http://www.strategypage.com/htmw/htintel/articles/20090629.aspx

Girls With Guns Get It
June 29, 2009: In both Iraq and Afghanistan, the U.S. Army and Marines found it useful to send a female soldier along on raids, as it was less disruptive to have a woman search the female civilians. There was no shortage of volunteers for this duty. The marines, as is their custom, saw more opportunities in this. Thus the marines began sending a team of women on such missions.

Now, by law, women are not allowed to participate in combat. But it's also understood that this only serves to keep women out of the combat arms (infantry, armor, artillery), but not out of combat itself. This was particularly true in Iraq, where non-combat troops were constantly attacked as they drove trucks in supply convoys. These convoys quickly acquired more weapons and combat training, and the women remained. The MPs (Military Police) are not considered a combat arm, even though MPs are trained as light infantry, and expected to serve close to the fighting. MPs were in charge of convoy security, and often a female NCO or officer was in charge. Women had no problem with this, and some female MPs won awards for valor under fire.

The marines have a different attitude towards this. As they put it, "every marine a rifleman." In practice, this means that the majority of marines, who have combat support jobs, continue to get infantry training. So the marines in Iraq called these all-female teams (3-5 women) Lionesses. Again, no shortage of volunteers, as female marines, even more than their sisters in the army, were eager to get into the fight. But that's not what the lioness teams were created for. What the marines had also noticed was that the female marines tended to get useful information out of the women they searched. Iraqi women were surprised, and often awed, when they encountered these female soldiers and marines. The awe often turned into cooperation. Most Iraqi women are much less enthusiastic about fighting the Americans than their men folk (who die in large numbers when they do so.) Being a widow is much harder in the Arab world than it is in the West.

The marines also noticed that the female troops were better at picking up useful information in general. This is something Western police forces noted, in the last few decades, as women were allowed to work in all areas of police work, including detectives and crime scene investigators. Iraqi men were also intimidated by female soldiers and marines. In the macho Arab world, an assertive female with an assault rifle is sort of a man's worst nightmare. So many otherwise reticent Iraqi men, opened up to the female troops, and provided information. Women also had an easier time detecting a lie (something husbands often learn the hard way.)

The lioness teams proved capable in combat, as sometimes these peacekeeping missions ran into firefights or ambushes. But the main advantage of having a team of women along was the greater amount of intelligence collected. In addition, the female marines also made it easier to establish friendly relationships in neighborhoods and villages. This provided a more long term source of information.

I have been reading about some of the insane things that the Dems have hidden in this incredibly convoluted and destructive piece of legislation.

What happened to The One's promise to let America review all legislation for a business week before it gets signed? Putting 300 pages of crap in at 3am is not an example of openness.

It is past time to hold the crooks accountable. It was bad enough under Bush and the horrible spending, this new tyrant is completely out of control. Impeach the entire government and only replace about a third of them. There are too many politicians and bureaucrats trying to control our lives. Make them get real jobs.

http://iowahawk.typepad.com/iowahawk/2009/07/virginamericans-vow-fight-against-capandtrades-blood-sacrifice-amendment.html

The 87,492 page bill -- official designated as the American Patriotic Renewal Act of 2009 for Carbon Reduction, Energy Independence, Heathy Climate, Sustainable Job Growth, Adorable Puppies, and Earthly Paradise -- is a keystone in President Obama's first year legislative agenda, and was originally anticipated to get swift congressional passage. Instead, it faced a unexpectedly tough vote in the House last week after coal state Democrats complained it would place an unfair economic burden on their home districts.

"I am as interested in reversing global climate change as anyone, but I fail to see how increasing taxes and random machete attacks on Ohio coal producers alone will solve the problem," said Marcy Kaptur (D-OH). "Come on people, there are plenty of other industries who deserve machete attacks too."

In order to secure the votes of wavering Democrats, House leaders Nancy Pelosi and Henry Waxman inserted several last minute amendments to the legislation, including provisions for national oxygen rationing, witch burnings, dousings, and phrenology research. But the one that has seemingly stoked a grassroots backlash is the controversial Sexually Inexperienced Citizen Environmental Volunteer Amendment. The wording of the amendment calls for all American virgins over the age of 21 to register with the Selective Sacrifice Board, for possible use as victims in nationally televised vivisections intended to "supplicate the Earth-Spirits."

I love Gov. Palin and after reading this article, it has nothing to do with the pictures!
The Gov is hot and smart. She is almost the perfect woman. Not as good as my wife, but still good.

http://www.runnersworld.com/photo/sarahpalin/slide7.html

"It doesn't matter your background, your demographics, your race, your political affiliation, it's such a uniting, healthy, fun, awesome activity. It cracks me up going to some running event and seeing some dude who campaigned so hard against me, or a lady who's been blogging some mean comments about me. But we're all there together and we're smiling and we're having a good time because we're going to do something healthy and active. We need more of that."

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/columnists/guest_contributors/article6605062.ece

As the post-election crisis in Iran enters its third week, one thing is clear: the oxymoron that was the Islamic Republic is already dead.

If the radical faction led by Ali Khamenei, the Supreme Leader, wins the power struggle, Iran will drop its "republican" pretensions to become an Islamic emirate or an imamate. But if the opposition wins, the theocratic aspect of the regime will end, allowing Iran to become a normal republic in which power belongs to the people.

For 30 years, Iran has suffered from a split personality: trying to remain faithful to the late Ayatollah Khomeini's ersatz version of Islam while pretending to have a people-based system of government.

The moment of truth for the death of the Islamic Republic came when Ayatollah Khamenei broke with tradition and declared Mahmoud Ahmadinejad the victor in the election even before the polls had closed. Over the past two weeks he has ignored demands for a rerun of the controversial election or even a complete recount of the votes, insisting that Mr Ahmadinejad is President not because the people elected him but because the Supreme Leader says so.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090630/ap_on_re_eu/eu_italy_train_derailed_22

VIAREGGIO, Italy - Elia Quiroz was about to go to bed in his home near the railroad station in this Tuscan seaside town when the train rumbled by. His kitchen table started shaking.

"Then I heard an explosion and I went outside," the 32-year-old Italian recalled. "I saw flames as high as 30, 40 meters, and I ran."

A gas-filled train derailed while traveling through a downtown neighborhood around midnight Monday, catching residents in their sleep, and setting off a massive explosion that killed at least 14 people and injured dozens of others, most with severe burns.

Death toll figures seesawed on Tuesday, but the Civil Protection eventually put the official count at 14 dead and three missing after the body of a woman was found in her crumbled home. Some 35 of the 50 injured had suffered severe burns.

As rescuers searched through the rubble for survivors, unions and consumer groups denounced what they said is the poor safety record and aging infrastructure of Italy's rail system and questioned sending highly explosive cargo through an inhabited area.

The 14-car train was traveling from the northern city of La Spezia to Pisa when part of the convoy derailed as it passed Viareggio's station.

A car filled with liquefied petroleum gas, or LPG, sprung a leak and all it took then was a spark to cause an explosion that collapsed five buildings and set fire to a vast area. Homes crumbled or burned, killing residents as they slept.

The Marines have always been excellent warriors and Americans have always been fast learners. General Erwin Rommel told his Furher that the Americans will lose their first battles, and then win constantly after that. It was true. At least it is if I remember the quote right.

All the great generals who have studied military history know that the Americans will be able to win a conventional war and most know that they can win an unconventional war. The only way to win against American military is to change the political parameters.

It worked in Korea and Vietnam, it is working in the War on Terrorism.

Until the politicians quit, the military will keep kicking butt. against all comers.

http://www.reuters.com/article/asiaCrisis/idUSSP463281

DESERT OF DEATH, Afghanistan, June 28 (Reuters) - After five years coping with the most dangerous province in Iraq, the U.S. Marines have been given their next assignment: the most dangerous province in Afghanistan.

But this time around, they say they will talk a little more and shoot a little less.

"We spent so much time in Iraq learning from our mistakes," said Corporal Mahmoud Awada, a 21-year-old Lebanese-American Marine from Utah, who spent the second half of 2007 and early 2008 in Anbar west of Baghdad.

"We learned that we can't just go around kicking down doors because that won't work. In Iraq, what really helped us win over there, make the situation better, was gaining the trust of the people, becoming friends with them."

The Marines that have arrived in recent weeks in Afghanistan's wild southern Helmand province are a different force from the Marines who blasted their way into Anbar.

Back then, the Marines were still learning the art of counter-insurgency warfare.

What a shock that The One's change means that a country that has helped the US fight against Saddam and the Taliban is now being insulted. Hope and change means that our allies hope they are not going to be changed to enemies while the enemies are changed to friends.

http://menewsline.com/article-3897-Obama-Endangers-Ties-With-Qatar.aspx

WASHINGTON [MENL] -- The administration of President Barack Obama was said to be endangering U.S. relations with Qatar.
A report by a U.S. analyst on the Arab world has warned that the
administration was reducing ties with Qatar and threatening the Gulf
Cooperation Council emirate. Webster Brooks, a senior fellow at the Center
for New Politics and Policy, asserted that the White House has been dismayed
by Qatar's support for Hamas and Iran.

http://www.wnd.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=102370

As WND reported, colmado_naranja's original listing claimed, "President Barack Hussein Obama II was born in The Coast Provincial Hospital at Mombasa in Kenya at 7:24 p.m. on August 4, 1961."

The seller, who according to the eBay rankings has completed dozens of transactions on the behemoth auction site without difficulties, further said this birth certificate is the real deal, obtained while he was traveling in Kenya.

"Kenyans were amused at how gullible Americans could be when it came to obvious things like the fact that Kenyans overtly admit to Barack Jr.'s Kenyan birth, yet the Americans continue to believe that they know better," colmado_naranja wrote. "I delved further and found that a birth certificate was on file at The Coast Provincial General Hospital at Mombasa."

I love the way that military medical care is being translated to help others in emergency care. New tech is always exciting to me and lifesaving tech is even cooler.

This could be really cool. Even better, Muslims and racists will refuse to use it because it was developed by Jews. What have the Muslims invented lately? Even the suicide bomber, which seems like an Islamist trademark, is really from Sri Lanka. Oh well.

http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1245184872965&pagename=JPost/JPArticle/ShowFull


An Israeli biotechnology company is working with the army to turn blood from newly enlisted soldiers into a freeze-dried powder - like coffee - and send it with them to the battlefield. If those soldiers are ever wounded, water could be added to produce their own blood instantly and create a lifesaving infusion.

Leading the research is Core Dynamics, a Ness Ziona firm active in the research and development of unique freezing, thawing and freeze-drying technologies for application in blood transfusion, cell preservation and tissue and organ transplantation.

OC Medical Corps Brig.-Gen. Dr. Nachman Ash announced the work at the IDF's medical training center in Tzrifin on Wednesday, in his first-ever briefing for health reporters.

If the idea proves itself, it could also have applications in civilian life.

Ash, an internal medicine specialist who entered his current post almost two years ago, also said that a Technion-Israel Institute of Technology professor developed for the IDF a compact, portable device with ceramic pipes that produces oxygen in the field for treating wounded soldiers, replacing heavy gas tanks that have to be carried around.

http://www.wnd.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=101983

Google Inc. spends quite a lot of time burnishing its self-created image as a "green" company - largely on the basis of the solar array at its corporate headquarters. It is also trying to build support for the administration's cap-and-trade "energy" bill by pretending that solar energy can substitute for hydrocarbon, nuclear and hydroelectric energy.

Google states that its multimillion-dollar solar array has generated sufficient electricity over the past two years to run 5,158 coffee makers for one hour each day. Google does not mention, however, that this solar array supplies insufficient electricity to run Google's search engine computers for even one minute per day and that the coffee makers, if supplied with solar panels to operate them, would cost approximately $1,500 each.

Google claims that its Mountain View, Calif., headquarters buildings are paved with 1.6 megawatts (Mw) of solar panels. This installation was completed in June 2007, about the same time as the Nellis Air Force Base 14 Mw, $100 million solar panel installation that "energy expert" Obama - who is now attempting to seize control of the energy industries of the United States - visited recently and advertised as an example of his administration's plans for America.

As of June 21, 2009, Google reports that it has generated 4,592,364 kilowatt (Kw) hours of electricity with this installation, or about 2.29 gigawatt (Gw) hours per year. Nellis reports 30.1 Gw hours per year. So, Nellis is producing 25 percent of its advertised quantity and Google is producing 16 percent. The apparent 75 percent and 84 percent losses arise because the sun does not shine 24 hours per day and because these installations are routinely overrated. In fact, the Google installation actually generates, on average, only 0.26 megawatts - not 1.6 megawatts (1 Gw = 1,000 Mw = 1,000,000 Kw).