ScottishTankerHooligans

Still here...

Just so's you know.  I got a great letter home from MG Kelley.  Lord no, not to me, but it is being passed around and is too good to keep to ourselves, we know this stuff anyway.  If your war arm could use a shot, this is it.

Letter from  MajGen Kelly USMC Al Anbar,
8 Feb 2008.

Well we've all arrived safe and sound, and have all but taken responsibility for our little piece of the Global war on Terrorism. The Economics and Governance (BG Wiley Post), Wing (BG Tex Alles), MLG (BG Bob Ruark), and GCE (BG Rich Mills) have already taken over, and I will complete the set and take the reins from my good friend MajGen Walt Gaskin tomorrow in a ceremony that will be attended by all the local gentry to include Generals Petraeus and Odnierno. There will also be sheiks from every tribe in the province, and the local civic leadership as well. If you count every soldier, sailor air men and Marine in I MEF (Forward), or Multi-National Force - Iraq (MNF-I) as we will be known tomorrow, we are 33,000 strong, 25, 000 of whom are Marines. Throw in the two Iraqi Army divisions and the police, and, well you get the point. For most this is the first deployment to Iraq, but luckily we have a pretty good percentage that are second and even third time offenders to show the new folks how to settle in, find a rack and the mess hall, and deal with the desert. Nothing illustrates this better-the vets helping the "boots"-than last night when we had a series of resounding "booms" in the camp. The new guys sat bolt upright with eyes wide indicating their concern until the "old timers"-most in their late teens or early 20 of course-confidently settled the issue by declaring "out going," and everything went back to normal. The very good news is we will seldom hear booms of any kind as the province is a vastly different place than it was even a year ago. Dangerous still, but nothing like it was when any of us were here last. By the way the food is great, plenty of hot water, even for the grunts when can convince them to come in from patrol and ambush duties, and the temperatures are wonderfully cold, something we will all look back on nostalgically in May. On a personal note I am privileged to be here, even if it is for the third lengthy tour, and I say this for a number of different reasons not the least of which is the opportunity to again serve with young Americans-the best of their generation-in combat. A second reason is there is no greater honor for any man or woman than to protect one's country in time of grave danger, while wearing the nation's cloth. Finally, I do not think there can be anything more gratifying on this earth for an American than to participate in the freeing of a people from the grip of a tyrant, then helping that same people realize the benefits of democracy. To actually exercise the God-given rights of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. I have been away for three years. What I have found in the week I have been back can only be described as shocking. When I was here last dozens of IEDs detonated everyday in Al Anbar. Fire fights were as common as IEDs and mortar and rocket attacks a nightly routine. The emirs of al Qaeda and other equally murderous groups predicted our imminent defeat as they pursued a sick form of extremism no rational man or woman here, or anyplace else, could fathom. Many in our own country for any number of reasons began to lose faith-but the soldiers, sailors, airmen and Marines who fought our enemy to a standstill never doubted or wavered in their determination to win. Several days ago I walked through the market section of Fallujah. It was bustling with Iraqis of all ages buying and selling products of every description. Adults waved, pressed forward to shake hands, and many like good businessmen everywhere tried to make a sale. Kids swarmed around the Marines trying out the few English words they have learned in schools that are all now open. Parents no longer fear to send their boys and girls to learn, a practice that under the extremists was often a death sentence. When I last visited that city it was the most dangerous place on earth. It was a gunfight going in, and a gunfight coming out everyday. The majority of the city's population lived in stark terror from the most evil men on the planet. It was the same then in Ramadi, Haditha, and all the way along the Euphrates River Valley to the Syrian border-but no longer. Like Fallujah the schools are open, markets thrive, and post-war recovery gains momentum across al Anbar. This war is not won, but is being won and today primarily by the Iraqis themselves. Al Qaeda is not defeated, but it is on the ropes. Its membership knows that if they are foolish enough to come out of the holes they hide in, they will not only meet tough young Americans standing firm and unafraid, but also Iraqi police and soldiers in vastly increased numbers and effectiveness. Iraq is still a dangerous place, but nothing like it was only a short time ago. We should see this thing through because it's the right thing to do, the American thing to do, and we have the new "Greatest Generation" in just enough numbers willing to give up the comfort of their homes and defend us all while spreading freedom to a people who have never know it. In closing, one of the things that strike me most at times of turnover like we are executing right now with II MEF (Forward) is the power of the Marine Corps. With one boot camp experience for every enlisted Marine regardless of gender or MOS making them all riflemen first, and one officer training experience at TBS making every second lieutenant an infantry platoon leader, again, first and regardless of eventual MOS, we are one huge family. The Iraqis say tribe, and that is how they view us. It doesn't matter what MEF or duty assignment we come from, we all speak the same language, hold the same views about service to country, and have the finest and most dedicated NCOs, SNCOs, and officers in the United States Armed Forces. We have families that support this craziness year after year, a sacrifice few Americans outside the Corps can even imagine. We also have a secret weapon upon which all else rests. Our weapon, the secret of who your loved ones are, is a spirit and an esprit that arms Marines of all ages with a willingness-no an enthusiasm-to go out into the dark and dangerous night and drive convoys to distant locations, fly aircraft through hostile skies, or patrol the streets bravely hunting the nation's enemies. We never worry about our backs, because other Marines and our precious Navy Docs are covering. We don't worry if we will be left behind and forgotten, because we all know Marines don't do that. It doesn't matter what foolishness we might hear in the newspapers or on TV about those who doubt the mission, we don't. So please stay together, stay engaged, and do not worry as we will watch out for each other here in Iraq, as you should support each other home in the States. Also, do not forget the legions of retired and former Marines who want to help in the worst way. We who serve today stand on their shoulders, and they will do anything for you. We thank you all for what you do, for your patience, and for your love.

Semper Fi
Kelly

Will be in Memphis this weekend hogging flight time.  If you see some idiot down by the river in a Benelli hat and a lip full of Copenhagen, the secret password will get you a beer on me.
Laters

 

AccurateReloading-dot-fuckyouAmericans

It was a great reloading info website. But they should have known not to throw down red meat in the political thread in front of a Marine who will beat up 5-year olds.  I let them have it yesterday and this is what I got:

The Accurate Reloading Forums Membership Information

Dear Nikoms, The site administrators have removed your access rights: Foul language

powered by eve community

Foul language.  heh. They have no idea.

UPDATE:  for posterity and legal reasons, here is the post that set me off, and my response cap'd 04-15-2008:

Shameful policy for a the biggest terrorist in the world to sit in his White House, guarded by hundreds of special agents - even from his own people. Notice how towns are cleared of everyone except card carrying party members!

Remember Stalin?

Shameful policy to bomb schools, homes, weddings, markets.

Bin Laden cannot hold a candle to Chimpy!

And here is my response that got me suspended.:
SAEED,
Pres Bush did not kill those Americans. They willingly gave their lives in an attempt to provide the same freedoms we have here, because that is what we believe in. As we did during WWI, WWII, Korea, and when we were INVITED to, during Vietnam.
You may not like W's brand of politics, we weren't too keen on coming to your desert either. Were the likes of Gen Patton still around, we would not have the luxury of this discourse as your entire region would be under a layer of smoking smooth nuclear glass. Thank your russian pals for that.
3000 American civilians were murdered on Sept 11, 2001, by followers of Muhammed who sited verses of the Koran as justification. A religion of a BILLION people worldwide, with a pro-claimed minority of extremists, and ZERO who will decry the be-headings, ZERO who will speak against female genital mutilation, ZERO who will speak against second class citizenship for non-muslims, ZERO who see genocide in the Darfur of SA as a problem, ZERO who will decry seventh century barbarism.

So, say what you mean. Who are you with SAEED? When you talk to me, you do not have the option of TAQIYYA, I am a US Marine and what you tell me must be the truth. PERIOD.FUCKING.DOT.

I would hold my hand out to you as a brother, as I have already done to IRAQI's and Afghani's many times. If I cannot, If you cannot tell to me that you will not let fellow Muslims murder my children for being Christians, if you would not stand in front of murderers who would rape my wife and kill my kids, that you would not allow this to happen, that breaks my heart after all I've done.


BBBruce, nice reference to the LANCET article that has been totally discredited. DOUCHEBAG. How does it feel to be a weak-tit from a former first wold country that no longer has the balls to stand up for itself? Sucks to be you. Send me and angry email cunt-face. Just don't show up in my back-yard at night. dickweed, and you are. a. true. dickweed.

So, that is is the answer you get from Muslims who say they are our friends to the extent they share hobby websites.  No remark whatsoever regarding honor killings, be-headings, 9-11.  I typed FUCK and CUNT FACE and got banned. 

  Does that not speak volumes?  I think I'm finished with A-R.   Best we part company. 

Transitional

Sportsfans, posting at STH has reached suckage of epic proportions.  No, I am not going to quit, but I perceive an obligation to write about why and what's up. 
    I retire this next April after 20 years of active duty in the Navy and Marine Corps.  It's been nothing less than a wild ride and I can honestly say I've done everything I came here to do.  Maybe not where when and how I envisioned it, but it got done just the same, with none of my guys killed and all the aircraft back in the hangar.  Imagine an "Ice Road Trucker" version of Top Gun, without the sex, and in real shitholes like Korea and Pakistan.
    Now it is time to switch gears and concentrate on support of family, college for the youngins, building a garage and most importantly, getting a job that will support all we want to do.  That means finding a flying job, 'cause, aside from blowing things up, that's all I've done my entire adult life.  That is not without it's challenges these days with $100.00/barrel oil and 4 airlines going bankrupt recently, but I don't need to tell you people that. 
     I do need to concentrate on resumes, ATP's, medical certificates, myriad other miscellaneous qualifications and the ridiculous pile of admin. bullshit required to officially end a military career.   At some point I should get hired over the next 8 or 10 months and some of the pressure will be off.  At that point I envision taking full rights as a free American citizen to bash slander and foil the living shit out of liberal politicians, but that will have to wait for now as I am still obliged to pay attention to the UCMJ.  Pesky document.
   Anyway, that is the inalterable state of the union here in Casa Smokin for the foreseeable future.  Thanks for coming around and I hope to see you back when things stabilize.  'Till then, go wish Mike well as he is headed back to the shithole and rates your prayers and well wishes.   They all do, but as a frequent flier with plenty of bonus miles and a new baby, guys like Mike do us all proud.

Semper Fidelis

Smokin Joe Actual 

    

CPL Prather

  A Slow two weeks...
   For everyone else. First, Grandpa Fred passed two sundays ago.  He'd had a stroke that Monday and was in the hospital.  The Mrs and the kids went up just right before Valentines day, in case the worst was to happen, and it did. I made the drive to IN myself with the dogs for the services and to help out.
  Fred was born in a place he called Toad Hop IN. in 1919.  I don't know if that is or was ever a real town in IN, it could just be a state of mind there as that mentality still exists. Not much was ever said about life before WWII, 'cept they were all dirt poor and glad to have what little they did.  Shoes weren't mentioned.  Memorable events started with the war for them.  
   North Africa, Sicily, England, Omaha Red, Belgium, Germany.  He was like the Forrest Gump of WWII.  He had the kids memorize 9ID's major campaigns.  He spoke only of generalities at first, as I got to know him better later, some details came out.  What struck me is that those guys were gone at war for nearly four years straight.  There was no CONUS R&R trip at the half-way point.  No leave.  Fred left for WWII in '42 and did not return to the US until 5 months after VE day in '45, it was almost '46.  
   He recalled tales of combat under Gen. Patton, Gen Bradley, and his Company Commander Captain Westmoreland, yes, that Westmoreland, whom he later refered to fondly as"Westy", for promoting him back to Corporal after being busted to PVT at the Battalion CP for insubordination.  
  Never complained about the shrapnel in his leg or his ass, though he limped always.    
  He told me of at least three occasions when the regiment wanted to promote him to sergeant but he'd either turned it down or done something deliberate to get busted back down.  Sergeants got killed every day he said.  
  He quit drinking in his later years but would happily sit in lawn chairs with me under the shade of a big oak and share half a beer and tell lies and laugh and tease his great grandkids under an Indiana summer sky. That's how I'll remember him.  
  Eight Stars to Victory Cpl Prather.

After a few cans of loud-mouth

I can take 36.
Little shits should not fuck with me in the Club.

36

Super dudes

Who's your inner super hero?

From Mike.

Is it smart for a tanker pilot called Smokin to roll with his head on fire?

Controlling Hellfire?  I already do that. 

The thought of riding a motorcycle across water and up vertical surfaces does something to my nether regions. 

I have to go now.

Cuz, stifle it.

That's my story

and I'm sticking to it.

This was sent to me in a chain email so it must be true.....  
ORIGIN OF THE WORD AVIATOR
This explains it all.
Aviators come from a long line of a secret society, formed around one thousand years ago. They are warriors, and here is the proof! Ground pounders can read it and weep! A little known fact is the origin of the word, "Aviator." In the immortal words of Johnny Carson: "I did not know that."
Phu Khen (pronounced Foo Ken) 1169-? is considered by some to be the most under-recognized military officer in history. Many have never heard of his contributions to modern military warfare. The mission of this secret society is to bring honor to the name of Phu Khen.
A 'Khen' was a subordinate to a 'Khan' (pronounced 'konn') in the military structure of the Mongol hordes. Khan is Turkish for leader. Most know of the great Genghis Khan, but little has been written of his chain of command. Khen is also of Turkish origin. Although there is not a word in English that adequately conveys the meaning. Roughly translated, it means, "One who will do the impossible, while appearing unprepared and complaining constantly."
Phu Khen was one of ten Khens that headed the divisions, or groups of hordes, as they were known, of the Mongol Army serving under Genghis Khan. His abilities came to light during the Mongols' raids on the Turkistan city of Bohicaroo. Bohicans were fierce warriors and the city was well fortified. The entire city was protected by huge walls and the hordes were at a standoff with the Bohicans. Bohicaroo was well-stocked and it would be difficult to wait them out.
Genghis Khan assembled his Khens and ordered each of them to develop a plan for penetrating the defenses of Bohicaroo. Operation Achieve Victory (AV) was born. All 10 divisions of Khens submitted their plan. After reviewing AV plans 1 thru 7 and finding them all unworkable or ridiculous, Genghis Khan was understandably upset. It was with much perspiration that Phu Khen submitted his idea, which came to be known as AV 8. Upon seeing AV 8, Genghis was convinced this was the perfect plan and gave his immediate approval. The plan was beautifully simple. Phu Khen would arm his hordes to the teeth, load them into catapults, and hurl them over the wall. The losses were expected to be high, but hey, hordes were cheap! Those that survived the flight would engage the enemy in combat. Those that did not? Well, surely their flailing bodies would cause some damage.
The plan worked and the Bohicans were defeated. From that day on, whenever the Mongol Army encountered an insurmountable enemy, Genghis Khan would give the order, "Send some of Phu Khen's AV 8-ers." This is believed, though not by anyone outside our secret society, to be the true origin of the word Aviator (AV 8-er). Phu Khen's AV 8-ers were understandably an unruly mob, not likely to be socially acceptable. Many were heavy drinkers and insomniacs. But when nothing else would do, you could always count on an AV 8-er. A Phu Khen Aviator.
Denied, perhaps rightfully so, his place in history, Phu Khen has been, nonetheless, immortalized in prose. As the great poet Norman Lear never once said:
"There once was a man named Phu Khen,
Whose breakfast was whiskey and gin.
When e'er he'd fly,
he'd give a mighty war cry:
Bend over, here it comes again."
Consider it an honor to be a Phu Khen Aviator. Wear the mantle proudly, but speak of it cautiously. It is not always popular to be one of us. You hear mystical references, often hushed whispers, to 'those Phu Khen Aviators.' Do not let these things bother you. As with any secret society, we go largely misunderstood, prohibited by our apathy from explaining ourselves. You are expected to always live down to the reputation of the Phu Khen Aviator... a reputation cultivated for centuries, undaunted by scorn or ridicule, unhindered by progress. So drink up, be crude, sleep late, urinate in public, and get the job done. When others are offended, you can revel in the knowledge that YOU are a PHU KHEN AVIATOR!

Hah

feistier than normal rant on the way... but until then,

here's what I think of that rino mccain.

Download airsick.wmv

How many five year olds?

UPDATE:

  Correct link found.  Go HERE.

Now, go beat their little asses!

I think I could take a few more than indicated.  Old age and treachery always overcomes youth and exuberance.

31

Fred's out

Crap.
In Santa Rosa county Fla sits an as yet unopened worthless ballot.  Mine.  I think He should have waited for Florida, but in light of his mother's health situation, I can't blame him.  It's just too bad the rest of the GOP field are tofu eaters. It's irk-worthy his exit comes off McCain's win in SC, an open primary, where any douche with a propeller hat can pull the lever in a Republican primary.  New Hampshire too. The three registered republicans left in NH should get some self respect and depart anywhere with "Shire" as part of it's name.  McCain got less votes in SC than in the last primary which he lost.  The affect of the MSM love affair with McCain should be enough of an indicator for any conservative with a brain.  I've had enough of the leftist MSM dictating who they think the Republican nominee should be.  I haven't bought a paper or watched ABCCBSNBC news for years, but this development, I may hide in the bushes tomorrow and ambush the paper-boy with a baseball bat into his spokes.
  The GOP sorely needs to get back to it's roots.  Control of the debate needs to be wrested away from the liberally biased. These are the issues and how they should be handled.

1.  War in Iraq/War on Islamic terrorists;  Win.  period effing dot.

2.  Immigration;  This is a hot one for me living in NC, where even suburban Raleigh looks like G-dam T-J on a Saturday night. Enforce the laws we have.  We do not need new legislation of any kind to do this.  The current laws are enough.   Wall off the border.  Stop cozying-up with corrupt mexican officials run by drug cartels. Yes we can wall the border, the whole thing.  How many miles of 20ft wall surround interstates in this country simply because residential communities want to reduce noise?  Plenty.  Nearly half of I-495 around DC is walled off.  Florida plans to wall off most of the I-95 Corridor.  Thats like 400 miles...for noise reduction.  So the argument that we can't do it is BS.  Not only should the Mex border be walled, it should be double walled, and the No Man's land in between should be patrolled by orcs, Cobra gunships and vampires with AIDS.  And yes we can deport 20 million people.  One at a time.  Those that commit violent crime while they're here should be the first to go, with maximum prejudice.  Kill an American, re-deploy to Mexico via circus cannon.   MS-13 hatchet murderer, back to el salvador you go, bolted inside the warhead compartment of an ICBM, like that stupid monkey shot into space, a human G-tolerance experiment live on you-tube.   Tunnels, gas 'em.   Those left that want to work, we can debate and figure that out later, but while you're here, better mind your P's and Q's.

Mexican military incursions across the border should be dealt with, with real bullets.   I personally  inadvertently invaded mexico's airspace a few times from Yuma. It was laughable really, the prospect of being intercepted by a T-28 Trojan with a real gun mounted on it.  We used to call it "getting a little guacamole on the wings".  The response from mex military excursions should be, "I died from McDonald's trans fats, and lead poisoning, but mostly lead poisoning".  Yeah,  from .50 cal.  Drug runners bodies should be left where they lay.

3.  Taxes;  Flat tax.  Even Russia is happy with their flat tax. The current progressive tax scale is an abomination.  It is a dis-incentive to personal initiative and effort.  A penalty for achievers. Rush L. has the details at his site.  If I were making north of 150K, I would be hiding my money off-shore too.  Untold BILLIONS are kept outside of the US system simply because the wealthy know they need to shelter (hide) this money from uncle sam in order to keep anywhere near what they earn.  That geriatric closet liberal Alan Greenspan, who wants to raise income taxes on you, hasn't personally paid income taxes in years.  Even though he has worked.  His income is all from his investments, taxed at the capitol gains rate of 15%, about the same as a postal worker.   
  Earned Income Credit, it's wealth redistribution pure and simple, couched in tax rebate language.  Unless you are filing as head of a household ...gone. 

  I would freeze the IRS immediately at current manning, no new hiring, and they would have a year to reduce by 1/3.   No badges or guns for agents.   
  Boortzie's Fair tax is stupid.  There's no way to gage incoming tax money.  It's too huge of a change even if it works on paper. A Juggernaut like the federal tax system is not going to react well to a change a significant as the fair tax represents, too many unknowns.   Baby steps people.

4.  Pork and the Fed Bureaucracy;  Airdropped earmarks ..gone.  Every congress weasel should put his complete disclosure up with an earmark.   No justification, no money.  Hear that Murtha?   It's not their money, it's ours,  our kids,  it does not belong to some shithead in Pennsylvania with airports roads and buildings named after him.  Nor should it go to Alaska to build a 30 million dollar bridge so 60 hippies can drive conveniently to shop for rolling papers from their island of bears.
  State Department, FBI, CIA;  You're (nearly) all fired. Yes fired.  Every Clinton appointee to any position is gone.  Screw political correctness. They are political appointee posts.  This is important.  Would any business or for-profit entity retain, on payroll, any key leadership employee from a competitor?  No they would not.  This administration's inaction at attacks from internal sources, CIA leaks, DOJ fumbles, State Department failures, is inexcusable.  It's one of the biggest failures of this administration. If my Commanding Officer told me what the mission was and how he wanted to accomplish that mission, and I leaked news of that plan to the press with the intent of discrediting my boss's plan and causing public outrage and political pressure to stop his plan, I would be fired.  Probably jailed.   You would too.
  I would immediately fire probably half of the State Department.  Their new boss would be R. Lee Ermey  with complete free reign.  He could put his rants on speaker phone with me, we'd have a great time.  Until the 'transition period' is over, Marines at the Embassies would be in charge of local foreign policy.  Lt O'Bannon did a fair job back in the day, today's tenured bureaucrats would do well to learn from his lesson.  Think honor and integrity.

  FBI; new boss, Chuck Norris. 

  CIA;  Definitely needs fixing up.  I think one needs to be closer to this problem and be 'read in' to have an effective solution.  Suffice it to say, that a current Officer of the nation's premiere intelligence organization would attempt have impact on an election though effects on current agency operations, then leak that information to a newspaper hostile to the administration, is itself an atrocity. 

  SCOTUS;  The next federal judge that sites any foreign law, foreign judicial precedent, UN opinion, or the Magna Carta, should be given an atomic wedgie, then dismissed.

Well, those are the issues important to me. 2A is in there too, but I'll wait to see what DC does with the Heller case.  Everyone under my roof can shoot and there's enough for everyone to be armed twice over.  I also have a plan to strap a shotgun to Guido.  If he's smart enough to sort bags of chips by smell, he can shoot a hippie.

That is all. 

'night.

UPDATE;

And another thing.  Any candidate that starts campaigning over a year out may do so, but all public appearances MUST be made wearing the Groucho Marx style fake nose and glasses, not the original, the dirty one with the d1ck-nose.  Yeah, that's the ticket.