Iraqi, Coalition Forces Discuss Border Security

by Maj. Chad Carroll
4th BCT, 1st Cav. Div. Public Affairs

FOB GARRY OWEN, Iraq (Nov. 18, 2008) – For the first time in Maysan province, leaders from the Iraqi army, Iraqi police and Iraqi border patrol met with Coalition leaders near the provincial capital of Amarah Nov. 15. Officers from 4th Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, worked behind the scenes for weeks to bring together commanders from the 11th Border Enforcement, the 38th and 41st Iraqi Army Brigades and the Maysan police.

The Coalition Soldiers assembled this group to share information on suspected criminal activity and plan future cooperative efforts to increase border security in the province.

Coaliton officers meet with Iraqi security officials from southern Iraq to discuss boarder enforcement during the Maysan Security Conference held near Amarah, Iraq, Nov. 15.

“Up to this point, the border patrol, Iraqi police and Iraqi army have done great work in securing the province,” said Col. Philip Battaglia, commander, 4th BCT, 1st Cav. Div. “This conference represents a huge step toward synchronizing all those successes to close security gaps and secure the province as a whole.”

Iraqi leaders were extremely pleased with the new level of cooperation and how the conference demonstrated the big picture to the provincial leaders. “We are having great success, but since the province is such a large area to cover, we have to make sure our forces’ locations are right with respect to each other,” said Maj. Gen. Habib Taleb Abbas, 10th IA Div. commander.

Habib chaired the conference and offered time to other commanders to address their ideas for future cooperation among the rest of Iraq’s security forces.

Security during Iraq’s upcoming January election was a hot topic for the leaders. “Working together starts with planning together,” said Maj. Gen. Saad Harbiya, commander of Maysan’s police officers. He recommended another conference to solely focus on security for the election.

Three of 4th BCT’s battalions are operating in Maysan. The 1st Squadron, 9th Cavalry Regiment, is partnered with the border patrol element to interdict munitions and arrest criminals crossing from Iran into Iraq. The 2nd Bn., 7th Cav. Regt., is partnered with the 38th IA Bde. and the 5th Bn., 82nd Field Artillery Regt., is partnered with the 41st IA Bde.

The Iraqi security forces in southern Iraq have arrested approximately 200 suspected criminals and seized more than 9,000 various munitions – to include improvised explosive device and explosively formed projectile materials since 4th BCT arrived this summer.

Source: CENTCOM.

Cross-posted @ Rosemary’s Thoughts. Trackback URI. Digg!

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No Socialism, No Marxism, No Obamanism

America did not shed so much blood, treasure and tears only to bring Marxism to our own shores. I refuse to pay allegience to a Marxist, and I will do everything legally within my power to stop it. ENOUGH IS ENOUGH. If you Republicans want to play nice to get along, get the hell out of my party or we’ll start a true American Conservative Party.

If you do not believe that there is a candidate running for president who is a socialist if not a Marxist, take a very good listen to this.

Hat tip: NakedEmporerNews.

We have shed much blood. We have lost many young and brilliant and brave and scared young men. We have sacrificed too much of our sacred treasure to turn around and disgrace these men by inviting into our country that which they fought against. We shall not dishonor their memories. We shall not dishonor their missions. We shall not dishonor their victories. No way. No how. No Obama!

Please forgive my political anger. I cannot believe my beloved country would knowingly turn from a capitalist society to a communist society. I truly believe my American brothers and sisters would never do that.

It is the media I blame for their lack of reporting on one candidate and trying to destroy the character of another. It is disgraceful and UNAMERICAN. That’s right. I said it. Come and try to sue me. TRUTH IS AN ABSOLUTE DEFENSE. In case all you fancy lawyers forgot that, too…

May you walk with the LORD always, and when you cannot take another step, may He carry you the rest of the way until you can walk along side Him again.

Cross-posted @ The Talon and Rosemary’s Thoughts.

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If McCain Won’t Explain It, I Will

19,000 who live in America are actually ‘rich’. Do you want to make a bet that they don’t know how to hide their wealth or income? Then what does Obama do? That is correct. He taxes YOU.

Just as a reminder…45% of the people DO NOT pay income taxes. This was helped by the Bush tax cuts that everyone is now saying he did not help the poor. Come again?

Hat tip: m1media.

May you walk with the LORD always, and when you cannot take another step, may He carry you the rest of the way until you can walk along side Him again.

Cross-posted @ Rosemary’s Thoughts.

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Biden: They’ll Test Obama Within 6 Months

Both camps are scrambling. One is amiss trying to cover this foreign policy debate, the other is on the jump to illuminate this gaffe by Sen. Biden. The McCain/Palin camp knows that the media will not cover this as they would had Gov. Sarah Palin said the same thing.

Now let’s just be clear. What Joe said was nothing new. Do you remember the plane crises with China when President GW Bush came into office? So we know that countries like to test the leather of the new president. This is not the point. The point? The media, or the lack of it.

There is someone who agrees with this last statement, and you will not believe who it is. Dan Rather!

What do think about that?! It’s about time he told the truth about something, anything. Well, good on you, Dan.

Oh my goodness, there’s more! The NY Post covered it. At least some people in NYC will be informed. Maybe.

Brought to you by Stop The ACLU.

And now for some humor. Go over to IowaHawk’s post, “Biden: Obama Ready for Armageddon Showdown He Will Provoke. He has a rather humorous combination of all the things Biden has priorly stated and put them together to enhance what he actually said at the fundraiser. It is quite funny…if only it weren’t so right on. At least he is trying to lighten the mood. Good job, IowaHawk.

Source(s) and hat tip(s): Stop The ACLU and IowaHawk.

Cross-posted @ Rosemary’s Thoughts.

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About That ‘Emergency Economic Bill’

There are many things I can say about this gargantuan bill to bail out everyone except those of us who pay taxes, buy and sell stocks, use banks, and use other products, but I may save that for another time and place.

As it stands right now, the emergency economic bill has been defeated 228-205, and the Republicans are being called ‘Unpatriotic’ by Congresswoman Nancy Palosi. Ma’am, if you had not poisined the waters before the vote with your partisan rhetoric while demanding bi-partisan support, maybe you would have received a better outcome (to my dismay).

There is an article in the New York Times describing some of what has transpired, but you have to go to the fifth paragraph from the end of the article to discover why this proposal tanked.

The administration accepted limits on executive pay and tougher oversight; Democrats sacrificed a push to allow bankruptcy judges to rewrite mortgages. But Republicans fell short in their effort to require that the federal government insure, rather than buy, the bad debt. [Read the whole thing, if you want. lol.]

The insurance is the main issue here. We would NOT be taking these bad loans with tax dollars. Instead, these failed banks, failed financial institutions, and others would have to insure whatever help they received. They would be responsible for restoring to the government this loan with interest. This way, they would NOT be given free cash to continue the practices which brought this about in the first place.

And just how did this come to be? Congress. Congress is responsible for where we are due to the Community Reinvestment Act. Just what is this? Congress decided back in 1979 that banks were not giving loans to certain areas or locations. It just so happens that these areas are where blacks and poor people lived.

It was a good idea back then, because there was discrimination. No doubt about it. Then Clinton came to town and decided he wanted to do more. So Congress, in 1993, mandated that these banks and loaning institutions had to offer more loans to more poor people than they were already doing. This led to the no down payment, no background check, no check on whether or not people were able to afford to pay back the loans they were given, and on and on.

When we had the housing bubble, people who could not afford a house did not save the correct amount of money (like I am doing), so they walked away from their rented homes. After all, wouldn’t you consider it a rental when you had no investment in the house in which you lived? Especially if you were an illegal alien?

President Bush and Sen. John McCain have been warning that this would happen if there was no reform, but Chairman Barney Frank and Chris Dodd said that was racist and unnecessary. Unnecessary? THEY KNEW! They were the overseers.

When they get rid of the CRA, which was NOT in the bill (they wanted to EXPAND it!), then maybe the American people would be more understanding. Until you change your ways, Democrats, Republics, Independents, Socialists alike, we stand firmly behind those members that said, “NO DEAL!”

That is my opinion, and I know I do not stand alone. Both sides of the House said no. You cannot blame this on one party or the other. Those who voted yes, I’ll be taking down names…when you come around asking me for my money!

PS. I would also like you to know that there are NO criminal provisions in this bill. Everyone who stole (cooked the books to get more money from Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, quasi private/government owned) gets to walk away scott free. There were many Clinton administration employees who made millions for themselves. Could this be why they are not worried about corruption?

Johnson and Raines are now working on the Obama campaign, although he may deny this FACT. Raines had a hand in the destruction of Fannie Mae. So did Johnson. I’m just not sure which financial institution he was responsible for. What if these men becomes Treasury Secretary and Economic Advisor?

Again, if you hear anything close to Republicans holding this up or it being their fault, the Democrats are in the majority. They could pass anything they wish, which they usually do. You may not know this, however, because the bills they passed were not bills of any import. Go figure.

Hat tip: Blackfive.

May you walk with the LORD always, and when you cannot take another step, may He carry you the rest of the way until you can walk along side Him again.

Cross-posted @ The Talon and Rosemary’s Thoughts.

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How Did Obama Get My Email Address?

Before I go into my rant about my privacy being invaded by the Obama team hacking into my e-mail, I’d like to share with you an e-mail Let me see if I can decipher this in a proper way so these (people?) may see the error of their ways.

“This was a clear victory for Barack Obama on John McCain’s home turf.

John McCain’s home turf? Do they not know Mississippi is on the other side of the Mississippi River to where John McCain’s “HOME TURF” is located? Hmm. Interesting. They could, however, be referring to the electoral college home turf, where she would correct. It’s a possibility.

Senator McCain offered nothing but more of the same failed Bush policies, and Barack Obama made a forceful case for change in our economy and our foreign policy.

I really wish she had not said this. I was not going to write anything about the debate, because I thought it was boring, but now I have to. Thanks a lot.

First of all. The same old failed Bush (that’s PRESIDENT to you!) policies? Let me introduce you to the Community Reinvestment Act. In 2003, the New York Times reports that PRESIDENT Bush tried to reform this to deal with the massive housing industry that CONGRESS was supposed to be overseeing, but oh no! Couldn’t do that, could we. That was considered racist. I always considered money to be green. Who knew?

President Bush’ economic policies moved us all out of a recession he inherited from Clinton, then we had a terrorist attack on our own land, and then we had Enron and the Accounting Firms fall prey to collapse. BTW, don’t cry fire unless something is burning. This is NOT an economic crises. It is an illegal alien crises.

That’s right. No money down? No stake in the houses they bought with money they didn’t have. It was just like renting. So when they leave, maybe to go back to wherever they came from, we have to pay for their decision while saving money the correct way so we can buy a house? NOT OUT OF MY MONEY!

While Senator McCain wants to keep giving huge tax cuts to corporations and said nothing about the challenges Americans are facing in their daily lives, Barack Obama will be a fierce advocate for tax cuts for the middle class, affordable health care, and a new energy economy that creates millions of jobs.

This is the one that got me in the gut. How dare you! Obama has voted YES on every TAX HIKE that was introduced. Tell me, how does that cut taxes? The debate was about foreign policies. That concerns everyone, including the middle class. Tell me, when is the last time you were hired by a poor person who had no business?

Also, might I remind you what President JFK said? He said, “Ask NOT what your country can do for YOU, but what can you do for your country.” Does that sound like he was a big government dude? No, it does not. I guess he wouldn’t recognize his party if he were to come back today, and I know he would not get elected by the Democrats. Isn’t it a shame how far Left you guys have moved the party?

While foreign policy was supposed to be John McCain’s top issue, Barack Obama commanded that part of the debate with a clear call to responsibly end a misguided war in Iraq so that we can finish the fight against al Qaeda in Afghanistan.

You really need an education. bin Laden himself stated that the center place of the war IS Iraq. If you will not believe us, will you believe him?

About your fantasy that Obama came off looking as if he had command of the foreign policies issues, I don’t know what you were watching. Were you just waiting for him to say that we’d get out of Iraq? Did you read a script? Because it did NOT happen!

John McCain needed a game-changer tonight, and by any measure he didn’t get it,” said Obama-Biden campaign manager David Plouffe.

A ‘game’ changer? You actually believe this is a game? That is sick. I believe you may have used a word you did not mean. I’m willing to believe that. After all, you guys ARE just ‘playing’ politics while Sen. McCain is deadly serious about protecting this country…for everyone. Not just for black people, not just for Hispanic people, not just for white people, not just for women, but for all American. Period.

Now for my rant. How the heck did you hack my e-mail? Who gave you permission to use it? As long as you keep sending me your information as to where you are going to be next, I will publish it. Not the one about Denver, I threw it out. I’m just letting you know in advance, because I do not appreciate first-speech offenders having access to ANYTHING of mine. LOSE IT.

May you walk with the LORD always, and when you cannot take another step, may He carry you the rest of the way until you can walk along side Him again.

Cross-posted @ Rosemary’s Thoughts.

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DNC Throws US Flags In Garbage

I was listening to Roger on the radio this morning, when I couldn’t believe my ears. Over 12,000 US Flags were thrown into garbage bags to be deposited in the nearest landfill! I guess I should not be surprised, but I am. There are proper ways to dispose of the US Flag if it is no longer of use (for your props). Here is one blogger from the Denver Post:

Republican Recycling.
by David Harsanyi on September 6, 2008

This morning, Republicans tell me that a worker at Invesco Field in Denver saved thousands of unused flags from the Democratic National Convention that were headed for the garbage. Guerrilla campaigning. They will use these flags at their own event today in Colorado Springs with John McCain and Sarah Palin.

The most tell-tale sign of this writer’s Left-leaning bias comes at his conclusion.

I’m not sure what the DNC was supposed to do with unused hand-flags, frankly. But the Republicans are obviously questioning someone’s patriotism here. [Read the whole article with comments.]

He doesn’t have a clue about what to do with those flags? Very telling.

In another article with a different consideration, here is more information.

Democrats Throw 12,000 American Flags Into The Garbage.
Posted by Bob Hayes of Blogger News Network.

Flags can be properly disposed of by following the regulations of the US Flag Code. Local VFW posts and American Legion posts are always glad to help with flag disposal, as are most local Boy Scout troops. Flags should be re-used, stored for future re-use, or be ceremonially destroyed rather than being thrown into the garbage.

It is never acceptable to simply throw the flag into the garbage. To throw 12,000 flags into the garbage is an act of the profoundest disrespect for the American flag, and to the veterans who fought and died under that banner.

UPDATE: Fox News is reporting that it was a vendor who discovered the flags, not a cleanup worker. [Read the whole article with comments. Some are quite funny (if you consider stupidity to be funny, lol).]

There are two more articles I would like to share with you. One is written by a friend of mine over at Love America First (cross-posted @ Stop the ACLU), and the other article is by Ed Morrissey at Captain’s Quarters (and HotAir). Starting with Lobo:

My co-blogger Roger wrote about this on the September 1st, and yes the entire Democratic party should be ashamed. Of course, they aren’t. So, why wouldn’t people question your patriotism when you treat the flag like this?

Now for Ed’s:

Didn’t anyone make arrangements for better disposal of these flags from Invesco? At the very least, they were an investment that could have been re-used at rallies in Colorado as well as the rest of the nation during the general election. Instead, they’ve handed a dramatic moment to John McCain and Sarah Palin, as well as relieved them of the cost of 12,000 such flags — as well as a full 3?x5? flag that also wound up in the trash.

Remember when the DNCC was supposed to be the “greenest convention ever”? How they worried about the color of the food and using organic materials in their merchandise? I guess we can see where the “green” concern ends … at red, white, and blue. [Read more.]

I must say, this story has started a firestorm. It was just published today, and I thought I was going to break the news. Foolish me! lol. So many people are already on the story.

BTW, in case you are wondering, it has been verified that this did actually happen. I am more sad for my country than I am angry at the DNC. When did it become passe to not love our country? How many COMMUNISTS are there living here? Yes, and you know who you are. I hate you, Commie freedom haters. I want my country to love itself before they start demanding that we have better relationships with other countries. If you hate it so much here, there are no locks on the borders (as you can clearly see, but don’t get me going on that issue!). Can we for once have a campaign about issues concerning our survival? Why? If we do not, we will no longer have a flag to defend, because we will no longer be free (if we are alive). That is why. Have a nice day.

Update: Right Voices has a wonderful article on this also. UPDATED AND BUMPED: Obama Puts Out A Lie To Try And Cover Up What We Saw Back On 08-28-08….New Game: Where’s the Flag At The Democratic National Convention..Hint: Look In The Trash. There are many more links to some very intelligent people. Maybe you could just visit for those links, get to know more people? I’m going to! 😉

Cross-posted @ Rosemary’s Thoughts.

May you walk with the LORD always, and when you cannot take another step, may He carry you the rest of the way until you can walk along side Him again.

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The 2008 Republican Platform

Below you will find a link for the 2008 Republican Platform (.pdf), and I have a video included on my blogger site or you may go directly to the video. (This is a message for my WordPress friends.)

Here is the link to the .pdf file: The 2008 Republican Party Platform. Have a nice day. 😉

Cross-posted @ Rosemary’s Thoughts.

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Are We Paralyzed?

It appears to me that our foreign policy is one of paralysis. Why are there no back-up troops in Georgia telling the Soviets to get out? Why is Iran allowed to continue their march to successfully aquire nuclear weapons? Why does North Korea get to keep their weapons while we feed their army? Why is China given the privilege of hosting the Olympics while squashing the free speech of several free-speech countries? Why is everyone treating them with kid gloves when they are using 13 and 14 year old children when the rules demand they are supposed to be at least 16?

Because the Left-Marxists in this country and around the world do not care about such things. They only care about the destruction of America. If anyone requires more proof, just look to the United Nations. That is their tool, right? Well, they are not happy with the Soviets, but they have a veto on everything and anything we try to do to stop their invasion!

Do you hear anyone screaming that the Soviets are fighting a war for oil? Well, that’s what they’re doing! Have we become so whipped that we cannot see the realities of today? Is it true that we give a hoot about what other people say about us?

I’d rather they feared us the way they fear the Soviets and China! Honestly. If I were president, I would not let these things stand. Forget about the rest of the world. If necessary, kick out everyone who is not a citizen for a while. That would go very far in reducing the federal debt.

As far as what to do about every situation, I have a few ideas. First, I would make sure that North Korean government didn’t get another dime. I would drop food all over their country with pamphlets encouraging them to take control of their land. As far as the standing army, I would offer them their families sustanance if they would lay would lay down their arms. If they refused, I would help move the people as far away as they could go for a while. Then I would blow up their reactors. Problem solved.

At the same time I would tell Iran to give up their weapons or face the consequences that have been awaiting them for over three decades. The same idea as with North Korea, help the people who want nothing to do with these scumbags, and the heck with the rest. When, not if, they refuse, there goes most of Iran. End of problem.

Now to address Georgia. Soviets get out or there will be war. Old Europe will no longer be a part of NATO. They are no longer an ally. They have been against us at every turn. What happened to, ‘You are either with us or you are with them, but there is no middle ground here.’? They chose their side. It is time to chose ours.

There was a time when our so-called leaders used to not put up with tyrants like this in this manner. What happened? They became paralyzed by the Left and the idea that everyone has to get along. Since when?

PS. I understand my logic may be way off, and that’s okay. It’s the first plan I’ve seen so far, so I expect there to be many things incorrect with it. But at least I proposed one. Where is everyone else’s?

PSS. I would also flatten Khartoum. No questions asked. No warning. They’ve had enough time and too many people have been murdered, raped, tortured, etc, and al Qaida is still there in the mountains. Is anyone looking there? No, they are not. Why not? Because the body created for the purpose of preventing another genocide cannot even bring itself to name what is happening Darfur, Sudan, genocide. Shall we just lay down and die for them? Make it easier? NOT ME!

THIS IS A PERSONAL RANT, AND IT DOES NOT REFLECT THE BELIEFS OF THIS SITE (the Talon). I am frustrated over the situations around the world, and it appears no one is paying attention. BTW, Pakistan’s government is falling apart as of today. Watch out for something to happen over there.

Elections or no, politics should never govern foreign policy.

Cross-posted @ The Talon and Rosemary’s Thoughts.

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Sheikhs discuss upcoming elections in Samawa

by Capt. Robin Worch
1st Cav. Div. Public Affairs

SAMAWA, Iraq (July 28, 2008) – More than 500 tribal leaders gathered in Samawa to discuss upcoming Iraqi elections and issues affecting their tribes, July 16. “This is the spirit of democracy that is encouraging progress throughout Muthanna and Iraq,” said Paul O’Friel, a provincial reconstruction team leader operating in the region.

Sheikh Hakim Khazl led the meeting under a theme of “free and fair elections,” where he proposed introducing United Nations electoral monitors to validate upcoming elections. “We are honored to be invited to such an event and witness first-hand Iraqi people’s moving forward toward a truly democratic country,” said Lt. Col. Scott Kendrick, the commander of the 2nd Squadron, 12th Cavalry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division.

The sheikhs discussed short falls in the election system in Iraq and agree there is a vital need to hold the national government accountable to the people. The sheikhs’ tribes are gathering, organizing and developing strategies for peaceful and democratic elections scheduled this fall.

The 4th BCT, 1st Cav. Div., Long Knife Brigade, is providing oversight and aid to the Iraqi security forces in the region.

More than 500 sheiks mingle outside a tent during an annual meeting to discuss issues concerning their tribes and upcoming elections in Samawa, July 16.

Source: CENTCOM.

Cross-posted @ Rosemary’s News and Ideas and Adam’s Blog.

May you walk with the LORD always, and when you cannot take another step, may He carry you the rest of the way until you can walk along side Him again.

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