Afghanistan

RAF Chinook Pilot Shot But Still Flies Helicopter Home

Published by Papa Giorgio

Watch as the British pilot (Flight Lieutenant Ian Fortune) of this Chinook takes multiple hits, including a glancing shot to his own head, on a troop extraction run in Afghanistan. This is the definition of a hero.

The Chinook took multiple hits severing a hydraulic line, raking the fuselage and windshield with rounds.

Watch as the pilot takes a glancing ricochet to his left temple and manages to keep his wits about him, saying “Ok chaps, just to let you know I took a round through my front windscreen which came up and hit me on the head.” Even the Sun reporter does well to keep his composure during the report, as he himself is faced with the very real possibility of a crash and death.

It is interesting to see, (*and emotional as well*), all this catch up with the reporter when they land. These troops deal with these ups-and-downs all day.

Surges

Published by Papa Giorgio

Good news about the Afghan surge from the Washington Times:

The U.S. military is starting to see signs that the troop surge in Afghanistan is working on a timetable similar to the Iraq reinforcement campaign in 2007, according to an outside adviser and military sources.

“There are already some early signs of a beginning of a momentum shift in our favor,” retired Army Gen. Jack Keane told The Washington Times.

Gen. Keane just returned from a two-week tour of the battlefield, where the focus is on ousting the Taliban from Kandahar, its birthplace, as well as from Helmand province and other southern and eastern areas.

Gen. Keane reported his findings to Army Gen. David H. Petraeus, the top U.S. and NATO commander in Kabul, who saw the surge of 30,000 troops completed in August, placing about 100,000 American service members in country.

An architect of the Bush administration’s surge of troops in Iraq, Gen. Keane advised Gen. Petraeus when he was the top commander there.

Gen. Keane told The Times he has witnessed in Afghanistan the same shift in fortunes: Taliban fighters are changing sides, villages are being cleansed of the enemy and protected, and intercepted communications show flagging Taliban morale.

“Overall, we can see now that the surge forces are starting to make a difference,” he said. “And you have to be encouraged by some of the progress that’s being made. All that said, we’re in a tough fight, and I believe we will continue to gain momentum.”

…(read more)…

 

Video Shows Taliban Stoning Woman To Death In Pakistan (Warning: Graphic)

Published by Papa Giorgio

According to available info on this video, it was shot recently in Upper Orakzai in Northwest Pakistan by the Taliban.

I am sure feminist groups want us “imperialists” out of Afghanistan (as I exemplify in my post entitled “The Left/Islamo-Nazis/Homosexuality/Womens Rights/and Contradictions“).

CAUTION, GRAPHIC! There is an innocent human life lost here to Sharia law:

 

MSNBC Guest Doesn’t Know Why We Went to Afghanistan – Need I Say More?

Published by Papa Giorgio

NewsBusters points out how deep non-knowledge of some of the guests at MSNBC can run:

How clueless can a guy who lives in Manhattan possibly be?

Discussing the Afghanistan war on Morning Joe, Donny Deutsch claimed “people weren’t clear why we were there in the first place.”

Uh, Donny . . .

Fortunately, the ever-affable Willie Geist was there to diplomatically offer Deutsch a brief history lesson.

WILLIE GEIST: Well, it was clear in the first months after 9-11.

Remember, Donny? That little piece of the Manhattan skyline puzzle that’s missing? The Taliban regime in Afghanistan that harbored al Qaeda members who plotted it? Hello?

Here is the video: