On Painting an Accurate Picture

This could be considered a continuation of my previous post.

I was clicking around on the Strategy Page to see what they were about and get a better feel for it when I noticed this article: "IRAQ: Trends You Don't Hear About". Well, it didn't take long for me to guide my touchpad to that link.

The article tells of the many improvements that have been seen in Iraq since Coalition Forces first entered Iraq. I strongly recommend you read the article.

Crispy

A Schooling in Army-Speak & A Class in Numbers

A casualty and a fatality are two very different things. A casualty is someone who is injured and no longer considered "combat effective". These types are also known as "WIA" or Wounded in Action. A fatality is someone who assumes room temperature. Fatalities are "KIA" or Killed in Action. Technically, there is another category for those who die of medical or emotional complications as well as "Other" types of mishaps (falling off a tank, drowning, murder, etc).

Unfortunately, I'm writing this post in response to Vox's "Bring them home now" post. For the purpose of the discussion, I will use the same source as he did, Strategy Page. Vox cites the following figures in his post:

March 2003 267
March 2004 375
March 2005 407
March 2006 520

The problem with these numbers is that these are the total of KIAs and WIAs. Using Strategy Page still, here are the real numbers for US Fatalities:

March 2003: 65
March 2004: 52
March 2005: 35
March 2006: 31

These numbers paint a very different picture, don't they? It is also worthy mentioning that more people died during the attacks that took place on September 11, 2001, than have died in Operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom combined. An interesting fact is that there were far more casualties during the opening hours of the D-Day invasion than there have been in OIF & OEF combined.

Crispy

US-CERT TA06-139A -- Microsoft Word Vulnerability

Technical: http://www.us-cert.gov/cas/techalerts/TA06-139A.html

Non-technical: http://www.us-cert.gov/cas/alerts/SA06-139A.html

Crispy

US-CERT TA06-132B -- Apple QuickTime Vulnerabilities

Technical: http://www.us-cert.gov/cas/techalerts/TA06-132B.html

Non-technical: http://www.us-cert.gov/cas/alerts/SA06-132B.html

Crispy

S-CERT TA06-132A -- Apple Mac Products Affected by Multiple Vulnerabilities

Technical: http://www.us-cert.gov/cas/techalerts/TA06-132A.html

Non-technical: http://www.us-cert.gov/cas/alerts/SA06-132A.html

Crispy

US-CERT TA06-129A -- Microsoft Windows and Exchange Server Vulnerabilities

Technical: http://www.us-cert.gov/cas/techalerts/TA06-129A.html

Non-technical: http://www.us-cert.gov/cas/alerts/SA06-129A.html

Crispy

al-Zawahiri Goes Over the Deep End

CENTCOM recently published a text-version (translated to English & original Arabic) of a 16 minute video released by al-Zawahiri entitled: "Message to the People of Pakistan". Basically, al-Zawahiri goes on a tangent against the Pakistani President Musharraf.

As a side note, Islam is still not a religion of peace. One of the verses quoted by Zawahiri is as follows: "Say to the Unbelievers, if they desist, their past would be forgiven them; but if they persist, the punishment of those before them is already. And fight them on until there is no more tumult or oppression, and there prevail justice and faith in Allah altogether and everywhere; but if they cease, verily Allah doth see all that they do. If they refuse, be sure that Allah is your Protector - the best to protect and the best to help." - Koranic verse: Sura 8:38-40.

Though his speech is drawn out, it is worth the read simply for a good laugh. Do keep in mind that the Taliban was originally a creation of the Pakistani government, but it eventually got out of control and is, rather, was what was established in Afghanistan in 2001.

Crispy

As the (Academic) Year Comes to a Close

I find myself reflecting, once again. This year has been chock full of a lot of growing. Granted, some of that was simply learning from mistakes that I'd rather not repeat. As a whole though, this has been a good academic year and I certainly learned a lot (not even speaking in relation to my "degree").

As a warning, don't expect much content for this summer. Here is a quick summary of my summer:
This coming week I'll be at Ft. Rucker, Alabama for a special physical exam. Upon arriving at home, I'll begin my criminal justice internship with a certain police department. On June 3rd, I won't even see a computer for about a month as I'll be flying out to do some special training. Once that is complete and I'm back home, I'll be resuming my internship. If I get that finished a week ahead of schedule, I'll report back to the college to help train some of the upcoming leaders where I will be busy straight up until classes start (with minimal sleep). If I don't get finished ahead of time, I'll have about a week to myself before I need to head back up to get ready for classes.

Yep, I'll have a thing or two to do this summer. I doubt I'll get bored very much. If I do manage to make some posts though (other than sporadic, 2-line updates), the stories from the internship should be pretty fun(ny).

Have a Great Summer!
Crispy

So This Is Justice, huh?

So, Moussaoui gets sentenced to only life in prison. I was actually partially surprised by this verdict. I was expecting him to have received the death penalty. Sometimes being the good guy sucks.

In all honesty though, I know that if, by chance, he survives long enough to make it to the prison, he'll probably be killed inside. And to correct the quote in the first paragraph, which Moussaoui declared on his way out of the courtroom after the sentence had been read, "American, you lost. I won." Such a quote reminds me of his other winner: "Every day until we get you." Well, Mr. Moussaoui, I'm sure other people will be saying that about you from now on. Good luck with that, and don't ever close your eyes.

Freedom Will Be Defended (sometimes by even the unlikely)
Crispy