Eagle Speak seems to have moved about when some of us (or maybe just me) weren’t looking.

Update your blogrolls…or…if there’s no need to update, then add his blog to your blogroll!

Great Navy, naval history, pirates and stuff over his way, if you haven’t found him yet.

Open trackbacks…if you’d like

“Sea Stories?” Well, I’m deluged with two research issues, one for “us” later this month (which, is shaping up to have some real substance to it, thanks to the networking capability of the Web), and one for work , to get to know my product throughly.

However, there is a daily set of posts, giving real life to life at sea right now, where the XO of the USS RUSSELL (DDG-59) has a few crew members who are blogging the “stuff” of life at sea, as they head west across the vast reaches of the Pacific Ocean for a forward deployment. Jump over there and then make sure to “favorite” or bookmark the blog for Destroyermen. Become a “charter reader,” so you will be able to say one day that you have been reading “Destroyermen” since Noah was a deck seaman. Well, no, better yet, so you will see what our men and women at sea do on a daily basis in the defense of the Nation.

What caused the RMS Titanic to sink so quickly?

The gCaptain Blog found something veeerrrryyyy interesting.

Note to those who think they know the “facts” of history today would be well served to know that they can’t possibly know all there is to know on the day things happened…

So, you curious mariners, engineers, and just plain curious people…go read how some archives led us to answering the question!

ships belong at sea.

One of “our own” (a MilBlogger that is: LCDR Chris van Avery), heads out on an underway period as Executive Officer aboard USS RUSSELL (DDG-59). The Ship’s blog will provide some just about real time details of life at sea. Favorite/bookmark Destroymen now and check the posts often.

So far, there are three authors identified for the blog, Chris, ET3 Kirkland and ENS Scheimer. That provides a cross section of the crew, but missing is representation by the backbone of the Navy, a member of the Goat’s Locker. I bet there will be great sroties for all coming our way.

Beginning a new adventure tomorrow AM. Not sure how much posting will get done for at least a few days, while I get the “sea legs” in the new environs.

But…for those who read this: If you’re not registered at Little Green Footballs, I’d recommend you get over there and do so (Charles opens and closes the function to sign up periodically). Why? The “Spin Off Link” function that has shown up in the last few weeks. To any post, registered users can add a spin off link to the list. Doesn’t have to relate, but it can.

The “value added?” When you see a great MilBlog or troop support story, or the real gouge from the front on a website, you can slap it up there for the world to peruse. I try to grab some “best of” from my rounds and get them billing there. LGF is way past Capt Lex’s million hits, to the exposure is most excellent.  Come on, lets push the great stories out there!

More later. If the “regularly scheduled” posts are missing, come back later. Work hours will be late AM to mid evening…

Bonus tip: Drew Carey has his own libertarian leaning web site. Check out his “Living Large” videos, where they go out to find the shrinking “middle class” the news keeps reading the obits for.

It seems there way too much going on at a much higher level, as we, collectively, suffer from the early onset of Presidential politics.Thanks to the new feature that Charles installed at Little Green Footballs called the “Link Viewer,” I have been collecting links to, hopefully, sort in a logic order and then make some points.Personally, I used to see the “news” a day or two ahead of the MSM at LGF. Kinda fun, actually, seeing the MSM getting scooped by thousands of “intelligence collection agents” (all working for free, mind you). Now, with the volume of links there, I find some very interesting reading, yet it seems even the LGF “cycle” is not as speedy as I once thought. On the other hand, the pages are crowded with great tidbits, and larger stories from all points of the globe.

My collection effort began with a section: “The Coming Tsunami.” Relates to the sweeping tide of Islamist culture, driven hard into use using explosive techniques. I have subfolders for “Head in the sand” and “Destroy the ability to fight.” The latter mentioned is getting lots of interest, as those who we pay to represent us are on holiday, leaving their in baskets full of the people’s business, and it’s not because they are overworked, but more invested in making politic points for their own gain..all the while, spending my and your money. I have also included a “Push back” folder, which, thankfully, is showing some activity.

When will it all come together? Not sure. But, like others who have been involved in having to look at piles of hard copy inputs, then make a reasonable assessment of it all, while being paid, I’m finding it is still something I’m drawn to do.

Now, for my friends in Congress, who would allow trial lawyers to earn more multi millions, if not billions, while exposing the very foundations of our economy and therefore society to destruction while out shaking hands and kissing the very babies they care not if they are killed at the mall, here is my completely unconflicted message to you:

Bonus found via the referenced Link Viewer): “The Liberal Mind” by Dr. Lyle H. Rossiter, Jr. He says they are just like angry little children. Gee, who woulda thunk it?

Quack! Quack! Quack!

On one hand, good news: CDR Hesham Islam, USN (Ret) will leave the Government Civil Service after all the scrutiny brought in his direction after talking Gordon England into consorting with Islamic groups with tags as “unindigted co-conspirators” in Federal trials, and getting the contract for a know expert on radical Islamic elements, MAJ Stephen Coughlin, USAR, dropped as a “Christian zealot with a pen.”

Now, consider the issue at hand. CDR Islam grew up in Egypt, came to the US, became a naturalized citizen, rose to the paygrade of O-5 in the Navy, then retired and became a trusted advisor to a top level DoD office.

In reading the linked article, it seems Hesham England’s resume didn’t “add up.” I take that as parts of it were false. Bad idea for applying for any job, but in this case, it also seemed that he left out some “contacts” he had made, with some who are cozy with our enemies.

[…]
But as a result of the ensuing firestorm that played out in the conservative press – led by Washington Times Pentagon reporter Bill Gertz – Islam was put under a microscope, and questions were raised regarding his background.

For example, Claudia Rosett of the Foundation for Defense of Democracies wrote a column challenging key claims in Islam’s official biography. Within days, a Defense Department profile of Islam was removed from the department’s website.

A Pentagon spokesman said it was “taken down in an attempt to reduce the rhetoric and the emotion surrounding this issue while we try to determine the facts.”

A senior U.S. official says the life story Islam presented now appears sketchy.

“His resume didn’t add up, and he knows it,” the official said. “He’s voluntarily leaving the government in March.”
[…]

But: The scary part:

[…]
At the same time, a report by terror expert Steven Emerson revealed that Islam, as special assistant to the deputy secretary of defense, has scheduled at least two meetings in the Pentagon with Syrian-tied radicals – including a leading member of the Syrian Muslim Brotherhood – in direct violation of U.S. policy.

As WND previously reported, FBI officials believe Islam is involved with the U.S. branch of the Muslim Brotherhood and is helping its front groups run “influence operations” against the U.S. government.

“He’s a Muslim brother,” an FBI official told WND. “He’s a bad actor, and he’s made other unreported nefarious contacts.”

Islam has worked closely in the Pentagon with Muslim chaplain Abuhena M. Saifulislam, who as WND also previously reported, received his training at a radical Islamic school in Northern Virginia that was raided by federal authorities after 9/11.
[…]

There you have it. Sad, but it fits the stereotype of one who came to this country and showed the patience to work his way into positions of access and authority, and along the way would be given an exceptional education in the operations at sea of the most advanced navy in the world. Trust me, as ship driver, you have to learn a lot of things, not just how to get around the oceans safely. I’d love to see his list of duty assignments, which wold alow me to futher analyze what CDR Islam was taught and trained for.

Then it gets more interesting: His son is currently a serving Navy Officer aboard ships, with a TS/SCI clearance. Long hand: “Tops Secret/Special Compartmented Information.” TS is one thing and seriously high enough. SCI is very specific information, but confined to functional “need to know” special topic areas.

The rest of the story:

[…]
The Pentagon had no comment. And Islam, who has not been accused of any crimes, has refused interviews.

Emerson says Islam prescribed a steady diet of Muslim Brotherhood-connected outreach for his unwitting boss, deputy Defense Secretary Gordon England….
[…]

Whispering in the ear of some of our highest DoD officials “there’s nothing to fear here…just move along.” Great.

The comments by the Congressional rep who had the cojones to stand up and ask hard questions: Rep Sue Myrick (R-NC) says this:

[…]
Rep. Sue Myrick, R-N.C., who co-chairs the House Anti-Terrorism Caucus, has been fighting to keep Coughlin in the Pentagon, where she says his blunt analysis of the Islamic enemy is sorely needed….

“I know that some people will refuse to admit there is a subversive movement going on here, but let me remind you that we have underestimated the will and capability of our enemy for more than 30 years,” she added. “They are patient and determined to achieve their radical agenda.”

It looks like, before the fact, that a mole has been uncovered. Not reporting contacts with know groups sworn to our defeat. Directly violating State Dept regulations on meetings with specific countries. Your “resume” of where you grew up and what happened “don’t add up.” Oh, yeah, and what about his Islamic brothers-in-arms now in the service, who come from a background of anti-American training?

So he resigns from his civil service position. Where does he go next? That’s the really bad news. Between damage control training, ship engineering training, weapons systems training, small boat defense, internal security teams set up and operations, and detailed knowledge of command and control systems and their inner workings. I’m sure there’s a big paycheck out there waiting for him and it’s not with a US contractor. Armed with this type of insight, those not praying for the success and well being of our sailors, would have the increased opportunity to go for the weak points.

I guess, as one commenter likes to indicate, that we have no problems internally. This must have just have been an aberration and there’s nothing to it. I hope the FBI is burning the midnight oil to vett his entire background and all his recent activities. On the other hand, they missed the 9/11 hijackers, too, when they even had one in their hands.

There is a bright light here: Another victory for the power of the blogosphere to move important data to the right places and get the right people into action.

Update 2/12/2008: Just know, this type of tactic isn’t most likely anything new…

Update 2/13/2008: Claudia Rosett of NRO has ferreted out some interesting info by fact checking Hesham’s own story… Big details don’t hold up to even a moderate level of scrutiny, and then it turns out he married a pen pal from the US, sight unseen. It gets more interesting with each scraping of the top coat.

Pennsylvania is on fire. Tom Burnett’s color advertisement in the Somerset Daily American, asking the people of Somerset to protest the crescent memorial to Flight 93, raised a great deal of awareness. At least four television stations covered the controversy, and there were two news stories in the Pittsburgh Tribune Review alone.

Those who went on to read Alec Rawls’ more detailed advertisement (exposing the fraudulent Park Service investigation of the giant Mecca-oriented crescent) are burning mad, and are taking up Tom Sr.’s call for state and Congressional investigations. Word is that two Pennsylvania state representatives, one Democrat and one Republican, are hot enough to co-sponsor a resolution initiating a state investigation.

That is a long way from actually getting an investigation. The hurdles are still huge, and it would sure be a big help if the high traffic conservative bloggers were pitching in. Charles Johnson and Michelle Malkin played a critical role in raising the initial alarm when the Crescent of Embrace design was unveiled in September 2005. Both also helped to expose the phony redesign, which leaves every particle of the original design completely intact.

But since 2006, nothing. For two years, as the revelations about the Memorial Project have become ever more explosive, the fire-hoses have ignored what will undoubtedly become one of the biggest scandals in American history.

This is a difficult story for our high traffic bloggers. With Flight 93 family members on both sides, no one can weigh in without checking the facts, and our high traffic bloggers are all stretched too thin to check the facts. Charles Johnson only has two eyes and two ears. No one can say he ought to do anything, when there is no way he ought to even be able to do a quarter of what he does.

Johnson’s lizard army, on the other hand, has thousands of eyes and thousands of ears. The question is whether this sensory system is connected to the lizard brain. Is there any trickle-up at LGF?

To try to establish this trickle-up connection, Charles recently installed a new link-rating system at the top of his main page. Let’s see if we can get it to work! Come on lizards. Time to rejoin the fight. Please take the links to the two advertisements that are now setting Pennsylvania on fire and see if you can rally your fellow lizards to push these links up into the collective consciousness of the lizard army.

Over the next two weeks, these ads will continue to be published in the free weeklies for the cities of Somerset and Johnstown. We are putting tinder to the first licks of flame, and maybe even have a couple of sticks in the fire, but we are still a long way from an established blaze, never mind the bonfire of awareness, and the firestorm of awareness, that it will take to stop Murdoch’s plot.

We need lizard help to stop architect Paul Murdoch from stabbing a terrorist memorial mosque into the heartland of America! (That’s what a Mecca-oriented crescent is: the central feature of a mosque.)

This is YOUR story lizards

It was five lizards who discovered, almost immediately after the Crescent of Embrace was unveiled, that the nearly one mile wide crescent points almost exactly to Mecca (kifaya, khamr, Edgren, bluemerle, and Etaoin).

Etaoin Shrdlu’s Mecca orientation graphic, posted by Ace of Spades September 11, 2005 (three days after the crescent design was unveiled).

Charles stayed with the fight until July 2006, when he rallied the lizards to participate in the Park Service’s open comment period.

Then he and Michelle and all the other high traffic bloggers disappeared.

No links when Tom Burnett Sr. publicly protested the memorial by refusing to allow Tom Jr.’s name to be inscribed on one of those 44 glass blocks on the flight path (matching the number of passengers, crew AND terrorists).No links when the crescent design was discovered to memorialize, not just the 4 hijackers of Flight 93, but also the full complement of 19 9/11 terrorists. (There are two sets of 19 nested crescents in the crescent design.)

No links when Tom Sr. and Alec Rawls protested the crescent and star flag configuration of the memorial on national television.

No links when an academic fraud told the Park Service not to worry about the similarity between the giant Mecca oriented crescent and the Mecca oriented mihrab around which every mosque is built because there has never been a mihrab anywhere near this BIG before.

No links when Congressman and presidential candidate Tom Tancredo called in November 2007 for the Park Service to scrap the crescent design entirely.

The usual difficulty for the blogosphere is to get the mainstream media to cover our discoveries. This has been inverted for the memorial story. Dozens of mainstream news stories have been written about the controversy, none of which were ever linked by any high traffic conservative bloggers. All the weight has been carried by a creditable collection of small and mid-traffic bloggers, starting with our three dozen blogburst participants.

The blogosphere has an Achilles heel. A controversial story that requires fact checking gets skipped over by our high traffic link-editors. Charles Johnson’s addition of a decentralized link-editing utility might be able to overcome this weakness, but it won’t happen automatically. For this tool to work, the lizard army has to step up and make it work.

To join our blogbursts, email Cao (caoilfhionn1 at gmail dot com) with your blog’s url.

Listen to this podcast

I found it at Obsideian Wings, where this man was one of the authors. I hadn’t read the blog before, but Andy had pre-positioned a post for this occasion.

He was killed in Iraq 1/3/2008. Yesterday.

Andy Olmsted, US Army, Blogger. Photo credit: Rocky Mountain News

“I am leaving this message for you because it appears I must leave sooner than I intended. I would have preferred to say this in person, but since I cannot, let me say it here.”
G’Kar, Babylon 5

“Only the dead have seen the end of war.”
Plato*

This is an entry I would have preferred not to have published, but there are limits to what we can control in life, and apparently I have passed one of those limits. And so, like G’Kar, I must say here what I would much prefer to say in person. I want to thank hilzoy for putting it up for me. It’s not easy asking anyone to do something for you in the event of your death, and it is a testament to her quality that she didn’t hesitate to accept the charge. As with many bloggers, I have a disgustingly large ego, and so I just couldn’t bear the thought of not being able to have the last word if the need arose. Perhaps I take that further than most, I don’t know. I hope so. It’s frightening to think there are many people as neurotic as I am in the world. In any case, since I won’t get another chance to say what I think, I wanted to take advantage of this opportunity. Such as it is.

“When some people die, it’s time to be sad. But when other people die, like really evil people, or the Irish, it’s time to celebrate.”
Jimmy Bender, “Greg the Bunny”

“And maybe now it’s your turn to die kicking some ass.”
Freedom Isn’t Free, Team America

What I don’t want this to be is a chance for me, or anyone else, to be maudlin. I’m dead. That sucks, at least for me and my family and friends. But all the tears in the world aren’t going to bring me back, so I would prefer that people remember the good things about me rather than mourning my loss. (If it turns out a specific number of tears will, in fact, bring me back to life, then by all means, break out the onions.) I had a pretty good life, as I noted above. Sure, all things being equal I would have preferred to have more time, but I have no business complaining with all the good fortune I’ve enjoyed in my life. So if you’re up for that, put on a little 80s music (preferably vintage 1980-1984), grab a Coke and have a drink with me. If you have it, throw ‘Freedom Isn’t Free’ from the Team America soundtrack in; if you can’t laugh at that song, I think you need to lighten up a little. I’m dead, but if you’re reading this, you’re not, so take a moment to enjoy that happy fact.
[…]

There is more…much more.

Thanks, Andrew, and to your family, also, for your sacrifice.

Matt from Black Five has an idea….Send Season’s Greetings from bloggers to the troops overseas.

Details here.

Get your best 30 seconds of video game on.

And…check this out: A simple way to say thanks.