AFGHAN TUNES - An Afghan villager smiles after receiving a portable radio Jan. 2, 2008, from Afghan National Army soldiers from the 203rd Kandak. Afghani soldiers handed out gifts to villagers who visited a clinic in the Oruzgan province that day. Defense Dept. photo by Combined Joint Special Operations Task Force – Afghanistan.

Labels: Afghanistan, civilians, photos

The blogosphere is short one voice today, and the world has lost a Hero.

No words that I could post here could possibly compare with the words Major Andrew Olmstead left for his readers:

Final Post
"I am leaving this message for you because it appears I must leave sooner than I intended. I would have preferred to say this in person, but since I cannot, let me say it here."
G'Kar, Babylon 5

"Only the dead have seen the end of war."
Plato*

This is an entry I would have preferred not to have published, but there are limits to what we can control in life, and apparently I have passed one of those limits. And so,like G'Kar, I must say here what I would much prefer to say in person. I want to thank hilzoy for putting it up for me. It's not easy asking anyone to do something for you in the event of your death, and it is a testament to her quality that she didn't hesitate to accept the charge. As with many bloggers, I have a disgustingly large ego, and so I just couldn't bear the thought of not being able to have the last word if the need arose. Perhaps I take that further than most, I don't know. I hope so. It's frightening to think there are many people as neurotic as I am in the world. In any case, since I won't get another chance to say what I think, I wanted to take advantage of this opportunity. Such as it is...

Read it, and then take a moment to honor a fallen Hero. You can leave a message here, here, or here.

H/T The Thunder Run

Labels: Fallen Heroes, Iraq, milblogging

RED HORNET NIGHT LAUNCH - A Super Hornet aircraft attached to the "Red Rippers" of Strike Fighter Squadron 11 prepares to launch off the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS Harry S Truman during night flight operations in the Persian Gulf, Jan. 3, 2007. U.S. Navy photo by Seaman Kevin T. Murray Jr.

Labels: aircraft, photos, Red Rippers, Srike Fighter Squadron 11, Super Hornet, US Navy, USS Harry S. Truman

News of Note
Operation Iraqi Freedom
Bombs kill 14 in Iraq, U.S. blames al Qaeda
Baghdad suicide bomb kills Sunni leader
Hospital Ignored by Saddam now State-of-the-Art: 40 Newborns, Hundreds Seen Daily
Concerned Local Citizens Group Finds Large Weapons Cache
Sheik Meeting Leads to Info on al-Qaida in Iraq
Iraqi Citizen Volunteers Find Multiple Weapon Caches
Coalition forces target al-Qaeda in Iraq leadership; six suspects detained (Tigris River Valley)
Iraqi National Police apprehend kidnappers, save student (Baghdad)

Homeland Security / War on Terror / Hamas-Hezbollah Happenings
Report: Bin Laden Bodyguard Arrested in Pakistan
Islamic Militants Kill 8 Tribal Leaders in Pakistan

Fallen Heroes
Afghan bomb kills coalition soldier

Other Military News
Thousands follow soldier's fate in WW1 "blog"
Navy fighter jets crash in Persian Gulf

Worldwide Wackos
Iranian Boats Provoke ‘Serious Incident’ in Straits
U.S. to Iran: Don't Mess With Us - VIDEO
Strait of Hormuz, Iran and the risk to oil
U.S. ships "provoked"
Factbox: Economic effects of disruption

Politics / Government
Clinton Feels Heat, Lashes Out at Obama Ahead of New Hampshire Primary
McCain Surges to Top
Romney within striking distance in FNC poll
Clinton Skewers Obama as Polls Show Her Trailing
Poll: Obama, Riding Iowa Win, Leads Clinton - Results (pdf)
FOX BUSINESS: Bookies Pay Out for Obama
McCain's comeback - Video
Romney says expects to prevail in N.H.
"Huck and Chuck" show adds punch
Full Coverage: Campaign 2008 (Reuters)
Kenya President to Meet Chief Rival - PHOTOS
Kenya unrest - Video
Mediation could start Wednesday: Odinga
Full Coverage: Kenya in Turmoil
Up to 1,000 killed in Kenya crisis: Odinga - Video
Saakashvili wins Georgian presidential election - Video
Taylor trial resumes with tales of brutality

In the Courts / Crime and Punishment / Law and Order
Stacy Peterson ... Spotted?
Fire Chief E-Mails Topless Pics of Wreck Victim
Boy, 12, Charged With Beating Toddler to Death With Bat
Teacher Charged With Sending Nude Photos to Boy, 14
Clemens Sues Ex-Trainer for Defamation - LAWSUIT (pdf)
SHOCK: Man Kills Girlfriend, Cooks Body Parts to Eat
Police Find Links in Missing Hikers' Cases - PHOTOS
Girl Sprayed by Acid Outside California Church
Justices Appear Divided on Lethal Injections - VIDEO - FIRST-HAND ACCOUNT: Tookie Williams Execution
Prosecutors appeal Canada serial killing verdict
Scotsman wins release from Ohio jail

Media in the Media / Bloggers in the News / Watching the Web
WEBCAMS AROUND THE WORLD: Ventura Beach, Calif.
Mayor's Racy Lingerie Photo on MySpace Causes Stir
News Corp's Murdoch returns to German TV market

Science / Medicine and Health / Technology
China health care struggles to keep pace with growth
Delaying solid foods may not prevent allergies
Racial disparities persist in U.S. cancer treatment
Scientists discover new key to flu transmission
Scientists move toward helping paralysis patients
Matsushita introduces 150-inch TV
Sony BMG to drop copy protection for downloads
Comcast: Cable to standardize technology
GM envisions driverless cars on horizon
Napster to sell music as MP3 files
TiVo to feature Web video

Mother Nature
Elephant Shot After Trampling Rowdy Partygoers' Cars
Six Missing Snowmobilers Found Alive - VIDEO
Germany denied Knut sequel as polar bear eats cub
Floodwaters begin to recede in Nev. town

Oddities
224,000 fake anti-impotence pills seized
Car festival mob prompts security revamp

Fox News
Two Killed, Dozens Hurt in 100-Car Pileup - PHOTOS
8 Killed, 20 Injured in Utah Bus Crash
FOXBusiness: McDonald's Bars Take on Starbucks

Reuters
Rap music analysis unusually honest
NBC may unplug Globes - Video
Gemma Arterton cast as new "Bond girl"
Paulson: Don't want to rush economic stimulus
Big money on commods after dull year for stocks
Xerox softens image in brand overhaul
Solar firms still on solid ground after '07 rally
Trial of ex-AIG, Gen Re insurance execs begins
Anheuser-Busch reports sales; shares rise
Citi mulls cutting work force by 5 to 10 percent: report
Oil falls 3 percent
Sallie Mae appoints new chairman and CFO
Market flat as economic worries persist - Video
Jana pushing for CNET shakeup
Crocs shares tumble on reports of slowing business
Alcoa stock down after Credit Suisse cuts view
Dollar rises as Fed rate cuts seen less aggressive - Video
Fed's Lockhart says won't rule out more rate cuts
Jefferies sees surprise Q4 loss
Going after CNet

AP World News
Dr. Phil cancels his Britney Spears show
Buckeyes, Tigers set for BCS title game
Jones is leaving Hawaii to coach SMU
Hasselbeck brings baby son to `The View'
Paulson: no easy answer to mortgage woes
Fans pack New Orleans for LSU-OSU final
Chargers rally late to beat Titans 17-6
Mobile home fire kills 5 in Texas

CENTCOM: News Releases
COALITION FORCES DISRUPT AL KUT CRIMINAL ELEMENT NETWORKS, 11 TERRORISTS KILLED

USJFCOM
2007 -- The Year in Review - photos
U.S. Joint Forces Command, IBM sign new cooperative research and development agreement
More about CRADAs
Ribbon cut for new SOCJFCOM headquarters - podcast

Multi-National Force-Iraq
Two fires reported at Bayji Oil Refinery
HBIED destroyed in Busayefi
STATEMENT: MNF-I condemns today’s al-Qaeda Iraq attacks
Minister of Human Rights Visits Camp Bucca

DefenseLink
IRAQ NEWS
Sheiks Tell of Al Qaeda Offenses
Police Take Over Security in City
Forces Kill 3 Terrorists, Detain 12

AFGHANISTAN NEWS
Police Shut Down Bomb-Making Cell
Medical Supplies Help Afghans

MILITARY NEWS
Funding Impasse Poses Challenge to Recruiters
‘Battlemind’ Training Reduces Combat Impact

AMERICA SUPPORTS YOU
Group Helps Veterans

FACE OF DEFENSE
Comic Strip Continues

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
0754 - Stefanus II arrives in Ponthion
1325 - Afonso IV succeeds Dionysius as king of Portugal
1558 - Calais, last English possession in France, retaken by French under Francois, Duke of Guise
1566 - Antonio Michaele Ghislieri is elected Pope Pius V
1579 - England signs an offensive & defensive alliance with the Netherlands
1598 - Boris Godunov seizes the Russian throne on death of Feodore I
1601 - Robert, Earl of Essex leads revolt in London against Queen Elizabeth
1608 - Fire destroys Jamestown, Virginia
1610 - Galileo discovers 1st 3 Jupiter satellites, Io, Europa & Ganymede
1618 - Francis Bacon becomes English lord chancellor
1622 - Germany & Transylvania sign Peace of Nikolsburg
1654 - Fire after heavy storm destroys 2/3 of De Rijp Netherlands, 1 dies
1698 - Russian Czar Peter the Great departs Netherlands to England
1714 - Typewriter patented by Englishman Henry Mill (built years later)
1761 - Battle at Panipat India Afghan army beats Mahratten
1782 - 1st US commercial bank, Bank of North America, opens in Philadelphia
1784 - 1st US seed business established by David Landreth, Philadelphia
1785 - 1st balloon flight across English Channel (Blanchard & Jeffries)
1789 - 1st national (Presidential) election in US
1822 - Liberia colonized by Americans
1830 - Baltimore & Ohio Railroad Co begins carrying revenue traffic - 1st US Railroad Station (Baltimore MD)
1835 - HMS Beagle anchors off Chonos Archipelago
1861 - Florida troops takeover Fort Marion at St Augustine
1862 - Battle of Manassas Junction, VA; Romney Campaign-Stonewall Jackson march towards Romney WV
1868 - Arkansas constitutional convention meets in Little Rock; Mississippi constitutional convention meets in Jackson
1890 - W.B. Purvis patents fountain pen
1892 - Mine explosion kills 100, Krebs OK-blacks trying to help rescue white survivors, driven away with guns
1896 - Fanny Farmer publishes her 1st cookbook
1911 - 1st airplane bombing experiments with explosives, San Francisco
1913 - William M. Burton patents a process to "crack" petroleum
1914 - 1st steamboat passes through the Panamá Canal
1916 - German troops conquer Fort Vaux at Verdun
1923 - Baltimore Sun warns of Ku Klux Klan
1927 - Commercial transatlantic telephone service inaugurated between New York & London; Harlem Globetrotters play 1st game (Hinckley IL)
1929 - "Buck Rogers", 1st sci-fi comic strip, premieres; "Tarzan", one of the 1st adventure comic strips, 1st appears
1934 - "Flash Gordon" comic strip (by Alex Raymond) debuts
1942 - WWII siege of Bataan starts
1944 - Air Force announces production of 1st US jet fighter, the Bell P-59
1945 - Lord Haw-Haw reports total German victory at Ardennen
1946 - Cambodia becomes autonomous state inside French Union
1948 - US President Truman raises taxes for Marshall-plan
1949 - 1st photo of genes taken at University of Southern California by Pease & Baker
1950 - Mental health wing of Mercy Hospital burns, kills 41 (Davenport IA)
1952 - French Plevin government falls
1953 - President Truman announces development of the hydrogen bomb
1958 - USSR shrinks army to 300,000
1959 - US recognizes Fidel Castro's Cuban government
1962 - Assassination attempt on Indonesian president Sukarno fails
1964 - Bahamas achieves internal self-government & cabinet responsibility
1968 - Surveyor 7 lands on the Moon
1969 - US Congress doubles presidential salary
1972 - Iberian Airlines crashes into 800' peak on island of Ibiza, 104 die; Lewis F. Powell, Jr., becomes a Supreme Court Justice; William Hubbs Rehnquist, sworn in as Supreme Court Justice
1974 - Dutch rations gasoline
1977 - Human Rights Charter '77 established in Prague
1978 - Angola revises its constitution
1979 - Vietnamese forces capture Phnom Penh from Khmer Rouge
1983 - Reagan ends US arms embargo against Guatemala
1985 - Japanese space probe Sakigake launched to Halley's comet
1986 - STS 61-C mission scrubbed at T -9m because of weather problems; US President Reagan proclaims economic sanctions against Libya
1987 - French airplanes harass Libyan positions in Duadi Doum
1989 - British Midland Boeing 737 crashes on Motorway; Akhito becomes emperor of Japan
1990 - Tower Of Pisa closed to the public after leaning too far
1991 - Haiti coup defeated; Soviet paratroopers sent to Baltic Republics
1992 - AT&T releases video-telephone ($1499)
1994 - United Express commuter plane crashes in Ohio, killing 5
1997 - Newt Gingrich, narrowly re-elected speaker of the House

Birthdays
1528 - Jeanne d'Albret, Queen of Navarra/mother of French King Henry IV
1685 - Gerard George Clifford, Dutch director of East India Company
1799 - Daniel Tyler, Union Brigadier General
1800 - Millard Fillmore, 13th US President (1850-53)
1808 - Jacob Ammen, Union Brigadier General
1816 - Stephen Miller, Union Brigadier General
1821 - Lucius Jeremiah Gartrell, Confederate Brigadier General
1824 - James Morrison Hawes, Confederate Brigadier General
1830 - (Samuel) Emerson Opdycke, Union Brevet Major General
1844 - Marie-Bernarde Soubirous (St Bernadette of Lourdes), saint/visionary
1845 - Louis III, last king of Bavaria (1913-18)
1879 - St Bernadette (Marie-Bernarde Soubirous), religious visionary
1883 - Andrew Browne, Irish/British admiral (WWII)
1918 - Alessadro Natta, Italian political leader (Communist Party)
1931 - Mack Mattingly (Senator-GA, 1981-86)
1935 - Valeri Nikolayevich Kubasov, cosmonaut (Soyuz 6, 19, 36/35, Apollo-Soyuz)
1941 - Frederick Drew Gregory, Colonel USAF/astronaut (STS 51-B, 33, 44)
1951 - Talgat Amangeldyyevich Musabayev Russian Major/cosmonaut (TM-19, TM-27)
1966 - Carolyn Bessette Kennedy, model/wife of John Kennedy, Jr.

Passings
1285 - Charles I of Anjou king of Naples/brother of King Louis IX, dies at 58
1325 - Dionysius the justified, King of Portugal (1279-1325)
1451 - Amadeus VIII, last anti-pope Felix V (1439-49), dies at 67
1529 - Peter Vischer the Old, German count of Sebaldus
1536 - Catherine of Aragon, 1st wife of England's King Henry VIII
1537 - Alessandro de' Medici. Italian monarch of Florence, assassinated
1598 - Theodorus I (Fedor Ivanovitch), czar of Russia (1584-98), dies at 40
1655 - Innocentius X (Giambattista Pamfili), pope (1644-55), dies at 80
1695 - Mary II Stuart, queen of England, dies at 32
1890 - Augusta Maria L. Katharina, wife of German emperor Wilhelm I, dies at 78
1892 - Tewfik Pasja, viceroy of Egypt, dies at 39
1942 - Henry, Count of Baillet-Latour, president of IOC (1925-42), dies at 63
1944 - J. Verleun Dutch, resistance fighter, executed
1958 - Dr. Petru Groza, Premier of Romania, dies at 74
1961 - Clarice Baright, 1st woman admitted to American Bar Association, dies at 74
1983 - August Cool Belgian, trade union leader, dies at 79
1989 - Hirohito Japan`s emperor (1922-89), dies of duodenal cancer at 87 after 62-year reign (1/2 Million line Tokyo streets)
1994 - Lewis Boddington, aerospace Engineer, dies at 85; Phoumi Vongvichit President of Laos (1986-91), dies
1995 - Viktor Vorobyov Russian General Major, dies in battle
1996 - Karoly Grosz, PM of Hungry (1987-88), dies at 65

Reported: Missing in Action
1966
Callanan, Richard Joseph, USAF (CA); C130B shot down (w/Greenley), KIA, body not recovered

Greenley, Jon Alfred, USAF (ND); C130B shot down (w/Callanan), KIA, body not recovered

1968
Brewer, Lee, US Army; escaped January, 1968

Nelson, Steven N, USMC.; escaped January, 1968

Roha, Michael R., USMC (CA); escaped January, 1968 - deceased, March, 1997

Stone, James M., US Army (FL); KIA, body not recovered

Trujillo, Robert S., US Army (NM)

1969
Welsh, Larry D., US Army (KS)

1970
Hoff, Michael G., USN (FL); A7A shot down

Ochab, Robert, USAF (NY); F4E shot down, KIA, body not recovered

Labels: Headlines, History