Top U.S. commander braces for delay in leaving Iraq

US embassy in Iraq (world's largest embassy)

I've not been in the military so am only vaguely aware of 'chain of command', but didn't the commanders in Iraq, like all of them, get the message from their commander in chief to get the troops' asses out of Iraq in a timely manner beginning in August 2010? [ed- all troops by August 2011] Well, excluding the vestigial 35,000 to 50,000 troops to be left in place because ya can't have decent imperialism without a bit of occupation. And there still is all that God damn oil don't ya know.

Did Obama include a stipulation about withdrawing unless? After a half assed search of Obama's speeches (because I'm lazy) I found no mention of mitigating circumstances beyond McCain's saying the President would 'revisit' the decision based on what's happening on the ground.

This was not something the President specifically stated, but McCain's assertion. And thus far there is no evidence in the news Obama has done such a 'revisit.'

The top U.S. commander in Iraq said Monday that the planned withdrawal of all U.S. combat forces by the end of August [ed- of what year?] could be delayed if conditions worsen in the coming months as Iraqis choose a new government.

Army Gen. Ray Odierno said his staff had drawn up contingency plans for a delayed withdrawal that he has shared with Pentagon leaders and other U.S. officials during a visit to Washington over the past week. He said he was prepared to make the changes "if we run into problems" but added he was optimistic that would not be necessary.

Don't kid yourself. If I'm not mistaken its most likely the US will remain in Iraq indefinitely. The world's largest embassy and the huge military bases established there pretty much guarantee that.

...
Note: Headline links to source.

American Occupation at the Pump: Is $250 a Barrel Oil on Its Way?

Actually the sub-heading (next paragraph) should probably be asked as a rhetorical question. It appears pretty obvious bombs and other munitions are not the brightest fucking way to provide energy security. To some (neocons) it probably seemed like a good idea at the time, but they got it all wrong as usual.

It's time to ask whether the U.S. military should have anything to do with American energy security.

If you thought things were bad, with a barrel of crude oil at $136 and the oil heartlands of our planet verging on chaos, don't be surprised, but you may still have something to look forward to. Alexei Miller, chairman of Russia's vast state-owned energy monopoly, Gazprom, just suggested that, within 18 months, that same barrel could be selling for a nifty $250. Put that in your tank and ... well, don't drive it. It will be far too valuable.

Think of Miller's sobering prediction as, at least in part, a result of the Bush administration's attempt to "secure" the Middle East and the oil-rich Caspian basin by force in two failing wars (and occupations). Now, imagine for a moment, what his price scenario might be if, as journalist Jim Lobe -- never one to leap from rumors to sensational conclusions -- recently suggested, forces in the Bush administration (and in Israel) in favor of launching an air campaign against Iran are gaining strength. Just the suggestion last week by Shaul Mofaz, an Israeli deputy prime minister, that an attack on Iran is "unavoidable" if that country doesn't halt its nuclear program -- "If Iran continues with its program for developing nuclear weapons, we will attack it. The sanctions are ineffective." -- helped send the price of crude oil soaring. Imagine what an actual air attack might do.

You know that old joke: military justice is to justice as military music is to music; well, someday, not so far into the future, a similar, though far grimmer joke, is likely to be made about Washington's attempts to secure the U.S. oil supply by military means.

Note: Headline links to source.

US marine jailed for abusing 14-year-old Japanese girl

A US military court in Japan today sentenced a US marine to four years in prison for sexually abusing a 14-year-old girl in a case that prompted renewed anger at the huge American military presence on the island of Okinawa.

Ah, but wait until the military starts deploying the people convicted of sexual offenses.

I've visited this subject before.

Note: Headline links to source.

Army doubled felony waivers for recruits

I've read where some are questioning how effective such recruits will be. That makes no sense to me. Just because someone has been in prison should make them no less competent nor capable of being trained. It just doesn't seem it should be cause for concern.

However, posting convicted sexual assault felons in foreign lands should be of great fucking concern. A few in the military periodically are accused of and/or convicted of rape already.

Ignoring the moral dilemma involved and the harm to those raped, how will the US explain a situation when a convicted sexual assault felon rapes someone in Japan for example? That is the real problem with such recruits.

The Army doubled the number of waivers it issued to allow convicted felons to enlist between 2006 and 2007, while felony waivers issued to Marine recruits increased by nearly 70 percent, according to newly released numbers from the Pentagon. The House Oversight Committee released the Department of Defense statistics Monday, and requested more explanation for the increase in criminals who have been allowed into the military's ranks. The Army issued 511 waivers in 2007, compared to 249 in 2006. The Marine Corps issued 350 waivers last year compared to 208 the year before. According to the new data, the Army and Marines have allowed recruits who have been convicted of assault with a dangerous weapn, burglary, drug abuse, sexual assault; in a few instances recruits were cleared to join after convinctions on terrorism or bomb-threat related charges.

Via Raw Story.

Pentagon awards $2.6 billion to build trucks

Mine Resistant Ambush Protected
(MRAP) military vehicle
I believe most people would agree the military needs the best equipment available while in Iraq and Afghanistan.

The Pentagon said on Tuesday it awarded more than $2.6 billion worth of contracts to BAE Systems Plc, Force Protection Inc and a Navistar International Corp unit to build another 3,126 mine-resistant vehicles for U.S. soldiers.

Here's a novel idea. Bring the troops home so they aren't driving over mines and you don't need any more fucking trucks. Divert the $2.6 billion to the gulf coast and help Americans rebuild.

SPIIDERWEB™ Rulz!

Via Yahoo! News.

Gates considers Army's expansion plan

File under: Are you out of your fucking mind?

Why would anyone join the military right now? You like Russian roulette?

Defense Secretary Robert Gates said Thursday he's inclined to approve an Army proposal to spend nearly $3 billion extra to accelerate the expansion of its active-duty force.

Army Secretary Pete Geren said speeding up the growth of the force, stretched thin by wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, would mean recruiting faster and increasing the number of soldiers who re-enlist.

"I'm probably going to recommend they go ahead and give it a try," Gates told reporters at a Pentagon news conference. Appearing with Gates was Gen. Peter Pace, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff who is retiring on Monday after 40 years in the Marine Corps.

The defense secretary cautioned that he would not accept any sped-up expansion of the Army that would lead the Army to lower its recruiting standards, including levels of education required.

Lower your standard to vegetables and you might have a chance at increasing recruitments. At least that's my opinion.

Via Yahoo! News.

Important news release from Pelosi

Link.

Is she crying "wolf"? Hardly. Check out this related story.

Bush has no sympathy, empathy nor concern about the troops. He's a small man who will sacrifice anyone to his hubris.

Jesus H Christ playing craps, but I hate that guy.

General Peter Pace says military can't respond to new threats

This is the "official" word. Why does Pace hate the US?

Strained by the demands of wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, there is a significant risk that the U.S. military won't be able to quickly and fully respond to yet another crisis, according to a new report to Congress.

The assessment, done by the nation's top military officer, Gen. Peter Pace, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, represents a worsening from a year ago, when that risk was rated as moderate.

In SPIIDERWEB™ speak.

Bush has fucked the military and they have no chance to subdue anyone.

(read more)

Planning seen in insurgents' attacks on U.S. helicopters

Duh! Why does everyone except hyper-cognitive progressive bloggers think the US is fighting complete idiots? Of course they plan and adjust to US tactics. As the saying goes, their mothers didn't raise no fools.

Documents captured from Iraqi insurgents indicate that some of the recent fatal attacks against U.S. helicopters are the result of a carefully planned strategy to focus on downing coalition aircraft, one that U.S. officials say has been carried out by mounting coordinated assaults with machine guns, rockets and surface-to- air missiles.

At this point I'm skeptical the US military is equally adept at adjusting.

(read more)

We're here to help you. We meaning li'l ol' me

As a service to SPIIDERWEB™ readers I offer the following.

Ever have something you want to say and don't know the right word? Try the reverse dictionary.

Need to convert something into something else? Go to the conversion site.

Wanna know what time it is in Istanbul? We got ya covered with the world clock.

Need help with English? We have help for ya at Writing English.

Maybe you're interested in military warnings. Got a few military warnings here.

Perhaps now's a good time for a diversion? Well, monkeybriefs qualifies.

Do you have something like a stereo or dvd player and lost the instruction manual? Not to worry. You can probably find one at this site.

And finally, for now.

The secret recipies you never thought you could duplicate. secret recipies revealed.