One conversation stood in my mind. I was explaining to a new member, or should I say "first time attendee" of the group on how all these men went forward in 2001-2003, during the shooting war. I was mobilized 2003-04 but I joked about it being in a much scarier place, New Orleans. He told me his similar story: "Mike I got in just after Vietnam and when I told one of the vets about feeling weird around them, having not gone to the shooting war, he said to me. "You stood the watch!"
So for everyone who has worn a uniform, picked up a weapon, gone where your country called, saluted your flag and stood the watch over America, Happy Veterans Day.
PS: LSU and Texans sucked, but Saints kicked little Tony Romo's ass all up and down the Dome! :<) HYPERLINKS MAY REQUIRE AN EMAIL:
USACOMMENT: Quote of the story
Navy benches admirals in scandal.
The U.S. Navy's widening scandal involving prostitutes, cash bribes and the fat-cat defense contractor who allegedly supplied them for sensitive military information just expanded to colossal proportions. The Navy announced Friday night that it has suspended access to classified information for two senior intelligence officers, effectively relieving them from duty. It's all part of the ongoing investigation into global defense Glenn Defense Marine Asia.
Vice Adm. Ted Branch, ...and Rear Adm. Bruce Loveless -- the service's director of naval intelligence and director of intelligence operations, respectively -- have not been charged with any crimes. But the suspension "was deemed prudent given the sensitive nature [of] their current duties and to protect and support the integrity of the investigative process," said Rear Adm. John Kirby, the Navy's top spokesman, in a statement....
...Already, three Navy officials and two Glenn Defense executives have been charged in U.S. federal court in connection with the case. All three other Navy personnel -- two active-duty commanders and a senior agent with the Naval Criminal Investigative Service -- are accused of sharing sensitive or classified information with Glenn Defense CEO Leonard Glenn Francis in exchange for prostitutes, cash and other favors. Francis allegedly used that information, in turn, to overbill the U.S. military millions of dollars while servicing Navy ships in ports across the Pacific.
The Navy also relieved of command Capt. Daniel Dusek, the captain of the amphibious ship Bonhomme Richard, in connection with the investigation. He has not been charged with any crimes, but officials said that commanders lost confidence in him...
AFRICA
East African Infrastructure Development, Part I: The Central Corridor
Egypt: Cairo To Expand Cooperation With Russia November 9, 2013
Egypt will expand cooperation with Russia as a result of the diplomatic tensions with the United States, Cairo's long-time ally, Egyptian Foreign Minister Nabil Fahmy said Nov. 9, AFP reported. Strained relations with Washington, which suspended some of its military aid to Cairo after Egyptian President Mohammed Morsi was ousted by the military, improved after U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry visited a week ago, Fahmy said. Nonetheless, Egypt is taking a more independent tack and broadening its choices, he said. Just as the United States is demonstrating a new willingness to challenge Egypt, the Egyptian military seems equally willing to test the United States on its strategic commitment to the region.
http://www.stratfor.com/geopolitical-diary/end-us-aid-egypt
ASIA
Iran: Tehran Offers India Free Crude Delivery November 7, 2013
Iran is offering free delivery of crude oil to India, Reuters reported Nov. 7, citing industry sources. Because Western sanctions have cut its exports in half, Iran is offering deep discounts on oil and free delivery to India, one of its major energy markets, in an effort to increase sales. Iran is also offering Indian buyers discounts on larger quantities of oil in order to persuade them to increase their purchases.
EUROPE
Conversation: France's Struggles With the European Crisis
Explaining France's Protest Culture
MEXICO/LATIN AMERICA
Mexico Boosts Security in a Critical City
Mexico's Military Secures an Essential Port
Colombia: The Impact of Reviving the Magdalena River
Colombia's River Revitalization Plan
AFGHANISTAN
NOTHING SIGNIFICANT TO REPORT
CHINA
Energy Price Reform in China
IRAN
Iran and West Narrow Differences, but Negotiations to Continue
Iran: Official Slain In Tehran November 11, 2013
Iranian Deputy Minister of Industry Safdar Rahmat Abadi was shot dead Nov. 10 by unidentified attackers in Tehran, Reuters reported Nov. 11, citing state news agency IRNA.
IRAQ
NOTHING SIGNIFICANT TO REPORT
ISRAEL
Iran: Israel Reportedly Surprised By U.S. Diplomatic Course November 9, 2013
The Israeli government is surprised by the diplomatic course being taken by the United States during nuclear negotiations in Geneva, including the decision to offer Tehran minor sanctions relief, unnamed officials told Israel radio on Nov. 9, Jerusalem Post reported. U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry told Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu about the plan during a meeting on Nov. 8. After the meeting, Netanyahu criticized the prospective deal, saying that Iran is getting everything it wants at this stage and not giving anything in return, despite being under intense pressure. U.S. President Barack Obama and Netanyahu spoke later in the evening, with Obama underscoring his strong commitment to preventing Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon. Iran has demanded assurances that its facilities would not be damaged during inspection and that the United States would protect Iran from any military reprisals by Israel.
http://www.stratfor.com/analysis/us-iran-historic-deal-making
RUSSIA
NOTHING SIGNIFICANT TO REPORT
SYRIA
Syria: Rebels Retake Strategic Northern Base November 9, 2013
Syrian rebels retook an important base near Aleppo's international airport following heavy fighting on Nov. 9 that left more than 50 people dead, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said, AFP reported. Syrian troops backed by fighters from Lebanese Shiite militant group Hezbollah captured large parts of Base 80 in an assault on the morning of Nov. 8. The rebel force, which included al Qaeda loyalists, counter-attacked after dark, using Grad rockets against the army's tanks, and recovered all of the lost ground. The rebels has held Base 80, which serves as a garrison for the both the international airport and the adjacent Nayrab military airfield, since February. The battle for Aleppo is a central one in the Syrian civil war.
MIDDLE EAST GENERAL
The Reality of Reported Saudi-Pakistani Nuclear Cooperation
Since the 1980s, the Saudis have fielded a number of CSS-2 missiles purchased from China. The CSS-2's inaccuracy limits its utility in a conventional role, but accuracy is somewhat less of a concern when using nuclear warheads.
MISC
NOTHING SIGNIFICANT TO REPORT
Except where noted courtesy STRATFOR.COM
No comments:
Post a Comment