The Lone Voice

TIKRIT, Iraq – Coalition forces reconnaissance aircraft observed three men suspected of emplacing an improvised explosive device digging in a road near Bayji after 9:00 p.m. on Jan.2, prompting a military response against them.

An unmanned aerial vehicle from 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division observed the would-be attackers as they dug a hole following the common pattern of road-side bomb emplacement. The individuals were assessed as posing a threat to Iraqi civilians and coalition forces, and the location of the three men was relayed to close air support pilots.

The individuals left the road site and were followed from the air to a nearby building. Coalition forces employed precision guided munitions on the structure.

Local Iraqi police were the first authorities at the scene to conduct post-event response.

Six terrorists detained in cordon and search

BAGHDAD, Iraq — Task Force Baghdad Soldiers detained six known terrorists during a cordon and search in southern Baghdad Jan. 2.

The search also yielded materials commonly used to make improvised explosive devices. Soldiers seized PVC pipes, rubber used in pressure plate IEDs, wires and ball bearings.

A total of 15 people were detained during the operation.

** Had a cool link sent to me by the Rottweiller Puppy - Check this out http://www.gshotts.com/HUMOR/Flash/diplomacy.swf

** Found this on the MOD spending £272,000 on a couple of paintings for its new HQ. Now that would not be so bad were it not for the poor state of funding in other parts of the armed services and the fact that troops have to buy a lot of their own kit themselves.

Of course the best part is that although our tax money has been used for these paintings. The public is unlikely to see the works due to "difficulties with security access".

Last month the Commons Public Accounts Committee revealed that the MoD's 20 biggest projects are £5.9 billion over budget and more than 17 years behind schedule. Full story here.... total waste of public money.

**To say that gets me pissed is an understatement. Some chinless inbred fuck who is the result of to much sheep worrying over many generations, and who followed in daddys footsteps into a nice safe job in the upper ranks of the civil service or military actually thinks that they can piss away public money like that and no one will care. Well I care, I care about the fact that our troops are not having that money spend on new kit, or even old second kit come to that.

Then they try to justify it by calling it, get this "defence diplomacy". What the fuck does that mean, its not diplomacy in any way shape or form. And they waste this after wasting 350 million on a nice new HQ for all the other chinless fucks to sit about in, looking at "defence diplomacy" hanging on the walls. Maybe if they saw some military type paintings on the walls it might remind the upper ranks what they are supposed to be doing in their shiney new building.

Get this for an arguement from a spokeman: Most of our first-rate paintings are on permanent display in places like the National Maritime Museum and we didn't want to use second-rate paintings of dead admirals from the 19th century. I would argue that this is a good investment of public money."

Ok, so all the good "defense diplomacy" is on show and the 2nd rate stuff - ie the traditional military pictures of dead admirals just wont cut it for the new look HQ. After all the last thing that military types want to look at is traditional art or would that be "defence diplomacy?". So you spend our money on some more paintings and say its a good investment? How exactly as:

Finally a bit on the artists - and I use the word very loosly - you can make your own mind up on these: Zil Hoque - a sample of her work, looks like she spilt some paint there. and Louise Cattrell shows us how to fingerpaint some more wasted money here.

Guess the chinless fucks in the Ministry of Defence Art Collection who made this descison know as much about art as they do about running a budget.

Hat tip to daviddaviesam

** Finally the looney in Iran is off again, claiming that Zionism is fascism. Iranian looney tune making it up as he go's along.

And lastly getting back to my old fave the biased and Uber Left Wing BBC. Now to say that this broadcaster pisses me off would be an understatement, especially as we have to pay for it through the £126 pound a year licence fee.

So its nice to see them getting some awards, although dont expect them to be broadcasting this any time soon: