The people of California pay more for gasoline than any other state in the union. This is partially due to taxes. If this bill passes, you can look forward to higher gasoline prices, less police officers, less fire fighters, less teachers, and the list continues. For these reasons, I am asking everyone in California to vote NO on Proposition 87. Thank you.
October 24, 2006
Vote NO on Proposition 87
Brotherly Love
How can one express their emotions when they hear about the fallen heroes in Iraq, Afghanistan, the Horn of Africa and all the other countries across this world? Just ask a fellow Marine, Soldier, Sailor, SEAL, Air Force Pilot, National Guardsmen and all the members of the US of A Military.
They are in pain, they are angry, and they are grateful to have had the opportunity to know their brother at arms. I’m quite sure there is a whole field of emotions I have not mentioned, and I could only touch the surface in such a case.
One thing is for sure, they must be remembered in the light which their lives had been cut short. We are proud to have known these very special people. They died with honor, they shall always be remembered, and they shall have all the respect due them.
What did they do that caused their lives to be cut short? How many lives did they save? Did they fall on a live grenade to save his brothers? Did he give cover so his men could get out of an ambush?
We hear the numbers. Okay, we get it, but how did they die? Why cannot we know about these heroes, and their heroic actions? Unselfishly giving of themselves so that we might live, and we don’t even know how many lives were saved, how many of the enemy they took out first, or anything else? This is absurd.
But what of the men that go to their funerals in the field? Ah, I asked a very dear friend of mine, The Bos’un, that exact question. He is a 30 Navy man (ret.), and I realized how stupid a question it was as soon as I asked it. Of course he would know the answers to this question. After all, he is a Navy man. He is the one who sent me a copy of the link of the video you have just seen. This was my response:
- I love it. Not the cause of it, but the outpouring of love and brotherhood behind it. People just don’t get it. Maybe this will help, maybe it won’t. The people who do understand will, and that’s what matters.
Yes, my heroes will understand, and that is important. I want to understand as much as possible, as well, though. Please, if any newspeople read this article, please tell us more than the numbers. These men had lives, they had family, they were courageous. Do not dishonor or deny them their remembrance or their heroic status in our history books.
They did not go to war for your political agenda, or that of anyone else’s. Shock of all shocks. Do not use them for your political agenda. They are not pawns for you. After all, it is they, not you, whom uphold your right to have free speech…
Iraq rises to confront
Courtesy of American Forces Press Service
BAGHDAD — Iraq’s governmental leaders are rising to confront “an array of complicated issues” amid a spike in insurgent violence, a senior U.S. military officer said Oct. 19. “The U.S. and Coalition leadership commends this perseverance, while the Multi-National Force-Iraq continues to assess and revise our strategy and tactics to support this government” in an ever-changing, dynamic environment, Maj. Gen. William B. Caldwell IV, the spokesman for Multi-National Force-Iraq, told reporters at a Baghdad news conference.
An Iraqi Police officer ,left, and U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Rob Landeros, with the California Army National Guard and assigned to the 49th Military Police Brigade, keep watch over a person who was driving a suspicious vehicle at a checkpoint in Ad-Diwaniyah, in southern Iraq. U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Adrian Cadiz
Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki recently announced the formation of a special committee to address the country’s illegal militia issue, Caldwell said.
The Iraqi Government, he added, is also seeking to reform its Security Ministries. In fact, the Iraqi Government reassigned a number of leaders of the National Police on Oct. 16. “Although the leadership at the division level has changed, the National Police continued to prove itself as a capable, and viable civil force,” Caldwell said.
Caldwell commended the Iraqi Military and Police efforts in combating the insurgency. The Iraqi Security Force is finding “a good number” of weapons caches throughout Iraq. That’s because Iraqi forces are knowledgeable about their areas of operation, Caldwell said, and are growing in size and professionalism.
Caldwell cited a recent joint Iraqi and U.S. Marine operation in Anbar province resulting in the detention of more than 35 suspected insurgents and the discovery of thousands of hidden weapons.
That operation, he said, collected more than 11,000 pieces of weapons and ordnance between Oct. 7 and Oct. 13, including much material suitable for making Improvised Explosive Devices. Discovery of weapons caches in Iraq has increased over the past few months, Caldwell said, noting 170 caches were found in July, 190 in August, and 220 in September.
“Already this month, 144 caches have been found,” Caldwell said. And the Iraqi Security Forces is continuing to grow in numbers, as well as in capability, Caldwell said. More than 312,000 Iraqi Soldiers and Police have been trained and equipped by the Coalition Force.
Caldwell pointed to the Iraqi government’s recruiting plan to bring more than 30,000 new Iraqi troops to serve in troublesome Anbar province by May. And more than 600 Iraqi Police recruits, the general noted, are slated to graduate this week and begin work in the troubled province. In February, 3,800 Iraqi Police worked out of 14 active Iraqi Police stations in three of the nine districts in Anbar province, Caldwell said. Today, there are 33 police stations operating in eight districts, he noted, with more than 8,000 trained Iraqi Police.
Caldwell acknowledged there’s been an increase in insurgent violence since the start of Ramadan in late September. That’s consistent, he said, with similar spikes in enemy activity that have occurred during the month-long Muslim observance in the past two years. “The violence is indeed disheartening,” Caldwell said, noting there’s been a 22-percent increase in insurgent attacks in Baghdad during the first few weeks of this year’s Ramadan observance. But Operation Together Forward has made a difference, and has helped to reduce the amount of sectarian violence in the specific Baghdad neighborhoods. Still, he acknowledged, it hasn’t caused a reduction of the overall level of violence in the city. Meanwhile, “we are working very closely with the government of Iraq to determine how to best to re-focus our efforts,” Caldwell said.
That goal “is achievable,” Caldwell emphasized, “with a combination of both tough security measures by coalition and Iraqi Security Forces and a political process that recognizes that 11 to 12 million Iraqis voted for a unity government.”
Technatori Tags: News … counterinsurgency … Terrorism … International News … World News and Politics … al-Qaeda in Iraq … US News … Iraq … Jihad … Media Bias … Islamist … Counterterrorism … War
Iraq’s governmental leaders are rising to confront
Courtesy of American Forces Press Service
BAGHDAD — Iraq’s governmental leaders are rising to confront “an array of complicated issues” amid a spike in insurgent violence, a senior U.S. military officer said Oct. 19. “The U.S. and Coalition leadership commends this perseverance, while the Multi-National Force-Iraq continues to assess and revise our strategy and tactics to support this government” in an ever-changing, dynamic environment, Maj. Gen. William B. Caldwell IV, the spokesman for Multi-National Force-Iraq, told reporters at a Baghdad news conference.
An Iraqi Police officer ,left, and U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Rob Landeros, with the California Army National Guard and assigned to the 49th Military Police Brigade, keep watch over a person who was driving a suspicious vehicle at a checkpoint in Ad-Diwaniyah, in southern Iraq. U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Adrian Cadiz
Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki recently announced the formation of a special committee to address the country’s illegal militia issue, Caldwell said.
The Iraqi Government, he added, is also seeking to reform its Security Ministries. In fact, the Iraqi Government reassigned a number of leaders of the National Police on Oct. 16. “Although the leadership at the division level has changed, the National Police continued to prove itself as a capable, and viable civil force,” Caldwell said.
Caldwell commended the Iraqi Military and Police efforts in combating the insurgency. The Iraqi Security Force is finding “a good number” of weapons caches throughout Iraq. That’s because Iraqi forces are knowledgeable about their areas of operation, Caldwell said, and are growing in size and professionalism.
Caldwell cited a recent joint Iraqi and U.S. Marine operation in Anbar province resulting in the detention of more than 35 suspected insurgents and the discovery of thousands of hidden weapons.
That operation, he said, collected more than 11,000 pieces of weapons and ordnance between Oct. 7 and Oct. 13, including much material suitable for making Improvised Explosive Devices. Discovery of weapons caches in Iraq has increased over the past few months, Caldwell said, noting 170 caches were found in July, 190 in August, and 220 in September.
“Already this month, 144 caches have been found,” Caldwell said. And the Iraqi Security Forces is continuing to grow in numbers, as well as in capability, Caldwell said. More than 312,000 Iraqi Soldiers and Police have been trained and equipped by the Coalition Force.
Caldwell pointed to the Iraqi government’s recruiting plan to bring more than 30,000 new Iraqi troops to serve in troublesome Anbar province by May. And more than 600 Iraqi Police recruits, the general noted, are slated to graduate this week and begin work in the troubled province. In February, 3,800 Iraqi Police worked out of 14 active Iraqi Police stations in three of the nine districts in Anbar province, Caldwell said. Today, there are 33 police stations operating in eight districts, he noted, with more than 8,000 trained Iraqi Police.
Caldwell acknowledged there’s been an increase in insurgent violence since the start of Ramadan in late September. That’s consistent, he said, with similar spikes in enemy activity that have occurred during the month-long Muslim observance in the past two years. “The violence is indeed disheartening,” Caldwell said, noting there’s been a 22-percent increase in insurgent attacks in Baghdad during the first few weeks of this year’s Ramadan observance. But Operation Together Forward has made a difference, and has helped to reduce the amount of sectarian violence in the specific Baghdad neighborhoods. Still, he acknowledged, it hasn’t caused a reduction of the overall level of violence in the city. Meanwhile, “we are working very closely with the government of Iraq to determine how to best to re-focus our efforts,” Caldwell said.
That goal “is achievable,” Caldwell emphasized, “with a combination of both tough security measures by coalition and Iraqi Security Forces and a political process that recognizes that 11 to 12 million Iraqis voted for a unity government.”
Technatori Tags: News … counterinsurgency … Terrorism … International News … World News and Politics … al-Qaeda in Iraq … US News … Iraq … Jihad … Media Bias … Islamist … Counterterrorism … War
News from Iran
If you would care to find out what is truly happening around the world generally and Iran specifically, please go to Causes of Interest. There is a lot of news on Iran over at one of my other sites. Thank you.
The French Intifada
Do you remember sometime ago when we heard, slightly, about some ‘youths’ in France rioting? Did you think it stopped? Then I suggest you read this.
Hat tip: Little Green Footballs.
Update: My contributing editor has also been keeping up with these horrendous acts of violence. You may read his articles here: Islamization of France and The Intifada of France II. They are both great articles, and I highly recommend them. Thank you, Bos’un, and have a great day everyone.
The Israel Project is Expanding!
The Israel Project is Expanding!
The Israel Project (TIP) seeks candidates for the following seven positions. If you are interested in being considered for any of these positions, please email a cover letter and resume to the attention of Cathy Bolinger at jobs@theisraelproject.org with the job title in the subject line of your email. All positions are located in Washington, DC and relocation assistance is not available.
TIP is an international not-for-profit organization with offices in Washington, DC and Jerusalem whose mission is to impact world opinion to help achieve security and peace for Israel. For more information about TIP mission and activities, visit our website at www.theisraelproject.org .
Please forward this email to anyone you know who might be interested in working for one of the top pro-Israel advocacy organizations in the world.
Vice President for Strategic Communications
Senior level strategic communications expert with a minimum of 10 years experience in the areas of media campaigns, strategic communications, crisis communications and public/media relations. Must possess a solid understanding of the Middle East, outstanding management skills, commitment to Israel’s long-term peace and security, and willingness/ability to travel. Understanding of polling/research and past journalism experience preferred but not required. Foreign language skills and international experience a plus.
Media Communications/Media Fellows Associate
Mid-level media communications associate responsible for media research, fact-checking materials, creating background materials, drafting press releases and updating sources for journalists. In addition, associate will be responsible for coordinating and managing all aspects of a summer media fellows program including recruitment, programming, advising and evaluating. Successful candidate will have a minimum of 3 years communications/media relations experience, an understanding of the Middle East and commitment to Israel; excellent research, writing and proofreading skills required as well as excellent presentation skills. Must be able to effectively plan/manage work flow on multiple projects simultaneously and manage project details with limited supervision. Ability to work hard in a fast-paced, deadline-driven environment required. Demonstrated high level of proficiency in Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, Excel and Outlook essential.
European Affairs Associate — French speaking
Entry-level position to write and translate press releases, facts sheets, and related materials in French; conduct research on European foreign policy, monitor the press on various Middle East issues; build a network of and rapport with European experts on Middle East issues; set up meetings and support media tours and press events to engage European journalists. Experience in Pro-Israel advocacy required; fluent knowledge of written and spoken French at a university level required; must also be fluent in English. Basic knowledge of spoken and written Hebrew, Spanish, Arabic, Farsi or German would be a plus. Experience in strategic communications, planning events, pitching media required. Demonstrated experience in conducting research in specialized areas; knowledge of European media and knowledge of European anti-terrorism experts also required. Must be willing to work long hours and travel overseas.
European Affairs Associate — German speaking
Entry-level position to write and translate press releases, facts sheets, and related materials; conduct research on European foreign policy, monitor the press on various Middle East issues; build a network of European experts on Middle east issues; set up meetings and support media tours and press events to engage European journalists. Experience in Pro-Israel advocacy required; fluent knowledge of written and spoken German at a university level required; must also be fluent in English.Basic knowledge of spoken and written Hebrew, Spanish, Arabic, Farsi or French would be a plus. Experience in strategic communications, planning events, pitching media required. Demonstrated experience in conducting research in specialized areas; knowledge of European media and knowledge of European anti-terrorism experts also required. Must be willing to work long hours and travel overseas.
Development Associate
Mid-level fundraising associate responsible for identifying, planning and carrying out a number of fundraising activities to increase the organization’s donor base and increase revenues. Must have a minimum of 2 years fundraising experience and understanding of the Middle East and commitment to Israel. Excellent research, writing and presentation skills required. Must be able to effectively plan/manage work flow on multiple projects with limited supervision. High level of proficiency in Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, Excel and Outlook essential.
Grant and Direct Mail Associate
Mid-level fundraising associate responsible for identifying and qualifying prospective foundations and other sources for funding; preparing, monitoring and reporting on all funding request proposals. Also responsible for developing direct mail pieces and overseeing the development and production of quarterly newsletters.
Position requires an understanding of the Middle East and commitment to Israel. Excellent research and writing skills, excellent editing and proofreading skills and excellent presentation skills required. Must be able to effectively plan/manage work flow on multiple projects with limited supervision. High level of proficiency in Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, Excel and Outlook as well as familiarization with Adobe PDF and utilization of video streaming essential.
Assistant to COO/CFO
Seeking mature individual with a good sense of humor and professional work ethic to assist COO/CFO in completion of daily operational, accounting, HR and general office functions. Position requires a minimum of 3 years of office experience, previous experience with integrated accounting and database management systems preferred. Must be proficient in Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, Excel and Outlook. Ability to work in a fast-paced, detail oriented environment, and able to manage multiple tasks simultaneously with minimum supervision.
