The Pentagon on Friday reported the first death of a U.S. military serviceman in Iraq in its new mission to combat Islamic State militants who have seized large areas of Iraq and Syria.
Marine Lance Cpl. Sean Neal, a 19-year-old from California, died in Baghdad on Thursday in what a Pentagon statement described as a noncombat incident. Further details about how Neal died were not immediately available.
Earlier this month, a Marine was deemed lost at sea after he fell from an aircraft into the Arabian Gulf.
The Pentagon said Neal’s death was the first U.S. casualty in Iraq since the Obama administration began its “Inherent Resolve” mission, which now includes airstrikes against the extremist group in Iraq and Syria and a growing number of U.S. military personnel on the ground in Iraq in August.
The Marine’s death is a milestone for the Obama administration, which withdrew U.S. troops from Iraq in 2011 and has sought to ensure the United States is not drawn into more of the costly, messy ground wars that characterized the decade after the 9/11 attacks.
More than 4,000 U.S. military service members died in Iraq after the U.S.-led invasion in 2003.
The United States is now at war in Iraq for the third time in my lifetime, and after being in the middle of the first two I'm planning to sit this one out.
The first Iraq war was necessary and conducted well, as wars go; the second was unnecessary and conducted poorly at first, but ended up in a reasonable place given what a fiasco it had been at the start. This third war was entirely preventable, caused by a premature departure of U.S. troops after the second. Although it's too soon to say how it will turn out, it is not too early to say that unless we get the endgame right, the United States will fight yet another war in Iraq before too long.
My first Iraq war was Operation Desert Storm, when half a million U.S. troops joined an international coalition to expel Saddam Hussein's army from Kuwait in 1991. Although that war appeared to settle some things at the time, within months of the cease-fire it became clear that Saddam had survived the thrashing we had given his army and was not going to fall to indigenous rebel forces as we had hoped. Instead, we began a decade of containment called Operation Southern Watch, with American war planes flying combat missions around the clock to deter Saddam from further adventurism.
Southern Watch continued until March 2003, when the tempo of combat operations increased sharply during the second Iraq war. Operation Iraqi Freedom began in an air of national panic after al Qaeda's attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, and the unrelated but frightening anthrax attacks on the U.S. capital. Saddam was working to develop weapons of mass destruction, we were told, and the United States did not want to discover that he had completed them only after seeing a mushroom cloud over Washington or New York. Throwing aside generations of deterrence theory -- which predicts correctly that states will not deploy weapons of mass destruction against another state that possesses them for fear of reprisal -- we invaded Iraq again, this time unnecessarily.
Not just unnecessarily, but also poorly. Iraq was three nations inside a single state, held together by a brutal dictatorship. Although there were prewar warnings that hundreds of thousands of troops would be required to police Iraq after the government collapsed, we invaded with a fraction of that number. We had no plan to create a new order in postwar Iraq or even to secure the weapons-storage depots that were the supposed reason we were invading. Decisions made in the immediate aftermath of the invasion to disband the Iraqi Army and forbid any former members of the ruling Baath Party from again holding positions of influence poured fuel on the embers of a Sunni insurgency that burst into flames. Rather than coming home by Christmas, the invasion force called for reinforcements, including my tank battalion.
We arrived in Anbar province in September 2003, right in the heart of the insurgency, and immediately discovered that our prewar training to fight other armies would be of little help. We were fighting insurgents who, in Mao's clever phrase, were fish swimming among the sea of the people -- Sunnis who hated us and their new Shiite overlords in Baghdad, whom they saw as collaborators with the occupiers.
It got worse. We had been told that Saddam was collaborating with al Qaeda, which was not true, but in the power vacuum that followed his demise, radical Islamists found a toehold. They named themselves al Qaeda in Iraq (AQI) and increased the sophistication of the weapons they deployed against U.S. troops. Simple improvised explosive devices made of the artillery rounds that literally littered the desert were replaced by sophisticated AQI car bombs like the one that destroyed the Khalidiya police station one Sunday morning, killing 34 Iraqi police officers we had trained and equipped. When my tank battalion left Anbar after a year of fighting, we made coffee cups that said "Iraq 2003-2004: We Were Winning When I Left."
FORWARD OPERATING BASE SHANK, Afghanistan — American paratroopers from the 82nd Airborne Division have spent the last seven months closing down bases in eastern Afghanistan.
At every base, the Taliban have been eager to send them out with a bang. Literally.
Soldiers of Company C, 1st Battalion, 504th Parachute Infantry Regiment are members of the last American battalion conducting full-spectrum combat operations in Afghanistan as the U.S. military prepares to pull its combat troops out of the country by the end of the year. Throughout the deployment, they’ve come face to face with an increasingly bold Taliban that threaten both departing Americans and the Afghan forces they leave behind.
“Fundamentally — as in Iraq — the U.S. is leaving behind an extremely fragile situation, which will be vulnerable to Taliban inroads in precisely the same places that were hard-fought when the U.S. troops were present,” said Sarah Chayes, a South Asia expert and senior associate with the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace in Washington.
Such vulnerability first became evident in the southern province of Helmand last year. The longtime Taliban stronghold, which produces most of the nation’s opium, saw a dramatic increase of Taliban activity after international forces began leaving near the start of this year’s spring fighting season.
It’s a common tactic of the insurgents.
“The Taliban want to appear to be driving the U.S. out,” said Anthony Cordesman, a strategy expert with the Washington-based Center for Strategic and International Studies. “They’re playing to local tribes, and if local tribes can attack the U.S. as it withdraws ... it strengthens the Taliban image but it gives a broader picture that the government is weak and that they can’t hold the territory. It sets the precedent for [next year’s fighting] campaign.”
Eastern Afghanistan presents its own challenges, with various Taliban-affiliated groups massing in the hundreds to attack the Afghan military.
“It’s a more confusing [mixture] of insurgent groups,” said Graeme Smith, a senior analyst with International Crisis Group in Kabul. “Every week, I feel like we hear a name of some different insurgent group that’s supposedly popping up or operating there.”
The fragmentation, coupled with increased influence and support from sections of the insurgency next door in Pakistan, complicates Afghan government efforts to reach a political solution to the Taliban influence, Smith said.
The Taliban have continuously insisted that all U.S. and NATO forces — whom they regard as foreign occupiers — must leave the country before they consider participating in the political process. The insurgents have vowed to continue fighting if any foreign advisers remain in Afghanistan after the withdrawal of coalition combat troops.
Quote by Scoopster:
Mornin' all..
Alone in the office once again. I was told everyone would be here today.. what gives!
Quote by Raine:
Good Morning! I slept last night!
Quote by Mondobubba:Quote by Raine:
Good Morning! I slept last night!
Yay! :wince:
Quote by Raine:I am sorry about the sciatica -- that is awful to have.Quote by Mondobubba:Quote by Raine:
Good Morning! I slept last night!
Yay! :wince:
Quote by Mondobubba:Quote by Raine:
John Boehner.
When? After he was done giving him a handy?
Quote by Mondobubba:
Mala, I haz a think over the weekend. I was watching the first ten episodes of "Agents of SHIELD" and it hit me that a good portion of the first season is basically Firefly redux. They have a ship (well and airplane), they cruise around the Verse doing jobs (fly around the world doing missions), there is a closely guarded captain (Mal/Agenrt Coulson), a terse warrior woman (Zoe/Agent May), lunk-headed muscle (Jayne/Agent Ward), a smart Alec (Wash/Skye), two crew members who are crushing on each other (Kaylie & Simon/Gemma & Leo). We don't have a troubled psychic weapon though.
Quote by wickedpam:Quote by Mondobubba:
Mala, I haz a think over the weekend. I was watching the first ten episodes of "Agents of SHIELD" and it hit me that a good portion of the first season is basically Firefly redux. They have a ship (well and airplane), they cruise around the Verse doing jobs (fly around the world doing missions), there is a closely guarded captain (Mal/Agenrt Coulson), a terse warrior woman (Zoe/Agent May), lunk-headed muscle (Jayne/Agent Ward), a smart Alec (Wash/Skye), two crew members who are crushing on each other (Kaylie & Simon/Gemma & Leo). We don't have a troubled psychic weapon though.
I can see that - It was created by Joss and Jed Whedon (obvi) but Jed Whedon is still attached since its produced by Mutant Enemy Productions
Quote by BobR:Quote by Mondobubba:Quote by Raine:
John Boehner.
When? After he was done giving him a handy?
Didn't Bush say he looked into Putin's soul and saw a good man, or some such claptrap?
Quote by Mondobubba:Quote by wickedpam:Quote by Mondobubba:
Mala, I haz a think over the weekend. I was watching the first ten episodes of "Agents of SHIELD" and it hit me that a good portion of the first season is basically Firefly redux. They have a ship (well and airplane), they cruise around the Verse doing jobs (fly around the world doing missions), there is a closely guarded captain (Mal/Agenrt Coulson), a terse warrior woman (Zoe/Agent May), lunk-headed muscle (Jayne/Agent Ward), a smart Alec (Wash/Skye), two crew members who are crushing on each other (Kaylie & Simon/Gemma & Leo). We don't have a troubled psychic weapon though.
I can see that - It was created by Joss and Jed Whedon (obvi) but Jed Whedon is still attached since its produced by Mutant Enemy Productions
Until the link up to Captain America 2 the show had a lighter tone like Firefly.
Quote by wickedpam:Quote by Mondobubba:Quote by wickedpam:Quote by Mondobubba:
Mala, I haz a think over the weekend. I was watching the first ten episodes of "Agents of SHIELD" and it hit me that a good portion of the first season is basically Firefly redux. They have a ship (well and airplane), they cruise around the Verse doing jobs (fly around the world doing missions), there is a closely guarded captain (Mal/Agenrt Coulson), a terse warrior woman (Zoe/Agent May), lunk-headed muscle (Jayne/Agent Ward), a smart Alec (Wash/Skye), two crew members who are crushing on each other (Kaylie & Simon/Gemma & Leo). We don't have a troubled psychic weapon though.
I can see that - It was created by Joss and Jed Whedon (obvi) but Jed Whedon is still attached since its produced by Mutant Enemy Productions
Until the link up to Captain America 2 the show had a lighter tone like Firefly.
Haven't seen CA2 yet. For me the show didn't kick in until they started bringing May and Fitz/Simmons to the front. Also having Lady Sif kick ass was awesome. Skye and Ward still annoy me.
Quote by wickedpam:Quote by Mondobubba:Quote by wickedpam:Quote by Mondobubba:
Mala, I haz a think over the weekend. I was watching the first ten episodes of "Agents of SHIELD" and it hit me that a good portion of the first season is basically Firefly redux. They have a ship (well and airplane), they cruise around the Verse doing jobs (fly around the world doing missions), there is a closely guarded captain (Mal/Agenrt Coulson), a terse warrior woman (Zoe/Agent May), lunk-headed muscle (Jayne/Agent Ward), a smart Alec (Wash/Skye), two crew members who are crushing on each other (Kaylie & Simon/Gemma & Leo). We don't have a troubled psychic weapon though.
I can see that - It was created by Joss and Jed Whedon (obvi) but Jed Whedon is still attached since its produced by Mutant Enemy Productions
Until the link up to Captain America 2 the show had a lighter tone like Firefly.
Haven't seen CA2 yet. For me the show didn't kick in until they started bringing May and Fitz/Simmons to the front. Also having Lady Sif kick ass was awesome. Skye and Ward still annoy me.
Quote by Scoopster:Quote by wickedpam:Quote by Mondobubba:Quote by wickedpam:Quote by Mondobubba:
Mala, I haz a think over the weekend. I was watching the first ten episodes of "Agents of SHIELD" and it hit me that a good portion of the first season is basically Firefly redux. They have a ship (well and airplane), they cruise around the Verse doing jobs (fly around the world doing missions), there is a closely guarded captain (Mal/Agenrt Coulson), a terse warrior woman (Zoe/Agent May), lunk-headed muscle (Jayne/Agent Ward), a smart Alec (Wash/Skye), two crew members who are crushing on each other (Kaylie & Simon/Gemma & Leo). We don't have a troubled psychic weapon though.
I can see that - It was created by Joss and Jed Whedon (obvi) but Jed Whedon is still attached since its produced by Mutant Enemy Productions
Until the link up to Captain America 2 the show had a lighter tone like Firefly.
Haven't seen CA2 yet. For me the show didn't kick in until they started bringing May and Fitz/Simmons to the front. Also having Lady Sif kick ass was awesome. Skye and Ward still annoy me.
I've been meaning to start watching AOS but I've been told I should catch up on all the related Avengers-related films first (I've only seen Iron Man 1 & 3 so far).
Quote by Mondobubba:Quote by Scoopster:Quote by wickedpam:Quote by Mondobubba:Quote by wickedpam:Quote by Mondobubba:
Mala, I haz a think over the weekend. I was watching the first ten episodes of "Agents of SHIELD" and it hit me that a good portion of the first season is basically Firefly redux. They have a ship (well and airplane), they cruise around the Verse doing jobs (fly around the world doing missions), there is a closely guarded captain (Mal/Agenrt Coulson), a terse warrior woman (Zoe/Agent May), lunk-headed muscle (Jayne/Agent Ward), a smart Alec (Wash/Skye), two crew members who are crushing on each other (Kaylie & Simon/Gemma & Leo). We don't have a troubled psychic weapon though.
I can see that - It was created by Joss and Jed Whedon (obvi) but Jed Whedon is still attached since its produced by Mutant Enemy Productions
Until the link up to Captain America 2 the show had a lighter tone like Firefly.
Haven't seen CA2 yet. For me the show didn't kick in until they started bringing May and Fitz/Simmons to the front. Also having Lady Sif kick ass was awesome. Skye and Ward still annoy me.
I've been meaning to start watching AOS but I've been told I should catch up on all the related Avengers-related films first (I've only seen Iron Man 1 & 3 so far).
The ones you really need to see are CA2 and The Avengers. The others can be viewed concurrently.
Quote by wickedpam:Quote by Mondobubba:Quote by Scoopster:Quote by wickedpam:Quote by Mondobubba:Quote by wickedpam:Quote by Mondobubba:
Mala, I haz a think over the weekend. I was watching the first ten episodes of "Agents of SHIELD" and it hit me that a good portion of the first season is basically Firefly redux. They have a ship (well and airplane), they cruise around the Verse doing jobs (fly around the world doing missions), there is a closely guarded captain (Mal/Agenrt Coulson), a terse warrior woman (Zoe/Agent May), lunk-headed muscle (Jayne/Agent Ward), a smart Alec (Wash/Skye), two crew members who are crushing on each other (Kaylie & Simon/Gemma & Leo). We don't have a troubled psychic weapon though.
I can see that - It was created by Joss and Jed Whedon (obvi) but Jed Whedon is still attached since its produced by Mutant Enemy Productions
Until the link up to Captain America 2 the show had a lighter tone like Firefly.
Haven't seen CA2 yet. For me the show didn't kick in until they started bringing May and Fitz/Simmons to the front. Also having Lady Sif kick ass was awesome. Skye and Ward still annoy me.
I've been meaning to start watching AOS but I've been told I should catch up on all the related Avengers-related films first (I've only seen Iron Man 1 & 3 so far).
The ones you really need to see are CA2 and The Avengers. The others can be viewed concurrently.
I think if you know the basics you're fine. I started from just The Avengers and Ironman. First few epis set the groundwork of the verse. The tie ins to the movies are just fun.
Quote by Mondobubba:Quote by wickedpam:Quote by Mondobubba:Quote by Scoopster:Quote by wickedpam:Quote by Mondobubba:Quote by wickedpam:Quote by Mondobubba:
Mala, I haz a think over the weekend. I was watching the first ten episodes of "Agents of SHIELD" and it hit me that a good portion of the first season is basically Firefly redux. They have a ship (well and airplane), they cruise around the Verse doing jobs (fly around the world doing missions), there is a closely guarded captain (Mal/Agenrt Coulson), a terse warrior woman (Zoe/Agent May), lunk-headed muscle (Jayne/Agent Ward), a smart Alec (Wash/Skye), two crew members who are crushing on each other (Kaylie & Simon/Gemma & Leo). We don't have a troubled psychic weapon though.
I can see that - It was created by Joss and Jed Whedon (obvi) but Jed Whedon is still attached since its produced by Mutant Enemy Productions
Until the link up to Captain America 2 the show had a lighter tone like Firefly.
Haven't seen CA2 yet. For me the show didn't kick in until they started bringing May and Fitz/Simmons to the front. Also having Lady Sif kick ass was awesome. Skye and Ward still annoy me.
I've been meaning to start watching AOS but I've been told I should catch up on all the related Avengers-related films first (I've only seen Iron Man 1 & 3 so far).
The ones you really need to see are CA2 and The Avengers. The others can be viewed concurrently.
I think if you know the basics you're fine. I started from just The Avengers and Ironman. First few epis set the groundwork of the verse. The tie ins to the movies are just fun.
It has the Wheadon touch in the off hand comments. Example:
Simmons: I'd love to meet Thor. He's dreamy!
Coulson: I've met him he's handsome,
May (to Coulson): No, he's dreamy.
Quote by wickedpam:Quote by Mondobubba:Quote by wickedpam:Quote by Mondobubba:Quote by Scoopster:Quote by wickedpam:Quote by Mondobubba:Quote by wickedpam:Quote by Mondobubba:
Mala, I haz a think over the weekend. I was watching the first ten episodes of "Agents of SHIELD" and it hit me that a good portion of the first season is basically Firefly redux. They have a ship (well and airplane), they cruise around the Verse doing jobs (fly around the world doing missions), there is a closely guarded captain (Mal/Agenrt Coulson), a terse warrior woman (Zoe/Agent May), lunk-headed muscle (Jayne/Agent Ward), a smart Alec (Wash/Skye), two crew members who are crushing on each other (Kaylie & Simon/Gemma & Leo). We don't have a troubled psychic weapon though.
I can see that - It was created by Joss and Jed Whedon (obvi) but Jed Whedon is still attached since its produced by Mutant Enemy Productions
Until the link up to Captain America 2 the show had a lighter tone like Firefly.
Haven't seen CA2 yet. For me the show didn't kick in until they started bringing May and Fitz/Simmons to the front. Also having Lady Sif kick ass was awesome. Skye and Ward still annoy me.
I've been meaning to start watching AOS but I've been told I should catch up on all the related Avengers-related films first (I've only seen Iron Man 1 & 3 so far).
The ones you really need to see are CA2 and The Avengers. The others can be viewed concurrently.
I think if you know the basics you're fine. I started from just The Avengers and Ironman. First few epis set the groundwork of the verse. The tie ins to the movies are just fun.
It has the Wheadon touch in the off hand comments. Example:
Simmons: I'd love to meet Thor. He's dreamy!
Coulson: I've met him he's handsome,
May (to Coulson): No, he's dreamy.
Pretty sure I want to be May when I grow up.
Quote by Mondobubba:Right into a Marvel Cinematic Universe ditch.
Quote by wickedpam:Quote by Mondobubba:Right into a Marvel Cinematic Universe ditch.
This is what happens when we let Toonces drive.
Quote by Raine:Quote by wickedpam:Quote by Mondobubba:Right into a Marvel Cinematic Universe ditch.
This is what happens when we let Toonces drive.
Quote by Mondobubba:Quote by Raine:Quote by wickedpam:Quote by Mondobubba:Right into a Marvel Cinematic Universe ditch.
This is what happens when we let Toonces drive.
Well played, ladies. Well played.
Quote by Raine:Yay!Quote by Mondobubba:
I did vote for this yesterdee.
I wish we could get that here in Virginia.
Quote by Mondobubba:Quote by Scoopster:
This headline is great!
So many thoughts swirling around in my noggin.
Quote by Scoopster:Quote by Mondobubba:Quote by Scoopster:
This headline is great!
So many thoughts swirling around in my noggin.
My first one was 'why the hell was this jackass even driving a trailer truck on the Hutch/Merritt?! THEY'RE PROHIBITED!'
Quote by Raine:That happens WAY too often on those highways. The Southern State is LEGION for that.Quote by Scoopster:Quote by Mondobubba:Quote by Scoopster:
This headline is great!
So many thoughts swirling around in my noggin.
My first one was 'why the hell was this jackass even driving a trailer truck on the Hutch/Merritt?! THEY'RE PROHIBITED!'
Those overpasses are too small. (they were pretty much all Robert Moses designed thoroughfares)
Fiery Butter Crach! that is a band name, if ever there was one.
Quote by Mondobubba:Quote by Raine:That happens WAY too often on those highways. The Southern State is LEGION for that.Quote by Scoopster:Quote by Mondobubba:Quote by Scoopster:
This headline is great!
So many thoughts swirling around in my noggin.
My first one was 'why the hell was this jackass even driving a trailer truck on the Hutch/Merritt?! THEY'RE PROHIBITED!'
Those overpasses are too small. (they were pretty much all Robert Moses designed thoroughfares)
Fiery Butter Crach! that is a band name, if ever there was one.
C'mon ol' Bob didn't design the overpasses himself. He had numerous staffs to pick from. NY State Commissioner of Parks, President of the Tri-Borough Bridge Authority...um Christ I can't remember any other, but there are a lot.
Quote by Raine:I never said he did.Quote by Mondobubba:Quote by Raine:That happens WAY too often on those highways. The Southern State is LEGION for that.Quote by Scoopster:Quote by Mondobubba:Quote by Scoopster:
This headline is great!
So many thoughts swirling around in my noggin.
My first one was 'why the hell was this jackass even driving a trailer truck on the Hutch/Merritt?! THEY'RE PROHIBITED!'
Those overpasses are too small. (they were pretty much all Robert Moses designed thoroughfares)
Fiery Butter Crach! that is a band name, if ever there was one.
C'mon ol' Bob didn't design the overpasses himself. He had numerous staffs to pick from. NY State Commissioner of Parks, President of the Tri-Borough Bridge Authority...um Christ I can't remember any other, but there are a lot.
However, he was responsible for all of that infrastructure -- and he was the Chairmen of the Tri-bridge authority.
Quote by Mondobubba:
BTW, if you haven't read The Power Broker you should.
Quote by Raine:That happens WAY too often on those highways. The Southern State is LEGION for that.Quote by Scoopster:Quote by Mondobubba:Quote by Scoopster:
This headline is great!
So many thoughts swirling around in my noggin.
My first one was 'why the hell was this jackass even driving a trailer truck on the Hutch/Merritt?! THEY'RE PROHIBITED!'
Those overpasses are too small. (they were pretty much all Robert Moses designed thoroughfares)
Fiery Butter Crash! that is a band name, if ever there was one.
Quote by Raine:PBS did a great Ducumentary about the man a few years back, I think it was based partly on the book.Quote by Mondobubba:
BTW, if you haven't read The Power Broker you should.
Moses is a complicated FEllow. Much of Long ISland is what it is today for better and or worse due to him.
Quote by BobR:Quote by Raine:That happens WAY too often on those highways. The Southern State is LEGION for that.Quote by Scoopster:Quote by Mondobubba:Quote by Scoopster:
This headline is great!
So many thoughts swirling around in my noggin.
My first one was 'why the hell was this jackass even driving a trailer truck on the Hutch/Merritt?! THEY'RE PROHIBITED!'
Those overpasses are too small. (they were pretty much all Robert Moses designed thoroughfares)
Fiery Butter Crash! that is a band name, if ever there was one.
Those were designed and built before the modern 18 wheeler size was common