Dusty has an interesting post over at Castle AAARRGGH on one of my favorite military aircraft, the A-10 "warthog. He writes it from personal experience with the ugly beauty. It was a joy to read about the Warthog from a man who loves her for her innate ability.

Posted by: Delftsman3 at 09:51 PM | Comments (1) | Add Comment
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A lot of blogs decrying the bias of the MSM against anything American. Right wing bloggers especially delight in pointing the bias out; left wing bloggers say that, for the most part, ONLY Fox News is biased, and thats in an "anti-progressive" way, hence it's the bias we should be concerned about. They also point out that the European press is "much better".

The left side of the aisle is fond of accusing President Bush of "going it alone" and "alienating our EU allies". Now we have this report via Davids Mediankritik that has a survey that shows the German media is more critical of US policy than Al Jazira. In fact, they have an anti-US stance about 80% of the time. The survey shows similar albeit lower results in the French, Italian,British,and Spanish press.

So is it any wonder that public opinion in the EU has turned against the US?

When Arab Media is more "fair and balanced" than the EU MSM, there is definately something to be concerned about.

All too many people form their personal opinions from what they read and hear in the MSM, if that media is biased, it can become a situation of Orwellian Newspeak that is far removed from reality. In a nuclear age, this is extremely dangerous. Polititians respond to constituant pressures (at least in an election year), if the public is misinformed and not based in reality, those pressurres can lead to poor decision making, making the world a more dangerous place than it already is.

Posted by: Delftsman3 at 07:58 PM | Comments (8) | Add Comment
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Here is a photo montage that shows true courage in the face of danger.

Just how many Americans would be going to the polls in the face of a very real possiblity of being shot or blown up? Even after the fact; remember that the insurgents Islamofacists threatened that the act of voting itself could invite retribution against the participant, not necessarily just at the polls, but at any time after. And dying a finger blue made them obvious targets, but millions of Iraqis, in effect, told the Islamofacists to "go to hell" and publicly showed their joy in their new found franchise. Literally dancing in the streets, waving their blue stained digits in the air.

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Patrick Moore was one of the founding members of Greenpeace, and he is still a dedicated environmentalist, but he has become disgusted with the mainstream environmental movement, saying "By the mid-1980s, the environmental movement had abandoned science and logic in favor of emotion and sensationalism." "The environmental movement has lost its way, favoring political correctness over factual accuracy, stooping to scare tactics to garner support."

If even a founding member of Greenpeace can be brought around to a "sustainable development" frame of mind, there may yet be hope that there can be a concensus developed that will bring about sane development with the minimum of environmental damage possible.

Read the article, and note the areas where he shows how damaging the main stream environmental movement truly is to the welfare to everyone, through their rejection of nuclear power,wind turbin power, and genetically engineered crops, among others.

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Matt May writes a touching piece honoring his cousin, Spc Luke Frist,US Army,209 QM Corps. Spc Frist died on January 5, 2004, of wounds that he sustained in an IED attack on a convoy he was a part of several days earlier.

Why write such a tribute now, over a year later? Because of the events that occured yesterday. The first truly free election in Iraq. Those elections are a first step in what we are trying to accomplish in Iraq. Spc. Frist gave his life in that effort; these elections are testament that what he was trying to do was just and right.

Posted by: Delftsman3 at 10:18 PM | Comments (3) | Add Comment
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"The purpose of socialism is to spread an ever-increasing amount of misery among an ever-increasing number of people."
Sir Winston Churchill

The truth of this has been demonstrated again and again in the intervening years since Sir Churchill made that statement.

Sadly, it seems that the Left wing "Progressives" seem to not grasp the fact that it is reality, they continue to just say: "Yes THEY did it wrong, but WE can make it work".

Socialism is a seductive idiology, after all, who can be against "fairness" and "total equality for all"?

But it fails to consider human nature in it's social equations, and the fact that people are NOT equal in their abilities,desires,and biases. Socialism can NEVER work without the most capable, and even more importantly, ruthless people rising above the mass of the population. Once that happens, the masses become the tools of the elite.

Socialism has killed more people in a shorter time than in any period of human history, but it's apologists blame capitalism for that in a weird form of transferance: blame the opposition for the sins of the state.

Posted by: Delftsman3 at 09:46 PM | No Comments | Add Comment
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Well, the first free election in Iraq in over 30 years is over. It's too soon yet to have any reliable numbers, but one thing is certain. Unlike the doom and gloom naysayers such as Senator Splash and the Senator Boxedhead, the Iraqi general populace excercised their new access to the ballot box in record numbers, despite the high threat of violence against them from Islamofacist groups. Some initial estimates indicate that the turnout was as high as 75%.

Too bad that our OWN populace doesn't have the same fortitude. In the last election, WE only managed to have a turnout of approximately 65-67% of all eligible voters casting their ballots, and THAT was a record that hasn't been seen in over 20 years! In most of our elections, we are fortunate to surpass the 50% level.

And despite what the Left may try to put out, the voters here certainly didn't face a threat to their lives in exercising their right to vote. Just how many voters here would brave bombs, sniper fire and terror threats to exercise their responsibility as a member of a free electorate?

This puts the lie to the meme that the new government would be a mere rubber stamp of US selected officials. There were over 11 parties vying in the contest, and the choices were diverse enough to ensure that it would be the PEOPLE'S choice that would determine who would attain office, and wide enough to assure that no one party or individual would overwhelmingly overcome any of the others. This means that the victors will be forced to form coallitions to be able to determine the Prime Minister and top council leaders ensuring (that) the widest possible popular voice WILL be heard in formulating the new Iraqi Constitution.

This was only the first step in the process of bringing Iraq into the circle of democratic nations, but it was a damned good first step.

Here are what some of the Iraqi bloggers have to say: Iraq,the model, Hammorabi, The Messopotamian, and finally, Sun of Iraq

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Once upon a time the government had a vast scrap yard in the middle of a desert. Congress said, "someone may steal from it at night." So they created a night watchman position and hired a person for the job.

Then Congress said, "How does the watchman do his job without instruction?" So they created a planning department and hired two people, one person to write the instructions, and one person to do time studies.

Then Congress said, "How will we know the night watchman is doing the tasks correctly?" So they created a Quality Control department and hired two people. One to do the studies and one to write the reports.

Then Congress said, "How are these people going to get paid?" So they created the following positions, a time keeper, and a payroll officer, then hired two people.

Then Congress said, "Who will be accountable for all of these people?" So they created an administrative section and hired three people, an Administrative Officer, Assistant Administrative Officer, and a Legal Secretary.

Then Congress said, "We have had this command in operation for one year and we are $18,000 over budget, we must cutback overall cost."

So they laid off the night watchman.

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Diplomad has a great post up showing the Perfidy that is the *spit* UN *spit*, that august body that seems to specialize in gaining power/graft off of human misery all over the globe?

Tell me again just WHY we are still associated with this conglomeration of tin-pot dictators and self-serving bureaucrats?

Posted by: Delftsman3 at 06:45 AM | Comments (1) | Add Comment
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Lt.Col. Mark Smith USMC 2/24, "the Mad Ghosts"/ Indiana State Police Trooper

A home town Marine brings a view contrary to what the MSM puts out.. If you listened to them, the Iraqis don't care if they vote or not, it's exchanging one set of "invaders" for a "US puppet government", Yada, Yada,Yada.

According to the Iraqi Sheik in this story though, the election means a great deal to the average Iraqi; thats why the insurgents Islamofacists are so determined to disrupt the process.
The Islamofacists know that if the Iraqi people know that the power to rule themselves is truly in their own hands; that their reign of terror is finished.

Be SURE to click on the "Extended Entry" and read LtCol. Smith's e-mail. He has layed out the reasons why we are in Iraq as well as anyone ever could. more...

Posted by: Delftsman3 at 04:25 AM | Comments (1) | Add Comment
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Well.....I wish someone could tell me just WHY an otherwise sensible woman should have a sudden fascination with rats? And I don't mean the invading Norway's sneaking into the basement, I mean held in a cage,being fed specially formulated mixtures of nuts,seeds,and alfalfa pellets, and requireing just the right kind of bedding for the bottom of said cage?

Two weeks ago, we went to the local Petsmart to get some dog food; the Pricess has been going on for about the last 6 months wanting to get a ferret as a pet, despite all our explainations on just why that wasn't a good idea with two cats already sharing our domicile. So what does Mama do? She buys two Hooded rats, of course! Notwithstanding my protestations that I preferred not to willingly invite vermin into my home.

I was almost resigned to the fact that we would have these critters for the next couple of years, when suddenly Mama developed a sudden creative urge to make a larger cage for our erstwhile pets, saying she thought she could make a larger one for not a great deal of money, and Dumpling and Cecily would like more room to move around in.

Now Mama definately has great talent in fabricating whatever she desires, and indeed, she built a three story domicile for about $10 worth of hardware cloth,plastic zip strips and a storage bin. I was proud of her for her ability....I SHOULD have realized that something was up when she didn't immediately transfer the aformentioned vermin with the cutesy names into their new enclosure.

Well, as it happened, we had to go to Petsmart tonight to get some dog food (damn those dogs can pack it away!) I went directly to the dog food aisle, not noticing that Mama WASN'T right behind me....Yeah, you guessed it. We now have FOUR vermin esconced in our home, living the life of Riley. The two new ones are male, though, so never shall the two pairs meet!

I don't know WHEN I lost control of the Citidel...now I wonder if I ever HAD control, but it's become obvious that I am just another fixture of the household, feeding the new aquisitions and cleaning up the resulting excrement laden litter.

I do have to admit that it's kind of intriguing to see my wife's long hair seem to be moving independently in a strange manner and then seeing a rodent face peering out from under it, but I still can't change my feeling that rats are vermin, only to be used as food for snakes. They may be tame and do seem to enjoy being petted and fussed over, but still,....I wonder when I can get my nephew to bring over his pet Boa for a huge feed.

UPDATE: Mama just asked me just how large I wanted MY cage to be... It's nice to know that she does read my blog on occasion!

Posted by: Delftsman3 at 03:48 AM | Comments (1) | Add Comment
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A Texan buys a round of drinks for all in the bar because, he announces,
his wife has just produced "a typical Texas" baby boy weighing 25 pounds.

Congratulations showered him from all around, and many exclamations of
"Wow!" was heard. A woman faints due to sympathy pains.

Two weeks later, he returns to the bar. The bartender says, "Say, you're
the father of the typical Texas baby that weighed 25 pounds at birth. How much
does he weigh now?" The proud father answers, "Seventeen pounds".

The bartender is! puzzled, concerned; "Why? What happened? He already
weighed 25 pounds at birth."

The Texas father takes a slow swig from his long-neck Lone Star beer,
wipes his lips on his shirt sleeve, leans into the bartender and proudly says,

"Had him circumcised".

(Must have some Dutch blood in the family!)

(hat tip to Jack)

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Next to Spammers, those that deliberatly concoct and release viruses onto the internet are among the lowest form of life on Earth.

I'm happy to see that the courts are taking this issue seriously; I do believe that the Judge's reasoning was faulty though..young master Parson should have been given the maximum sentence; the argument that he had not had the "proper upbringing" and was not "properly supervised" is a load of feel-good, P.C. CRAP.

Mr. Parson knowingly and willfully commited an act that he couldn't help but know would hurt a lot of people, if that isn't a definition of a criminal intent, I don't know what is. Having given him a break on the prison term, I hope the Judge hits him with the largest restitution amount allowable by law. Only making the consequences far outweigh the benefits will stop this type of malicious crime.

Posted by: Delftsman3 at 03:09 PM | No Comments | Add Comment
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Fred Barnes hits it out of the ballpark with this commentary piece called "The Ruthless Party".

After watching Barbara Boxer trying to paint Condi Rice as a liar and then whine complain that SHE was attacked by Ms. Rice in a later interview, one just has to wonder how people could ever keep voting such an obvious moron mentally challenged person crybaby into the high office of Senator.

And then to listen to Senator Splash reiterating his inane comparison of Iraq to Viet Nam and calling for as hasty a retreat from Iraq as possible just makes one shake one's head in pity for his headlong dive into Altzheimers.

One has to wonder just why the Democratic side of the aisle just can't seem to realize that broadcasting timetables and rigid responses to situational hypotheticals can be invaluable information to terrorists in formulating their activities.

I just wish that, as Laura Ingraham suggested, Ms. Rice had responded to him with the quip: "well Senator, I'll cross that bridge when I come to it" if asked a hypothetical question that just couldn't be reasonably responded to by anyone who doesn't want to give suggestions to our enemies as to how they can prepare for her style of diplomacy.

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At least ONE embed sees the forest for the trees.

Most telling about the MSM was this little snippet from his last report:

The radio show today was held in the chow hall and it was very difficult to describe the last days. I did the best I could and tried to give a complete story not only of the Marines casualties but the victories of the 10 KIAÂ’s, top 2 bad guys out of action, additional high value target captured, and more intelligence taken in as well.

Why do the media not report that? I video taped the live ABC news report from the dam – no mention of the Marines victories – only the losses. (empasis mine)

Posted by: Delftsman3 at 04:54 AM | No Comments | Add Comment
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Once a Marine, ALWAYS a Marine, and the Marine Corps just proved that by letting a 51 year old rejoin to fulfill his dream of an overseas deployment.

Now I wonder.....Maybe the Army could use a 50 year old Vet/ truck driver?

Posted by: Delftsman3 at 04:45 AM | Comments (2) | Add Comment
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Morris and his wife Esther went to the state fair every year, and every year
Morris would say, "Esther, I'd like to ride in that helicopter."

Esther always replied, "I know Morris, but that helicopter ride is $50, and
$50 is $50."

One year Esther and Morris went to the fair, and Morris said, "Esther, I'm
85 years old. If I don't ride that helicopter, I might never get another
chance."

Esther replied, "Morris that helicopter ride is $50, and $50 is $50."

The pilot overheard the couple and said, "Folks, I'll make you a deal. I'll
take the both of you for a ride. If you can stay quiet for the entire ride
and not say a word I won't charge you! But if you say one word, it's $50."

Morris and Esther agreed and up they went. The pilot did all kinds of fancy
maneuvers, but not a word was heard. He did his daredevil tricks over and
over again, but still not a word.

When they landed, the pilot turned to Morris and said, "By golly, I did
everything I could to get you to yell out, but you didn't. I'm impressed!"

Morris replied, "Well, I was going to say something when Esther fell out,
but $50 is $50."

Posted by: Delftsman3 at 04:33 AM | No Comments | Add Comment
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'Nuff Said

(Hat tip to Jack)

Posted by: Delftsman3 at 04:16 AM | Comments (1) | Add Comment
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AT LAST! DSL has been restored to the Citadel. I hope that regular (and BETTER) posting can now resume.

ER...anyone have a good cure for writers block?!?

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