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"But why me? I'm a temp. From Chiswick." ----- Donna Noble
(Yeah, why her?!) We learn later that she was the best temp from Chiswick - 100 words per minute typing speed.
( Read more... )
(Yeah, why her?!) We learn later that she was the best temp from Chiswick - 100 words per minute typing speed.
( Read more... )
- Mood:
bored
Sixty years ago, this month, West Berlin was facing starvation and eventual capitulation to Soviet forces.
Less than three weeks earlier, on 12 June, the Russians announced that the autobahn leading to the city from western sectors was closed "for repairs." Over the days that followed, rail and barge traffic were also cut off, a blatant violation of the "right of passage" guarantees that had existed since the end of World War II. The strategy to force the allies from Berlin culminated with a final statement, revealing that the Soviet sector would not supply food to the western-occupied sections of the city.
The allies could hardly afford to "surrender" West Berlin and give Moscow a tremendous geopolitical and psychological victory. But there was legitimate debate as to "how far" the west would go in defending the city. Despite the deployment of nuclear-capable B-29s to western Europe, the military defense of Berlin was considered a near-impossibility.
With Soviet forces surrounding the city's western sectors, allied forces in Berlin would be quickly overwhelmed, with the prospect of staggering civilian casualties. Were the western allies willing to risk World War III to defend the city?
The commander of the U.S. occupation zones, General Luicius Clay, believed that conflict would not be necessary. In his estimation, the Soviets were bluffing--they did not want a war over Berlin. He initially proposed sending an armored column down the autobahn toward Berlin, with instructions to fire if it were stopped or attacked. While President Truman rejected that proposal as too risky, he agreed with Clay's assessment that Berlin could not be abandoned.
With surface traffic to Berlin cut off, the Allies began contemplating an airlift. The prospect of resupplying West Berlin by air seemed daunting, but previous events suggested the operation had an outside shot at success. First, the western powers were guaranteed air access to the city, thanks to a 1945 agreement with the Soviets which granted three air corridors into Berlin.
Secondly, a limited airlift to the western sectors was already underway. For several months, the RAF transports had been resupplying the British garrison in Berlin by air. As part of the planning process, the Brits calculated airflift requirements to sustain the entire city. The RAF estimate, based on a 1700-calorie daily diet for Berliners, suggested that an airlift was feasible.
On June 25, 1948, the airlift began, with 32 U.S. C-47 transports hauling food, milk and medicine to the city. The British effort began three days later. By the second week, aircrews were hauling 1,000 tons of supplies a day into Berlin's three major airports. But is was clear that an expanded airlift would be required, to sustain the city during a sustained blockade.
Organizing that effort fell on the shoulders of Lieutenant General William Tunner, one of the legendary "captains" of airpower who forged the Army Air Corps during World War II, and the independent U.S. Air Force that followed in 1947.
But Tunner was something of a rarity; unlike Curtis LeMay, Carl Spaatz and Jimmy Doolittle, who gained fame as bomber commanders, General Tunner was best known as a transport pilot. He organized the "Hump" airlift between India and China during World War II, providing the aerial lifeline that kept Allied forces in the fight, despite the physical barrier of the Himalayan Mountains.
Colleagues describe Tunner as a man who could instantly "bring order out of chaos." That skill was instrumental to the success of the "Hump" operation, which existed at the end of the supply and maintenance chain. Tunner had more resources to work with in the Berlin Airlift, but the geopolitical stakes were infinitely higher.
General Tunner took command of the operation on 27 July 1948, and faced an immediate crisis. Flying to Berlin, he learned that a C-54 had crashed on landing in the city; a second transport blew out its tires trying to avoid the wreck, and a third aircraft ground-looped on an adjacent runway, shutting down the airport.
To prevent a greater calamity, Tunner radioed all aircraft to return to base. In a matter of days, he implemented changes that improved operational efficiency and safety. All missions were flown under instrument flying rules, regardless of actual weather conditions. Pilots got one shot at landing in Berlin; if they botched their approach, the plane and its cargo returned to base.
He also discovered that it took as long to unload a two-engine C-47 as it did the larger C-54. The smaller aircraft were quickly phased out of the airlift. Tunner enlisted German civilians to unload the aircraft, and hired attractive young frauleins to drive the snack trucks that carried refreshments to the crews. That eliminated ground delays, caused by air crews strolling to the terminal for a drink and a sandwich. With crews restricted to their aircraft in Berlin, offloading proceeded much more quickly, allowing more missions to be flown each day.
General Tunner also understood the importance of public relations on a global stage. He liked "Operation Vittles," the nickname given to the operation, and looked for other ways to highlight the airlift's success. When he heard that a young pilot named Gail Halvorsen was dropping candy to children in Berlin, he dubbed the effort "Operation Little Vittles," and made it a part of his publicity effort. Eventually, thousands of American children and candy companies donated more than three tons of sweets to the effort. It was a powerful rebuke to communist claims that the airlift wasn't working.
The winter of 1948-49 posed special challenges. Weather conditions were often bad, and the requirements for more coal pushed daily cargo requirements past 6,000 tons. But Tunner, his staff and the airlift crews met those demands. They hired former Luftwaffe ground crews to service the aircraft and repair the operating surfaces at Templehof and Gatow, the primary airfields in West Berlin. Newly-developed ground approach radar allowed aircraft to operate in weather that would have prevented landings in the past.
By the spring of 1949, the airlift was in high gear. Not even harassment by Soviet fighters and anti-aircraft guns could stop the steady flow of food, coal and medical supplies to Berlin. Over Easter weekend, Tunner pulled out all the stops, delivering over 12,000 tons of coal in a 24-hour period, without a single accident. By the end of that month, the operation was providing more supplies than the city had received by ground before the airlift began.
With the allies able to meet the city's needs by air, the Soviets had a change of heart. Not long after Tunner's Easter spectacular, Moscow signaled that it was willing to end the blockade. An agreement was concluded in only eight days, and road and rail traffic began moving to Berlin once more in mid-May. The U.S. and its partners had won an important, early victory in the Cold War, thanks (in large part) to an air commander who brought order out of chaos.
***
ADDENDUM: General Tunner was later instrumental in organizing airlift operations in Korea, allowing U.N. forces to sustain their resistance during the dark summer of 1950. But, in typical Air Force fashion, Tunner never received his fourth star, and retired in 1960. He died in 1983, secure in his reputation as the father of American airlift, and forces that evolved into the Military Air Transport Service, Military Airlift Command and Air Mobility Command.
Tunner
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Less than three weeks earlier, on 12 June, the Russians announced that the autobahn leading to the city from western sectors was closed "for repairs." Over the days that followed, rail and barge traffic were also cut off, a blatant violation of the "right of passage" guarantees that had existed since the end of World War II. The strategy to force the allies from Berlin culminated with a final statement, revealing that the Soviet sector would not supply food to the western-occupied sections of the city.
The allies could hardly afford to "surrender" West Berlin and give Moscow a tremendous geopolitical and psychological victory. But there was legitimate debate as to "how far" the west would go in defending the city. Despite the deployment of nuclear-capable B-29s to western Europe, the military defense of Berlin was considered a near-impossibility.
With Soviet forces surrounding the city's western sectors, allied forces in Berlin would be quickly overwhelmed, with the prospect of staggering civilian casualties. Were the western allies willing to risk World War III to defend the city?
The commander of the U.S. occupation zones, General Luicius Clay, believed that conflict would not be necessary. In his estimation, the Soviets were bluffing--they did not want a war over Berlin. He initially proposed sending an armored column down the autobahn toward Berlin, with instructions to fire if it were stopped or attacked. While President Truman rejected that proposal as too risky, he agreed with Clay's assessment that Berlin could not be abandoned.
With surface traffic to Berlin cut off, the Allies began contemplating an airlift. The prospect of resupplying West Berlin by air seemed daunting, but previous events suggested the operation had an outside shot at success. First, the western powers were guaranteed air access to the city, thanks to a 1945 agreement with the Soviets which granted three air corridors into Berlin.
Secondly, a limited airlift to the western sectors was already underway. For several months, the RAF transports had been resupplying the British garrison in Berlin by air. As part of the planning process, the Brits calculated airflift requirements to sustain the entire city. The RAF estimate, based on a 1700-calorie daily diet for Berliners, suggested that an airlift was feasible.
On June 25, 1948, the airlift began, with 32 U.S. C-47 transports hauling food, milk and medicine to the city. The British effort began three days later. By the second week, aircrews were hauling 1,000 tons of supplies a day into Berlin's three major airports. But is was clear that an expanded airlift would be required, to sustain the city during a sustained blockade.
Organizing that effort fell on the shoulders of Lieutenant General William Tunner, one of the legendary "captains" of airpower who forged the Army Air Corps during World War II, and the independent U.S. Air Force that followed in 1947.
But Tunner was something of a rarity; unlike Curtis LeMay, Carl Spaatz and Jimmy Doolittle, who gained fame as bomber commanders, General Tunner was best known as a transport pilot. He organized the "Hump" airlift between India and China during World War II, providing the aerial lifeline that kept Allied forces in the fight, despite the physical barrier of the Himalayan Mountains.
Colleagues describe Tunner as a man who could instantly "bring order out of chaos." That skill was instrumental to the success of the "Hump" operation, which existed at the end of the supply and maintenance chain. Tunner had more resources to work with in the Berlin Airlift, but the geopolitical stakes were infinitely higher.
General Tunner took command of the operation on 27 July 1948, and faced an immediate crisis. Flying to Berlin, he learned that a C-54 had crashed on landing in the city; a second transport blew out its tires trying to avoid the wreck, and a third aircraft ground-looped on an adjacent runway, shutting down the airport.
To prevent a greater calamity, Tunner radioed all aircraft to return to base. In a matter of days, he implemented changes that improved operational efficiency and safety. All missions were flown under instrument flying rules, regardless of actual weather conditions. Pilots got one shot at landing in Berlin; if they botched their approach, the plane and its cargo returned to base.
He also discovered that it took as long to unload a two-engine C-47 as it did the larger C-54. The smaller aircraft were quickly phased out of the airlift. Tunner enlisted German civilians to unload the aircraft, and hired attractive young frauleins to drive the snack trucks that carried refreshments to the crews. That eliminated ground delays, caused by air crews strolling to the terminal for a drink and a sandwich. With crews restricted to their aircraft in Berlin, offloading proceeded much more quickly, allowing more missions to be flown each day.
General Tunner also understood the importance of public relations on a global stage. He liked "Operation Vittles," the nickname given to the operation, and looked for other ways to highlight the airlift's success. When he heard that a young pilot named Gail Halvorsen was dropping candy to children in Berlin, he dubbed the effort "Operation Little Vittles," and made it a part of his publicity effort. Eventually, thousands of American children and candy companies donated more than three tons of sweets to the effort. It was a powerful rebuke to communist claims that the airlift wasn't working.
The winter of 1948-49 posed special challenges. Weather conditions were often bad, and the requirements for more coal pushed daily cargo requirements past 6,000 tons. But Tunner, his staff and the airlift crews met those demands. They hired former Luftwaffe ground crews to service the aircraft and repair the operating surfaces at Templehof and Gatow, the primary airfields in West Berlin. Newly-developed ground approach radar allowed aircraft to operate in weather that would have prevented landings in the past.
By the spring of 1949, the airlift was in high gear. Not even harassment by Soviet fighters and anti-aircraft guns could stop the steady flow of food, coal and medical supplies to Berlin. Over Easter weekend, Tunner pulled out all the stops, delivering over 12,000 tons of coal in a 24-hour period, without a single accident. By the end of that month, the operation was providing more supplies than the city had received by ground before the airlift began.
With the allies able to meet the city's needs by air, the Soviets had a change of heart. Not long after Tunner's Easter spectacular, Moscow signaled that it was willing to end the blockade. An agreement was concluded in only eight days, and road and rail traffic began moving to Berlin once more in mid-May. The U.S. and its partners had won an important, early victory in the Cold War, thanks (in large part) to an air commander who brought order out of chaos.
***
ADDENDUM: General Tunner was later instrumental in organizing airlift operations in Korea, allowing U.N. forces to sustain their resistance during the dark summer of 1950. But, in typical Air Force fashion, Tunner never received his fourth star, and retired in 1960. He died in 1983, secure in his reputation as the father of American airlift, and forces that evolved into the Military Air Transport Service, Military Airlift Command and Air Mobility Command.
Tunner
- Mood:
amused - Music:Canned Heat: Fried Hockey Boogie
From the Economist: Americans are increasingly choosing to live among like-minded neighbours. This makes the culture war more bitter and politics harder
Another portion..
You can read the rest here, although I am so tempted to just snatch the whole thing and place it behind a cut because links eventually die. Probably one of the best reads you will find on a Saturday. ;-)
At a bookshop in Bethesda (one of those posh Maryland suburbs), Steven Balis, a retired lawyer with wild grey hair and a scruffy T-shirt, looks up from his New York Times. He says he is a Democrat because of “the absence of alternatives”. He comes from a family of secular Jews who supported the New Deal. He holds “positive notions of what government actions can accomplish”. Asked why he moved to Maryland rather than Virginia, he jokes that the far side of the river is “Confederate territory”. Asked if he has hard-core social-conservative acquaintances, he answers simply: “No.”
Another portion..
“We now live in a giant feedback loop,” says Mr Bishop, “hearing our own thoughts about what's right and wrong bounced back to us by the television shows we watch, the newspapers and books we read, the blogs we visit online, the sermons we hear and the neighbourhoods we live in.”
Shouting at each other
One might ask: so what? If people are happier living with like-minded neighbours, why shouldn't they? No one is obviously harmed. Mr Bishop does not, of course, suggest curbing Americans' right to freedom of association. But he worries about some of its consequences.
Voters in landslide districts tend to elect more extreme members of Congress. Moderates who might otherwise run for office decide not to. Debates turn into shouting matches. Bitterly partisan lawmakers cannot reach the necessary consensus to fix long-term problems such as the tottering pensions and health-care systems.
You can read the rest here, although I am so tempted to just snatch the whole thing and place it behind a cut because links eventually die. Probably one of the best reads you will find on a Saturday. ;-)
"I think you need to live life on the edge, and if you don't, you're taking up too much space. You have to live in the fast lane. You only live once," ---- Maysoon (a muslim model who speaks arabic)
With third evictee Jennifer out, and 2 thrown out by BB, 3 new females enter the BB9 house.
( Read more... )
With third evictee Jennifer out, and 2 thrown out by BB, 3 new females enter the BB9 house.
( Read more... )
- Mood:
blah
Anyone who thinks that the McCain/Obama contest is going to be a model of civility and decorum has got to be smoking some pretty wild drugs at this point.
Both sides will lie, distort, and otherwise do unsavory things to keep the other from winning the big prize in November. That is not only a shame, but a national embarrassment. I expect the nasty snarking from like-minded willing accomplices from the extremes, but now it seems as if more people are drinking the Kool Aid from their respective sides and taking aim at unlikely targets far removed from the epicenter of the discussion.
Gads, it is 2004 all over again, and this time, things are going to be a lot nastier.
***
I feel a lot of posts coming on today. Yup.
***
WHY CAN'T WE BE FRIENDS?: Everyone has the right to conduct business on their respective Live Journals anyway they wish. But I ask the following - why have a public blog if you don't wish to share your views and expand the population of people who agree with your sentiments?
Maybe I'll share the recent exchange I had with a blogger with views that were definitively different from my own on the subject of sexism, feminism, and the general election. But for now, know that I will do my best to be as fair as possible to differing points of view without insulting the visitors who bring them to the table of rational discussion.
***
WITH APOLOGIES TO LOUIS ARMSTRONG & JERRY HERMAN: Don't watch if you have yet to see the Doctor Who episode The Stolen Earth, and don't want to be spoiled. Otherwise, dig in..
Rick Kelvington, you are one creative dude! ;-)
***
MOTIVATIONALLY SPEAKING: Let's not be too catty about this..
***
YouTubery Video Highlights: Elton John - Blessed | Michael Jackson - Stranger in Moscow | Zebra - Time
***
The itzWicks WayBack Machine: Heck, let's just back up to June 14, 2008..
***
I'm not hashing this weekend, but instead sticking around the household taking care of old business. Whatever the weekend holds for you, don't forget to live like you mean it. ;-)
Both sides will lie, distort, and otherwise do unsavory things to keep the other from winning the big prize in November. That is not only a shame, but a national embarrassment. I expect the nasty snarking from like-minded willing accomplices from the extremes, but now it seems as if more people are drinking the Kool Aid from their respective sides and taking aim at unlikely targets far removed from the epicenter of the discussion.
Gads, it is 2004 all over again, and this time, things are going to be a lot nastier.
***
I feel a lot of posts coming on today. Yup.
***
WHY CAN'T WE BE FRIENDS?: Everyone has the right to conduct business on their respective Live Journals anyway they wish. But I ask the following - why have a public blog if you don't wish to share your views and expand the population of people who agree with your sentiments?
Maybe I'll share the recent exchange I had with a blogger with views that were definitively different from my own on the subject of sexism, feminism, and the general election. But for now, know that I will do my best to be as fair as possible to differing points of view without insulting the visitors who bring them to the table of rational discussion.
***
WITH APOLOGIES TO LOUIS ARMSTRONG & JERRY HERMAN: Don't watch if you have yet to see the Doctor Who episode The Stolen Earth, and don't want to be spoiled. Otherwise, dig in..
Rick Kelvington, you are one creative dude! ;-)
***
MOTIVATIONALLY SPEAKING: Let's not be too catty about this..
***
YouTubery Video Highlights: Elton John - Blessed | Michael Jackson - Stranger in Moscow | Zebra - Time
***
The itzWicks WayBack Machine: Heck, let's just back up to June 14, 2008..
People make monetary decisions, direct and indirect, everyday; To have a child, to go out to eat, to rent an apartment versus to buy a house, and so forth. When things go bad, it is hoped that some thoughtful planning has taken place to prepare for such realities, but often that is not the case. Life happens, and one can only roll with the challenges accordingly.
For those of you still in school, STUDY HARD, STUDY OFTEN, and ASK QUESTIONS, especially if you are unclear about something. Assume nothing, and ask for examples to get clarity of the issues in front of you. This is especially true of math, economics, and accounting.
If you are not in the educational system, and/or you are already dealing with the big, bad world, think about taking an operational pause and assess your current situation. You know what you are capable of, and what obligations you have to contend with. Get help if you need it, and get it pronto.
The first rule of being in a hole is to stop digging.
***
I'm not hashing this weekend, but instead sticking around the household taking care of old business. Whatever the weekend holds for you, don't forget to live like you mean it. ;-)
After 718 hours in the house together, tonight's eviction round is between "pretty boy Rex" and "heart-breaker Jen". Is it the end for Jen? or is it Rex the -ex (housemate)?, they ask. Rex had been hoping to be nominated this week. There was talk that he was getting bored in the house. Jen's mum confirmed that Jennifer had "always been a hit with the boys".
Jennifer receives votes from Darnell, Kathreya, Lisa, Mohamed, Rachel and Rex. Whilst Rex’s nominations came from Dale, Luke, Mario, Michael, Rebecca and Stuart.
Early this morning Luke, Mario and Lisa were gossiping about Kathreya. Luke recounted the time Kathreya confided in him that she had pretended to sleep so she could listen in to Sylvia and another housemate (it might have been Stuart). The group took a dim view of that. Mario thought that Kathreya was just putting on an act in projecting her "happy" persona and that child-like wonderment (my words). He mocked her for making that announcement that she had learnt a new word "dignity" and that she spelt it as "dinity" - all this he thought was part of that act. Later that afternoon in the garden, they continued bitching about her.
Apparently, three new female housemates will enter the house tonight.
As I post, Jen is evicted.
Jennifer receives votes from Darnell, Kathreya, Lisa, Mohamed, Rachel and Rex. Whilst Rex’s nominations came from Dale, Luke, Mario, Michael, Rebecca and Stuart.
Early this morning Luke, Mario and Lisa were gossiping about Kathreya. Luke recounted the time Kathreya confided in him that she had pretended to sleep so she could listen in to Sylvia and another housemate (it might have been Stuart). The group took a dim view of that. Mario thought that Kathreya was just putting on an act in projecting her "happy" persona and that child-like wonderment (my words). He mocked her for making that announcement that she had learnt a new word "dignity" and that she spelt it as "dinity" - all this he thought was part of that act. Later that afternoon in the garden, they continued bitching about her.
Apparently, three new female housemates will enter the house tonight.
As I post, Jen is evicted.
- Mood:
satisfied
Sparks are flyin this July 4th for Dylan Rosser's newest Male Form, 25-yr old Empire model Matthew Ludwinski. Most recently seen in Fantasticsmag as Dr. Jeckyll and Mr. Horsehide, you might also remember Matthew from Genre's "Global Package," shot by Rick Day.
[ Dylan Rosser : The Male Form ]
Guest Hunkologist: Special thanks to today's Guest Hunkologist, Ethan! He's the man behind Ethan Says
(click here for full entry)
Posted In: Dylan Rosser, Male Model, Matthew Ludwinski, Shirtless
Thanks, but no thanks: Why would Big Brothers reject Bill?
We may never know the full details of Wednesday's successful mission in Colombia that freed 15 hostages, including three American military contractors and former presidential candidate Ingrid Bentacourt.
And that's just as well. With Colombia's FARC terrorists now on the run, there's no point in divulging operational details that might jeopardize future missions. Suffice it to say that yesterday's rescue effort was a turning point in the 40-year war between the FARC and the Colombian government. Less than a decade ago, the marxist-inflenced guerillas seemed to be on the verge of winning; now, after a series of stunning setbacks, the FARC appears headed for defeat.
Colombia's remarkable transition is the result of two, interrelated events. The first is Plan Colombia, the U.S. assistance package aimed at reforming Colombia's military and curbing the narco and terrorist violence that once gripped that country. Despite objections from some Congressional Democrats, the plan was implemented in 2000, with the promise of billions in U.S. military aid that began flowing to Bogata.
The second critical event was the 2002 election of Alvaro Uribe as Colombia's president. Uribe's predecessor tried to make a deal with the FARC--granting the terrorists large swaths of territory. It was a fool's errand; the emboldened terrorists simply stepped up their attacks, overruning several Colombian military bases in or near FARC strongholds.
In fact, the situation was so grim that on Uribe's inaguration day six years ago, the terrorists were surrounding Bogata and Colombia's army had been largely reduced to a garrison force, incapable of sustained operations in FARC territory. Making good on Uribe's promise to take the fight to the enemy would require a massive overhaul of the nation's military.
Under the tutlege of American trainers--mostly Army Green Berets--the Colombians began weeding out corrupt or incompetent officers, while elevating and training a new generation of military leaders. A Green Beret Major, who was interviewed by the Los Angeles Times earlier this year, describe the creation of elite, 28-man commando teams, organized and equipped to carry out long, intelligence-gathering missions in terrorist regions, or lighting strikes against insurgent targets. One of those units carried out during Wednesday's daring rescue mission.
It has been a remarkable transformation. Not too many years ago, a U.S. diplomat in Bogota referred to the Colombian military as the "Apple Dumpling Gang," in reference to a
Disney movie about a gang of bumbling criminals. Compare that to the highly-trained Colombian commando unit that organized and executed the rescue mission.
Much of the credit belongs to President Uribe and his military, who accepted (and institutionalized) U.S. advice and support. As that Army Major told the LAT, it took the Colombians a while to "buy in" on the idea of using highly-trained, small units to take on the FARC, instead of the large, heavily-armed formations of years past.
Toward that goal, the Colombian Army now has significant numbers of elite troops, with skills roughly equal to U.S. soliders who've completed the first phase of Ranger training. That doesn't put them on a par with U.S. Special Forces or the British SAS, but by rest-of-the-world standards, the Colombians are high speed--and getting better by the day.
The rapid improvement of Colombia's military is also a testament to the American training teams that have worked diligently over the past eight years. Readers will recall that Plan Colombia has long been controversial, and a frequent target for criticism by Congressional Democrats. But to their credit, politicians of both parties stuck with the plan, and it paid off in the Colombian jungle on Wednesday.
In spades.
***
ADDENDUM: Various U.S. officials indicate that our role in the operation was limited to planning and intelligence support. But don't underestimate the importance of that assistance. In fact, there's a parallel from the early 1980s, which also resulted in the successful release of an American hostage. Brigadier General James Dozier was taken captive by Italy's Red Brigades terrorist organization, which staged a number of high-profile kidnappings and executions, including that of former Prime Minister Aldo Moro.
After Dozier's capture, Italian authorities had difficulty in locating the kidnappers and welcomed U.S. assistance. A team from the National Security Agency penetrated Red Brigade communications; that information, along with HUMINT developed by the Italians, led to a daring raid that secure General Dozier's release.
The rescue essentially broke the back of the terrorist group, and the Italians quickly rolled up the remaining cells. Within a decade, the Red Brigades had all-but-disappeared. One of the group's final attacks occured at Aviano AB in 1993. A gunman claiming allegiance to the group tried to spray a U.S. military dormitory with automatic weapons fire; he was quickly captured by Italian police when his getaway driver sped away--before the mission was complete.
And that's just as well. With Colombia's FARC terrorists now on the run, there's no point in divulging operational details that might jeopardize future missions. Suffice it to say that yesterday's rescue effort was a turning point in the 40-year war between the FARC and the Colombian government. Less than a decade ago, the marxist-inflenced guerillas seemed to be on the verge of winning; now, after a series of stunning setbacks, the FARC appears headed for defeat.
Colombia's remarkable transition is the result of two, interrelated events. The first is Plan Colombia, the U.S. assistance package aimed at reforming Colombia's military and curbing the narco and terrorist violence that once gripped that country. Despite objections from some Congressional Democrats, the plan was implemented in 2000, with the promise of billions in U.S. military aid that began flowing to Bogata.
The second critical event was the 2002 election of Alvaro Uribe as Colombia's president. Uribe's predecessor tried to make a deal with the FARC--granting the terrorists large swaths of territory. It was a fool's errand; the emboldened terrorists simply stepped up their attacks, overruning several Colombian military bases in or near FARC strongholds.
In fact, the situation was so grim that on Uribe's inaguration day six years ago, the terrorists were surrounding Bogata and Colombia's army had been largely reduced to a garrison force, incapable of sustained operations in FARC territory. Making good on Uribe's promise to take the fight to the enemy would require a massive overhaul of the nation's military.
Under the tutlege of American trainers--mostly Army Green Berets--the Colombians began weeding out corrupt or incompetent officers, while elevating and training a new generation of military leaders. A Green Beret Major, who was interviewed by the Los Angeles Times earlier this year, describe the creation of elite, 28-man commando teams, organized and equipped to carry out long, intelligence-gathering missions in terrorist regions, or lighting strikes against insurgent targets. One of those units carried out during Wednesday's daring rescue mission.
It has been a remarkable transformation. Not too many years ago, a U.S. diplomat in Bogota referred to the Colombian military as the "Apple Dumpling Gang," in reference to a
Disney movie about a gang of bumbling criminals. Compare that to the highly-trained Colombian commando unit that organized and executed the rescue mission.
Much of the credit belongs to President Uribe and his military, who accepted (and institutionalized) U.S. advice and support. As that Army Major told the LAT, it took the Colombians a while to "buy in" on the idea of using highly-trained, small units to take on the FARC, instead of the large, heavily-armed formations of years past.
Toward that goal, the Colombian Army now has significant numbers of elite troops, with skills roughly equal to U.S. soliders who've completed the first phase of Ranger training. That doesn't put them on a par with U.S. Special Forces or the British SAS, but by rest-of-the-world standards, the Colombians are high speed--and getting better by the day.
The rapid improvement of Colombia's military is also a testament to the American training teams that have worked diligently over the past eight years. Readers will recall that Plan Colombia has long been controversial, and a frequent target for criticism by Congressional Democrats. But to their credit, politicians of both parties stuck with the plan, and it paid off in the Colombian jungle on Wednesday.
In spades.
***
ADDENDUM: Various U.S. officials indicate that our role in the operation was limited to planning and intelligence support. But don't underestimate the importance of that assistance. In fact, there's a parallel from the early 1980s, which also resulted in the successful release of an American hostage. Brigadier General James Dozier was taken captive by Italy's Red Brigades terrorist organization, which staged a number of high-profile kidnappings and executions, including that of former Prime Minister Aldo Moro.
After Dozier's capture, Italian authorities had difficulty in locating the kidnappers and welcomed U.S. assistance. A team from the National Security Agency penetrated Red Brigade communications; that information, along with HUMINT developed by the Italians, led to a daring raid that secure General Dozier's release.
The rescue essentially broke the back of the terrorist group, and the Italians quickly rolled up the remaining cells. Within a decade, the Red Brigades had all-but-disappeared. One of the group's final attacks occured at Aviano AB in 1993. A gunman claiming allegiance to the group tried to spray a U.S. military dormitory with automatic weapons fire; he was quickly captured by Italian police when his getaway driver sped away--before the mission was complete.
"Desperate Guy Ritchie begged Madonna to let him move to New York in a last-gasp bid to save their marriage. The film director was prepared to give up the life he loves in England for a chance at a reconciliation. But steely Madge told him in no uncertain terms: "You're not coming. I still want a divorce. Stay in London." [Mirror - Madonna snubs Guy Ritchie's begging offer of New York move]
Sad child-collector creepazoid Madge. Even if the rumours are true, who really cares? Ditch her, I say. If she's daft enough to want to divorce someone quite eligible like Ritchie, she needs her head examined. I pity her kids. If you're going to get married and have children, then stay together at least till they're a bit older! No child likes their parents to split up - and she's got almost half a dozen.
(Anyway it's none of my business)
Sad child-collector creepazoid Madge. Even if the rumours are true, who really cares? Ditch her, I say. If she's daft enough to want to divorce someone quite eligible like Ritchie, she needs her head examined. I pity her kids. If you're going to get married and have children, then stay together at least till they're a bit older! No child likes their parents to split up - and she's got almost half a dozen.
(Anyway it's none of my business)
- Mood:uncaring
Pleasant morning. Big fluffy white clouds and blue skies outside. Yesterday was a sick day really, with a runny nose all day. We did get on with some more work late in the evening. This morning my nose started dripping the moment I got up from bed. Luckily, it has stopped. So perhaps I can get on with things today. I am going to try and update my project entries. A lot has been done since my last proper update (Monday 23rd). "A week is a long time in Project Home" (sadly it seems to take a week to do two days' work!) It's been quite a successful week, doing the finishing touches. It is of course an expensive way of going about things (doing things at a slow and somewhat leisurely pace), but we will recoup all the costs back, I have no doubt. It is not that we wish things to move slowly. It's just that we've been running out of steam!
- Mood:
awake
"I’ve always said that the pace of withdrawal would be dictated by the safety and security of our troops and the need to maintain stability. That assessment has not changed. And when I go to Iraq and have a chance to talk to some of the commanders on the ground, I’m sure I’ll have more information and will continue to refine my policies." ---- Obama
"During his presidential campaign, Obama has gone from the hard-edged, vocal opposition to Iraq that defined his early candidacy to more nuanced rhetoric that calls for the phased-out drawdown of all combat brigades that, at a rate of one or two a month, could take 16 months." [AP]
"Obama made the point plain two months ago: the President sets the strategic goals, and the generals carry out his orders. Period, full stop, as Obama himself said in a speech this week. Now suddenly Obama has decided that he should listen to the generals before setting the strategic goals, which is not just a flip-flop, but really an opening for a full-fledged abandonment of the position that won him the support of the netroots and the nomination. ........ By emphasizing stability and moving away from even the 16-month plan he had cited as “responsible”, he has all but adopted the John McCain position of no withdrawal without victory." [Source: Hot Air - O’Hanlon: Obama’s Iraq policy now “ambiguous”]
*sigh* this must be the the so-called "change we can believe in". Someone commented on that story: "I am getting a migraine just reading this." I must admit I haven't digested this properly yet, and I don't need migraine. I'll probably re-visit this issue in a future post. I've always had a sense that Obama's position on Iraq has at best been ambiguous anyway. He would just sanctimoniously bang on about how he had always opposed the Iraq war (unlike HRC who had voted for the Iraq war) - this was his USP, and it worked to some extent in creating the image that he was somehow untainted. (In truth, he wasn't even in the Senate when the vote on Iraq was held).
"During his presidential campaign, Obama has gone from the hard-edged, vocal opposition to Iraq that defined his early candidacy to more nuanced rhetoric that calls for the phased-out drawdown of all combat brigades that, at a rate of one or two a month, could take 16 months." [AP]
"Obama made the point plain two months ago: the President sets the strategic goals, and the generals carry out his orders. Period, full stop, as Obama himself said in a speech this week. Now suddenly Obama has decided that he should listen to the generals before setting the strategic goals, which is not just a flip-flop, but really an opening for a full-fledged abandonment of the position that won him the support of the netroots and the nomination. ........ By emphasizing stability and moving away from even the 16-month plan he had cited as “responsible”, he has all but adopted the John McCain position of no withdrawal without victory." [Source: Hot Air - O’Hanlon: Obama’s Iraq policy now “ambiguous”]
*sigh* this must be the the so-called "change we can believe in". Someone commented on that story: "I am getting a migraine just reading this." I must admit I haven't digested this properly yet, and I don't need migraine. I'll probably re-visit this issue in a future post. I've always had a sense that Obama's position on Iraq has at best been ambiguous anyway. He would just sanctimoniously bang on about how he had always opposed the Iraq war (unlike HRC who had voted for the Iraq war) - this was his USP, and it worked to some extent in creating the image that he was somehow untainted. (In truth, he wasn't even in the Senate when the vote on Iraq was held).
- Mood:
apathetic
- Most Beautiful Man features The Bachelor favorite Andy Baldwin, showing us his patriotic side on a hot-hot-hot beach.
- SoapHunks.net : Adonis 2008 is underway, cast your votes for your favorite in the Top 10!
- Matt Riddlehoover stars in Watch Out, where he plays a man (literally) in love with himself. Matt tells Hunk du Jour that filming "was like summer camp, but with people who were old enough to drink." Check out the trailer after the jump.
- HDJ Favorite SquareHippies takes a look at Vanity Fair's Bright Young Hollywood
- My friend Ryan in New York shares some of his favorite moments from the (soggy) NYC Pride Parade last weekend. Check out his NYC Pride Flickr Photoset. Afterwards, check out our 2008 Seattle Pride Flickr group, which has seen a lot of new photos this week as well!
- Jay Brannan (Shortbus) is having quite a busy month. His latest film, Holding Trevor, opens tomorrow and his new album, Goddamned, has just been digitally released. Congrats, Jay!
- Have you seen the web series HIV Is Still a Big Deal? What do you think?
- Hunk du Jour will play host to some special Guest Hunkologists starting tomorrow as your editor takes a much needed vacation for a little R&R. We have some fantastic folks queued up with excellent taste. (Think you have what it takes to be a Hunkologist? We're still looking to fill one day next week... contact us!)
(click here for full entry)
Posted In: Hunk Guide
From the “why it’s a bad idea to have software do what humans should be doing” file, Washington Post columnist Al Kamen reports on a funny technoblooper that recently affected an automated news website run by the American Family Association:
There were certain words that would pop up from time to time in the Associated Press stories that moved onto the site that were a bit salacious, or unacceptable to post.
“We don’t have the staff to monitor all the Hollywood stories,” news director Fred Jackson said yesterday, “so we wanted an automated function.” He said they put up the filter about a month or so ago.
One word they wanted to filter was “gay.” The site felt that the term put the matter of homosexuality “in a positive light,” Jackson said, when the evangelical Christian organization was much opposed. So when a wire story referred to gay marriage, for example, the phrase would automatically appear as “homosexual marriage.”
Worked fine until Sunday, when the AP reported that “Tyson Homosexual easily won his semifinal for the 100 meters at the U.S. Olympic track and field trials.” The story was headlined “Homosexual eases into 100 final at Olympic trials.”
“On Saturday,” the story said, “Homosexual misjudged the finish in his opening heat...”
That’s world champion sprinter Tyson Gay, of course.
Turning Mars into a salad bar is a bad idea
We now know that the murdered French students, Laurent Bonomo 23, and Gabriel Ferez, 23 were bio-engineering students, researching DNA and "cleansing of protein within DNA". They have been here since early May and were due to return to France this month. One tabloid has already called it a 'Tarantino-style' murder (mind you, based on how the police have described it): "Scotland Yard detectives described the double murder as the worst they had dealt with in recent years. One said: "The scale of the violence is extraordinary. This was like a scene from a Tarantino gangster film but these men were not criminals. These were two talented and innocent young men who had no history of criminality." American director Quentin Tarantino is known for his extremely brutal scenes in movies such as Reservoir Dogs and Pulp Fiction."
The crime scene is 12 Sterling Gardens, SE14. At a press conference, DCI Mick Duthie said, "I need to build up a picture of these two young men. What they were doing in the hours leading up to the murder. Shortly after the explosion a white male was seen to run from that block. Who is that man? I appeal to residents and visitors who were in and around Sterling Close on Sunday. Did you see or hear anything suspicious? Did you see any vehicle that was out of place? I also appeal to those people who worked with, and knew Laurent and Gabriel at Imperial College - what were they like? where did they go? who did they meet? where did they socialise? Finally I’ll ask, do you know of anybody who since Sunday has returned home and is now acting out of character? This attacker was horrific. I ask everybody - please wrack your brains. Try and recall what you were doing on Sunday evening. If you can think of anything, no matter how insignificant, I urge you to call the incident room. Your small piece of information could help us solve this crime."
Incident Number for police 0208 721 4155 or Crimestoppers, on 0800 555 111
( police statement )
The crime scene is 12 Sterling Gardens, SE14. At a press conference, DCI Mick Duthie said, "I need to build up a picture of these two young men. What they were doing in the hours leading up to the murder. Shortly after the explosion a white male was seen to run from that block. Who is that man? I appeal to residents and visitors who were in and around Sterling Close on Sunday. Did you see or hear anything suspicious? Did you see any vehicle that was out of place? I also appeal to those people who worked with, and knew Laurent and Gabriel at Imperial College - what were they like? where did they go? who did they meet? where did they socialise? Finally I’ll ask, do you know of anybody who since Sunday has returned home and is now acting out of character? This attacker was horrific. I ask everybody - please wrack your brains. Try and recall what you were doing on Sunday evening. If you can think of anything, no matter how insignificant, I urge you to call the incident room. Your small piece of information could help us solve this crime."
( police statement )
- Mood:
working
"Dudes are not supposed to be smacking other guys' bum bums" ------ Darnell (BB9)
Sky News says "Murray minced". I like it. As the commentators might say, Nadal is "too good!". I'm not going to miss Murray showing off his arm muscle nor his ridiculous triumphant grimaces.
News of a double murder of French exchange students, named as Laurent Bonomo and Gabriel Ferez, in South East London emerged this morning. Sadly, these two young French men have joined the ever growing numbers of victims of violent knife-related crimes. Initially thought to be victims of a fire, a post-mortem reveleaed that they had stab wounds to the head, neck and chest. The bodies were found in a ground floor flat in Sterling Gardens, New Cross, south-east London, on Sunday night. Le Figaro reported that the two men studied in Clermont-Ferrand, in central France. French minister Valerie Pecresse (Minister For Higher Education And Research) expressed her compassion and immense sadness at news of the deaths. Detectives believe the men were murdered first and the fire was started in an effort to destroy evidence. One theory is that the killer threw a petrol bomb. There is also speculation that the men may have been tortured before being murdered. Witnesses reported hearing what sounded like a bomb detonating and seeing a man running from the scene. [Sources: BBC, Evening Standard]
( Read more... )
Sky News says "Murray minced". I like it. As the commentators might say, Nadal is "too good!". I'm not going to miss Murray showing off his arm muscle nor his ridiculous triumphant grimaces.
News of a double murder of French exchange students, named as Laurent Bonomo and Gabriel Ferez, in South East London emerged this morning. Sadly, these two young French men have joined the ever growing numbers of victims of violent knife-related crimes. Initially thought to be victims of a fire, a post-mortem reveleaed that they had stab wounds to the head, neck and chest. The bodies were found in a ground floor flat in Sterling Gardens, New Cross, south-east London, on Sunday night. Le Figaro reported that the two men studied in Clermont-Ferrand, in central France. French minister Valerie Pecresse (Minister For Higher Education And Research) expressed her compassion and immense sadness at news of the deaths. Detectives believe the men were murdered first and the fire was started in an effort to destroy evidence. One theory is that the killer threw a petrol bomb. There is also speculation that the men may have been tortured before being murdered. Witnesses reported hearing what sounded like a bomb detonating and seeing a man running from the scene. [Sources: BBC, Evening Standard]
( Read more... )
- Mood: uncomfortable
The woman at the bus stop spoke loudly, "Am I exaggerating? Or do you think I have a point? I did the right thing ... do you see my point?" Her friend agreed. "You did the right thing," she interjected, in a reassuring, calm voice. As the car (with me in it) moved away from the bus stop, I managed to hear a bit more of the conversation that suggested it was something to do with a man and money.
I'm so pleased Nadal beat Murray. He "had no answer" to Nadal.
I'm so sleepy now, I'll have a nap, and maybe continue at the PC later. Or maybe I'll just drift off to sleep.
I'm so pleased Nadal beat Murray. He "had no answer" to Nadal.
I'm so sleepy now, I'll have a nap, and maybe continue at the PC later. Or maybe I'll just drift off to sleep.
- Mood: sleepy
Wesley Clark’s deplorable comments on John McCain’s war record prompted questions for another Democratic "military expert," Virginia Senator Jim Webb. His remarks took a different tack, but were equally despicable. Appearing on MSNBC’s execrable Countdown with Keith Olberman, Senator Webb urged McCain to "tone down" the emphasis on his military record:
"I think what we really need to work on over the next four, five months, and it goes back to the speech that Sen. Obama gave [Monday] and this little fight that I've been watching and that is, we need to make sure that we take politics out of service," Webb said. "People don't serve their country for political issues."
He continued: "And John McCain's my long-time friend, if that is one area that I would ask him to calm down on, it`s that, don't be standing up and uttering your political views and implying that all the people in the military support them because they don't, any more than when the Democrats have political issues during the Vietnam War. Let's get the politics out of the military, take care of our military people, or have our political arguments in other areas."
Describing Webb as a hypocrite would be charitable. During his successful 2006 run against George Allen, Mr. Webb had no problem running on his record in Vietnam, where he won the Navy Cross as a Marine infantry officer. And, for that matter, Webb even used his own son’s military service as a campaign prop, stumping across the Old Dominion in a pair of the young man’s combat boots.
</span>
We also wonder where Mr. Webb was in 2004, when John Forbes Kerry used his Vietnam experience as the centerpiece of his presidential bid. Apparently, the former Navy Secretary had no problem with Mr. Kerry campaigning on his military service. But when John McCain reminds voters that he served with valor as a naval aviator and POW, well, it’s time to take politics out of service.
Jim Webb was a superb combat leader and he’s (arguably) the best novelist of the Vietnam era. But as a politician, he’s morphed into a feckless hack, cut from the same cloth as General Clark and former Air Force Chief of Staff Merrill "Tony" McPeak, who criticized McCain for being "too fat" last week.
We’ve come to expect that sort of drivel from Clark and McPeak, living examples of the politically-driven, "perfumed princes" that the late David Hackworth railed about for more than 50 years. And sadly, those comments on Countdown are typical of Jim Webb, the one-time warrior who eagerly reinvented himself as a professional politician.
"I think what we really need to work on over the next four, five months, and it goes back to the speech that Sen. Obama gave [Monday] and this little fight that I've been watching and that is, we need to make sure that we take politics out of service," Webb said. "People don't serve their country for political issues."
He continued: "And John McCain's my long-time friend, if that is one area that I would ask him to calm down on, it`s that, don't be standing up and uttering your political views and implying that all the people in the military support them because they don't, any more than when the Democrats have political issues during the Vietnam War. Let's get the politics out of the military, take care of our military people, or have our political arguments in other areas."
Describing Webb as a hypocrite would be charitable. During his successful 2006 run against George Allen, Mr. Webb had no problem running on his record in Vietnam, where he won the Navy Cross as a Marine infantry officer. And, for that matter, Webb even used his own son’s military service as a campaign prop, stumping across the Old Dominion in a pair of the young man’s combat boots.
</span>
We also wonder where Mr. Webb was in 2004, when John Forbes Kerry used his Vietnam experience as the centerpiece of his presidential bid. Apparently, the former Navy Secretary had no problem with Mr. Kerry campaigning on his military service. But when John McCain reminds voters that he served with valor as a naval aviator and POW, well, it’s time to take politics out of service.
Jim Webb was a superb combat leader and he’s (arguably) the best novelist of the Vietnam era. But as a politician, he’s morphed into a feckless hack, cut from the same cloth as General Clark and former Air Force Chief of Staff Merrill "Tony" McPeak, who criticized McCain for being "too fat" last week.
We’ve come to expect that sort of drivel from Clark and McPeak, living examples of the politically-driven, "perfumed princes" that the late David Hackworth railed about for more than 50 years. And sadly, those comments on Countdown are typical of Jim Webb, the one-time warrior who eagerly reinvented himself as a professional politician.
Edward over at connex24.7 shares a little Matus Valent with us today. Matus will be competing for the title of Mr. Olympia in September.
(click here for full entry)
Posted In: Male Model, Matus Valent, Shirtless
Time for Obama to dump his friends on the loony-left
DRUDGE REPORT Exclusive
In what is being described as an unprecedented radio contract, Limbaugh will keep his syndicated show on-the-air and e-v-e-r-y-w-h-e-r-e through 2016 with CLEAR CHANNEL and PREMIERE RADIO.
Already host of the most lucrative hours since radio's inception, Limbaugh's total package is valued north of $400 million, according to media insiders.
![[info]](http://p-stat.livejournal.com/img/community.gif){kind=small}
In what is being described as an unprecedented radio contract, Limbaugh will keep his syndicated show on-the-air and e-v-e-r-y-w-h-e-r-e through 2016 with CLEAR CHANNEL and PREMIERE RADIO.
Already host of the most lucrative hours since radio's inception, Limbaugh's total package is valued north of $400 million, according to media insiders.