waveshaper

Seems like recently there has been some escalation in AA and SA engagements in this AO. https://www.military.com/daily-news/2014/07/17/official-malaysian-plane-shot-down-over-ukraine.html?comp=700001075741&rank=1

Ansar-Al-Benny.

Imminent Danger Pay is back on for Iraq; Lt Cmdr clarifies policy. Excerpt from article; Special Forces troops heading to Iraq to advise the Iraqi security forces will receive combat pay and also have immunity from local law, Pentagon officials said. "Imminent Danger Pay is, and will be, in effect for service members deployed to Iraq," Lt. Cmdr. Nate Christensen, a Pentagon spokesman, said in an e-mail statement Saturday. The statement followed a briefing Friday by Rear Adm. John Kirby, the Pentagon press secretary, at which he was asked about danger pay for the Special Forces in Iraq and initially responded that "Our combat mission in Iraq ended in 2011. This is not a combat mission." Same article with some creative editing; https://www.military.com/daily-news/2014/06/20/no-danger-pay-for-special-forces-headed-to-iraq.html?comp=700001075741&rank=6

No Danger Pay for SF Headed to Iraq. https://www.military.com/daily-news/2014/06/20/no-danger-pay-for-special-forces-headed-to-iraq.html?comp=700001075741&rank=1

Iraq and Afghanistan are America's version of "Hotel California": "We are all just prisoner here of our own device" And in the master's chambers They gather for the feast They stab it with their steely knives But they just can't kill the beast Last thing I remember, I was Running for the door I had to find the passage back To the place I was before "Relax, " said the night man "We are programmed to receive You can check-out any time you like But you can never leave! " https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=S7T--uLRRiQ#t=48

Balad AFB; Iraqi C-130s evacuating US contractors/others + it sounds like the Iraqi Security Forces bugged out and the contractors picked up the abandoned arms to fight the ISIS attackers, Benghazi 2? (unconfirmed). https://ac360.blogs.cnn.com/?iref=allsearch https://www.wnd.com/2014/06/200-u-s-contractors-surrounded-by-jihadists-in-iraq/ Excerpts from article; The attacking ISIS forces approached the base in trucks Wednesday and called through loudspeakers for all private security forces and Iraqi special military to leave immediately or die. The U.S. private contractors in touch with WND reported that after hearing the broadcast, the private security forces and the Iraqi military defending the base dropped their weapons and ran. The American contractors collected the weapons left behind and were able to hold off further immediate advances. The surrounded Americans said they were under ISIS fire from small arms, AK47s and rocket propelled grenades, or RPGs. The contractors had been able to hold the base, but those on the scene reported it was only a matter of time before the ISIS terrorists succeeded in breaking through the perimeter. The sources confirmed the contractors were still under siege, despite an Associated Press report Thursday, citing U.S. officials, that three plane loads of Americans were being evacuated from Balad. WND learned from sources that the jihadists closed down escape routes, and the U.S. Air Force was in a stand-down position. U.S. forces were not assisting even with air cover so a private extradition flight could land for a rescue, the sources said. Privately scheduled exit flights had fallen through, sources said, as several private pilots originally scheduled to make the flights quit. The sources contended the U.S. military could provide the necessary air cover to protect C-130s or other air transport craft sufficient to make the evacuation, but so far officials had refused to get involved.

I found this BBC article and if true it sounds like only the western portion/half of Mosul fell to the Sunni Insurgents and the Kurds do control eastern Mosul. It seems like the press may not be giving folks a complete/accurate picture of unfolding events, no surprise. https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-27789770 Some excerpts from the article. In Mosul, the militant group experienced far greater success, winning all-important psychological dominance over the security forces in three days of progressively heavy fighting in western Mosul. Peshmerga forces have recently moved forwards along the line of disputed territories claimed by both the federal government and the KRG, including securing the areas of Mosul city east of the Tigris River. Gaining the KRG's active support to take part in the clearance of western Mosul may only be possible if Baghdad is willing to make concessions to the Kurds on issues such as the international marketing of KRG oil and revenue-sharing between Baghdad and Iraqi Kurdistan. Ongoing discord between the Maliki government and its Kurdish and Arab opponents could disrupt the government's counter-offensive, allowing ISIS to consolidate its hold on western Mosul. In fact, a consolidated ISIS caliphate in western Mosul - with a population of over a million people - would be a far greater success than anything the movement has achieved in Syria and would send shock waves throughout the region.

Has all of Mosul been overrun/captured by the Sunni Insurgents? I don't/can't believe that has happened. I could see the insurgents taking the western side of Mosul (on the west side of the Tigris river) without to much trouble. The east side of Mosul (on the east side of the Tigris river) was heavily dominated by the Kurds and they would definitely put up a serious fight before losing ground. I would bet that most of the Iraqi Government Military Forces that got routed/folded were in western Mosul. Also, I would not be surprised if these forces simply bugged out to eastern Mosul or other Kurdish controlled areas to the east/northeast by crossing the bridges over the Tigris River to seek Kurdish protection.

Special Forces Deaths Fuel A-10 Debate. https://www.military.com/daily-news/2014/06/10/special-forces-deaths-fuel-a10-debate.html?comp=700001075741&rank=1

Noted. Believe it or not but the reason I selected this picture is because it was the only image (of many available) that had the decapitated heads intentionally "blurred" in the photo.

NBC News Pentagon Correspondent, Jim Miklaszewski, said it was a B-1 Stealth Bomber (really he said that).

Friendly Fire Kills Five American Service Members in Afghanistan? https://www.cnn.com/2014/06/10/world/asia/afghanistan-isaf-deaths/index.html?hpt=hp_inthenews

Meet Mohammad Fazi (unconfirmed) one of the five traded Taliban leaders. https://www.bookwormroom.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/Mohammed-Fazi.jpg

Navy Captain Ignored Lewd Conduct in Blue Angels. Quote "The blue and gold penis was visible from satellite imagery on Google Maps and existed through the end of the 2012 airshow season. The penis is no longer visible on Google Maps, the investigation states." end Quote https://www.military.com/daily-news/2014/06/03/navy-captain-ignored-lewd-conduct-in-blue-angels.html?comp=700001075741&rank=1

His good old dad does seem to have a few Jane Fonda-ish type attributes.

The goat fornicators exchanged for Sgt Bergdahl's release should of been 6 total; 5 Taliban + throw in Sgt Bergdahl's dad for good measure. It does seem like his daddy would blend right in and be welcomed with open arms in the Pashtunistan border region. Hopefully this was a world class deception act his dad pulled off to help keep his son alive while in captivity, if so then all is forgiven.

(All posts concerning SGT Bergdah's release have been moved to this thread) Sounds like US Army POW Sgt Bergdahl has been released by the Taliban?

Do you get a Light Brown Tater Tot Cluster for subsequent awards of this medal?

I can agree with this but folks need to understand that staying will come at a high cost and should not be surprised when shit goes down hill fast. The potential is that we will see many Benghazi type/size attacks. We could also find ourselves in a situation similar to our last days in Vietnam but this time I would expect it to be much worse. Source = From the State Department; This is just a wee glimpse at the type of activities we should expect in Afghanistan ,as a minimum, based on the course the current administrations is steering. SIGNIFICANT ATTACKS AGAINST U.S. DIPLOMATIC FACILITIES AND PERSONNEL in IRAQ: Attacks include direct fire, indirect fire,suicide attacks/bombings, IEDs, etc. This sound way to familiar and I thought we won that war? JANUARY 1 TO DECEMBER 31, 2012– IRAQ: Unknown individuals targeted U.S. diplomatic facilities/personnel with attacks on 41 separate occasions; additional attacks were launched against other U.S. interests elsewhere in Iraq. JANUARY 1 TO DECEMBER 31, 2011 – IRAQ: Unknown individuals targeted U.S. diplomatic facilities/personnel with attacks on 35 separate occasions; additional attacks were launched against other U.S. interests elsewhere in Iraq. JANUARY 1 TO DECEMBER 31, 2010 – IRAQ: Unknown individuals targeted U.S. diplomatic facilities/personnel with attacks on 50 separate occasions; additional attacks were launched against other U.S. interests elsewhere in Iraq.

Afghanistan exit strategy? What we need to do is dupe one of our adversaries, like China or Iran, into believing that occupying Afghanistan is in their national interest. As a matter of fact, it may would be worth it for the US to pony up some front money to get them started down the path of occupation. Then we can just hand them the keys to the Kingdom of Quagmires and we all (including diplomatic personnel) can depart that lovely place posthaste. Lets just hope there is at least one more country/empire remaining on planet earth that is foolish enough to take the bait. The most recent two US Ambassador killed by terrorist; 1. Benghazi Libya, 11 Sept 2012; The US Ambassador to Libya was killed in a terrorist attack. 2. Kabul Afghanistan, 14 Feb 1979; The US Ambassador to Afghanistan was killed in a terrorist attack. In typical Afghan fashion, the 1979 attack that killed the US Ambassador was an insider attack and the terrorist were wearing Afghan police uniforms. Amazing how times have changed, welcome to reality and the perpetual Afghan time warp.

Shitter graffiti is cheap entertainment, art, and heritage all wrapped in one. The only time it crosses the line is when it involves dicks. https://terminallance...rt-of-dicks-ii/

First let me say I'm sorry for posting this video clip but the Transgender education must move forward (caution advised). CBT#3; Androgynous:

Educating the force on the Transgender community, universal acceptance and integration will follow. CBT#1; Vagainaplasty: https://www.southparkstudios.com/clips/154762/vagainaplasty CBT # 2; Hermaphrodites: https://www.southparkstudios.com/clips/150325/a-secret-revealed

The only things you really need to know about the Border Patrol and Mexicans. https://www.southparkstudios.com/clips/399568/border-patrol https://www.southparkstudios.com/clips/399557/texans-vs-Mexicans https://www.southparkstudios.com/clips/399559/be-sure-to-get-the-edges https://www.southparkstudios.com/clips/399571/base https://www.southparkstudios.com/clips/399562/work-mexican-work https://www.southparkstudios.com/clips/399564/were-going-back

Wow, how things have changed on the Mexican border and in Mexico. Long ago me (+ others) spent mucho time TDY in Ajo Arizona, with free weekends and little or no adult supervision. Our mission was to successfully sneak across the border going the other way and head south. The preferred destination for weekend festivities was the beach town of Puerto Penasco, Mexico. The mode of transportation was a USAF blue 4X4 6PAX. Back in the day this quaint little town had few Americans present, we never ran into any criminal activities, the folks were friendly, and the beach/water was outstanding. It pays to get to know/be friendly with the border guards on both sides.