Boomerdog

Unfortunately, ADHD is an equal opportunity disorder for both sides of the aisle...but I digress. Once again, a case of Stolen Valor. Not illegal (under some legal conditions pointed out here on another thread) but that doesn't diminish the stink of it all. In full disclosure, I was never shot at during my time of service. I do know a few collegues who have been shot at and to them it's a stark knowledge of "either/or." Williams would have known if the chopper had been shot at as he would have seen it or the pilot or other aircrew members would (with a very high degree of probability) ascertained it. An RPG shot? Most likely that shot would have been seen...or felt. The periodic lies and scandals notwithstanding, tall tales such as this one, even in the military once disproven are going to get the member branded a liar and news travels fast. To engage in or abet such a lie is an act of dishonor and disrespect to those who have survived their wounds; are among us to remind us, and those KIA. What should be done with Brian Williams? NOTHING IMHO. Let him stay on the tube and be viewed by many for the fraud that he is. Perhaps the dwindling ratings and time will solve the problem. But then I don't watch any of the newtork news. It's puropse was then and is now, not to inform but develop and provide stories based on a few fundamental facts (we hope) selling air time to advertsers at prices based upon what the Nielsens report as the size of their viewers.

I would humbly suggest that the challenges that history poses to us boils down to one rather stark point; we weren't around for most of it. I'm reading two books on the Crusades, one by Thomas Madden from St. Louis University and one by Thomas Asbridge from the University of London. Both are recognized scholars in Medieval History with extensive writings resulting from as much research on The Crusades. Of course, these are only two books on the subject and far from comprehensive but a good start. Some of us interject our contemporary values back to the time in question, some of us don't. So far, the text presents issues certainly worth considering and not as "cut and dry" as many contend...to include the President.

Canada Mexico Guam Japan Okinawa (yea it's Japan until you factor in the"cultural thing." Great Britain Ireland Northern Ireland Netherlands Abu Dabi Bahrain Iraq

+1

My wife and I made up our own from Google images and Internet searches. Did a cut and paste onto 4" x 6" cards, had our instructor look at them for accuracy and we drill EP's on our way to the DZ every time.

Care to start listing the possible options? Here, I'll give you the first one: 1. Nothing 2. 3. 4. 5. ...... 1000. Be my guest, fill it in.

This is no different from what occurs in war planning. Targeting is selective, strategy is developed..."loose cannons" not allowed in any phase of the process. Let's get real. First, any armed response is first reasoned due to the necessity to achieve the objective but to divorce the piss off factor from any of it is a bit disingenuous. You're not setting out to kill your enemy and bust their things because they sent you roses. Who's talking about napalming all of Syria? It's a waste of weapons to hit em' where they ain't...costly too! I still like the willie pete...well deserved very nasty stuff for very nasty scumbags.

Don't include ME as part of the WE who's doing the condemning here, there, or anywhere. Condemning is such an easy hollow word without any action behind it. You may, however, include me as part of a group of unknown number who understands very very very clearly that ISIS is not kidding; is resolute; and will achieve their objectives by any means they consider necessary. And in terms I'm sure are familiar; don't play hockey with a croquet mentality...you'll get your head handed to you; sometimes literally. Is the King pandering to keep his job? You can speculate on that one all you like. Then of course, maybe he like the some of us is simply and fundamentally enraged by the horror inflicted on one of his subjects. And having spent some time over in that part of the world a few years ago, they do things different, think differently about how to handle issues, hierarchies, etc etc. Hey I thought we we're all on board with diversity here or you have a problem with it because it either does not fit your narrative or align perfectly to your view of the world and other preconcieved notions? Hiroshima, Nagasaki, Dresden, are to this day, horrific in nature, but the first two events ultimately stopped the carnage. Oh and BTW, try not to forget the London Blitz, the invasion of Poland, Stalingrad etc. When an adversary becomes a lethal enemy and begins to spill blood, you have TWO choices, acquiesce or stop them by having to visit upon them the very horror they are sowing. I think we can both agree, it's a sad state of affairs. The difference between you and me is that I will take action and I'm not sure what you'll do. You'll have to decide that for yourself.

Got my 'A' at 56. Go feeer it dude

No and that's about all that will be said or done with this current crowd Chamberlains. Great! Yea, I'd give him a rating of 90% bad @$$ mofo; which is an excellent rating! Now when he starts mixing some willie pete (that white phosphorous to all you civilians out there) into that napalm, THAT'S 100% bad @$$ mofo. The ISIS scum left living i.e. the one's cooked rare will still have to be dealing with the wounds full of the willie pete. Painful! Aw golly gee! Kinda reminds me of the time the KGB retaliated against Hezbollah in Beirut a few years back. Ivan and Dmitry kidnapped a few of them, shot em,' cut off their "parts" stuck em' in their mouths and dropped em' back into Hezbollah turf. the mesage got sent rather emphatically.

...and oops pardon me, my error my bad! The EX KGB guy had just gotten his US citizneship, voted in his first presidential election and the meeteing and conversation was THOROUGHLY unclassified.

Ya know, back in 2004, I enjoyed a breakfast and a very enlightening three hour conversation with an X KGB Colonel who worked in the KGB's First Chief Directorate i.e. blackmail, turning citizens, $#!t like that. I do recall him talking about one of his colleagues getting stuck under a bed one night during an op. It was real funny when he reflected on it but it did not seem funny at the time (when his colleague came back in from the cold).

Well...you can twitter, fritter, rationilize all you like. Be my guest. I'll offer you two rather direct points. 1) You might not be interested in war, but war is interested in you. Accordingly 2) You might not be interested in Islam but Islam is intrested in you. And if I might add, it's interest is under terms you probably won't like. Until then as as they say.

Not my quote; but someone else said here, "They don't call it nylon crack for nothin."

Yea...nothing new in that article that was not already known.

First, I think vaccinations are a very good thing. Second, did Ajazeera poll the other side of the aisle? If they did, they're not reporting it in spite of anything they say public and if they did not, then they're pushing a narrative. But that's OK, they've got a 1st Amendment right to do so. But as far as I'm concerned, the Bee Ess flag has been raised and not by me.

Guilty as charged.

So, you compare $#!T with $#!T. Are you seeking the truth or trying to determine who stinks more?

aljazeera? With apologies to Deniro, the question is begged. IS THAT ALL YOU GOT?

I'd call that one a "center bull" shot. Simply put, when your name is on a deployment order, pack your bags and get on the bus, the ariplane, the deuce and a half, whatever transportation is chosen; pack mule included. Get moving or face a court martial. It's that simple.

How about we try this...if there is a General Courts Martial convened, let due process work. It may not be perfect but it's the best we got.

See my reply to jcalor above. We might agree that the BASIC language of the bill was good. But as I stated previlously, in Washington, all is rarely what it seems. I'm a Vet myself so it bothers me that once again, a bill that is supposed to help Veterans with PTSD goes down on a vote. But take a closer look Professor, making legislation in Washington is akin to making sausage. The amendment process that BOTH sides tack on to the basic bill makes the sausage stink even more THEN when the bill goes down to defeat due to the vote of one side, the other side uses the object of the original bill as a political cudgel to allege insensitivity and callousness of those who voted against it. Good political theatre but the Vets still get the shaft. Now, as lively is the debate and disagreement around here, WE could at least agree to demand both R&D's generate good clean bills designed to aid those whom the bill was originally intended. Then we avoid the acrimony, the stinking sausage and the Vets with PTSD DO actually get the help they need AND deserve. How about that?

Well...here's the deal. A lot of speculation going on here and most of it has been generated by the American press rushing to get a story. OK, I get it, that's their job. So I'll admit to the foul having missed the question mark at the end. MY ERROR. NO EXCUSES. MY APOLOGIES TO Mr. SkyDekker. That stated. This thread started last May. Between that time, one thing I am absolutely certain of, Bergdahl's case has been investigated and the particulars of that investigation (probably carried on by Army CID) is all on a need to know basis. Whoever is leaking in the Pentagon to the press needs to keep their mouth shut. Even in cases of Non-Judicial Punishment under UCMJ Article 15, once the charges are referred to the JAG's office, the case is now in the military justice system and for the sake of due process and the rights of both parties PARTICULARLY the accused, everyone (in the military chain of command) is required to keep their opinion to themselves and their mouths shut until the case has been proper adjudicated. The principal charge is reported to be desertion (whether treason applies remains to be seen) and desertion carriers a maximum capital penalty to it; particularly in cases where the desertion occurred in a combat operations area. But since the cat is out of the bag as they say, this is a dicey one. First, there is a high probability that a "Charge Sheet" does exist and has been formalized against Bergdahl. At this point in time official Pentagon statements is that Bergdahl has not been formally charged. The Army General Staff is reviewing and it's probably a safe be that the Army Chief of Staff, General Odierno has his eyes on it. The problem is further compounded by the fact that the White House obtained Bergdahl's release in exchange for five high value Taliban and put a considerable amount of political capital into this action. So now what we have is a potential clash between the White House and the Pentagon, particularly the US Army. If and when the facts come out and point to compelling evidence against Bergdahl warranting first an Article 32 hearing proceeding to a General Courts Martial, this could get real messy. Maybe in the balance it was best thing to bet Bergdahl back. However, it may not look good for the White house to trade 5 HVT's for what may be proven to be an individual who deserted in the first place.

Oh really? Canadian Forces have their own manual for Courts Martial. I must confess I've not read any of the Canadian Manual. South of you is the Uniform Code of Military Justice or as us Yank G.I's call it, The "UCMJ." Something of which I am familiar. Cutting to the chase, it's simply this, you're blanket statement is opinion, absent of any substrative fact and therefore Bee Ess.

You can believe all you wish about what the press reports. But what went on in the Senate plus the language of the details in the bill plus all the bullshit lobbying and posturing by interests groups gives me pause for concern. Something about Washington you need to know...all is not what it seems in that part of the world.