MichiBlogger

THIS WAS ON YESTERDAY’S FRONT PAGE in the Grand Rapids Press:

The caption reads:

Different atmosphere: Members of the 4th Stryker Brigade at Fort Lewis, Wash., prepare to go to Iraq by training in the rainy, forested terrain of the Pacific Northwest.

A lot has been made of the fact that some units deploying to Iraq as part of the “surge” are not going to the National Training Center (NTC) at Fort Irwin, California. While some seem to be trying to present this as “the troops aren’t trained”, the fact is that the troops are getting their training. Just not at the NTC.

Army News Service has this: The Gearing Up: JRTC Trains 4th Bde., 2nd Inf. Div., for Accelerated Deployment:

The keystone of the effort was the Joint Readiness Training Center, the Army’s premier combat training facility for light infantry and special forces units.

“We provide training specifically geared toward BCTs (brigade combat teams) that are deploying to Iraq and Afghanistan,” said Lt. Col. Shawn Klawunder, chief of the JRTC Plans/Exercise Maneuver Control Group. “For the past two-plus years, all we’ve been providing is mission rehearsals for what they’re going to encounter in theater.

The overwhelming majority of the action troops are going to see in Iraq, particularly troops “surged” into Baghdad, will be in an urban environment. The forest terrain vs. desert terrain isn’t really an issue.

Also, it’s not like these are inexperienced units on their first deployment. Many of the troops, particularly the junior officers and the NCOs, have been to Iraq or Afghanistan at least once previously.

Take a look at the soldier on the ground in the picture. He’s probably simulating a casualty. (Or maybe looking for the insurgent air force?) On his right shoulder, under the US flag, is a patch. That’s a Shoulder Sleeve Insignia - Former War Time Service (SSI-FWTS), commonly referred to as a “combat patch”. That means that that soldier has seen combat, and as that appears to be a 172nd Brigade patch, it means he saw it with the Alaskan Stryker Brigade that spent a year and half in Iraq.

Honestly, I’m not sure that he’s going to suffer much because he’s training in forested terrain urban settings rather than desert terrain urban settings.

Incidentally, the 172nd Brigade no longer exists, having been reflagged the 1st Brigade, 25th Infantry. Those combat patches, though, can be worn by eligible soldiers forever.
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The front page, above the fold, of yesterday’s Grand Rapids Press:

In the article:

Cedar Springs resident Steve Larsen, 43, considers the debate both a waste of time and a disservice to the troops.

Larsen, a former member of the Howell-based 1462nd Transportation Co., returned in February 2005 after 10 months of convoy duty in Iraq. He earned a Purple Heart when he was hit by shrapnel in his leg and groin in July 2004. Larsen retired after more than 21 years with the Guard.

Larsen believes the politicians against the war should have the courage to vote on more than non-binding resolutions. If they oppose the war, they should vote to stop funding it.

“I think this nonbinding resolution is cowardly,” Larsen said. “This is sad. So many have put their lives on hold and put their lives on the line only to have certain politicians take advantage of it.

“I never hear anyone say, ‘Let’s win this thing.’”

Larsen, for one, calls criticism of the war more than irritating. He believes it makes it harder for soldiers to do their jobs.

“It does wear on you after a while. You are sending the right message to our enemy and the wrong message to our soldiers.”

Amen.

While I do absolutely believe that it’s possible to “support the troops but not the war”, I also believe that very few who claim to do so actually support the troops. They simply lack the personal courage to admit that they believe their political beliefs overcome support for anyone or anything that is at odds with how they think things should be.

Remember, 22% of Americans personally hope the strategy in Iraq fails. For it to fail, of course, a lot of US troops will need to die. Many more Iraqi troops, and even more Iraqi civilians, will also have to die. But 22% of America thinks it’s worth all those additional Americans and Iraqis dying if it means the failure of the plan.

But, as usual, don’t question their patriotism or their support for the troops.

On Les Jones: “H.R. 1022: To reauthorize the assault weapons ban, and for other purposes”

Much was made, of course, about how “gun friendly” so many of the new moderate Democrats are. Of course, the new moderate Democrats aren’t the ones running the party. For the most part, it’s the same old Democrats in charge. They’re calling the shots, and in most cases the newly-elected will vote along party lines.

No, I don’t think the AWB will be back this time around. But if the Dems pick up more seats in 2008 and especially if they get the White House you can bet it will be a big issue for them.

Most people probably realize this and see these early efforts as laying the groundwork for the big push in 2009-2010. (via Instapundit)

From my “Worst Case Scenario”-a-day calendar:

I think they use this one every February 14th. Hilarious.

WOULD THEY DARE? The Red Wings are apparently interested in acquiring Philadelphia Flyers forward Peter Forsberg, formerly of the Colorado Avalanche. Colorado is also rumored to be interested in getting him back, at least temporarily. Forsberg’s contract is up at the end of the season and would be an unrestricted free agent if not signed to an extension or a new deal. He has a no-trade clause in his existing contract, so he’d be able to reject any deal that would send him somewhere he didn’t want to go.

When healthy, which hasn’t been often lately, Forsberg is still probably one of the best players on the ice. But I’ve got to think a lot of Wings fans would have mixed feelings about adding a guy with such a long and storied history of beating Detroit in games that matter.

IT’S SNOWING AGAIN and it looks like today will be the warmest day of the week with more snow to come. December, of course, was warmer than normal. But by the time all is said and done we always seem to be pretty close to hitting the averages.

MORE POLITICS: Mitt Romney, whose father was governor of Michigan from 1963 to 1969, will apparently announce his presidential bid in the state next week. Mitt Romney was governor of Massachusetts 2003-2007 but didn’t run for re-election.

While governor of one of the most Liberal states in the Union, Romney was quite anti-gun. In fact, when the Federal assault weapons ban expired, he supported and signed into law a permanent such law in Massachusetts. Since putting out feelers for a Presidential run in 2008, however, he’s suddenly all pro-gun again. Call me skeptical. (via War Liberal)

UPDATE: The Michigan Daily has a more on Romney’s Facebook: Poking the next president

ARIZONA SENATOR JOHN MCCAIN HAS SET UP A MICHIGAN HEADQUARTERS IN GRAND RAPIDS. The exploratory committee is on Leonard Street.

McCain won the Michigan GOP primary in 2000.

UPDATE: I should note that Murdoc’s vote can be bought. The price is simple and non-negotiable:

1. Tell me you’ll enact the policies I think are most important
2. Convince me you’ll actually do it if elected

Simple, really.

SPAMMERS SEEM TO HAVE DISCOVERED MICHIBLOGGER. Unfortunately, I’m going to have to disable comments for the time being as the volume of submissions is taxing the system. Very few are getting through and onto the site, but the even the act of filtering them out is overwhelming my hosting resources. Sorry.

PRETTY COOL:

Click it for a better look.

From Chris Yates. You can order a print if you want.