Weekly Drill Down: Fifth Annual Milblog Conference, WikiLeaks and More
- Anybody else attend the Fifth Annual Milblog Conference in D.C.? Because Saving Abel did. (Not Your Average Brooklynette)
- Yet another breathtaking photo essay from Afghanistan. (Michael Yon)
- Here's the WikiLeaks video that has the mil-blogosphere (and just about everyone else) in an uproar. (Danger Room)
- An exhaustively thorough and completely excellent guide to digital camouflage. (Strike-Hold!)
- Everyone will want a bullet-proof T-shirt if it really does work. (Kit Up!)
- iPhone photos of war: It's amazing what a low-grade digital camera can capture. (Denver Post)
Photo Contest: Why Afghanistan Matters
Spring is here, and apparently photo contests are in the air. 'Tis true!
With two days left of the Converse Military Boots for Life Contest, many are scurrying to show off their oldest pair of boots. Despite similarities, the photo above isn't a contest entry for boots for life, but for another picture-based giveaway.
Taken by Senior Airman Kenny Holston of the U.S. Air Force, it shows an Afghan National Army soldier in an attention formation in southern Afghanistan. According to the photo caption, this soldier has worn the same pair of boots for five years while serving for the Afghan National Army.
The photo contest "Why Afghanistan Matters" seeks original photos of the country at war. Sponsored by the Joint Forces Command Burnssum in the Netherlands, it is determining the winners by four categories including beautiful Afghanistan, ANSF in action, people of Afghanistan and JSAF in Action.
Previously, the group held a YouTube contest where entrants made a short video explaining why Afghanistan matters. These contests are used to "promote transparency by empowering those who have seen the situation in Afghanistan first-hand to explain why the work we are collectively doing there is so important."
What do the winners of the photo contest receive? The grand prize is a Nikon D90 SLR with Nikon 18-200mm lens (a $1,500 value!). Four runners-up will each take home a digital compact camera worth $350.
The only downside is that this contest ends today! So, if you happen to have amazing, high-resolution photos in Afghanistan, e-mail it to afghanistanmatters [at] gmail [dot] com immediately. Be sure to include contact information and a short caption describing the photo.
Haven't been to Afghanistan lately? No worries. You can journey through its rugged terrain by viewing and voting on more than 300 contest photos. You get to help pick the winner, so be sure to vote for only the best. Voting ends April 30.
(Image via Why Afghanistan Matters)
Weekly Drill Down: ‘Merry Christmas from Afghanistan’ Song, Best of 2009 Lists and More
- "Merry Christmas from Afghanistan" takes original singer/songwriter/warrior to a whole new level. (Bouhammer)
- Discover the top stories in the milblogosphere of 2009. (Milblogging)
- Fight terrorism. Get paid? That's what the Christmas day plane bomb hero did. (Hearts And Minds)
- Sad, sad news in 2009 is a painful reminder of the realities of war. (Stars and Stripes)
- C.J.'s gives us a rather straight-forward year in review (with an even more straight-forward illustration). (A Soldier's Perspective)
- Abu Muqawama slips out of daily blogging retirement to share this. (Abu Muqawama)
- Take a real shot to ring in 2010 from the inventor of the AK-47 assault rifle. (Danger Room)
- It's a bird; it's a plane. No, it's Russia to the rescue?! (Defense Tech)
- Boeing expecting $31 billion in defense business from India. (DoD Buzz)
- Can you guess what the top 3 Soldier Systems shockers were for 2009? Didn't think so. (Soldier Systems)
- Tis the season for … snow camo! (Strike – Hold!)
- Oh, and lots of holiday cheer from ITS Tactical, General Petraeus and OPFOR.
Bloggers React to Obama’s Afghan Troop Surge
Everyone seems to have an opinion about President Barack Obama's decision to up the ante in Afghanistan. While The New York Times and The Atlantic Wire covered milbloggers initial reactions, we gave it a week to settle in. And, well, debates are still going strong (especially in the comments section!). Here's what some folks are saying.
Over at Abu Muqawama, Obama's speech wasn't as questionable as his reference to Eisenhower. "I do not know if President Eisenhower would have agreed with the current president's direction on Afghanistan, but I think he would have certainly recognized the considerations behind his decision-making process," writes Abu Muqawama.
The Dude, a contributor at Bouhammer.com, wrote an open letter to President Obama on Bouhammer.com. His letter starts out with: "Now that I’ve had a few days to ingest, digest, and perform my own mission analysis on your new plan for Afghanistan, I’m a bit concerned." He writes that his concerns come from his perspective of fighting in the Afghanistan-Pakistan border region. His biggest argument: What took you so long to decide to do this?
Commenter Alikat on SpouseBuzz brought up another interesting point: If we do set a timeline, won't the enemy be gearing up for a full-force effort after that point?
"In setting a prospective timeline for withdrawal the 'enemy' is also aware of when our troops will be pulling out," writes Alikat. "I'm plagued by self-imposed questions of 'How will this affect us all when the time for withdrawal does arrive?' and 'What if the withdrawal isn't successful, for one reason or another?'
Another commenter, Elton, at Small Wars Journal thinks the U.S. has "no vital interest in Afghanistan." He believes that the U.S. troops in Afghanistan will only delay the inevitable. "The fight between the Taliban and the Afghan gov't will happen without our presence," he writes.
Want to rehash the speech yourself? Watch it below. Or read the transcript here.
(Image via Wikimedia Commons)
10 Holiday Gifts to Send Our Troops
Everybody loves getting gifts, but there's nothing quite like ripping open a package sent by someone you love from the place you miss the most. Especially if it's something that you really need and something that is nowhere to be found in Afghanistan, Iraq or wherever you may be stationed.
Looking to send a care package to a deployed service member without a specific troop in mind? The DoD advises identifying someone through family and friends since you can no longer send packages addressed to "Any Soldier." You can also partner with an America Supports You homefront group found here, which can connect you with a unit and provide a list of desired items.
Meanwhile, we received top intel from a former marine who spent his fair share of holidays overseas. He gave us the 411 on some of the most-requested items that would make for perfect gifts this holiday season.
1. Books/Magazines
Paperback books and magazines are excellent, no-batteries-required ways to stay in-the-know and give a quick, much-needed escape from reality. Just don't send books from the Twilight series, since those on the receiving end will likely be publicly ridiculed.
2. Toilet paper
This might seem like some strange gag gift. It's not. Think of how you feel when you go to grab a wad of Charmin and find an empty roll. Not such a good feeling, right?
Continue reading "10 Holiday Gifts to Send Your Troops"
Weekly Drill-Down: David Letterman’s Marines Top 10, Military Tweeps on CNN and More
- 60 Minutes takes us bomb hunting in Afghanistan to find "The Deadliest Weapon." (Military Photos)
- CNN features military tweeps and their take on the Fort Hood tragedy. (Milblogging)
- Are underage soldiers fighting for Afghanistan's National Army? (Bouhammer)
- New camo for the Army in Afghanistan is revealed. (Defense Tech)
- MIA bomb-fighting doggy found alive in Afghanistan. (Danger Room)
- PHOTO: Nothing like an afternoon game of Spades overseas. (Line of Sight)
- A mil-blogger's take on the upcoming military film "The Messenger." (Not Your Average Brooklynette via Milblogging)
Weekly Drill-Down: The Warrior Song, Fort Hood Coverage and More
- Hey veterans: Don't miss out on these awesome Veterans Day deals! (Bouhammer, Paycheck Chronicles)
- Ah, memory lane: One of the most prolific military bloggers recalls his 10 favorite experiences doing what he does best -- blog. (Milblogging)
- So long, A Soldiers Perspective. You will be totally and completely missed!! (A Soldier's Perspective)
- Today the Marine Corps turns 234 years old. Happy Birthday, Marines! (SpouseBUZZ)
- Photo essay: See Afghanistan through the eyes of a U.S. Army National Guard member. (DoD News via Milblogging)
- Attack of the droid armies? Perhaps. (Custom Gear Report)
**Special Fort Hood Coverage**
- What Fort Hood did for Muslims in the military. (Stars & Stripes)
- A look at a gun -- aptly dubbed a "cop-killer" gun -- that has killed so many. (Danger Room)
- Want a minute-by-minute account of the horrible events as they transpired? (Vet Voice)
Weekly Drill-Down
Projectile Detection Cueing (PDCue)
MilitaryBoots Blog peeks at our favorite neighbors in the blogosphere to find out what they're tapping about.
- What were the top 10 technologies of 2008 recognized by the Army? (Army.mil)
- Watch out king of Nigeria, there’s a new scam online … for military dating! (A Soldier’s Perspective)
- The Army continues its quest to conquer social media with a new technology blog. (Miliblogging.com)
- British explosives expert is killed while defusing a bomb in Afghanistan. (The Guardian)
- Congress gives military spouses some extra love. (Stars and Stripes)
- The Pentagon is rushing all-terrain, lighter vehicles to Afghanistan. (AFP)
- Army Research Laboratory physicists work on seeing what’s not exactly visible with “ghost” imaging. (GlobalSecurity.org)
- Why shouldn’t civilians fly again? This is a definite flying FAIL. (FlightLines)
Weekly Drill-Down
MilitaryBoots Blog peeks at our favorite neighbors in the blogosphere to find out what they’re tapping about.
- The Pentagon warms up just a little and considers allowing troops to access more social media. (Danger Room)
- What's Obama not doing now? You can decide with this week's edition of the Military Times caption contest. (Military Times)
- Former Pentagon spokesman Ken Bacon is remembered. (The Line of Departure)
- Michael Yon gives an insider's look at Afghanistan with a letter from a well-placed officer. (Michael Yon)
- The National Guard's twitter account is finally seeing some action. (Milblogging)
- Guest blogger and former Boy Scout lays out the essentials for what to keep with you EVERY DAY. (ITS Tactical)
- Blue Angels fly high during San Francisco’s Fleet Week. (Navy Gold)