afghanistan, where it runs deadly training facilities. It has established a vitally important new base in Iraq. If the Americans leave in surrender, this base must surely become a more substantial part of the equation. Along with its close cousins, the Taliban, it is making a comeback in Afghanistan. Its ranks in Britain are growing and are already so numerous - 200 pro-terrorist groups or more - as to have the British authorities at absolutely full stretch in trying to cope with them. Operation Crevice, which recently came to a conclusion in the British courts and which saw several young British Muslims jailed for terrorist offences, revealed that two of the July 2005 London bombers had come to MI5's attention well before the bombings. MI5 had not had the resources or ability to track them. Germany, The Netherlands and France have very grave problems. Al-Qa'ida has excellent prospects in Bangladesh and parts of Africa. Meanwhile, a slew of arrests in New Jersey, in the US, may provide the first genuine example of self-radicalising terrorists. Six men are being held without bail after allegedly plotting to attack the US Army base at Fort Dix. Previously, Western intelligence and law enforcement agencies had taken a kind of macabre consolation from the fact all the European bombers and terrorists so far discovered, prosecuted or killed had turned out to have some significant links with al-Qa'ida. They may have been home-grown, but many had at least gone to Afghanistan or more often Pakistan for indoctrination and training. The Americans may be the first real example of a group that is inspired by the al-Qa'ida ideology and moves to create a terrorist plot entirely on its own. This shows the awesome power of what the boffins call al-Qa'ida's "single narrative" for Muslims everywhere. The single narrative is the most powerful propaganda tool yet devised. It presents all of Muslim experience worldwide as a story of Western and Zionist persecution of Muslims. This embraces obvious cases such as Palestinians, Kashmiris and Bosnians, but also the experience of Muslims in the Middle East under corrupt governments, the experience of Muslims in India, the marginalised status of Muslims in western Europe, the conflict in Iraq and everything else. The beauty of the single narrative is that any grievance at all, real or imagined, whether based in fact or fantasy or conspiracy, can be fitted into it. In Southeast Asia the story is a bit better. The Indonesian Government has had significant counter-terror success. But a new report by the International Crisis Group suggests that the al-Qa'ida affiliate Jemaah Islamiah has 900 or more hard-core members and has taken a tactical decision to lay off big bombings of Westerners for the moment while it undertakes training and consolidation to deepen its military capabilities for the future. Other sources suggest JI is internally split and the Noordin Top faction would certainly like to return to big, anti-Western bombings. But, in any event, the lull may be temporary. The initiative rests with JI. In the southern Philippines there has been some progress, with Moro separatists reining in JI in their areas of influence as part of their negotiating strategy with the Philippines Government. But in southern Thailand the situation is diabolical, with violence continuing to escalate. So far it remains clearly an ethno-separatist campaign rather than part of the global jihadi movement. But the younger southern Thai terrorist leaders are more violent and more Islamist than their elders. An alliance between them and the global jihadi forces would be a savage blow not only to Thailand but to the global war on terror. Inquirer this week has undertaken a survey of where we're at with the global war on terror. This has involved as many official and unofficial conversations as possible. There is also a vast amount of information on the public record. Several key new documents have been published in the past few weeks. One was a survey of al-Qa'ida in the May-June issue of Foreign Affairs by Bruce Reidel, a former senior CIA and National Security Council officer. Another is a survey of al-Qa'ida in Britain by The Economist that relies on much new information arising from the convictions in the Operation Crevice case. A third is the new ICG report on Jemaah Islamiah. The result of this survey is the negative assessment at the top of this article. Al-Qa'ida has had a very good year. Foreign Minister Alexander Downer, who of all Australians has been most closely involved with every twist and turn of the global war on terror, disputes this assessment. Not unreasonably, he points out that in a long war such as this, there will be moments when al-Qa'ida looks as though it's doing a bit better and moments when the reverse is true. He tells Inquirer: "Do I think al-Qa'ida are now more threatening to the US, to Europe, to Australia? No. I think their networks have been effectively confined to certain areas." But he acknowledges that al-Qa'ida has had a very active year, especially in Iraq. The best measure for its activity there is the number of suicide bombings: "In Iraq, the suicide bombings are almost always al-Qa'ida, targeting Shi'ites to create sectarian violence ... they have successfully killed a lot of people." Downer does allow a rare note of bitter irony to come into his voice when he acknowledges the effectiveness of al-Qa'ida's tactics: "In terms of their PR, I give full marks to al-Qa'ida. They've been very successful." "Every time there's a terrorist attack in Iraq there's a Western reaction not of how horrible these people are but that we must pull out, we should give up. I give full credit to al-Qa'ida for their excellent public relations." Downer is right in this withering analysis. Al-Qa'ida in a sense wins whether it wins or loses. If it kills a large number of innocents, the chief reaction among most commentators is that this is somehow the fault of the US or its coalition allies. The Western commentariat, not least in Australia, has embraced the pro-terrorist proposition that almost the only people not morally responsible for terrorism are the terrorists. Downer's comments also show how very difficult it is to make a strategic assessment of Iraq. This is partly because of the complex way that the war on terror interacts with traditional geo-strategic considerations. Both US Vice-President Dick Cheney and former US deputy secretary of defence Paul Wolfowitz have told me that they all along believed - and still believe - that Saddam Hussein had substantial connections to al-Qa'ida. In the lead-up to the invasion of Iraq, the then deputy secretary of state Rich Armitage told me that the danger of Saddam co-operating with terrorists, especially in the provision of weapons of mass destruction, was at the top of US concerns. Now former CIA head George Tenet has published a memoir in which he is generally critical of George W. Bush and tries to absolve himself of as much responsibility as possible for Iraq. However, Tenet makes absolutely clear (as several other memoirs have in less detail) that Saddam did indeed have a relationship with al-Qa'ida that was rightly of grave concern to Washington. In evidence that should be sensational, but has only really been given prominence by Bill Kristol in The Weekly Standard, Tenet describes how 200 al-Qa'ida fighters relocated to Iraq with Saddam's permission and how an al-Qa'ida camp in Iraq worked on the production of poisons such as cyanide. Intelligence reports led to the arrest of nearly 100 al-Qa'ida operatives in Europe who had planned to use such poisons. Other senior al-Qa'ida figures relocated to Baghdad with Saddam's permission. According to Tenet, there was evidence that al-Qa'ida associates in Iraq were planning operations against the US. Tenet also makes it clear that al-Qa'ida was trying hard to obtain a nuclear weapon. So was Saddam. Tenet writes: "The CIA assessed that Saddam did not have a nuclear weapon and that if he had to make his own fissile material, he probably would not be able to do so until 2007 to 2009." Tenet further says that Saddam clearly wanted nuclear weapons but it was unclear whether, at that moment and under the sanctions that were gradually corroding, he had a program to acquire them. The implication is inescapable: if sanctions had crumbled as they were in the process of doing, Saddam would have got nuclear weapons. I put all this to Downer, who takes it one step further and asks what the implications of the US and the UN backing down to Saddam would have been: "What would Saddam have done, given he was allowing those al-Qa'ida people to operate in Iraq without interference on the basis that the enemy of my enemy is my friend, in the war on terror if he had had the magnificent victory of staring down the UN and the US?" The US was thus impelled to go into Iraq for three separate sets of reasons: traditional geo-strategic concerns about the extreme danger of Saddam with WMDs; war on terror reasons concerning the danger of Saddam co-operating with al-Qa'ida; and humanitarian reasons to rid the Iraqi people of the worst and most brutal dictator of the past several decades. Reading the situation in Iraq today is exceptionally complex. Al-Qa'ida has established itself as a big force in the Sunni population in al-Anbar province west of Baghdad. Most of the membership of al-Qa'ida in Iraq is Iraqi, but a disproportionate number of the suicide bombers are foreign jihadis. So far there has been very little "bleed-out" of terrorists from other countries training in Iraq and going back to commit mayhem in their homelands. This was a central dynamic in Afghanistan. It may be that al-Qa'ida in Iraq is enjoying so much domestic success that it has no desire to go into the export business. But if the Americans leave in defeat, this al-Qa'ida base would surely become much more substantial, unless they are all slaughtered by Shi'ites in a terrible ethnic bloodbath. Anyone who thinks there are easy solutions in Iraq is mad, although as George Orwell remarked, the fastest way to end a war is to lose it. Defeat in Iraq could have far-reaching consequences. Yet all the signs are that the American political will is failing. Such failure would have consequences for both geo-strategic calculations and for the war on terror. The interaction of these factors produced the war in Iraq and could conceivably yet produce a war with Iran. The ability of the terrorists to create dramatic international events that feed into its single narrative, and play on pre-existing Muslim paranoia, which is greatly amplified by the anti-Western bias of much of the Western Left and media (as outlined in the seminal book What's Left by Nick Cohen), makes it extraordinarily difficult for the West to win the hearts and minds battle at the centre of the war on terror. In many ways the war on terror does mirror the Cold War, which was not a stable period based on the prudent doctrine of containment as the critics of Bush, Tony Blair and John Howard assert. Instead, it was a time of extreme danger and many hot sub-superpower wars in Korea, Vietnam, Central America and Africa. What stability prevailed was based on the radical premise that if the Soviet Union attacked the West in Europe with conventional weapons, the West would respond with nuclear war. The Cold War was much closer run than we like to remember. The war on terror will be the same. That's if we're lucky.

I know this is a long post and I'm not going to make it any longer by commenting further. I've added a few links for further information - hope it helps. The central issue here seems to be people refusing to educate themselves. Well, here's a start!!

I hope after reading this, more people understand the importance of supporting our Troops. They are the ones left to fight this war for OUR way of life.

AC

Fresh troops lift Afghan deployment to 1000 A CONTINGENT of Australian Army commandos headed for southern Afghanistan was farewelled today by Prime Minister John Howard and Opposition Leader Kevin Rudd. The mostly Sydney-based soldiers from the 4th Battalion The Royal Australian Regiment (Commando) will boost Australia's troop deployment in Afghanistan to about 1,000. Mr Howard wished the troops a successful mission and safe return, saying the deployment was made all the more dangerous by the resurgence of the Taliban. “It is a very important mission,” Mr Howard told the soldiers, many of them sporting new beards, at Sydney's Holsworthy barracks. “If terrorism wins in Afghanistan, that would be bad for our part of the world as well as bad for the people of that country.” Mr Rudd told the soldiers that Labor supported their deployment to Afghanistan. His party, however, does oppose Australia's involvement in the war in Iraq. Mr Rudd said the army's great achievement was defending democracy in Australia and overseas when the call came. “One of the great things about what you do is to defend the lifeblood of our democracy, which makes (political) disagreement possible,” he said. The commandos will deploy as part of a 300-strong Special Operations Task Group into Oruzgan province in southern Afghanistan. The task group will be made up of elements of the SAS Regiment, the 4th Battalion The Royal Australian Regiment (Commando), the Incident Response Regiment and logistics support. Defence Minister Brendan Nelson said military operations of this nature were dangerous. “The highly trained soldiers within the Special Operations Task Group are likely to face some significant challenges in the conduct of their duties,” he said in a statement. - AAP

Take care and God Bless. I for one, will look forward to hearing of your safe return.

Australia supports you in your efforts to keep us safe

Thankyou

AC

America Loves Iraqi's

Often, when the Left, the Anti Everything Crowds and the Terrorists Supporters start trying to dazzle the rest of us with their BS we lose sight of the progress being made in places like Iraq and Afghanistan. This is sad and very, very wrong. It is an obvious ploy on their part, just another cog in a well oiled propaganda machine.

So when I come across people like Daniel, it reminds me of what the Soldiers are fighting for. Here is some of Daniels story...

Back in November 2004 I deployed to Iraq as a member of the Utah National Guard to support Operation Iraqi Freedom serving on a document translation team in Baghdad. I spent one year translating documents, going on raids, and interpreting as needed, to fight the terrorists and try to bring some long-desired peace to the Iraqis. I finished the year and wondered what all the hard work had accomplished. I had learned a lot and had enjoyed many once-in-a-lifetime experiences, but not much changed in Iraq. I went home for the holidays and two months later decided to come back as a civilian linguist for another year. I have now been here over two years supporting the operations. Eight months ago I came across a different way to fight terrorism and bring some sort of happiness to at least a part of the Iraqi population. I had the opportunity to visit a medical clinic (run by the U.S.) that serves certain areas of Baghdad. Every week a number of Iraqi families are allowed to enter the base and receive basic medical screenings to see if they require further treatment. Two of my friends (Rich and Rene) and I started going to this clinic once a week to pass out things our friends and families had sent us from back home, and to entertain the children while they waited for their appointments with the doctors. After a while I realized that out of all the things I have done in Iraq to combat terrorism and help the Iraqi people, this was at the top of the list. Not only does my Arabic improve each time I visit with the families, but these wonderful children, mothers, and fathers get to see the “American Muscle” being used in a different way.

Please take the time to visit Daniels site, America Loves Iraqi's


I look at these pictures and I see hope. I see hope for the people of Iraq and I know there are similar things happening in Afghanistan. These Iraqi's are not afraid of the American Soldiers and that is such a beautiful thing to see. Over time, the Soldiers and the Innocent Iraqi Civillians have built a trust and friendship that is evident in these photos. I have spoken to another Soldier involved in this project and I know how much he enjoys these interactions at the Centre.

But Daniel, the staff of the Centre and the Iraqi people need OUR help now. On the site you will see a list of things that the Centre needs donated. I am asking all of you to consider helping Daniel with these requests. It is such an easy way to make such a significant difference. If you can't donate goods you can still help. Encourage others to read this post, link to it, copy and paste it, whatever you have to do to get the word out. The more people who read this, the better the chance of assistance.

All of you have the power to make a difference here!!

This is what we are all working towards, this is what the negators DON'T want you to see. How you and the Soldiers can make a difference. All of us working cohesively CAN help the Iraqi people. They are the innocents who have survived unspeakable horrors, living each day in a war zone and still, they mix freely and comfortably with the Americans at the centre. This shows that they do not all hate the Coalition and that there is a very valid reason for us to be there.

So come on everyone, let's all get on board here!!

A_C

The Speech President Bush SHOULD Give!!

Found this on Myspace. I have NO idea who wrote it but thought you might all like a look...

The speech George W. Bush SHOULD give: Normally, I start these things out by saying "My Fellow Americans." Not doing it this time. If the polls are any indication, I don't know who more than half of you are anymore. I do know something terrible has happened, and that you're really not fellow Americans any longer. I'll cut right to the chase here: I quit. Now before anyone gets all in a lather about me quitting to avoid impeachment, or to avoid prosecution or something, let me assure you: there's been no breaking of laws or impeachable offenses in this office. The reason I'm quitting is simple. I'm fed up with you people. I'm fed up because you have no understanding of what's really going on in the world. Or of what's going on in this once-great nation of ours. And the majority of you are too damned lazy to do your homework and figure it out. Let's start local. You've been sold a bill of goods by politicians and the news media. Polls show that the majority of you think the economy is in the tank. And that's despite record numbers of homeowners including record numbers of MINORITY homeowners. And while we're mentioning minorities, I'll point out that minority business ownership is at an all-time high. Our unemployment rate is as low as it ever was during the Clinton Administration. I've mentioned all those things before, but it doesn't seem to have sunk in. Despite the shock to our economy of 9/11, the stock market has rebounded to record levels and more Americans than ever are participating in these markets. Meanwhile, all you can do is whine about gas prices, and most of you are too damn stupid to realize that gas prices are high because there's increased demand in other parts of the world, and because a small handful of noisy idiots are more worried about polar bears and beachfront property than your economic security. We face real threats in the world. Don't give me this "blood for oil" thing. If I was trading blood for oil I would've already seized Iraq's oil fields and let the rest of the country go to hell. And don't give me this 'Bush Lied People Died' crap either. If I was the liar you morons take me for, I could've easily had chemical weapons planted in Iraq so they could be 'discovered.' Instead, I owned up to the fact that the intelligence was faulty. Let me remind you that the rest of the world thought Saddam had the goods, same as me. Let me also remind you that regime change in Iraq was official US policy before I came into office. Some guy named 'Clinton' established that policy. Bet you didn't know that, did you? You idiots need to understand that we face a unique enemy. Back during the cold war, there were two major competing political and economic models squaring off. We won that war, but we did so because fundamentally, the Communists wanted to survive, just as we do. We were simply able to outspend and out-tech them. That's not the case this time. The soldiers of our new enemy don't care if they survive. In fact, they want to die. That'd be fine, as long as they weren't also committed to taking as many of you with them as they can. But they are. They want to kill you. And the bastards are all over the globe. You should be grateful that they haven't gotten any more of us here in the United States since September 11. But you're not. That's because you've got no idea how hard a small number of intelligence, military, law enforcement and homeland security people have worked to make sure of that. When this whole mess started, I warned you that this would be a long and difficult fight. I'm disappointed how many of you people think a long and difficult fight amounts to a single season of 'Survivor'. Instead, you've grown impatient. You're incapable of seeing things through the long lens of history, the way our enemies do. You think that wars should last a few months, a few years, tops. Making matters worse, you actively support those who help the enemy. Every time you buy the New York Times, every time you send a donation to a cut-and-run Democrat's political campaign, well, dammit, you might just as well Fedex a grenade launcher to a Jihadist. It amounts to the same thing. In this day and age, it's easy enough to find the truth. It's all over the Internet. It just isn't on the pages of the New York Times or on NBC News. But even if it were, I doubt you'd be any smarter. Most of you would rather watch American Idol. I could say more about your expectations that the government will always be there to bail you out, even if you're too stupid to leave a city that's below sea level and has a hurricane approaching. I could say more about your insane belief that government, not your own wallet, is where the money comes from. But I've come to the conclusion that were I to do so, it would sail right over your heads. So I quit. I'm going back to Crawford. I've got an energy-efficient house down there (Al Gore could only dream) and the capability to be fully self-sufficient. No one ever heard of Crawford before I got elected, and as soon as I'm done here pretty much no one will ever hear of it again. Maybe I'll be lucky enough to die of old age before the last pillars of America fall. Oh, and by the way, Cheney's quitting too. That means the smiling, vacuous nitwit Pelosi is your new President. You asked for it. Watch what she does carefully, because I still have a glimmer of hope that there're just enough of you remaining who are smart enough to turn this thing around in 2008. So that's it. God bless what's left of America. Some of you know what I mean. The rest of you, f*** off.

AC

Supporting The Troops

There is something I feel compelled to make clear before I start.... The following are MY opinions and mine only. This post is NOT representing the views of my co-writers in any way.

As most of you are probably aware, A Soldiers Mind has been running an Essay Writing Competition, asking people to write what their idea of supporting the troops is. I was actually very interested in alot of the reponses to this and recieved alot of feedback from deployed and recently returned Soldiers after reading my essay. This paved the way for some open discussions with the Soldiers about their feelings.

I have been criticised repeatedly for my stand on supporting the Troops. I am here to tell anyone who reads this and doesn't agree, I don't care. I couldn't care less if people believe I am being selfish because I am as inclined to tell the Soldiers about my problems as I am to listen to theirs. I don't care what people think of me refusing to call them heroes after they ask me not to. I don't care what people think of me calling them mates because that's what they are. And I will make no apologies to anyone for not joining drives or groups or anything of the sort.

I believe every contribution helps. Nothing pisses me off more than being told what is and isn't support. I am the first to admit I hate the words "I support the Troops but not the war". Hey to each their own, I just don't get how that is supporting anyone. Just because you send a care package doesn't make it alright to negate what the person who will recieve it is doing. But if that is how they see fit to support someone then so be it.

I recieved this letter this morning from a deployed Soldier...

Well, I can say that there are a lot of people who pay lip service regarding supporting the troops. They go out and buy the car sticker or magnet and put it on their car and say they support the troops. As for me, I'm happy when I'm walking somewhere not near a military base, and someone comes up to me and just says thank you. Some people think that you have to support the troops by sending them packages. Well, not everyone has the money to go out and buy and then send packages over seas to the troops. I can't think of any military member that would want someone to go without, just so they could get a care package from someone they didn't know. There are so many ways for people to support the troops. Everyone likes to laugh. If you send a letter or card to someone thru Soldier's Angels, send them your e-mail address. Soldier's are more likely today to respond to you that way then with a letter. Please think about it. During the little time a Soldier has off, do you think they would rather spend that time writing a letter to someone they know and love, or to someone whom they have never met? I made contact with the two people who sent me their e-mail, and try to make sure that I send them a note telling them how I am doing. I get cards from people I have known my whole life, and I make sure to tell my parents to tell them thank you, and when I go home, I will repay their kindness by singing in church. That is what they will want from me. I know it's not much, but I know my church, and they all want me home safely, and when I come to visit, to sing on one of the sunday's I am home. It doesn't matter how you support the troops, and no one should tell anyone that the way they show support is wrong. My friend Aussie_Chic post blogs on 3 websites regarding what soldier's feel and say to her in conversations. She also surfs the web tirelessly looking for comments regarding the war and the strain it has on soldiers. I hope you note her name, Aussie_Chic. Yes, you guessed it, she is from Australia. She signed up for Soldier's Angels, and that is how we met. Instead of just worrying about the military personnel from Australia that are fighting the war on terror, she is worried about ALL SOLDIERS. Now when I say soldiers, I mean each branch of the military. Thru conversations with her, I know she has corresponded with several US Soldiers, and I'm sure each of us will never forget the effort she puts out to make sure the Soldier's voice is heard. She doesn't ask for anything to do this. It's something she wants to do. But, she has told me that people have told her she's wrong in her way of showing support for the troops, because she doesn't do it the same way everyone else does. I say, SO WHAT!!! I have told her, if what she is doing makes her happy, and helps put a smile on the Soldier's face that she is talking to, then she is supporting the troops. When I was home in Feb, waiting for my plane from Dallas to Ft Hood, I must have had 15 to 20 people stop me and thank me for what I do. While they may not be spending money and sending me packages, they are supporting the troops in their way. There is no set way to support the troops. I have never seen a set of rules or regulations that state you must support the troops in this way, or don't do it at all. When we have that, then we have lost the freedom for which we the troops are fighting. Thank you for taking the time to read this. A Soldier thanking those who thank us, each in their own way.

This Soldier actually asked me to share this letter. While I can't name him, I can pass on messages to him.

I think Tracy says it best when she tells me that she believes there are different Soldiers that fit with different Supporters. No one way is right or wrong, the Soldiers will simply respond to the person that appeals to them. I have been accused of being disrespectful, unpatriotic and selfish amongst other things because I chose to do things my way. I'll let you all in on a little secret. There is another Aussie Chic, otherwise known as Lil Aussie Chica who also supports the troops in the same way I do. She is also dating a member of the ADF and is also outspoken in the same way I am. She literally support THOUSANDS of Coalition Soldiers and their families. She is also one of the most approachable, open and honest people I have ever met. Her approach is the same as mine. We take the Soldiers on as mates, we share our ups and downs, we cry on each others shoulders. We laugh together, we mourn together, we argue and debate and share our lives with each other.

She also recieves the same messages I do.... Thankyou for not putting us on a pedestal, thankyou for being our 'Mate'. Thankyou for remembering we are people too.

There are many ways of finding Soldiers to support, I am happy to pass on ideas to anyone who wants to email me.

I know there are alot of people who can't take on the obligation to send care packages. I'm here to tell you it isn't necessary. It's nice for the Soldiers to recieve them but what they need more than anything is mates. People to listen to them, cheer them up when they need it and to help them forget for as long as they can where they are and what they are doing. So many good people are not getting involved because of the financial obligations people attach to support. There doesn't need to be any. Public libraries everywhere have free internet access. If you can commit to a couple of hrs a week to head down to the local library and send off some emails you can make a difference.

And people, don't ever let anyone tell you putting a magnet or sticker on your car doesn't make a difference. I have an Aussie Flag along the back window of my car behind the seats and wear support and military tshirts quite a bit and you would be amazed at the amount of people who stop me to comment. I also often have Veterans come up to me in the street and introducing themselves and saying thankyou. The smallest things can make a difference if they are done in sincerity.

It's time to change the rules here people. Dictating what is and isn't support is not on. It needs to stop. In the words of many of the Soldiers I correspond with 'The Support Nazi's need to back off'!!

A_C

God Bless You Denzel!!

Denzel Washington, and Brooks Army Medical Center Don't know whether you heard about this but Denzel Washington and his family visited the troops at Brook Army Medical Center, in San Antonio,Texas (BAMC) the other day. This is where soldiers who have been evacuated from Germany come to be hospitalized in the United States, especially burn victims. There are some buildings there called Fisher Houses. The Fisher House is a Hotel where soldiers' families can stay, for little or no charge, while their soldier is staying in the Hospital. BAMC has quite a few of these houses on base, but as you can imagine, they are almost filled most of the time. While Denzel Washington was visi ting BAMC, they gave him a tour of one of the Fisher Houses. He asked how much one of them would cost to build. He took his check book out and wrote a check for the full amount right there on the spot. The soldiers overseas were amazed to hear this story and want to get the word out to the American public, because it warmed their hearts to hear it. The question I have is why does: Alec Baldwin, Madonna, Sean Penn and other Hollywood types make front page news with their anti-everything trash America and Denzel Washington's Patriotism doesn't even make page 3 in the Metro section of a newspaper except the Local newspaper in San Antonio.

Now this is the kind of news that needs to be put out there!!

A_C

Digger risks life to save mates in Iraq

This makes me damm proud to be an Aussie!!

Ask me again why I support the Troops.....How many people do YOU know that would do this??

Wednesday May 9 12:47 AEST The Australian army's anonymous new hero in Iraq is a raw, young infantryman who leapt into a blazing armoured vehicle to provide cover for his wounded mates. Australia's commander in southern Iraq says he is humbled by the freshly qualified gunner's "incredible" courage and professionalism. But the brave Digger, whose patrol took fire four times in two days, does not want to be named. He was in a 50-vehicle convoy hit by light arms fire and rocket propelled grenades in two different villages as it returned to base at Tallil two weeks ago. But worse was to come 15km from home when his light armoured vehicle was hit by a remotely controlled roadside bomb. The vehicle's driver suffered a broken ankle and burnt legs and is recovering in Darwin. The commander and another crewman suffered concussion and minor injuries, but have since returned to duty. As the vehicle exploded into flames and careered off the road into a swamp, the gunner helped his wounded mates onto stretchers before leaping back to his turret to provide covering fire. In doing so he faced danger from the flames as well as two further explosions from remotely detonated bombs and the possibility of enemy fire. He returned with his patrol undeterred the following day to recover the damaged vehicle and exchanged shots in a firestorm with insurgents. "The gunner was quite incredible because he had been exposed to that (first) blast, too," said Lieutenant Colonel Tony Rawlins, commander of Australia's 540 troops in southern Iraq, who was also travelling near the head of the column. "He got back in and did what he was expected to do, and just that little bit more. "He was exhibiting symptoms of shock afterwards but he was lucid and being a very professional soldier. "There was no time to give formal orders or appraise the situation. "These guys all acted instinctively in a disciplined manner and knew exactly what to do. "They stepped up to the plate. "They did things that I would have expected from more experienced soldiers. "There was no grandstanding, nothing like that, just thorough, professional behaviour and it humbles me." Captain Tony Copley, commander of the second vehicle who raced out to try to extinguish the fire in the first, said: "It was a very courageous thing for him to jump back into a vehicle which had just been hit and was on fire. I can't say enough about him." He also praised decisive action by his own crew, saying: "I'm very lucky to have the chance to lead such fine young men." Lt Col Rawlins noted the restraint shown by Australian troops who returned to collect the burnt-out vehicle the next day, inflicting an unknown number of casualties among up to 30 insurgents. "They weren't just out there to get revenge," he said. "The criminals hid themselves amongst innocent civilians in order to protect themselves, and we used only the force that was necessary without causing widespread collateral damage." "We could have unleashed hell," said Lance Corporal Nathan Jones, a gunner on the second armoured vehicle who took it upon himself to radio for help after the roadside bombing. His action helped ensure that US helicopters were on the scene quickly to evacuate the wounded. "It was just 18 minutes from flash to dash," said Lt Col Rawlins. "That's phenomenal. "I have nothing but respect for them (the American pilots) because they landed those helicopters on the road next to the vehicle that was cooking and could have taken fire themselves." ©AAP 2007

A_C

USS Jason Dunham...

Thanks to Curt for this...

The Department of Navy announced March 23 that the Navy's newest Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer will be USS Jason Dunham (DDG 109), honoring the late Cpl. Jason L. Dunham, the first Marine awarded the Medal of Honor for Operation Iraqi Freedom. The Secretary of the Navy, the Honorable Donald C. Winter, made the announcement in Dunham's hometown of Scio, N.Y. "Jason Dunham, the friendly, kind-hearted, gifted athlete who followed his star in the United States Marine Corps went on to become one of the most courageous, heroic, and admired Marines this great country has ever known," said Winter. "His name will be forever associated with DDG 109. May those who serve in her always be inspired by the heroic deeds of Jason Dunham, and may all of us strive to be worthy of his sacrifice." Dunham was born in Scio on Nov., 10, 1981, sharing the same birthday as the United States Marine Corps. After high school graduation, he enlisted in the Marine Corps in July 2000, and completed recruit training 13 weeks later at Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island. Following his first duty assignment with Marine Corps Security Forces, Kings Bay, Ga., Dunham transferred to the infantry and was later assigned to Company K, 3rd Battalion, 7th Marines, based in Twentynine Palms, Calif. Before deploying to Iraq in spring of 2004, Dunham was selected to lead a rifle squad -- a position that ultimately placed him on the front line in the war with the Iraqi insurgency. On April 14, 2004, Dunham's squad was conducting a reconnaissance mission in Karabilah, Iraq, when his battalion commander's convoy was ambushed. When Dunham's squad approached to provide fire support, an Iraqi insurgent leapt out of a vehicle and attacked Dunham. As Dunham wrestled the insurgent to the ground, he noticed that the enemy fighter had a grenade in his hand. Dunham immediately alerted his fellow Marines, and when the enemy dropped the live grenade, Dunham took off his Kevlar helmet, covered the grenade, and threw himself on top to smother the blast. In an ultimately selfless act of courage, in which he was mortally wounded, he saved the lives of two fellow Marines. In November 2006, at the dedication of the National Museum of the Marine Corps in Quantico, Va., President Bush announced that the Medal of Honor would be awarded posthumously to Marine Cpl. Jason Dunham. During his speech, Bush said, "As long as we have Marines like Cpl. Dunham, America will never fear for her liberty." President Bush presented Cpl. Dunham's family with the Medal of Honor during a ceremony in the East Room of the White House on Jan. 11. In the spirit of this Marine, USS Jason Dunham will continue protecting America's liberty by providing a dynamic multimission platform to lead the Navy into the future. Utilizing a gas-turbine propulsion system, the ship can operate independently or as part of carrier strike groups, surface action groups, amphibious ready groups, and underway replenishment groups. The ship's combat systems center on the Aegis combat system and the SPY-Ld (V) multifunction phased array radar. With the combination of Aegis, the vertical launching system, an advanced anti-submarine warfare system, advanced anti-aircraft missiles and Tomahawk cruise missiles, the Arleigh Burke-class continues the revolution at sea.

A_C

One Of OUR Own

We often talk about every Soldier being one of our own. Well Jay-D Ornsby-Adkins was.

Born in Australia, he moved to America at the age of 5 with his mother and went on to join the US Army. He was Aussie born, American bred and died a hero....

News10.net -- 21-year-old infantryman, Pfc. Jay-D Ornsby-Adkins moved to the United States from Australia when he was five years old. His family says he loved his adopted country, volunteered for the Army last year, and volunteered to go to Iraq. The Army informed his family Saturday that he had been killed by an improvised explosive device on April 28th in Salman Pak, Iraq. He had served in Iraq for just six weeks. In Ione, his mother, Robyn Ornsby said he was proud of his dual heritage, adding, "We're Australian citizens. He served the American Army with pride and respect. He died with pride and respect." On Tuesday, residents of Ione and surrounding communities came to the Main Street hair salon owned by Ornsby's mother to pay their respects with notes and cards. Family friend Richard Gonzales says he understands how the young soldier felt. "He went because he wanted to. I'm a Vietman veteran. I know what he's talking about. Because of him, people can write their editorials against the war." A friend described Ornsby-Adkins as, "Always moving a million miles an hour, with a devilish grin on his face and a twinkle in his eye." Ornsby-Adkins married 19-year old Ashley Ornsby in December when he was finished with boot camp. She says she is moved by the community's response, adding, "It's beautiful. Let's him know it's time to come home and it's ok to." Ornsby-Adkins was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 15th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, Fort Benning, Georgia. A memorial mass is planned for this Saturday at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Ione. The funeral is scheduled for Wednesday May 9th at Sunset Cemetary in the nearby town of Martell.

I was first made aware of this young Soldier on Myspace with this article..

Sunday May 6 17:46 AEST Australian and American flags fluttered side by side in a quaint Californian town as about 1,000 locals, many with tears flowing down their cheeks, welcomed home war hero Jay-D Ornsby-Adkins. Jay-D had lived in the US for most of his life, but he was a true blue Aussie, his mother and father said. The Perth-born 21-year-old was killed in Iraq last Saturday when an improvised explosive device triggered by insurgents destroyed his military vehicle. Two other American soldiers were killed in the attack. "He was an Australian citizen," his mother Robyn Ornsby told AAP. "He loved America, he loved the US army, but he loved being an Aussie." Robyn and her son moved to the US 16 years ago to make a new lives for themselves and landed in the quiet town of Ione, about two hours east of San Francisco. With a population of just 3,000, Ione is set among rolling green farmland and appears as though it could be the set of a sweet Hollywood movie. Robyn opened her own beauty shop, Robyn's Nest, in the centre of the town, and became an integral part of Ione. Jay-D became one of the most popular kids, and five months ago married his sweetheart, Ashley. He decided the best way to better himself was to join the US army, which accepted him despite his Australian citizenship. Jay-D wanted to go to college and the army would pay for his tuition. "The army was good for Jay in every way, except for this tragic thing that happened," Robyn said. "He did not go to war for the politics. "He wanted to make something good out of his life. "He wanted to turn his life around. "He wanted to take advantage of the good things that the army has to offer and he wanted to go to college." Jay-D became a Private First Class, assigned to the 1st Battalion, 15th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, based at Fort Benning, Georgia. Although he had entered a new phase of his life, he kept his cheeky Australian streak. During a recent conversation, his mother asked him what he was going to study at college when he completed his army stint. "He said he wanted a degree in clown school or a degree in blowing glass," Robyn said. "He wouldn't give me a straight answer. "He was just being a smart-arse." Jay-D will be buried at Ione on Wednesday. The funeral at the local Catholic church is expected to be overflowing with hundreds of family and friends. Ione mayor Jerry Sherman said speakers will be set up outside the church for the overflow of people. About 1,000 people lined Ione's main street as Jay-D's coffin was brought through the town in a procession involving local police, sheriffs and firefighters. A lone bagpiper played Amazing Grace as the convoy slowly passed through. Jay-D's family, which included his father Shad Adkins and seven other relatives who flew in from Australia, were stunned by the community's response. Jay-D was the first person from the town killed in Iraq. Robyn's beauty shop has become a shrine to Jay-D, with Australian and American flags, candles, notes and cards covering the front. "It was incredible," Shad said of the community's response to the procession. "It was the happiest and saddest I've ever been in my life. "The amount of people who turned out in the street who were crying and waving flags shocked me. "They were all there for Jay." The reunited family sat at Robyn's home telling stories about Jay-D. Robyn and Shad were rodeo stars in Perth when they married. They believe Jay-D inherited their adventurous spirit. They laughed about the Mother's Day a few years back when Robyn surprised her son by telling him they were going skydiving. "He was petrified," she said. "But we had such a great time." Jay-D also had plenty of other talents, such as wrestling and playing the didgeridoo, an instrument that few Americans could attempt successfully. "He was a good-hearted and loving kid," Robyn said. "But, he was also wild in many ways and had a great spirit. "He wasn't always perfect, but neither was I or his dad." ©AAP 2007

This stands as a reminder that we really are all in this together.

My sincerest condolences to the family and friends of Jay-D. His life and sacrifice will be honoured by both our countries.

A_C

When Soldiers Speak...

We need to listen..

Taken from SSG Lomen, Alpha Company, 2nd Platoon, 1st Battalion 32nd Infantry, 10th Mountain Division as taken from SSG Lomen: Those of you who know me and know me well know that leaving blogs, or forwards or anything of that nature is not my style. But over the past week Ive seen some things that can not go untold. As you all know I am a squad leader, currently serving in Afghanistan. Been here for 6 months now, but this is by no means my first combat tour. In a span of 3 days, I saw 4 soldiers fight, and loose their lives in combat. A lot of people like to say that they were fighting for their country. While I agree with that, there is also more to it than that. People always seem to overlook the rest of that statement. These soldiers died so that their brothers next to them could live. At the time of their deaths they were not thinking that they are helping a nation fight terrorism, rather they died knowing that they were protecting the rest of us who fought beside them. One man died reloading one of our heavy weapon systems. He knew that the operation of that weapon was vital to the safety of the rest of the platoon. At that moment, self sacrifice was what protected the other 4 soldiers within his vehicle. His actions and the other soldiers who died as well will never be forgotten. A brother is not someone who shares a father with you because we all share the same father anyways, rather its someone who is always there for you in your times of need, as well as your times of joy. The quote is from one of our fallen comrades. He paid the ultimate sacrifice so that he could be there in OUR time of need. The reason I am telling you all this, is because I am angry. If I were to go home to the United States and pick one random person and say that I just returned home from fighting a war in Afghanistan, what do you think his reaction would be? I am willing to bet his reaction would be this. That he would ask, We still have soldiers in Afghanistan? We are still fighting the terrorist who inhabit this poor region. Afghanistan seems to be the forgotten war. The people of the United States dont understand that people are still fighting and dieing in the mountains, roads, streets and cities of Afghanistan. I dont know when this transition happened, but people need to be reminded of our actions over here. Iraq seems to be all that fill the minds of our citizens. Please dont take this the wrong way, I am not trying to take away from the good that our soldiers in Iraq are doing. I just believe that our forgotten soldiers in the mountains of Afghanistan, and the soldiers who die along with them deserve some respect as well. While the casualties in Afghanistan are lower then Iraq, consider this fact. The number of troops in Iraq number roughly around 125,000 while the number of troops in Afghanistan number only around 20, 000. Thats why the death toll between the two war zones seems so drastically different. I have fought the enemy in both countries, been shot at and blown up more times then I can count. And I can tell you this. The enemy we face in Afghanistan is a much greater and more determined enemy. They are better trained and know how to fight. They have been doing it for hundreds of years. In closing, over the past few weeks, we have encountered some very serious resistance. My platoon alone has lost two of their brothers and had 7 wounded, all of whom were evacuated to echelons of medical care far away from our current position. While I weep for the ones who have lost their lives, I am also concerned for those who are trying to heal. Some may never walk again, others will be permanently disfigured, and all have some trying times ahead of them. Those are the people I am asking you all to pray for. That they have a speedy and healthy recovery. I can say this though, I am happy that they are at least out of harms way. This is my charge to all of you. We need to spread the word of the soldiers who are still fighting in Afghanistan. Our soldiers here depend on the support of our loved ones back home. Please copy and paste this to your profiles. Tell everyone you know of the trying times our brothers are facing. Tell everyone of the heroism of the soldiers who lost their lives and of the soldiers who are fighting to recover what they have read About.

A_C