In the latest attempt to prevent anyone from ever being offended by anything...

From Fox News:

A Pennsylvania convenience-store chain is taking heat from critics who say its new billboard campaign promoting a fried chicken sandwich contains foul language.

Sheetz unveiled the "Crispy Frickin' Chicken" billboards at the beginning of this month.

There is now - believe it or not - an outcry. Some days, it really just isn't worth chewing through the restraints.

I'm sorry, but I must have missed the part in the Constitution where every possible word that could ever offend anyone was banned from ever being used in anything.

Plus good / Double plus good gets closer every day.


The full article - with a picture of the sign - is here.

Labels: political correctness

SALUTE ROUND
U.S. soldiers assigned to the 2nd Battalion's 82nd Field Artillery fire a salute round during the presentation of honors to the troopers of the 15th Sustainment Brigade during a change of command ceremony at Fort Hood, Feb. 15, 2008.
U.S. Army Sgt. Matthew C. Cooley

Labels: 15th Sustainment Brigade, 82nd Field Artillery, Fort Hood, US Army

737th Expeditionary Airlift Squadron transporting coaliition forces
Senior Airman Ian Hunt marshals a 463L cargo pallet onto a C-130 Hercules at an air base in the Persian Gulf Region. The cargo pallet is bound for a base in Iraq. A part of his duties as loadmaster is to ensure cargo is loaded and unloaded in a safe manner and that it's secured to the aircraft, so it doesn't move during flight to bases throughout the theater. Airman Hunt is a C-130 loadmaster deployed with the 737th Expeditionary Airlift Squadron. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Patrick Dixon)

Labels: 737th Expeditionary Airlift Squadron, aircraft, C-130, Hercules, photos, USAF

Thursday, February 28, 2008

Two presidential hopefuls, Republican John McCain and Democrat Barack Hussein Obama, are trading shots on what could, would or should be done in the future regarding the Battle for Iraq in the War on Terror.

Obama said during a debate with his Democratic opponent, Hillary Clinton, that he wants US troops out of Iraq yesterday, but might send them back in "If Al Qaeda is trying to establish a base in Iraq."

That in itself is a less than rousing statement, but wait, there's more.

McCain responded during a campaign speech that Barack should have known that Al Qaeda already is in Iraq, and we have to deal with that reality. McCain added, and I am paraphrasing here, that surrender is not an option.

Barack then said in response that the only reason Al Qaeda is in Iraq in the first place is because George Bush and John McCain started a war there.

And that my friends is where Barack Hussein Obama dug himself into a hole he will never be able to get out of, regardless of whether or not he gets the Democratic nomination.


Read the Rest, at Winter's Soldier Story

Labels: Al Qaeda, Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton, Iraq, John McCain, Osama Bin Laden, politics, Ron Winter, Saddam Hussein, terrorism, Winter's Soldier Story

Cpl. Manuel Favila, infantryman with Personnel Security Detachment, Regimental Combat Team 1, and native to Guymon, Ok., surveys the surrounding area and covers the rear security of the convoy as the RCT-1 commanding officer meets with Marines of 2nd Battalion, 24th Marine Regiment at an outpost near Saqulawiyah, Iraq. Favila has seen two combat tours and he is currently on his third with RCT-1. He was deployed to Abu Ghraib, Iraq during his first deployment and participated in Operation Phantom Fury into the city of Fallujah. His second deployment was during OIF 3 where he and his unit were in Haditha and supported the elections. Photo submitted 02/28/2008 Taken by Sgt. Nathaniel C. LeBlanc

Labels: 2-24 Marine Regiment, Iraq, photos, PSD, Regimental Combat Team 1, Saqulawiyah, USMC

To learn more, go here.



H/T The Thunder Run

Labels: 9/11, Flight 93, Religion of Peace?, terrorism, The Thunder Run

From Multi-National Force-Iraq:


Sgt. Angela Mathern and her bomb-sniffing dog Vinny, both of the 51st Military Police Detachment, based out of Ft. Lewis, Wash., inspect a cart carrying propane tanks in downtown Mosul during a search of random vehicles for weapons and bomb-making materials, Feb. 14. Soldiers from the 552nd Military Police Company, based out of Schofield Barracks, Hawaii, pull security. Photo by Sgt. Patrick Lair, 115th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment.


Wednesday, 27 February 2008

MOSUL — U.S. military police in northern Iraq are developing new tactics in an attempt to counter insurgent violence in the Ninewah provincial capital city of Mosul.

In February, the 552nd Military Police Company, based out of Schofield Barracks, Hawaii, working with military canine handlers, began conducting a series of random traffic searches in downtown Mosul for vehicles transporting explosives.

“If we get detection dogs and start actively seeking them out, it denies the enemy the capability of bringing them out,” said Sgt. 1st Class Michael Ford, platoon sergeant for 1st Platoon, speaking of the explosive materials often used by insurgents to create improvised bombs in houses and roadways.

On Jan. 24, the issue was brought to a head when an estimated 20,000 tons of insurgent explosives detonated in a three-story building in downtown Mosul, resulting in death and injury to multiple Iraqi civilians.

“The goal here is to deny the enemy that availability of supplies,” said Ford, now on his third combat deployment to the city.

On a recent outing, Sgt. Angela Mathern, a canine handler with the 501st Military Police Detachment, based out of Fort Lewis, Wash., accompanied Vinnie, an explosives dog, in his search of vehicles at downtown intersections.

“I let Vinnie do his thing. He’s the expert on it all,” she said of the three-year-old black lab she’s trained with for nearly a year. “I’m the expert on handling him. My eyes are always on my dog.”
Both Mathern and Ford said the searches are just another way Coalition troops are working to bring security to the city of nearly 1.7 million residents.

“This is just something else we can do to help out in our area,” Ford said.

“Our basic mission here is to save lives,” Mathern said. “Whenever people ask me why I do this job, I tell them I’m saving lives every time I go out.”

(Story by Sgt. Patrick Lair, 115th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment)


In Other Recent Developments Here:

TIKRIT — Multi-National Division – North Soldiers killed seven terrorists during a firefight east of Khan Bani Sa’ad in the early morning hours of Feb. 25.

BAGHDAD — Coalition forces captured four suspected al-Qaeda in Iraq leaders in Baghdad, Feb 24.

Labels: 51st Military Police Detachment, 552nd Military Police Company, Iraq, military working dog, Mosul, Ninewah Province, photos

PROVIDING SECURITY - A U.S. Soldier with 1st Battalion, 504th Parachute Infantry Regiment, provides security while a member of Abna'a Al Iraq, a security group contracted by the U.S. government, calls in support before searching the last known location of a wanted man in Rusafa, Baghdad, Iraq, Feb. 19, 2008. U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Jason T. Bailey

Labels: 504th Parachute Infantry, Abna'a Al Iraq, Baghdad, Iraq, photos, Rusafa, US Army

News of Note
Operation Iraqi Freedom
McCain and Obama tangle over Iraq pullout - Video
Turkey says no timetable for Iraq pullout - Video
Iraqi council rejects elections law
Escalation of force results in death of Iraqi (al-Muqdadiyah)
MND-N Soldiers increase protection at Balad mosque

Operation Enduring Freedom
Afghan peace efforts not succeeding: UK charity
Karzai only controls 1/3 of Afghanistan

Homeland Security / War on Terror / Hamas-Hezbollah Happenings
Rice tells Olmert she is concerned about Gaza civilians
Missile hits Pakistan's Waziristan, 8 suspects dead
Israel and Hamas fight on Gaza border - Video
Court shoots down computer surveillance

Fallen Heroes
DoD Identifies Army Casualty (Baghdad)

Other Military News
EXCLUSIVE: Marine Body Armor Under Fire - VIDEO
Department Aims to Make Training More Realistic, Relevant, Accessible

Religion of Peace??
U.S. Exchange Student Starved in Egypt

Worldwide Wackos
Colombian rebels free hostages in jungle to Hugo Chavez
Iran sanctions vote faces new delay: diplomats

Politics / Government
Bloomberg: Count Me Out
Obama Catches Heat Over Farrakhan Support
McCain, Obama Trade Shots Over Al Qaeda in Iraq
Civil Rights Leader John Lewis Hops From Hillary to Obama
Reid urges Bush to work with Dems on housing bill - Video
Pro-Israel evangelical leader endorses McCain
Thailand's Thaksin comes home, no political plans
House OKs new taxes on big oil companies (Oh, yeah, THIS will help the economy...)
Congress asks DOJ to investigate Clemens
Congress mulls drugs law for pro sports
Clinton links her fate to economy
Pentagon to probe delays of gear to Iraq
Obama fights false links to Islam
President Bush Meets with Prime Minister Topolanek of the Czech Republic

In the Courts / Crime and Punishment / Law and Order
8 Wounded in L.A. Street Shooting
Delaware Police Raid Home-Based Casino Dealing in Nudity, Illegal Gambling
Infant Found in Basket Outside Colorado Hospital Pronounced Dead
Peterson, Get Your Guns: Judge Orders Return of Arms
Wrongfully Deported Man Sues Feds, Los Angeles
Cardinals Release Spiezio After Arrest Warrant
Ailing Fugitive, 81, Caught 43 Years After Escape
Ex-Cop Gets Life in Murder of Pregnant Lover - VIDEO
4 killed in Tenn. apartment; gunman dies
Milan thieves make off with jewels

Adventures in Politcal Correctness
Jewish School Team Faces Replacement Over Championship on Sabbath (Wonder what would be going on if this were a Muslim team...)

U.N. News
Turkish Tycoon Says U.N. Owes Him Millions
China urges West to put pressure on Darfur rebels
Bangladeshi Police Unit With UN Force in Darfur Holds First Long-Distance Patrol
Moldova: UN Agencies Maintain Emergency Assistance in Wake of Drought
After Yesterday's Roadblocks, No New Restrictions Reported By UN in Eritrea
UN Agencies Rally to End to Female Genital Mutilation Within a Generation

Media in the Media / Bloggers in the News / Watching the Web
Conservative Writer, Commentator William F. Buckley Jr. Dies at 82

Science / Medicine and Health / Technology
Screening probably caused cystic fibrosis drop
CT scans lower risk of unnecessary appendix surgery
NASA says moon south pole more rugged than thought
Fossil sea monster big enough to "bite a car"
Microsoft enters virtualization with Windows server
Robot as good as real dog at easing lonely hours
Aetna postpones sedation policy change
Panel recommends all kids get flu shots

Oddities
Michael Jackson Evicted; ‘Thriller’ Flops
Southwest Calls ‘Too Pretty’ Coeds’ Claim ‘Simply Not True’
Stop thief, why are you wearing that hanger?
Okay, what rhymes with Kyrgyzstan?
Smash our mailbox? I don't think so

Other News of Note
Ohio Kindergartener Suspended for Mohawk
3rd-Grade Students Searched for Missing $5
Mom Severely Injured Saving Son From Oncoming Car
Tiananmen mothers call for China dialogue on 1989
Car-Building legend Boyd Coddington dies

Fox News
Kansas City's Catholic Leaders Object to Traveling Bodies Revealed Display
FOXBusiness: Bernanke Hints at Another Rate Cut
Boy Nearly Drowns at Great-Grandfather's Funeral
Texas Waitress Gets Horse as a Tip
Woman Who Admitted to Cheating on 'Moment of Truth' Says She Did It for Money
Pop Tarts: Cindy Crawford Eats Cupcakes, Looks Skinnier Than Ever
Pamela Anderson Seeks Annulment of Marriage to Rick Salomon

Reuters
Chile police plane crashes in capital, kills 11
Traveling pavilion mixes art, fashion in Hong Kong
Nepal airline to clean up trail to Everest
Attorney in Britney Spears case vows to fight on - Video
"Penelope" shows Witherspoon's nose for producing
Bernanke says Fed prepared to help U.S. economy - Video
Freddie, Fannie caps lifted
Bets are off--casinos feel economic pinch
Apple affirms iPhone target
Taxpayers do not plan to spend rebates: poll
Ford to pay chairman for '08 once company profitable
Microsoft sees Windows gaining server market share
Fannie Mae offers loans to struggling homeowners
Dow, S&P near flat after rally fades
Apple rises after positive iPhone
Dollar stays near record low beyond $1.50 to euro
Shaky dollar and sickly U.S. economy irk stocks
Limited Brands shares rise
Netflix raises outlook, shares jump
Gold hits record on dlr tumble, possible rate cuts
Oil near $100, off records on heavy U.S. stockpiles
Pudong Bank sets stock, cash dividend for 2007

AP World News
Whoopi Goldberg accepts Oscar apology

News Blaze
Support Our Troops, Read Their Stories
Ironhorse Tracker Radio Newscast Available
Building Unity Through Competition
Iraq News
Read about Operations in Iraq
FOB Warhorse Memorial Photos
Videos

CENTCOM: News Releases
Feb. 22 Statement from Multi-National Force - Iraq commending cease-fire extension
Successful operations target top Taliban leader
Civilians targeted in northern Iraq
Coalition forces identify terrorist killed in Feb. 17 operation

USJFCOM
SOCJFCOM continues to ready warfighters for global operations - podcast
More about SOCJFCOM
Phase one of Multinational Experiment 5 wraps up
More about Multinational Experiment 5
Joint Knowledge Online extends cultural awareness training for U.S. Forces Korea - podcast
Newsmaker Profile: Director of Joint Training Army Maj. Gen. Jason Kamiya - podcast

Multi-National Force-Iraq
Helicopter Air Assaults: Putting Ground Forces on Target
Soldiers Give Backpacks to School Children
Soldiers Make Presence Known in Khanassa
Escalation of force results in death of Iraqi (al-Muqdadiyah)
Coalition forces disrupt Special Groups criminal network, detain one suspect (Baghdad)
Coalition targets al-Qaeda in Iraq networks; one killed, nine detained
MND-B Soldiers detain, question suspect in SOI murders (Rashid)

DefenseLink
TOP NEWS
Gates Urges Turkey to Wrap Up Iraq Missions
Gates' India Visit Aimed at Long-Term Relationship - Photos
Intel Official Says U.S. Faces Complex Security Evironment
Cheney Hails Troops' Efforts

IRAQ NEWS
Iraqi Pilots Take Flight in King Airs
Forces Capture Suspected Terrorists

AFGHANISTAN NEWS
Forces Step Up Operations Tempo
Roadwork Connects Rural Afghans
U.S. Airmen Lead Women’s Seminar

MILITARY NEWS
Department Aims to Make Training More Realistic
Superb Performance Reflects High Quality of Volunteer Force, Defense Personnel Chief Says
U.S. Soldiers Train Canadians for Afghan Tour
Army Manual Shows Value of Stability Operations

FACE OF DEFENSE
Soldier Honored to Meet Vice President in Texas

AMERICA SUPPORTS YOU
Mom Offers Inspiration to Troops Through Web Site

Weather
Afghanistan
Bost/Laskar Ghurian Herat Kabul Qandahar

Germany
Ansbach Aschaffenburg Berlin Berlin-Tempelhof Berlin/Schonefeld Bremerhaven
Darmstadt Frankfurt Frankfurt/Main Freiburg/Breisgau Garmisch
Garmisch-Partenkirchen Geilenkirchen Gelnhausen Giessen Kitzingen
Hanau Am Main Heidelberg Mainz Mannheim Nurnberg Stuttgart Trier
Wiesbaden Wurzburg

Gitmo

Guam
Agana Agana Heights Agat Andersen AFB Asan Barrigada

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

Japan
Kadena Air Base Okinawa Tokyo Yokohama

Philippines
Baler Radar Site Catanduanes Radar Site Manila

South Korea
Cheju Upper/Radar Chonju Chunchon Inch'on Kunsan Masan Mokp'o
Osan Pusan Seoul Suwon Taegu Taejon Tonghae Radar Site Ulsan Yosu

Today in History
1066 - Westminster Abbey opens
1570 - Anti-Portugese uprising on Ternate, Moluccas
1653 - 3 Day Sea battle English beat Dutch
1667 - English colony Suriname in Dutch hands
1692 - Salem witch hunt begins
1704 - Indians attack Deerfield MA, kill 40, kidnap 100
1708 - Slave revolt, Newton, Long Island NY, 11 die
1778 - Rhode Island General Assembly authorizes enlistment of slaves
1826 - M. Biela, an Austrian officer, discovers Biela's Comet
1827 - 1st commercial railroad in US, Baltimore & Ohio (B&O) chartered
1844 - 12-inch gun aboard USS Princeton explodes
1847 - US defeats México in battle of Sacramento
1854 - Republican Party formally organized at Ripon, WI
1859 - Arkansas legislature requires free blacks to choose exile or slavery
1861 - Territories of Nevada & Colorado created
1863 - Confederate raider Nashville sinks near Fort McAllister, GA
1864 - Raid at Kilpatrick's, Richmond; Skirmish at Albemarle County Virginia (Burton's Ford)
1871 - 2nd Enforcement Act gives federal control of congressional elections
1878 - US congress authorizes large-size silver certificate
1888 - Ferry in San Pablo Bay explodes
1893 - Edward Acheson, Pennsylvania, patents an abrasive he names "carborundum"
1896 - France dismisses Queen Ranavalona of Madagascar
1900 - General Buller's troops relieve Ladysmith Natal
1908 - Failed assassination attempt on Shah Mohammed Ali in Teheran
1917 - AP reports México & Japan will ally with Germany if US enters WWI
1922 - Egypt regains independence from Britain, but British troops remain
1923 - Swedish, King Gustaaf V begins state visit to Netherlands
1924 - US begins intervention in Honduras
1925 - Congress authorizes a special handling stamp
1933 - 1st female in cabinet - Francis Perkins appointed Secretary of Labor; German President Von Hindenburg abolishes free expression of opinion; Hitler disallows German communist party (KPD)
1935 - Nylon discovered by Dr. Wallace H. Carothers
1939 - Great-Britain recognizes Franco-regime in Spain
1941 - 39 U Boats (197,000 ton) sunk this month; British-Italian dogfight above Albania
1942 - Japanese land in Java, last Allied bastion in Dutch East Indies; Race riot, Sojourner Truth Homes, Detroit; 1st weapon drop on Netherlands
1943 - 63 U Boats (359,300 ton) sinks this month
1951 - Senate committee reports of at least 2 major US crime syndicates; French government of Pleven dissolves
1953 - Stalin meets with Beria, Bulganin, Khrushchev & Malenkov
1956 - 13 die in a train crash in Swampscott, MA; Forrester issued a patent for computer core memory
1959 - Launch of Discoverer 1 (WTR)-1st polar orbit
1960 - US wins Olympics hockey gold medal by defeating Czechoslovakia 9-4; 8th Winter Olympics at Squaw Valley, CA close
1961 - JFK names Henry Kissinger special advisor
1970 - Bicycles permitted to cross Golden Gate Bridge
1972 - President Richard Nixon ends historic week-long visit to China
1973 - Suriname government of Sedney arrests 13 union leaders
1974 - US & Egypt re-establish diplomatic relations after 7 years; Ethiopian government of Makonnen forms; Labour Party wins British parliamentary election; Taiwan police shoot into crowd
1981 - Calvin Murphy (Hou), sets NBA record with 78 consecutive free throws
1981 - China PR throws out Netherlands ambassador due to submarine sale to Taiwan
1982 - FALN (PR Nationalist Group) bombs Wall Street
1983 - Final TV episode of "MASH" airs (CBS); record 125 million watch
1988 - 15th Winter Olympics games close at Calgary, Canada; Anti-Armenian pogrom in Azerbaijan, 30 killed
1991 - US & allied forces grant Iraq a cease fire
1993 - Gun battle erupts at Waco, TX, between FBI & Branch Davidians
1994 - Brady Law, imposing a wait-period to buy a hand-gun, went into effect
1995 - Denver International Airport opens
1997 - in Pakistan, kills 45; Smokers must prove they are over 18 to purchase cigarettes in US

Birthdays
1690 - Aleksei P. Romanov Russia, son of Peter the Great
1712 - Louis Joseph de Montcalm, de Saint-Véran France, General
1786 - D. François J. Arago, French astronomer/physicist/politician
1792 - Henriette, countess d'Oultremont de Wégimont wife of King Willem I
1797 - W. Frederik K., prince of Netherlands/General/Admiral (10 day campaign)
1817 - James Craig, Union Brigadier General
1822 - Matthew Duncan Ector, Confederate Brigadier General
1824 - John Creed Moore, Confederate Brigadier General
1825 - Quincy Adams Gillmore, Union Major General
1833 - Alfred von Schlieffen, Count/Prussian General-field marshal
1882 - José Vasconcelos, Mexican politician/essayist/philosopher
1906 - Bugsy Siegel, gangster created casinos in Las Vegas
1915 - Sir Peter Medawar, zoologist, immunologist (Nobel 1953)
1920 - Jim Olin (Representative-VA)
1924 - Robert A. Roe (Representative-NJ)
1927 - John Swire, British aircraft magnate (Cathay Pacific)
1930 - Leon Cooper, US physicist (Nobel 1972)
1938 - Martin Olav Sabo (Representative-MN)
1943 - Hans F. Dijkstal, Dutch minister of the Interior

Passings
1261 - Hendrik, Duke of Brabant (1248-61)
1618 - Filips Willem, Prince of Orange, dies at 63
1665 - Lodewijk van Nassau, Dutch governor (Bois-le-Duc)
1781 - Richard Stockton, US attorney (signed Declaration of Independence), dies at 50
1844 - Abel P. Upshur, Secretary of State, dies in explosion on USS Princeton; Thommas W. Gilmer, Navy Secretary, dies in explosion on USS Princeton
1925 - Friedrich Ebert, Social-Democrat president of Germany
1935 - Alexander W.F. Idenburg, Governor-General of Netherlands Indies (1909-16), dies at 73
1940 - Johan C. Braakensiek, Dutch political cartoonist, dies at 81
1941 - Alfonso XIII de Borbón, King of Spain (1902-31)
1965 - Adolf Schärf President of Austria (1957-65), dies at 74
1966 - Charles A Bassett II astronaut, dies in a crash of T-38 jet at 34; Elliot McKay See, Jr., astronaut, dies in T-38 jet crash at 38
1979 - Mr Ed, talking horse
1986 - Olof Palme, Swedish PM, assassinated in Stockholm; Sven Olof Palme Swedish PM (1969-76, 82-86), assassinated at 59
1991 - Guillermo Ungo, member of El Salvador junta (1979-80)
1993 - Fer A. Olthoff, Dutch WWII resistance fighter (Het Parool)
1994 - Aisin Giorro Pu Chieh brother of Last Emperor of China, dies at 86; Pu Yi, last Chinese emperor, dies at 87

Reported Missing in Action
1967
Moore, James Rodney, USMC (NY); presumed KIA

1968
Coons, Henry A., USN (NY); A6A crashed (w/Stegman), presumed Killed

Hunt, Robert W., US Army (WV); M113 hit with RPG fire, possibly captured, DIC (w/Scuitier)

Stegman, Thomas, USN (MD); A6A crashed (w/Coons), presumed Killed

Scuitier, James J., US Army (NJ); M113 hit with RPG fire, captured (w/Hunt) - PRG says DIC January, 1973

1969
Long, Stephen, G., USAF (OR); O2A shot down, released by PL March, 1973 - retired as a Major - alive and well as of 1998
** earned Bronze Star, Legion of Merit, Distinguished Service Medal **

1970
Boyle, William, US Army SF (PA); had just finished loading wounded into a CH34 when it was hit with rocket fire, presumed KIA

Labels: Headlines, History