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Dear Gang, Greeting from, Afghanistan. First of all I want to say Happy Mother’s Day to all you gals out there in Cyberland!! I can say that this is going to be a long tour. We travel around our city in armored Military vehicles and it’s a bit nerve racking, as we have to attend meetings in different spots. Crazy stuff.

If you’re familiar with old school hip-hop, you might recognize the title as being somewhat similar to the lyrics from “Criminal Minded” by KRS-One of Boogie Down Productions back in 1987. You might remember his comments a few years ago … “we cheered when 9/11 happened” and also blamed conservatives for the World Trade Center attacks. I thought it would be the most appropriate title for today’s post. So please, read on.

Combat Camera Blog

I am certain that these Marines are violating some long standing NATO rule on not endlessly negotiating with these butt-monkeys before convening a meeting to decide when to give the Taliban their exact battle plan so that every one feels all "even" and stuff when they kick it off.

Policy Papers A Tax and Budget Assessment of Oklahoma January 28, 2008 Based on the theory of pro-growth tax policy, OCPA reviewed Oklahoma’s tax system. Our analysis indicates that, while overall Oklahoma’s tax system is good, there are several key areas for improvement, especially in comparison to neighboring Texas and Colorado. Read More > Courting Trouble: Why the Teacher Union's 'Adequacy' Argument Belongs in the Legislature March 23, 2007 Last year the Oklahoma Education Association and three Oklahoma school districts filed an "adequacy and equity" lawsuit against the State of Oklahoma which would require the state legislature to spend an additional $1 billion each year on the operation and maintenance of schools and an additional $3 billion for capital improvements. In a new report released today entit... Read More > 2006 Oklahoma Piglet Book October 19, 2006 OCPA and Citizens Against Government Waste today released the 2006 Oklahoma Piglet Book at a press conference featuring Sen. Tom Coburn. Read More >

Editor's note: Reporter Matt Sanchez, who has been embedding with military units throughout both Iraq and Afghanistan, is providing WND readers with a glimpse into the war on terror most Americans have never seen. Posted: March 07, 2008 9:30 pm Eastern © 2008 WorldNetDaily Matt Sanchez Editor's note: Reporter Matt Sanchez, who has been embedding with military units throughout both Iraq and Afghanistan, is providing WND readers with a glimpse into the war on terror most Americans have never seen. By Matt Sanchez BERKELEY – "The Marines are unwelcome here." These weren't the comments of a banana republic dictator or the rantings of a religious radical. These were the words of Tom Bates, the elected mayor of Berkeley. It's difficult to match up the animosity of the residents of Berkeley, Calif., USA, with the residents of Ramadi, Anbar, Iraq. I met Ramadis who were so happy to have the Marines among them that they literally hugged and kissed them on the streets. Children made high-five signs when they saw Marines of the 3rd battalion 7th Marines on patrol and residents insisted they come in to drink chai and eat goats the hosts were willing to kill in their honor. One resident grumbled the Marines of the 2nd battalion 5th Marines never stayed long enough after dinner. Iraqis are very hospitable and dinner can last several hours and long into the night. Marine "inside the wire." The year before no one could remove their Kevlar (helmet) outside the building. Of course, Ramadi was no cakewalk. In 2005, the Marines told of having to run during the entire patrol. A moving, erratic target made it harder for an eager sniper to pick off a Marine. That was a tough time for the 3rd battalion 7th Marines Kilo Company, as told by Cpl. Tar Po. Po was born in Burma. His family fled that Southeast Asian nation because of the political situation. Thanks to an aunt, the corporal's parents moved the family to California when he was just five years old. Po sailed through the school system until he hit a few bumps in his teenage years. "I was hanging out with the wrong crowd," said the corporal, in his early 20s. He participated in the JROTC to join the Navy, but decided to join the Marine Corps after meeting a gunnery sergeant who impressed him. "He kept me out of big trouble," said Po, who later confessed that he wanted to join the Corps to "blow things up." His teenage years were turbulent and the corporal still regrets putting his parents through so much grief. He joined the Marine Corps on an "open contract" and eventually became a 0311, "a grunt", a rifleman. Like many young men and women recruited during a time of war, Po had no illusions. Most of the people I spoke to in Iraq and Afghanistan had joined after the start of hostilities. They signed up during a time of war.

Not too long ago, Blackfive readers, joined by thousands of readers from other blogs, sent over 30,000 emails of support to Marines in Iraq. The Marines had to shut down the email address because you all were causing bandwidth issues with the support we were sending. Now, as if the Taliban and Al Qaeda, bad weather, and lack of support here at home weren't bad enough, the New York Times has published a one-sided view of the paratroopers tour in Afghanistan. And so now we have cause to band together again and send massive support down range. Here's why: Even though spring hasn't officially arrived the snow line is beginning to move up the mountains in Kunar and surrounding provinces in Afghanistan. The Taliban have already begun attacking the KOP, Firebases and Observation Points where elements of the 173rd Airborne Brigade Combat Team from Bamberg and Schweinfurt, Germanicenza, Ily, are deployed. Almost 4,000 Soldiers from 2nd Battalion, 503rd Infantry (Airborne), 1st Battalion, 503rd Infantry (Airborne) and 1st Squadron, 91st Cavalry were deployed to Kunar and surrounding provinces in Afghanistan in May 2007 for a 15 month rotation. This region of eastern Afghanistan in the Hindu Kush mountains bordering Pakistan has been designated the most dangerous place on earth for military personnel. 75202 A Paratrooper from 2nd Platoon, Able Company, 2nd Battalion, 503rd Infantry Regiment (Airborne), navigates a steep incline during a patrol to Omar in Kunar province in Afghanistan Jan. 11. Date Taken: January 11th, 2008. Location: Kunar province, AF. Photographer: Sgt. Brandon Aird, Joint Combat Camera Center This winter has been particularly harsh. Many of the Soldiers are living in mud huts and tents with little or no heat, no running water, intermittent use of generators, supply drops via air to drop zones that require a hike of up to 40 minutes each way in order to retrieve the supplies, 30+ days out on missions at the firebases without showers or daily hot meals before rotating back to the KOP or Camp Blessing for hot showers, hot meals and the ability to communicate with their families and friends.

AL QA’IM, Iraq (Jan. 27, 2008) – Children flocked from every corner of the village when the Marines and sailors from Company I of Task Force 3rd Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, Regimental Combat Team 5, rolled into town. The kids are always curious as to what Coalition Forces are doing in their quaint village at the T-1 pumping station in Iraq, but this day was different. This day was for them. Marines began setting up at the village soccer field for a long-day of food and fun dedicated to the children. Nearly 300 children began to fill the bleachers, gossiping to one another as to what was in store. The field meet kicked off, and cheers and laughter soon echoed through the village. Both boys and girls would participate in events ranging from a soccer challenge to a potato sack race. “If you were a kid, wouldn’t you just want to have fun while growing up and not worry about stepping on a mine while walking to school or having your school shot up because insurgents are using the rooftop,” said Cpl. Evan Van Nosrand, a vehicle commander with Company I of Task Force 3rd Bn., 2nd Marines. “It’s something we take for granted while growing up back in the states; to actually enjoy growing up.” The aroma from the barbeques permeated through the cool air as the first event was announced over the loud speaker. Children, broken down into various age groups of boys and girls, raced to the starting line for the 100-meter dash. The immense crowd’s chanting and the possibility of winning a prize were all the children needed to spark friendly competition. “I’m going to win,” said an excited 8-year old Iraqi boy. “I want to win a prize for my baby sister.” The event couldn’t have been possible without the local support of the Iraqi Police and the Iraqi Army.

You've heard of the Texas Courts. Ladies and gentlemen, make way for the Texas Islamic Courts!!!The parties will ask the courts to refer the cases for arbitration to Texas Islamic court within "Seven Days" from the establishment of the Texas Islamic Court panel of Arbitrators. The assignment must include ALL cases, including those filed against or on behalf of other family members related to the parties. Each party will notify the other party, Texas Islamic Court, and their respective attorneys, in writing of the assignment of all the above Cause Numbers from the above appropriate District Court to Texas Islamic Court.In general, private arbitration agreements are enforceable by government courts. Shari'a arbitration agreements are one type of private arbitration agreement. Without a theory as to why shari'a arbitration agreements shouldn't be enforced by the courts, I'm not sure what else the appeals court could have done in this case. Still, this is not a welcome development.

For babies born at 23 weeks the survival rate increased from 44 per cent in 1991-95 to 46 per cent in the late 1990s. At 24 weeks, half the babies born between 1991 and 1995 lived. This rose to 81 per cent for those born in 1995-2000.

Her Majesty's Government is not alone in feeling it's not always helpful to link Islam and the, ah, various unpleasantnesses with suicide bombers and whatnot. Even in his cowboy Crusader heyday, President Bush liked to cool down the crowd with a lot of religion-of-peace stuff. But the British have now decided that kind of mealy-mouthed "respect" is no longer sufficient. So, henceforth, any terrorism perpetrated by persons of an Islamic persuasion will be designated "anti-Islamic activity." Britain's Home Secretary, Jacqui Smith, unveiled the new brand name in a speech a few days ago. "There is nothing Islamic about the wish to terrorize, nothing Islamic about plotting murder, pain and grief," she told her audience. "Indeed, if anything, these actions are anti-Islamic."

Although 12 amendments were originally proposed, the 10 that were ratified became the Bill of Rights in 1791. They defined citizens' rights in relation to the newly established government under the Constitution.Read more at the Charters of Freedom...

Sergei Tretyakov, who defected to the United States in 2000 as a double agent, says he oversaw an operation that helped Saddam's regime manipulate the price of Iraqi oil sold under the program — and allow Russia to skim profits.

If this is your first time visiting National Terror Alert you may want to subscribe to our RSS feed. The National terror Alert feed features breaking news, alerts and bulletins on demand and it's free of charge.. You will only see this message on your first visit to the site. Thanks for visiting!

The obligatory section where I confess all my sins. While it is not a sin, some consider it traitorous that I characterize myself as a conservative Democrat. This certainly makes life interesting in Philadelphia.

This is a group that confronts the UN about the bias against Israel and other important issues concerning our country

A few weeks ago, I created a profile on Myspace and posted some of my more controversial blogs there in order to gain more traffic and readership to this blog. While it’s not the most effective media channel for driving web traffic, I have had the pleasure of meeting some fellow conservative bloggers that have some really great (and hilarious) things to say. One such blogger was a 19 year old female who goes by the name of the Bulgarian Queen. Don’t be fooled by her Shakira background on her profile; she is quite the bulldog and will eat you liberals for breakfast. She posted a similar post to the following a few weeks ago which became my inspiration for writing this.

Welcome to The Sandbox, our command-wide milblog, featuring comments, anecdotes, and observations from service members currently deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan. This is GWOT-lit's forward position, offering those in-country a chance to share their experiences and reflections with the rest of us. The Sandbox's focus is not on policy and partisanship (go to our Blowback page for that), but on the unclassified details of deployment -- the everyday, the extraordinary, the wonderful, the messed-up, the absurd. The Sandbox is a clean, lightly-edited debriefing environment where all correspondence is read, and as much as possible is posted. And contributors may rest assured that all content, no matter how robust, is currently secured by the First Amendment. To submit a post, click here

History of the Middle East since the beginning of the 20th century: Ottoman Empire – European interference – French and British mandates – independence of Arab countries – creation of the State of Israel – wars in Lebanon and Iraq

Since the beginning of the war in Iraq, Democrats have cast veterans and active-duty military men and women as victims or villains. For John Kerry, veterans are the hapless pawns of the Bush administration, taken advantage of by the government. John Murtha haphazardly accuses Marines of being cold-blooded killers. Sunday, the front page of the New York Times featured a story that deceitfully suggests returning Iraq veterans are more likely than the general public to commit murder.