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Today in History for Feb. 15th
Highlights of this day in history:
The U.S. battleship Maine explodes in Havana harbor, bringing America closer to war with Spain;
The Soviet Union's last troops leave Afghanistan;
Astronomer Galileo and suffragist Susan B. Anthony born.
Al-Qaeda Alive and Well
Gary looks at the continuing battle for control of Syria.
What role is Al-Qaeda playing in the overthrow of Bashar al-Assad?
Sen. Rand Paul on Freedom Watch with Judge Napolitano
And the truth shall set you free.
Iranian Boats Shadow US Aircraft Carrier in Gulf
Iranian patrol boats and aircraft shadowed a U.S. aircraft carrier strike group
as it transited the Strait of Hormuz on Tuesday.
Hate crime: Racist Black youths beat up White boy at school bus stop
Three cowardly Brevard County teenagers are accused of tormenting an autistic child at a school bus stop.
The incident happened on Friday in Palm Bay.
Saying 'I Love You' With a Sewage Plant Tour
Roses are red and violets are blue,
love stinks and so do you!
Iowa River Town to Welcome China's Next Leader
The last time China's soon-to-be leader visited Iowa,
he slept in a bedroom with green shag carpeting and Star Trek character cutouts on the walls.
He ate eggs with a spoon because his host forgot the chopsticks.
Robert Ray reports.
Bill O'Reilly on Whitney Houston & Drugs
This is your brain on drugs!
20 Reasons Why Obama is a Socialist
What is a commie?
see:
u-mite-b-a-commie-if
Thai Blast Wounds Iranian, More Israel Warnings
Blasts in Bangkok wounded an Iranian attacker and four others Tuesday, according to police.
The explosions came a day after an Israeli car was bombed in India,
leaving an Israeli minister to threaten to settle scores.
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Army Will Remain Superior Fighting Force, Officials Say By Army Sgt. 1st Class Tyrone C. Marshall Jr. WASHINGTON, Feb. 14, 2012 - Though its portion of President Barack Obama's fiscal 2013 defense budget request required tough decisions made necessary by looming spending reductions, the Army will remain a superior fighting force, senior Army officials said here yesterday. Click photo for screen-resolution image "This request really reflects the results of some very hard and difficult choices that we had," McGhee said. "But I will tell you now that the Army will remain the best-led, best-trained, best-equipped ground force in the world." The Army's budget director said the fiscal 2013 proposal supports the Army's role in the defense strategy, including: -- Training and equipping soldiers and units to address the current fight while maintaining a high level of readiness; -- Recruiting and sustaining a high-quality all-volunteer Army of soldiers, civilians and families; -- Supporting modernization priorities such as networks, tactical vehicles, and aviation and soldier systems; -- Funding ongoing military operations, sustainment and force protection for Operation Enduring Freedom; -- Resetting soldiers, their families, equipment and units; and -- Investing in enterprise initiatives such as energy efficiency, audit readiness and reducing the cost of doing business. The fiscal 2013 budget request also takes into account a portion of the reduction in the size of the active-duty Army that will take place over the next five years, McGhee said. He noted that while that reduction is defined in terms of numbers, the Army still needs to determine what that smaller Army should look like. "So both the Department of Defense and the Army leadership have directed the Army staff to go ahead and put a comprehensive review together and determine what is the right force structure for the Army," the general said. Bonessa outlined several major program cuts that she said reflect the tough decisions made necessary by spending cuts required over the next decade. Cutting the enhanced medium-altitude reconnaissance and surveillance aircraft will generate about $1.2 billion in savings, she said. Base-budget funding is cut for the Humvee recapitalization program, she added, but the Army will continue to support that program with overseas contingency funds. The medium tactical vehicle program will terminate in fiscal 2014 and will generate about $1.4 billion in cost avoidance or savings over the next five years, Bonessa said. Also over the next five years, she said, termination of the Mounted Soldier System and the Joint Precision Approach and Landing System will generate another $900 million in spending reductions. The budget request also reflects restructuring of a significant number of other programs, Bonessa said. "There are some accelerations out of about the hundred or so that we can count as having been restructured," she said, "but by far, the majority of them are programs that we're changing the requirements, changing the scope, or, in many cases, extending or spreading out the procurement over multiple years, a longer period of time, in order to generate savings." The program terminations and restructuring do pose a risk for the defense industrial base, Bonessa acknowledged. "We believe, at this point, that it's manageable," she said, "but those are business decisions that will rest with the private sector, and we won't be able to address any of them with certainty right now." Bonessa said the choices made for the budget proposal were tough but necessary and in the best interests of maintaining a superior fighting force. "As has been said ... the Army is the best-led, best-trained, and best-equipped ground force in the world," she said. "There is nothing that our leaders or this department would allow to happen or do to preclude that. So we're continuing to meet our commitments in Afghanistan and around the world. We're developing the Army for the future." McGhee emphasized that the fiscal 2013 budget request "sustains our commitments to care for our soldiers and our families." For example, he said, the request includes $1.7 billion for family programs to reinforce holistic fitness, mitigate stress and build resilience. "We're continuing to care for soldiers and families," Bonessa added. That is one of the most important commitments we could possibly have, commensurate with their sacrifice and service." |
National Voice Gazette
Today in religion Are you going to Hell? What is Hell like? Court Orders Removal Of Cross Memorials
Sometimes no decision is the worst decision of all. As you may have heard, the U.S. Supreme Court recently refused to intervene at a defining moment for religious freedom in America. The Court chose to leave six states completely defenseless in the face of an aggressive campaign by atheists to sterilize the public square of any expression of faith. For 13 years, Utah's fallen highway patrolmen have been honored with roadside crosses as a way to honor the troopers' sacrifice and comfort their families. American Atheists, Inc. took the state to court for allowing a private association to memorialize the officers with its own dollars. The Court's refusal to hear the case has severe implications. Every state in the 10th Circuit's jurisdiction -- and that includes Utah, Kansas, Colorado, Oklahoma, New Mexico, and Wyoming -- is officially on notice. None of their crosses on public property will be tolerated either. This decision could have future implications for Arlington National Cemetery and other landmarks across the country. Of course, the irony is that these roadside crosses are not only constitutional, but they also represent the very values that our Constitution celebrates. On Thursday, our Values Voter Bus rolled into Murray, Utah to take our stand with the Utah state troopers. There we announced a national petition urging the courts, Congress, and state legislatures to stand with us in solidarity for national monuments and memorials across the nation. The fact that America has even arrived at this point in this case points to how far our understanding of the Establishment Clause has fallen from its original meaning. The Founding Fathers erected several monuments of this nature -- and they obviously didn't see their Bill of Rights as a barrier to them! Please join us by adding your name to the more than 26,000 who recognize that the U.S. Constitution celebrates religious liberty -- not censors it! Got Jesus?
Rev. 3:20 Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me. 3:21 To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne. Satan invented the theory of evolution, you'll be shocked by the end of the video Why do atheists care about religion? a legitimate complaint Checkmate, Atheists! Scientific proof that God does exist? The Divine Creation Theory a simple scientific experiment to prove the existence of God If you met Jesus on the street today Make National Voice Your Home Page National Voice Gazette Remember the Troops
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Bold Alligator' Helps to Sustain Amphibious Operations By Army Sgt. 1st Class Tyrone C. Marshall Jr. WASHINGTON, Jan. 31, 2012 - As the Navy and Marine Corps continue "Bold Alligator," their largest joint, multinational amphibious assault exercise in 10 years, it is important that both services to sustain amphibious operations, the commander of U.S. Fleet Forces Command said today. "It's enormously important for the Navy to start learning an awful lot about Marine Corps operations and getting a landing force ashore, and how that land force operates," Navy Adm. John C. Harvey Jr. said at a Defense Writers Group breakfast. "And it's enormously important for the Marine forces to understand what it took to get the naval force to the position where you could land the assault forces and sustain those assault forces," he added. "That part of this education, I think, will be the greatest benefit to this exercise." Bold Alligator 2012 began Jan. 30 and is scheduled to run through until Feb. 12, on and off the coasts of Virginia, North Carolina and Florida. The exercise's intent is to revitalize Navy and Marine Corps amphibious expeditionary tactics, techniques and procedures, and reinvigorate its culture of conducting combined Navy and Marine Corps operations from the sea, a Navy statement said. Although Bold Alligator is the largest exercise of the past decade, Marines never completely left the seas, Lt. Gen. Dennis J. Hejlik, commander of U.S. Marine Corps Forces Command, emphasized. "We have the seven [Marine Expeditionary Units] out there," he said. "So we have a percentage of Marine Corps officers and Marine enlisted that have always been out there." Harvey said these types of exercises test commanders and their staffs in preparation for tough real-world scenarios. "Commanders are going to make decisions based on the kinds of situations they are confronted with," he said. "We're going to test that commander's ability to make these decisions and apportion those forces. The biggest stress for any commander is the apportionment of the forces under his command for the multitude of tasks they've been given." Harvey and Hejlik said the naval exercise is not based on current events in the Persian Gulf, but is "certainly informed by recent history." "This exercise deals with large numbers of small-boat threats, irregular threats, not easy to identify in the complex battle space, ... which could be used to describe just about the entire Persian Gulf," Harvey noted. The exercise deals with both regular and irregular threats, as well as with shore-based cruise missiles, the admiral said. "When we constructed the scenario, we put it against what we called a moderate force, or a medium force with moderate ability, who denies access into theater and actually on land," Hejlik said. "And we did that purposely because of the force that we're exercising, ... so it's not patterned after any contingency planning, if you will." Hejlik also cited working with conventional and special operations forces as an important objective during Bold Alligator. Harvey noted that Gen. James F. Amos, Marine Corps commandant, refers to the Marine Corps as a "middleweight" force. "We can go high, we can go low, but are a middleweight force that can strike with power," Harvey said. The admiral said he hopes the Navy and Marine Corps continue exercises like Bold Alligator to "keep that institutional learning going." "When did we bring it all together?" he asked, referring previous training. "When did we bring the parts together in a purposeful manner and challenge ourselves to do what we are expected to be able to do in 10 years? "That's really what this is all about," Harvey added. "And I hope that we continue that cycle." Kearsarge Departs for Bold Alligator 2012
By Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class (SW/FMF) Chad V. Pritt, USS Kearsarge Public Affairs USS KEARSARGE, Atlantic Ocean (NNS) -- The amphibious assault ship USS Kearsarge (LHD 3) departed Naval Station Norfolk Jan. 30 to participate in Exercise Bold Alligator 2012. Bold Alligator 2012 is taking place over a two-week period and is a multi-national joint effort hosted by the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps to strengthen core competencies in the areas of amphibious operations and bi-lateral cooperation. The Kearsarge Amphibious Ready Group (ARG), as part of Expeditionary Strike Group (ESG) 2, joins 2 Marine Expeditionary Brigade (2 MEB), the Enterprise Carrier Strike Group, units from Navy Expeditionary Combat Command, and various ships and units from foreign partners. "Our allies will be as equally engaged as we are during the exercise," said Capt. Dorian F. Jones, Kearsarge commanding officer. "We will have land, sea and air units from eight countries as we strive to develop bi-lateral relationships and execute the CNO's (Chief of Naval Operations) Maritime Strategy as it pertains to maritime security cooperation." The exercise, which will be the largest of its kind in a decade, will consist of live, virtual and constructive scenarios, and will showcase the full spectrum of amphibious capabilities. "It's a revitalization of the Navy and Marine Corps amphibious expeditionary tactics," said Jones. "It's about re-invigorating the Navy and Marine Corps interoperability and our culture of combined operations from the sea." While the end result of the exercise will be a strengthened ability to respond to man-made and natural crises around the world, the broader purpose is to showcase the advantages of sea basing. Sea basing is the ability for theater commanders to project power ashore without relying on shore-based infrastructure. Amphibious forces thereby limit the vulnerability and sustainment requirements for shore-based personnel. "As we learned in Haiti, and historically in other operations, a prepositioned amphibious ready group becomes a force multiplier," said Jones, referring to the humanitarian relief operations in that country following a 7.0 magnitude earthquake two years ago. "Our quick response to a limited engagement in Libya was also due to sea basing. It's a concept that works in practice, and our ability to train to those expectations with our partners is what sets us apart from our enemies." Bold Alligator 2012 is scheduled to conclude Feb. 12. "The exercise will run 24 hours a day, seven days a week until all of our training objectives are met," said Jones. "We train like we fight, and I expect all of Kearsarge's Sailors will put forth their best effort to ensure the greatest success." Wasp Sets Stage For Bold Alligator 2012
By By Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Caleb Cooper, USS Wasp (LHD 1) Public Affairs ATLANTIC OCEAN (NNS) -- Sailors and Marines aboard the amphibious assault ship USS Wasp (LHD 1) set sail Jan. 30 to initiate the live phase of exercise Bold Alligator 2012. Wasp is serving as the flagship for Bold Alligator, the largest amphibious exercise conducted by the Navy/Marine Corps team in the past 10 years. It is also the first live, East Coast, Expeditionary Strike Group/Marine Expeditionary Brigade-level exercise in about a decade. "Realistic training at sea is essential to the Navy and Marine Corps' ability to train like we fight," said Capt. Gary M. Boardman, Wasp's commanding officer. Twenty-five ships, and 20,000 Sailors, Marines and Coastguardsmen are participating in the two-week exercise, which runs through Feb. 13. Commands involved include Enterprise Carrier Strike Group (CSG), Expeditionary Strike Group 2 (ESG-2), 2nd Marine Expeditionary Brigade (MEB), Iwo Jima Amphibious Ready Group (ARG), 24 Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU), Naval Expeditionary Combat Command (NECC) as well as coalition ships, units, and observers from 12 other countries. Training scenarios are based on a continuum of situations that the Navy/Marine Corps team is likely to face in today's environment and are built in order to enhance the varied capabilities that allow amphibious forces to conduct forcible entry against an opposing military force; as well as crisis response, humanitarian assistance, and building partnerships. "Exercises like Bold Alligator allow the Navy and Marine Corps team to exercise its full spectrum of expeditionary capabilities, to include working with our coalition partners, in complex environments," said Boardman. "Bold Alligator is about building partnerships and ensuring the amphibious force is ready when called. Wasp is looking forward to leading the way as the flagship for Expeditionary Strike Group Two and 2nd Marine Expeditionary Battalion." Wasp's underway is the culmination of weeks of certification training and ship preparations to include taking on numerous supplies, food stores, and hundreds of Marines, foreign officers and support staffs "We have been extremely busy onloading the personnel and resources needed to conduct an exercise of this magnitude," said Chief Warrant Officer Chad Mader, Wasp's Combat Cargo Officer. "Getting everyone to work together is one of the goals of this evolution, so when we need [this force], we have the ability and knowledge to operate as one cohesive unit." Bold Alligator 2012 serves as an opportunity to revitalize an integrated, Navy/Marine Corps approach to amphibious operations, strengthening their traditional role as fighters from the sea. From Abraham Lincoln Carrier Strike Group Public Affairs ARABIAN GULF (NNS) -- Abraham Lincoln Carrier Strike Group (ALCSG) assets responded to a distressed Iranian fishing dhow in the Arabian Gulf, Jan. 31. At 12:37 p.m. local time, an MH-60S Seahawk helicopter, assigned to the Golden Falcons of Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 12 and embarked on aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72), spotted the disabled Iranian fishing dhow M/V Sohaila with nine crew members aboard. Sohaila's master issued a distress call reporting that his crew was in good condition, but the dhow's engine had overheated, preventing it from operating at sea. Guided-missile destroyer USS John Paul Jones (DDG 53), operating nearby, responded, offering assistance to the Iranian fishermen who were waving a cloth as a signal for help. The dhow's master permitted the destroyer's visit, board, search and seizure (VBSS) team to board allowing the team better determine the nature and extent of the boat's engine problems. John Paul Jones engineers repaired the fan belt in the dhow's engine and assessed it had a foul propeller. Navy divers assigned to Explosive Ordnance Disposal Mobile Unit (EODMU) 1131, embarked aboard aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72), were flown using one of Abraham Lincoln's helicopters to John Paul Jones and then, sent by rigid hull inflatable boat (RHIB) to the dhow. "We have the capability and training to handle these jobs when they come up and we're just happy to assist whenever we get the call," said Explosive Ordnance Disposal Senior Chief Michael J. Negri. "The best part of the day was when they finally started up their engines and were able to get underway again." After ensuring the dhow was operational, and the crew was safe with sufficient amounts of food, water and fuel to continue its transit, the VBSS and EODMU teams departed the scene and returned to their ships. Rear Adm. Mike Shoemaker, commander, ALCSG, said the U.S. Navy has a longstanding tradition of coming to the aid of mariners in distress and conducting search and rescue operations at sea. "This is one of the reasons our Navy exists," Shoemaker said. "We preserve freedom of navigation and the unimpeded flow of commerce on the high seas. But anytime we come across a vessel in need of engineering or medical assistance, our Sailors are ready to assist with their expertise - in this case engineers and divers." ALCSG, comprised of Abraham Lincoln, Carrier Air Wing 2, Destroyer Squadron (DESRON) 9, guided-missile cruiser USS Cape St. George (CG 71), and guided-missile destroyers, USS Momsen (DDG 92) and USS Sterett (DDG 104), are supporting maritime security operations and theater security cooperation efforts in the U.S. 5th Fleet area of responsibility. NECC participates in Bold Alligator By Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Kay Savarese, Navy Expeditionary Combat Command Public Affairs VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (NNS) -- Riverine Group (RIVGRU) 1 will command the Navy's expeditionary forces for Bold Alligator 2012 (BA12), the nation's largest joint forces and multinational amphibious exercise on the East Coast, which began Jan. 30. RIVGRU-1 is part of the Navy Expeditionary Combat Command (NECC) that deployed to North Carolina as headquarters for the Navy Expeditionary Force (NEF) supporting BA12. Units from NECC participating include RIVGRU-1, Riverine Squadrons (RIVRON), Maritime Civil Affairs Team (MCAST), Navy Expeditionary Intelligence Command (NEIC), and Expeditionary Training Group (ETG). "The NEF represents the first live play on the ground and inland waters of North Carolina for Bold Alligator 2012, representing the historic flexibility of maritime services," said Capt. Christopher Halton, the commodore of RIVGRU-1 and commander of NEF. The NEF provides command and control necessary to integrate NECC into any Navy operation. BA12 provides NECC the opportunity to further refine partnerships for worldwide Navy support, including joint operations and allied forces, extending global partnerships. In the BA12 scenario, the NEF deploys to assist a fictitious host nation. "The NEF was the first U.S. force placed at the maritime-ground seam to help the host nation's security forces improve their capability and capacity," said Halton. "In addition, the NEF is assisting the host nation with countering insurgent activity, maintaining or developing goodwill in the local populace as well as preparing for the follow-on amphibious landing." Expeditionary forces operate on or near coastal and waterway areas to execute the six core capabilities of the Maritime Strategy; forward presence, deterrence, sea control, power projection, maritime security and humanitarian assistance/disaster response. "The NEF is extending the United States' 'Blue Water Option' further into the inland waterways and harbors of nations who request help," said Halton. "There is no other Navy force that can operate from a ship or ashore with equal ease and with the same operational capability." ETG will assist in directing BA12 and evaluate NECC performance to further refine NECC procedures by coordinating synthetic training by utilizing realistic actors and contractors. Expeditionary forces will operate in at least seven different locations throughout the duration of the exercise. In addition to NECC, units participating in BA12 include the Enterprise Carrier Strike Group (CSG), Expeditionary Strike Group (ESG) 2, 2nd Marine Expeditionary Brigade (MEB), Iwo Jima Amphibious Ready Group (ARG), 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU), as well as various other ships and units. BA12 is a live, scenario-driven simulation held off the coasts of Virginia, North Carolina, and Florida from Jan. 30 to Feb. 12. Its purpose is to revitalize Navy and Marine Corps amphibious expeditionary capabilities and to test and strengthen the fundamental roles of amphibious operations by focusing on force readiness and proficiency. Eight countries will join U.S. forces in the exercise, allowing American service members and coalition partners the opportunity to exercise amphibious operations in a real-world environment. NECC is a command element and force provider for integrated maritime expeditionary missions, serving as a single functional command for the Navy's expeditionary forces. James 1:27 Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world. 1 Corinthians 1:18 For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. goto religion, see Devine Creation Theory Light Enters the World
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