Protesters’ Day of Joy – Iraqi Freedom Anniversary
Today marks the 5th Anniversary of Operation Iraqi Freedom, although we didn’t actually cross the border until 23:59. Naturally, the anti-war movement has got plenty of tricks up their sleeves. This year, they’re venturing into some shark infested waters – particularly in Pittsburgh.
At the Pittsburgh recruiting station the Pittsburgh Organizing Group (POG) (more like Pogues) will be holding a torch-lit march “to a modern day castle of abominations,” the local military recruiting station. The group intends to “…evict it and everything inside of it, occupy the location, and transform it into something useful for the community. We’ll also be bringing a movable cage in which to confine military recruiters until they no longer pose a danger to our friends and neighbors.” Essentially, the group is planning to kidnap Americans and coerce them with blackmail in order to be released. I hope they’ve been to SERE. If you’re in the Pittsburgh area, please show up to provide support. Bring whatever items you feel necessary to protect yourself.
These sorts of activities are planned in all 50 states, with protests ranging from sit-ins to open “acts of civil disobedience”. To my fellow Soldiers, please heed this advice today and the rest of the week:
1. Use the buddy system when opening and closing leased facilities. Remember, we’re better trained than they are. Use whatever force necessary to protect yourself, but do not exceed your needs.
2. Screen all mail parcels and packages from unknown locations/individuals.
3. At the beginning of the workday, ending of the workday, and prior to vehicle use, conduct a thorough vehicle inspection – especially if you work off post.
4. Soldiers, civilian employees, contractos, and family members need to stay alert, notice surroundings, and remain vigilent. These “peaceful” people are anything but.
5. Commanders at all levels should establish relationships with local police in order to understand the local threats. Most already have these relationships.
6. Keep your family members informed as to your whereabouts so they don’t get worried. We know what we’re capable of, but they still worry about our safety.
7. Talk to other service personnel and share information. Look out for each other. This goes back to #1 above.
8. Practice OPSEC!! Don’t provide personal information to anyone you don’t know. If you know how to do a good avoidance route on the way, use it. Be vigilent as to who, if anyone, is trying to follow you home. Be mindful of suspicious vehicles and people in your neighborhood that you don’t recognize (that doesn’t include your crazy neighbor!).
9. Avoid high risk areas if possible. Don’t go looking for trouble. Yes, that’s my advice and I rarely heed it. Sue me.
10. Keep your alert rosters updated and review emergency evacuation plans/rally points. Have a plan!
11. Make sure everyone knows and has an emergency phone list which includes contact information for the FBI, local police, fire, hospitals (for them, of course), EMS (also for them), etc.
12. Be aware of and avoid, if possible, local protests. Most local newspapers are more than willing to provide the anti-war movement with enough press to create a story for the evening news and next day’s edition.
13. Finally, report all potential protest activities to your next higher headquarters, especially if the protest looks as if it will get violent or government property and personnel are at risk.
Most of all, good luck to all of you on this day, especially our local police and FBI offices who will bear the brunt of today’s activities. If you get a chance, please take a moment to thank your local police department for all they do (or don’t do in Berkeley’s case) to keep us safe. Even Soldiers need heroes and you can find them in the fire departments, police departments and FBI offices across America.
Let’s take a look at the reality of what the anti-war movement is really protesting:
>– The U.S. Army has rehabilitated and constructed nearly 1,100 schools, providing classrooms for more than 324,000 students.
– By early 2009, Army projects will have completed 137 new primary healthcare centers that will serve a population of 5 to 6.5 million Iraqis.
– A strong emphasis is placed on training and education to better prepare the Iraqi people to manage and sustain their infrastructure.
– An estimated 4.1 million more Iraqis now have access to clean, drinkable water that they didn’t have before.
– Cities like Fallujah have their first sewage treatment plant. Before 2003, raw sewage in most of Iraq was discharged into rivers and waterways.
The nation-building programs are having a real impact on the lives of Iraqis by helping to jumpstart the country in several critical areas including education, healthcare, security, infrastructure, democracy programs and training.
Check out this downloadable video for an inside look at these efforts to strengthen and rebuild the country: http://www.dvidshub.net/vjump.php?vid=31056.
sue
March 19th, 2008 at 8:01 amHow sick that this type of post is necessary for our Military? What is wrong with people that makes this necessary??? It frightens me to think that our Military and their families need to live in fear because of the “peace loving ” anti war movement. There is something very very wrong with this picture. God Bless our Military and all those who serve.
concretebob
March 19th, 2008 at 8:20 amWell, like I said last week, call the Marshals, get the popcorn, grab a seat and enjoy the show. Cause these assclowns are about to get a lesson in democracy they’ll not soon forget. I hope they enjoy their new friends Bubba, Jerome and Jamaal.
FyrFghtrEMT
March 19th, 2008 at 9:47 amPeople have become so afraid that they have turned against those who have given them thier freedom. They have become so twisted that they forget what is truly important
JKC@NTC
March 19th, 2008 at 9:55 amWhy won’t these ASSCLOWNS (I liked that) leave this country and go live where they think they’d be better taken care of and happy? I know, I know…freedom of speech, freedom of religion, freedom to do whatever the F*@! they want to INCLUDE slamming the very people who continue to fight for these SH@!-Bags to be able to walk the streets as they do without getting arms chopped off for holding a protest sign, or their heads cut off for bad-mouthing their government. GET A CLUE PEOPLE! Maybe we should be harder on these pukes…new legislation that prohibits dumb-asses from being such in public. Can’t we call what they are doing stalking and/or harassing? Okay…I’m done! I’ll just stay inside today!
DougS
March 19th, 2008 at 5:41 pmAre all of you about ready to hole up in a shack in Montana? Jeebus. First you post a bunch of paranoid precautions against imaginary threats, then the others wail, why must the protestors force us to live like this? How can they abuse this freedom we so graciously give them? Talk about self-reinforcing paranoia.
To set you straight, no other force on Earth, not even insurgents in Iraq, are powerful enough to threaten our freedom. Only we can give up our freedom. If you want to thank the ones defending our Constitution, drop a line to the lawyers, judges, and legislators defending the Bill of Rights against warrantless wiretapping, “enhanced interrogation”, imprisonment without trial, and every other seizure of your rights taken in the name of national security and helped by your all-consuming fear.
CJ
March 19th, 2008 at 6:37 pmI’m sorry Doug, when was the last time you (or any other American) was subjected to “enhanced interrogation” that the lawyers are protecting you from?
CJ
March 19th, 2008 at 6:37 pmMy gosh, you’re a lost cause.
kat-missouri
March 19th, 2008 at 10:28 pmI had no idea that the only people we needed to recognize as defending our freedom were legislators, judges and lawyers.
Frankly, if I remember the admonishments of our founding fathers, it went something like beware of legislators, judges and lawyers who like to make law and twist the law in order to achieve the ends of their particular group. Further, that they set limited laws within the constitution in order avoid that possibility and limit the powers of these groups because they understood that the base state of man, without law, is totally free. Yet, some laws are required to establish the acceptable boundaries of society, but that laws, and those who seek to use them, are, by nature and intent, meant to restrict freedom.
I do not trust that singular power to anyone nor view their contribution as above the service of our citizens in the military. Literally, they defend our rights with their bodies. You’ll have to pardon me if I see that as a greater and more worthy contribution than scoundrels making, interpreting or practicing law.
JKC@NTC
March 20th, 2008 at 9:20 amWell CJ,
I’m exposed to enhanced interrogation on a daily basis…”WHY can’t I stay up past 9:00 on a school night?” Did Gammy let YOU stay up late when you were my age?” All the while these creatures are jumping on me, pulling me into every room in the house (except where there sleeping quarters are) and pushing me on the behind trying to lock me in the bathroom! Is that what Doug is talking about? Otherwise, I must not be exposed to it!~ What a joke…thank our lawyers, judges and legislators LOL! HMMM “WARANTLESS” wire-tapping? Okay! By the way Doug…by staying inside I was implying that the protestors would be safer that way…NOT ME! HA! Just FYI to all…we here at the NTC and surrounding areas were not subjected to any protesting! ….by the way, enjoyed the pod cast! It was nice hearing your voice again. Tell the family hello!
Respectfully Signed,
Not Paranoid, just ANNOYED!
DougS
March 20th, 2008 at 11:15 amSorry, I had the mistaken impression that foreigners in our custody are also human beings and as such, our laws and the Geneva Conventions apply to them as well.
Incidentally, two American citizens (including Jose Padilla) were imprisoned without charges or access to a lawyer for several years. Also, John Walker Lindh was initially denied treatment until he confessed. So yes, American citizens have also been abused.
Just to be clear, are you actually in favor of torture/enhanced interrogation? If so, why?
CJ Says:
March 19th, 2008 at 6:37 pm
I’m sorry Doug, when was the last time you (or any other American) was subjected to “enhanced interrogation” that the lawyers are protecting you from?
CJ
March 20th, 2008 at 12:05 pmI’m in favor of “enhanced interrogation”, but against torture. And I’m sorry, but John Walker Lindh was NOT an American – no matter where he was born!! He was captured on a battlefield actively engaged in combat against REAL Americans. However, I do agree with you that Jose Padilla’s rights were violated. See how easy it is to agree with someone of a different political persuasion when they are right? You should try it sometime.
DougS
March 20th, 2008 at 1:31 pmSure. I believe I’ve even agreed with you a number of times.
However, whether he’s shooting at you or not, John Walker Lindh, is, legally, an American citizen. Doesn’t mean you can’t shoot back at him. And are you the judge as to who’s a REAL American? Are you the judge as to that fuzzy line between “enhanced interrogation” and torture? Who is? The President? If he says something is not torture, does that make it so, regardless of the internationally accepted definition and US law?
I mean, seriously, if we’re going to make it OK to stuff a washcloth in someone’s mouth and force him to confess, let’s allow the police to go back to beating confessions out of a criminal. What’s stopping us? You know he’s guilty. And if he’s not, well, he seemed like a pretty good suspect. Happens all the time. Sorry about that 10 or 20 years out of his life.
CJ
March 21st, 2008 at 8:01 pm“And are you the judge as to who’s a REAL American?” Yeah, I am. Didn’t you get the memo?
“Are you the judge as to that fuzzy line between “enhanced interrogation” and torture?” No.
“Who is?” Congress. They make the laws.
“if we’re going to make it OK to stuff a washcloth in someone’s mouth and force him to confess, let’s allow the police to go back to beating confessions out of a criminal.” Apples and oranges. The police aren’t fighting an openly declared enemy.