Alleged US spy crucified in Yemen

Big Sarge • Jan 16, 2013 6:32 am
It is terrible what people do to each other in the name of religion. Of course this has political reason too.

A sign above the man’s head showed the flag of the Al-Qaeda-linked group and text from verse 5:33 of the Koran: “The recompense of those who wage war against Allah and His Messenger and do mischief in the land is only that they shall be killed or crucified or their hands and their feet be cut off from opposite sides, or be exiled from the land. That is their disgrace in this world, and a great torment is theirs in the Hereafter.”

http://www.timesofisrael.com/alleged-us-spy-crucified-in-yemen/
Sundae • Jan 16, 2013 8:01 am
I'd have chosen "Exiled from the land", given the choice. I guess he wasn't allowed to choose.
Trilby • Jan 16, 2013 9:20 am
Yemen's next.
infinite monkey • Jan 16, 2013 9:28 am
I hope Chandler made it back.
piercehawkeye45 • Jan 16, 2013 9:50 am
Trilby;848331 wrote:
Yemen's next.

We already have drones there. It is expected to pick up due to the withdrawal from Afghanistan.
Rhianne • Jan 16, 2013 3:49 pm
The article is remarkably short of detail (and four-and-a-half months old), is there anything more elsewhere?
classicman • Jan 17, 2013 10:27 pm
http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=215_1347473693
footfootfoot • Jan 17, 2013 10:34 pm
yeah watched that. heat and corpses don't mix.
Griff • Jan 18, 2013 6:44 am
I'd like to beat the lines and come out against the next war now.
regular.joe • Jan 18, 2013 10:04 am
Over half of my career in the Army, I've been at the leading edge of our most recent wars. I've been to Iraq 3 times, Pakistan, Jordan, and am on my way to Afghanistan around August.

Speaking just for myself, I am in line right behind Griff, I hope they wait till I retire in 1 year and 347 days. I'm getting way to old for this shit.
tw • Jan 18, 2013 6:42 pm
Griff;848818 wrote:
I'd like to beat the lines and come out against the next war now.

I disagree. Why would one, who was so adamently vocal against Mission Accomplished long before it started, also disagree? Why am I not against war?

Because war is sometimes necessary. The problem is not war. The problem is top management and their brainwashed followers who see war as a solution to anything. Who forget fundamental requirements (defined 2000 years before Columbus) that are necessary for any war.

The problem is not war. The problem is too many low intelligent leaders and their ideologue followers who love big guns and the thrill. Who are therefore the greatest enemy of the American soldier.

Vietnam and Mission Accomplished are examples of so many leaders and citizens with contempt for the American soldier. Back in 1990, I was calling for an inevitable war (Desert Storm) long before many knew where Iraq was. Ironcially, the low intelligent people who said we could do nothing in Kuwait (ie Cheney, Rumsfeld) were (a decade later) calling for useless war against Saddam. Saddam was a threat to no one.

Desert Storm was absolutely necessary. Mission Accomplished had zero purpose. Afghanistan was necessary. And then George Jr surrendered to the Taliban making a second Afghanistan war necessary. So many deaths in that second Afghanistan war created by low intelligent leaders and people just as dumb as to no see the low intelligence.

Soundbytes have no purpose here. War must be justified by underlying reasons why. WWII and Desert Storm was essential. Vietnam and Mission Accomplished are perfect examples of what happens when extremist (low intelligent) leaders use their penis rather than their skull for thinking.

Respect for the American soldier means war justified only by fundamental and previously posted facts. A set of facts that start with the smoking gun. Respect for the American soldier means you (every reader) must understand when war has no purpose and when war is absolutely necessary. Only you, the citizen, decide whether soldiers are killed uselessly (ie Mission Accomplished). Or because it is necessary (WWII, Desert Storm). Only you, the citizen, decided to let George Jr massacre 5000 Americans because he and his administration was that dumb - also called extremist..

The stand should not be against war. The stand should be against low intelligent leaders and "Rush Limbaugh" type disciples who have a long history of contempt for the American soldier.
ZenGum • Jan 18, 2013 6:59 pm
Best wishes for you, Reg Joe, and many thanks for what you've done already.
Griff • Jan 18, 2013 7:09 pm
tw;848992 wrote:
Why am I not against war?


Because a man you trust is in control. We support war when we trust our leaders. While far superior to Bush or Romney the President has quite a laundry list of over-reach himself. Is the Patriot Act any less onerous? See any consequences to our drone war? Our trust is misplaced when it comes to war. The lure of our military power has become too strong for any leader. We have invested so much in being the greatest power ever that to not use the machinery seems like a waste of resources. The solution seems simple until the consequences of our actions become clearer. How is that Arab Spring looking? Not all sunshine and lollipops. Financially and morally, we cannot continue. We need to get our own house in order.
tw • Jan 18, 2013 8:36 pm
Griff;848997 wrote:
Because a man you trust is in control. We support war when we trust our leaders. While far superior to Bush or Romney the President has quite a laundry list of over-reach himself. Is the Patriot Act any less onerous?

Patriot Act was created by the same people who invented Freedom Fries. Whose Freedom Foundation is an extremist political organization masking as a think tank. Freedom Group mass produces assault weapons. Even tried to rename the World Trade Center as Freedom Tower for political spin. 'Freedom' even justified Mission Accomplished. Those who ask damning questions (and therefore are patriots) can appreciate how ideologues have even perverted the meaning of 'Freedom'. See the problem by using reasoning that only adults are capable of.

Patriot Act was openly advocated and encouraged by those who blindly believe what they are told - like a child. Who cannot see through lies, myths, advertising, spin, and propaganda by asking damning questions. Who even associated 'Freedom' with the Patriot act. Because the words *sound* so American. 'Sound' as in "I know it must be true because I feel it is true".

That problem is not solved by banning wars. That problem is solved by first identifying the problem. How many more America soldiers will die because so many Americans still listen to propaganda from Beck, Hannity, and Limbaugh? Benchmarks. Anyone who gets all his news from Fox News is that problem. Those sources use emotions - not facts - to manipulate those who remain a problem.

The problem is people who just know without doing what everyone was taught in junior high school science.

How anti-American are so many? This is where each reader should ask, "Does this make me angry or logically curious?" Do you plug your computer into a power strip protector? An example of brainwashing. That same thinking is why so many American soldiers were massacred by un-American (uneducated) citizens.

If that protector does protection, then hard facts say so. Numbers (provided with the product) say that product is a scam like Listerine, Pond's Age Defying Creams, energy drinks, and Geritol. Why do we massacre American soldiers? Because so many do not even see through scams routinely promoted in the market - such as miracle diet foods and pills. How many spend money on Airborne or miracle cold remedies? No wonder so many loved to massacre 5000 Americans in Mission Accomplished.

A solution starts by identifying the problem. And not by curing symptoms - such as banning future wars.

Defined previously were three hard facts necessary to justify a war. Benchmarks repeatedly posted the year before George Jr invented a lie called Missoin Accomplished. Three requirements necessary to justify a war can be learned from mistakes that were so obvious in 2003. Because soldiers never decide to march off to their death. Everyone reading this makes that decision.

Defined is a requirement for being a Patriotic American. He must be educated and informed. Otherwise he is as anti-American as Hannity, Beck, Limbaugh, Murdoch, and Fox News. All people who gleefully advocated the massacre of 5000 American soldiers. Perfect examples of why the problem exists.

Yes, we need to get our house in order. That includes what everyone should expect. Maybe as much as a 50% reduction in our military. Because the cuts we must make in the future are due to the bills incurred in 2003 Iraq and 2008 Afghantistan. The massive harm to our military made necessary because so many (even here) so hated the American military as to approve of Mission Accomplished. We should all be learning from that mistake and the wacko extremist George Jr adminstration that did that damage (including to the economy).

But we do so also acknowledging how that will harm us and the world in the long term. There are consequences to every action. Unfortunately, only adults who think like adults understand what future consequences will be.
Griff • Jan 18, 2013 11:11 pm
tw;849003 wrote:
Patriot Act was created by the same people who invented Freedom Fries.


...and it continues to be the law of the land because disavowing accumulated power is not within our President's capacity.
tw • Jan 19, 2013 12:14 am
Griff;849005 wrote:
...and it continues to be the law of the land because disavowing accumulated power is not within our President's capacity.

You remain the few who complain. Your gripe is admirable. But appreciate how many are so brainwashed as to wait for Limbaugh, et al to tell them how to think. Extremists do not want our privacy rights restored. I believe Scalia even doubted the constitution grants any right of privacy. Few to none in the Cellar or America complain about the Patriot Act.

Why would Obama start another fight (over privacy rights) when we know exactly what the Republican agenda is. A meeting was organized by Luntz the night of Obama's first inauguration. Attended by every major Republican power broker of that time including Ryan, Cantor, DeMint, Kyl, Coburn, and McCarthy. Their decision four years ago was to obstruct everything. Even a large minority of Obama's appointments were held up by secret holds. Even forcing Nobel laurets to withdraw their names. During the Healthcare debate, they even got the public to openly express racial slurs. Because these Republicans are very good at rallying into tirades many adults who are still children.

Why should Obama rescind the Patriot Act? It would only become another excuse to provoke a beehive of tea party wackos? Obama must pick his battles with a House that was elected on principles defined by Limbaugh. "We want America to fail so that Obama will fail". You can read that brainwashing even in some Cellar contributors.

No reason to rescind the Patriot Act when so few to almost none are as concerned. Why would Obama pick another fight with a tea party (anti-American) dominated Congress? That makes no sense. He has more pressing issues.

You are right to be concerned with the Patriot Act. Your complaint results in so little encouragement even in the Cellar.

Try, for example, to get Adak to campaign hard for the elimination of the Patriot Act. A true conservative should want that. Convince him and you have some reason to believe Obama should risk political capital. Currently, many other more pressing issues need attention. Conservatives who should most be concerned with privacy do not want the Patriot Act rescinded. It is their proud creation.

Be it Mission Accomplished, tax cut to the wealthy to create recessions, protecting major communications companies (Comcast, Verizon) at the expense of America’s internet and public interest, destruction of science, basic research and innovation, and even attacking American allies as socialist liberals. Let's be quite clear about this. These wackos all but subverted American efforts to get bin Laden. Because keeping the bogeyman alive was good for their politics.

Obama can only do so much. Too many others problems need more attention. Too few in the public care about the Patriot Act. How many besided you have expressed that quite obvious concern?
classicman • Jan 19, 2013 1:17 am
There are plenty of us.
sexobon • Jan 19, 2013 1:32 am
tw;849007 wrote:
... Why should Obama rescind the Patriot Act? It would only become another excuse to provoke a beehive of tea party wackos? Obama must pick his battles...

... No reason to rescind the Patriot Act when so few to almost none are as concerned. Why would Obama pick another fight with a tea party (anti-American) dominated Congress? That makes no sense. He has more pressing issues. ...

... Obama can only do so much. Too many others problems need more attention. Too few in the public care about the Patriot Act. ...

[IMHO] Barack Obama, like other Presidents before him, is enough of a politician that he wouldn't diminish the power of the Presidency by relinquishing authority the position has already acquired. Advancing other rationales, no matter how many times you repeat them, is playing second fiddle. [/IMHO]
Big Sarge • Jan 19, 2013 2:39 am
regular.joe;848856 wrote:
Over half of my career in the Army, I've been at the leading edge of our most recent wars. I've been to Iraq 3 times, Pakistan, Jordan, and am on my way to Afghanistan around August.

Speaking just for myself, I am in line right behind Griff, I hope they wait till I retire in 1 year and 347 days. I'm getting way to old for this shit.


How many years do you have in? I'll hit 26 years in Sep with 10 of it on Active. It's a struggle for me to hang in with these young kids. Now that the conflicts are downsizing, they are pushing more & more of us out the door
sexobon • Jan 19, 2013 3:11 am
RIF - I would have stayed longer; but, peace broke out.
regular.joe • Jan 19, 2013 1:26 pm
Bout 22 years all active duty. Looks right now like I'll have bout 24-25 in when I retire.
Big Sarge • Jan 19, 2013 7:21 pm
E8 or E9 with 25 years for retirement? Damn. You are going to really be banking some serious money. Then you can become a military contractor....
regular.joe • Jan 20, 2013 12:49 am
Nope, I'm done and moving on to something completely different. I don't think I can be an implementer of our nations foreign policy in any way, shape, or form anymore. I'll do a good job between now and then, follow the orders of those appointed over me, uphold the traditions of the Army. They got me for as long as I promised to stay, then they can go fuck themselves. Contractor? It would take an act of God.
sexobon • Jan 20, 2013 1:30 am
I made that decision at 12 years TIS. It would have been a couple years sooner if I could have terminated my final 4 year reenlistment contract early. I made SFC at 7 years (TIS) and it wasn't until I was an E-7 over 5 (TIG) that I was first eligible for promotion to E-8 in the primary zone. The wait was just too long for this overachiever who was already filling an E-8 slot and there were too many years left to go until retirement. I decided not to extend to see if I'd get picked up and opted to ETS. Considering what has transpired with the use of our military since then, I haven't regretted it.

I hope you complete your current obligation and retire before unit consolidations, disbandment's and deactivations become widespread. They're no fun. With only 2-3 years left to go; however, the time line is looking good for you. Is there anything you need for your next deployment that they're not providing for you?
Big Sarge • Jan 20, 2013 6:06 am
sexobon - you were a 12 series, correct?
I'm a 35F under the revamped codes
joe - are you civil affairs?
regular.joe • Jan 20, 2013 11:23 am
Naw, I think Sexobon was a Long Tabber, he may have started out as an Engineer though. My memory is sketchy though. TBI is a bitch. :) AND I'm sure he can speak for himself. Yep, I'm a Civil Affairs Bubba. Most of my Army life I was a 12B. Been in CA since 2008. I don't think we are going to be hit by the downsizing. We are one of the very few jobs that are growing. Just activated a new Brigade, granted we are only 29-32 mugs in a Company. Still 55 were looked at on the last E-8 board and 30 were selected. We still have a few years of growth left in the Branch. Some one is going to have to get on the ground in the wild west parts of the world where the security is too sketchy for the State Dept. guys to go. Bridge that gap so to speak.

Intel Analyst is a good job, you should be able to translate that to the civilian sector in a lot of ways. I know you are also in LE, but heck you ain't no spring chicken and must be near being able to retire their as well yea?
sexobon • Jan 20, 2013 4:29 pm
Big Sarge;849217 wrote:
sexobon - you were a 12 series, correct? ...

18D (med) cross-trained as 18F (O&I). ASIs: H (instructor), W8 (military free fall a.k.a. HALO), and L (French). Other nice to have had courses: static line Jumpmaster, installation NBC Officer/NCO, and Desert Survival.
Big Sarge • Jan 20, 2013 6:33 pm
I can say F--- It and go home anytime I want since I received my 20 year letter. I can't draw retirement till age 57 (age 60 minus days in combat zone). I struggle to stay in because this is the only thing I have left. I love the comradery and the kidding about me what I did in the Spanish - American War. Our promotion system is under STPA that is filled against a specific vacant slot in your state. If I can pick up a Centcom or Africom tour, I'll have my E8. Our retirement system is based upon your highest pay grade and the total number of points accumulated. You get a point for each day Title 10 or per MUTA on Title 32.

If I can get my E8, I could stay on till age 65 with waivers because I will move to Joint Force HDQS
BigV • Jan 22, 2013 1:32 pm
regular.joe;848856 wrote:
Over half of my career in the Army, I've been at the leading edge of our most recent wars. I've been to Iraq 3 times, Pakistan, Jordan, and am on my way to Afghanistan around August.

Speaking just for myself, I am in line right behind Griff, I hope they wait till I retire in 1 year and 347 days. I'm getting way to old for this shit.


noted.