Haditha: Is McGirk the New Mary Mapes?
June 9th, 2006

Evidence accumulates of a hoax in Haditha. The weblog Sweetness & Light has done an estimable service gathering together the articles which cast substantial doubt on the charge of a massacre of civilians at Haditha . Because the blog is too busy gathering and fisking the news, I offered and the publisher accepted my offer to put what he has uncovered in a narrative form.

Having done so, I can tell you that the story has a whiff of yet another mediagenic scandal like the TANG memos or the Plame “outing.” While the Marines quite correctly will not comment on the case pending the outcome of their investigation, I am not bound by those rules, and I will sum up the story for you...

You Really Need to Read the Rest....at The American Thinker

As I said, I think there's more to the story than what we've been told, and something about the whole MSM-touted scenario definitely stinks. Hoax? I don't know. But until all the facts are in, it bears consideration...after all, it's happened before.

Master Sgt. Dan Bryant low-crawls under barbed wire through muddy water at the 3rd Annual Combat Triathlon at McConnell Air Force Base, Kan., on Saturday, June 3, 2006. Sergeant Bryant is the first sergeant for the 22nd Mission Support Squadron. (U.S. Air Force photo)
This Week in Photos

This:

Zarqawi Was Alive When GIs Arrived
U.S. general says Zarqawi was alive after bombing but died shortly after U.S. troops arrived
Video: Gen: U.S. Found Zarqawi Alive


Why does that make it better?

1. When we got him, he knew we got him.

2. His last act revealed his true nature - and that of Al Qaeda.
When he saw U.S. troops coming, he made an attempt to get off the gurney the Iraqis had placed him on - he tried to run. Zarqawi didn't die a 'freedom fighter' - he died a coward. Sure, they're all talk on video, all macho when they have bound captives. But in the end, they're just like any other bully - stand up to 'em, and you find out they're gutless cowards. They're not freedom fighters, they're murderers, criminals, and worms.


Now sit back and watch the spin. Somewhere, some MSM flunkie or other Moonbat is going to try to turn this into a conspiracy-and-coverup by saying we killed him after the bomb. (Bombing him was OK, mind you, but if they think we killed him after the fact...) Somewhere, this is going to turn into "the mean ol' U.S. killed poor wounded Zarqawi"...just you wait.

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For more on Zarqawi's happy demise, this was forwarded by Seamus:

We ALL got that SOB.

Some grandmother somewhere in America works in a factory soldering wires to a harness that will connect to a little square box containing a little projection camera for an F-16 Heads Up Display.

A young man or woman a year removed from high school pulled pins from 500lb bombs on a hot desert tarmac.

Another kid in America works in a foundry pouring hot aluminum alloys which will eventually find its way to the compressor stage of the F-100 engine that will power an F-16 from a runway.

Someone in America sang in a church choir on Sunday, and on Monday was holding a rivet gun, helping build another warplane, which will help keep us free.

Some group of brave men in the darkness, shined a little laser beam against a building.

Some geeky American, known for his/her math skills wrote a little program that turns numbers into coordinates.

Some young American decided to become a pilot after watching the Thunderbirds or Blue Angels put on a show.

Some American you or I will never meet, had an idea, which became GPS.

Some kid who last year was dancing at a Prom pulled the chocks.

Some kid wiped the canopy that a year ago was wiping car windshields in their summer job at the local car wash back home.

Someone working in a rubber factory had no idea that his or her work product was tucking itself into its bay as the pilot brought up the gear 20 ft off the deck.

Some little American girl who years ago was all about MTV and CDs gave a vector, cleared hot.

Some pilots did their job.

SHACK, baby.

AMERICA got that son of a bitch.

Every damn one of us.

All I can say is that before he died, I hope it hurt like hell.

This one's for Nick Berg.


V/R
Richard S--------, DoD Contractor

By Lance Cpl. Brandon L. Roach
3rd Marine Aircraft WingMarines with Marine Wing Support Squadron 274 ran a half marathon in support of the Susan J. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation's Race for the Cure here June 3.

The drive and motivation for the 14 Marines was given by 1st Lt. Brandon E. Cooley... Full Story

Jolo, Philippines (June 8, 2006) - The U.S. Military Sealift Command (MSC) Hospital ship USNS Mercy (T-AH 19), anchored off of the coast of Jolo City. Since its arrival, Mercy's staff has assisted thousands of local citizens with medical and dental care. During its stay, this care was provided by a portion of Mercy's staff working side by side with their Filipino counterparts at several medical centers in the city, as well as patients being given care on the ship itself. Mercy is on a five-month humanitarian deployment to South Asia, Southeast Asia, and the Pacific Islands. U.S. Navy photo by Chief Photographer's Mate Edward G. Martens

Download HiRes

from Willie of Soldiers' Angels Germany:

I am [Friday] in Landstuhl and meet the SSG from the Ramstein Inn.

I have made gifts ready for the Ramstein Inn for the wounded soldiers!

In the bags are cards, CD`s, card game`s and Haribo candies!

We have about 60...

Willie

For more on all the great work Soldiers' Angels Germany does to support our troops, visit their blog.

Staff Sgt. Marvin Hurd, from the 172nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, prepares his Stryker vehicle for a mission in the Al Nijar neighborhood of Mosul, Iraq. Photo by Tech. Sgt. Jeremy Lock.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Talking With Heroes Talk Show
www.talkingwithheroes.com

Colorado Springs, Colorado, June 6, 2006, Talking with Heroes Talk Show announces the guest list for the Sunday 5pm (PST) June 11, 2006 Talk Show. Talking with Heroes continues on its mission to give our military personnel a global platform to share their mostly untold stories and to thank, honor and support our men and women serving our country. The following is our June 11th Guest List:

Emily Dieruf, Wife of a Fallen Soldier This is a love story about a woman who had her whole life ahead of her. She was beautiful, successful and wanted to make a difference. She met Nich, they fell in love, and "He became the love of her life". They had a storybook wedding with family and friends in Lexington in January, she then moved with him to California to a Marine Base, where she settled into the life of a Marine Wife. He deployed in February, on a tour he could have gotten out of because of a back injury, but chose to go anyway. It was his second tour in Iraq. He was in a word, a picture poster of a United States Marine. His dream was to finish his tour with the Marines that fall and enter the University of Kentucky.

He was proud of being a Marine, and dreamed about their future. It was not to be. He was buried with full military honors in Lexington. His funeral was attended by thousands.

After Nich’s death, the family wanted to make something positive out of their loss. They began to collect money, thinking they could help other Marine families in the Bluegrass areas. In an odd twist of fate, Emilys’ dad, Scott, was talking to a friend Skip and when Skip realized the objective of the families wishes, mentioned what he knew about USA Cares, which he had learned from his friend Bob Manning. Emily is now the Outreach Director for USA Cares.

Matthew Zimmerman grew up in Meeker, Oklahoma a small farm town east of Oklahoma City. After high school, he graduated from West Point and was commissioned as an Armor Officer. He was deployed to Iraq as a scout platoon leader in the 3d Armored Cavalry Regiment in Spring, 2003 as a part of the original phases of Operation Iraqi Freedom. He and his unit conducted operations throughout the majority of western Iraq. After returning home, he temporary left Active Duty to attend Seminary and will return to serve our soldiers as a chaplain after he graduates. He currently serves as the Military Pastor for New Life Church in Colorado Springs, CO.

Michael Yon was in the Army some years ago and maintained close contact with many friends who made a career of military service. Naturally, he had an interest in what was happening in Iraq. He had friends in harm’s way. What spurred him to drop what he was doing, get on a plane and fly halfway around the world, to a war zone, was a growing sense that what he was seeing reported on television, as well as in newspapers and magazines, was inconsistent with the reality his friends were describing. He wanted to see the truth, first hand, for myself. The longer he stayed, the better he understood things. And he began to realize that Americans needed to see these things in order to understand what is happening here and come to a more informed judgment of whether this struggle is “worth” the cost, in money and lives. No one can make that determination without a balanced set of facts. To him, one look in the face of any of the children tips the scales one way.

More and more people read his dispatches from Iraq every day, and thousands are taking the time to contact him.

George Bernloehr is the Director of Operations of http://www.militaryresumes.com/ a project founded by Bradley-Morris. George joined Bradley-Morris, Inc in 1999 and has served as a Candidate Recruiter, Branch Manager and Regional Operations Manager. He moved into the Operations Officer role at MilitaryResumes.com in February of 2005. George is a former Naval Aviation Maintenance Duty Officer who dedicated 20 years to the US Navy. He launched his naval career as an avionics technician and was promoted through the rank of Chief Petty Officer. He received a commission via the Navy’s Limited Duty Officer Program. He earned a Bachelor of Science Degree, Electrical Engineering Technology in 1993 from the University of the State of New York. He resides in Acworth, GA, with his wife and two daughters.

MilitaryResumes.com was created to offer an online recruiting solution for candidates that are currently transitioning out of the Military as well as military veterans with varying amounts of business experience. MilitaryResumes.com was formed by the owners of Bradley-Morris, Inc. to expand the scope of their business by offering an alternative and cost-effective means to recruiting military candidates. Since 1991 Bradley-Morris has specialized in placing military candidates in technical fields at fortune 500 companies and is currently the largest placement firm specializing in placing military candidates.

All previous Talking with Heroes talk shows can be listened to in our past show archives 24 hours a day/7 days a week, from anywhere in the world where there is access to the internet and can now be downloaded onto iPODs.

For More Information:
Bob Calvert, Talk Show Host
http://www.talkingwithheroes.com/
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Missed last week's show? Listen to it here

STRIKE SITE — June 8, 2006, Iraqi and American soldiers inspect the blast site of an air strike that killed Abu Musab al-Zarqawi June 7, in Hibhib, Iraq. Al-Zarqawi was the leader of Al Qaeda operations in Iraq and was considered the top insurgent target prior to his death. U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Zach Mott, 3rd Heavy Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division Public Affairs Office More Photos - Lead Photo Archive

News of Note
Bye Bye, Zarqawi
Video: Impact on Al Qaeda
Video: Major Milestone
Iraq hails killing of Zarqawi as start of new era
Bush: Al-Zarqawi Death Won't End Violence
One Step Ahead
Complete coverage of Zarqawi's death
Rumsfeld sees "stunning shock" to al Qaeda network
Rumsfeld Notes Irony in Zarqawi's Death
Bush: Zarqawi's Death Terror War Victory - President's Statement
Rumsfeld Informs NATO of Zarqawi's Demise - Transcript
Death a 'Serious Blow' to Al Qaeda in Iraq
Photos
Briefing Video
Air Strike Video
Briefing Slides
CENTCOM Release: COALITION FORCES KILL ABU MUSAB AL-ZARQAWI
Victim's Brother to Zarqawi: 'Rot in Hell'

MSM/Moonbat Reaction to Zarqawi's exit:
CBS Terrorism Analyst: Zarqawi's Death Good For Al Qaeda
NPR: Zarqawi's Death 'Symbolic'
CNN International Labels Jordanian Zarqawi 'Top Iraqi Insurgent'
Zarqawi’s ‘Troubled Childhood’ Leads to Terror?
NYT's Strange Take on Zarqawi's Death -- 'Inspiration and Public Relations'?
Zarqawi Death Reignites Troop Level Debate

Operation Iraqi Freedom
Departure Time?
Iraq Imposes Vehicle Ban
Manhunt over, U.S. seeks stability in Iraq
Gunmen kidnap senior Iraq oil official in Baghdad - Video
Iraq swears in 3 key security ministers
Troop Cuts in Iraq Won't Meet Goal This Year
Show Me the Bodies (The NYT take on why we don't see pictures of wounded or dead troops)

Operation Enduring Freedom
U.S. Military Vehicle Hits Afghan Minibus

Homeland Security / War on Terror
Palestinian Hamas denies statement mourning Zarqawi
Report: Canadian Terrorists Planned Truck Bomb Attack
Israeli Airstrike in Gaza Kills Hamas Terror Mastermind
Osama bin Laden keeping a low profile (Hmmmm...now why could that be...?)
FBI's Most Wanted Terrorists List

Other Military News
The Triumph of Surgical Strikes
Official can't rule out wider breach of vet data
Stolen VA Data may Have Been Erased
Poll: U.S. backing for troops steadfast
USS Cole Carries On
3rd MEB Answers Call for Help

Immigration / Border Control
Texas to install Web cameras on border

Worldwide Wackos
Iran: Ready for Nuclear Talks
Iran cleric says nuclear proposals unacceptable
Ahmadinejad suggests Tehran has upper hand

Politics / Government
Congressional Black Caucus Decries Jefferson Response
'Death' Tax Motion Defeated
DeLay Takes Swipe at Dems in Farewell to House
Congress reaches deal on Iraq, hurricane funds
Democrats to decide congressman's fate next week - Video
Black Caucus opposes Jefferson treatment
US House backs bill to aid telcos offer TV service

U.N. News
UN scheme to cut greenhouse gases

Hurricane Season
New Orleans home prices rise after Katrina

Oddities
Convicted Murderer Sues for Sex-Change Operation
Ghanaians say stylish goodbye with fantasy coffins
Speeding man was drying wet car
Claws could be out on cat reality show

Other News of Note
China Detains 28 Christians from Banned Church

Fox News
Cervical Cancer Vaccine OK'd - 12 Things You Should Know
Stocks to Watch: Take-Two
Shuttle to Add Extra Day in Space for Safety Inspection
Porn Companies to Hold Conference on Virtual Sex
'GTA' Maker Settles With FTC
Lipitor Users Sue Pfizer

Reuters: Top News
Russia hands war crimes suspect to Bosnia
Rare giraffe-like animal "rediscovered" in Congo park
Wireless boom gets gadget makers buzzing
Video colors new world of computing
Canada wrests oil from sands, but at what cost?
Growth hormone is latest bombshell to hit baseball
Respiratory virus cases on rise in western US
Altman admits to nerves ahead of "Prairie Home"
Jolie TV spot airs ahead of World Refugee Day
Google co-founder says company is staying in China
TI raises second quarter outlook
Walden invests $100 mln in IBM blade server firms
L'Oreal to delist Body Shop after offer
First cervical cancer vaccine wins US approval
Stock futures move higher, TI set to rise - Video
TI raises second quarter outlook
Wall Street stocks fall hard as market swoons - Video
Rite Aid same-store sales up, shares off
Furniture Brands shares down as analysts cut estimates

AP World News
Pa. schools weigh parental fast-food ban
Vets save elephant in labor for 4 days
U.S. consumers upbeat about economy
Connery given lifetime achievement award
Terry sparks Mavs past Heat in Game 1
First female rabbi in U.S. to retire
CloudSat system offers views of storms
Beyonce searching for an all-female band
Cathay Pacific to buy out Dragon Airlines
Hispanic kids more prone to suicide

Military.com
End to Promotion Limbo
Top Marine's Retirement Plans In Question
San Antonio Tests Osprey
Small Aircraft Take on Big Missions

Department of Defense
ON THE GROUND
Iraqi Soldiers Stockpile Medical Logistics Skills - Story
Vignettes Provide a Glimpse at War on Terror - Story - On Assignment

IN IRAQ
Iraqis Take Over Territory at Camp Habbinyah
Soldiers, Marines Drive on Through Adversity
Iraqis' Mortar Know-How to Improve Security
Soldiers Reflect on Second Iraq Deployment

IN AFGHANISTAN
Army Mechanics Maintain Wheels, Weapons
Predators Provide Eyes in the Sky
U.S. Governors Visit Troops in Afghanistan
‘Lava Dogs’ Hand Off Ops to ‘Chosin Few’

FACE OF DEFENSE
Cadet Follows Father's Path to West Point

AMERICA SUPPORTS YOU
Military Volunteers Adorn Cereal Box - Story

TOP NEWS
IRAQ
Police Reopen Station in Mosul
Work to Restore Marshes Continues
IED Claims Soldier in Baghdad
Casey: Decisions Reflect Values
Forces Kill, Capture Terrorists
Renewal In Iraq
Iraq: Security, Stability
Fact Sheet: Progress and Work Ahead
Report: Strategy for Victory in Iraq
Iraq Daily Update
This Week in Iraq (PDF)
Multinational Force Iraq
State Dept. Weekly Iraq Report (PDF)
'Boots on the Ground' Audio Archive
Iraq Reconstruction
Maps

AFGHANISTAN
NATO Pledges Support to Mission
Tripartite Commission Meets
Afghanistan Update
Maps

WAR ON TERRORISM
Missiles Will Aid in Terror War
U.S., Allies Must Win the Peace
Partnerships Vital, Pace Says
Pace: World Recognizes Threat
Fact Sheet: Budget Request
Fact Sheet: War on Terror
Fact Sheet: Terror Plots Disrupted
Waging and Winning the War on Terror
Terrorism Timeline
Terrorism Knowledge Base

CASUALTIES
Officials Identify Army Casualties - Story

Weather
Iraq
Al Azamiyah Al Basrah Al Hillah Al Karkh Al Kazimiyah Al Kut
An Nasiriyah Baghdad Baqubah Mosul Najaf Nineveh Tall Kayf

Afghanistan
Bost/Laskar Ghurian Herat Kabul Qandahar

Gitmo

Today in History
1628 - Thomas Morton becomes the first person deported from what is now the U.S. (in Massachusetts).
1732 - James Oglethorpe receives a royal charter for Georgia.
1822 - Charles Graham receives the first patent for false teeth.
1862 - Battle of Port Republic.
1863 - Battle of Brandy Station, Va.
1898 - China leases Hong Kong's New Territories to Britain for 99 years.
1934 - The first Donald Duck cartoon is released ("The Wise Little Hen").
1940 - Norway surrenders to Germany.
1949 - Georgia Neese Clark becomes the first woman Treasurer of the U.S.
1954 - During the Senate-Army hearings, Joseph Welch asks Senator Joseph McCarthy, "Have you no sense of decency, sir?"
1959 - In Groton, CT, the first ballistic missile submarine is launched (USS George Washington).
1969 - Warren Burger is confirmed as U.S. Chief Justice.
1980 - The Soyuz T-2 returns to Earth.
1982 - Israel wipes out Syrian SAM missiles in the Bekaa Valley.
1984 - NASA launches the Intelsat V - it failed.
1985 - The U.S.S.R.'s Vega 1 deposits its lander on Venus.
1988 - Attorney General Meese orders Joseph Doherty, bartender and IRA member, deported to the U.K.
1997 - The British lease on the New Territories in Hong Kong expires

Birthdays
1640 - Leopold I, Emperor of Holy Roman Empire
1916 - Robert S. McNamara U.S. Secretary of Defense / head of World Bank
1930 - Marvin Kalb, educator / newscaster (CBS/NBC)
1934 - Donald Duck

Passings
68 - Nero Roman Emperor, suicide
1870 - Charles Dickens, author

Reported Missing in Action
1965
Dale, Charles A., US Army (AZ); OV1C shot down over Vinh Bihn (w/Demmon)

Demmon, David S., US Army (CA); OV1C shot down over Vinh Bihn (w/Dale)

1966
Bush, Robert Ira, USAF (WI); A1E shot down (w/Shorack), KIA/BNR

Shorack, Theodore James, Jr., USAF (OR); A1E shot down (w/Bush), KIA/BNR

1968
The following personnel reported missing when their HU3E was shot down over water; all KIA/BNR:
Holden, Elmer Larry, USAF (OK)

Locker, James Douglas, USAF (OH)

Rittichier, Jack C., USCG (OH)

Yeend, Richard C., USAF (AL); HU3E shot down over water; KIA, body not recovered

Also reported MIA this day in 1968:
Schmidt, Walter R., Jr., USMC (NY); A4E shot down, known ejected and wounded, presumed POW

1970
Elliott, Andrew J., US Army (CA); OH6A crashed

Hilbrich, Barry W., US Army SF (TX); O1F disappeared (w/Ryder)

Ryder, John L., USAF (MI): O1F disappeared (w/Hilbrich)