Gen. Petraeus; values, integrity - rinse, repeat

A lot of folks have quoted bit and pieces. Read in whole. If you don't want to let the surge work for Bush, at least make it work for this man.

10 May 2007

Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, Marines, and Coast Guardsmen serving in Multi-National Force—Iraq:

Our values and the laws governing warfare teach us to respect human dignity, maintain our integrity, and do what is right. Adherence to our values distinguishes us from our enemy. This fight depends on securing the population, which must understand that we—not our enemies—occupy the moral high ground. This strategy has shown results in recent months. Al Qaeda’s indiscriminate attacks, for example, have finally started to turn a substantial portion of the Iraqi population against it.

In view of this, I was concerned by the results of a recently released survey conducted last fall in Iraq that revealed an apparent unwillingness on the part of some US personnel to report illegal actions taken by fellow members of their units. The study also indicated that a small percentage of those surveyed may have mistreated noncombatants. This survey should spur reflection on our conduct in combat.

I fully appreciate the emotions that one experiences in Iraq.

I also know firsthand the bonds between members of the “brotherhood of the close fight.” Seeing a fellow trooper killed by a barbaric enemy can spark frustration, anger, and a desire for immediate revenge. As hard as it might be, however, we must not let these emotions lead us—or our comrades in arms—to commit hasty, illegal actions. In the event that we witness or hear of such actions, we must not let our bonds prevent us from speaking up.

Some may argue that we would be more effective if we sanctioned torture or other expedient methods to obtain information from the enemy. They would be wrong. Beyond the basic fact that such actions are illegal, history shows that they also are frequently neither useful nor necessary. Certainly, extreme physical action can make someone “talk”; however, what the individual says may be of questionable value. In fact our experience in applying the interrogation standards laid out in the Army Field Manual (2-22.3) on Human Intelligence Collector Operations that was published last year shows that the techniques in the manual work effectively and humanely in eliciting information from detainees.

We are, indeed, warriors. We train to kill our enemies. We are engaged in combat, we must pursue the enemy relentlessly, and we must be violent at times. What sets us apart from our enemies in this fight, however, is how we behave. In everything we do, we must observe the standards and values that dictate that we treat noncombatants and detainees with dignity and respect. While we are warriors, we are also all human beings. Stress caused by lengthy deployments and combat is not a sign of weakness; it is a sign that we are human. If you feel such stress, do not hesitate to talk to your chain of command, your chaplain, or a medical expert.

We should use the survey results to renew our commitment to the values and standards that make us who we are and to spur re-examination of these issues. Leaders, in particular, need to discuss these issues with their troopers—and, as always, they need to set the right example and strive to ensure proper conduct. We should never underestimate the importance of good leadership and the difference it can make.

Thanks for what you continue to do. It is an honor to serve with each of you.

David H. Petraeus
General, United States Army
Commanding

Hat tip and link for the first time since May '05; yes Andrew Sullivan.

They don't get it, do they?

I am with RedState on this.

Remember my pre-election rant that even got a link from the now-Obama supporter Commissar? Remember what I said?

Let the Dems win in ’06. They don’t deserve to win – but the Republicans deserve to loose. Let them run wild for two years and then give the American people a choice in ’08.
...
The Republicans decided on these leaders; they have been measured and found wanting. The Dems do offer something this election cycle: a chance to get rid of the Republican leadership. Sometimes, even the ones you love need a swift kick in the a55. The Republic will survive 24 months of Dem power in Congress.

I stand by every bit, and it looks like the Republicans didn't learn a d@mn thing. They disgusted much of the solid Republican base with their "going native" and nod to corruption and rot in their own house.

I sent no money to the Republicans last cycle as a protest - and they are not looking any better this time. We are about to have a RedState swarm here (because he has done such a great job); so standby.

First salvo:

The House Republican Leadership just does not get it and they will not take us seriously until we flex our muscle against them. We must fight the House GOP and we must fight today.

Today, I declare war on the Republican Leadership of the United States House of Representatives. We must scalp one member. That member's name is Ken Calvert.

When John Doolittle had to step down from the House Appropriations Committee because of a corruption investigation, the House GOP gave the nod to Calvert.

In 2005, Calvert and a partner paid $550,000 for 4.3 acres of land. Calvert then used his earmarking powers to secure $8 million in funds for an interstate exchange on the property. He then sold the property for about $1 million.

Also in 2005, a business partner of Calvert's bought additional land that Calvert's earmarks benefited. When the property was sold, a firm financially connected to Calvert received a commission for the sale.

In 2006, Calvert engaged in other shady land deals. The list goes.

I won't even go in to his arrest for soliciting a prostitute.

I wasn't real happy when Rep. Boehner was elected as Minority Leader, as he was part of the team that made the '06 election happen. He seems to have met the low expectations I had of him;

John Boehner, do you remember writing these words when you ran for Minority Leader:

Nothing was more appalling to me than the fact that three of our own Members brazenly sold out our country, our Conference, and the fate of our colleagues for personal enrichment or in one case, personal perversion. In 1994 we made it clear we wouldn't tolerate such activity, and showed our differences with the Democrats, by changing our rules to deny prime leadership and committee positions from any Member who had been indicted.

The problem is that this isn't good enough any more. Voters correctly expect more from us, and we should expect more from each other.

Then why put Ken Calvert on Appropriations when there were other people with less baggage? Who could you have chosen? Joe Wilson (R-SC) or Henry Brown (R-SC) or several others.

Joe Wilson's son fought in Iraq. It'd be a freaking PR coup to put him on Appropriations while the Dems are trying to defund the war.

The Republicans did not make a clean break - and this is what happened - they refuse to learn.Keep this up - and they will lose again - and deserve it - and the country will suffer. We expect Democrats to act that way, not the other party.

There is hope, at least some felt the cluebat.

According to a Republican inside the room, Rep. Ray LaHood (R-Ill.) encouraged members to “not go back,” reminding them of the heavy toll ethical scandals took during the 2006 election cycle.

“We lost the last election because of corruption,” LaHood reportedly said.

LaHood confirmed that he spoke out against Calvert during the Steering Committee meeting yesterday, saying his 25 years in the House — 12 as a staff member and 13 as a lawmaker — were factors in his objection.

“I care a lot about the House of Representatives, I care a lot about our members and once someone is ethically challenged and gets in trouble it effects all of us,” he said. “I appreciate the high ethical standards that [Boehner] has set ... but I believe the bar was lowered today when our conference chose to vote Ken Calvert onto the Appropriations Committee.”

What he said.

This party of ours must be pruned and it must be pruned by those of us who care about it before meeting the butchers' shears in the hands of the voters again in 2008. This pruning will make us stronger. It may not look pretty. It will not be pretty. But for the long term health of our Republican Party, it must be done.

Hey, I could be and idiot, I might be - but one thing I have learned in roughly two decades of service is to tell when an organization has poor leadership. The symptoms are the same. The results are the same.

As for leadership; don't get me started with the Senate.

Funniest Navy Picture of the Year

This is an all hands call for captions. When I saw this over at Bubblehead's, I about fell out of my chair laughing. I am at a total loss for what is more funny; what the CNO is doing with his fingers, what the MCPON is thinking with that expression on his face, the PO1 who REALLY wishes he didn't have to change out of his poopy-suit, and does not like that his breakfast was being interrupted - or the Seaman behind the CNO's left elbow who just isn't buying any of what is being said.

This is where the culture behind "Hey Shipwreck" comes from.

USS Frank Cable initial accident report in.

From press reports (here, here, here, here) the initial look at the steam incident on the USS Frank Cable is in. About what many expected.

I'll let you read the reports above, and I am not going to dig too deep - Chief Dulay died of his burns 01 MAY - but I will comment on this: we owe it to those who are injured and killed in accidents to look hard at what could be done better, what wasn't done - and why.

Corroded tubing that ruptured during a safety valve check of boilers aboard the submarine tender Frank Cable was the “root cause” of the Dec. 1 steam explosion that seriously burned six sailors, according to a recently completed investigation report.

Two sailors later died of their injuries.

Under what the report termed a “false sense of urgency,” the engineering department sought to “complete some outstanding maintenance, specifically number one boiler safety valve lift checks,” before the day was over.

As the maintenance check began in the early evening, with the visitors off the ship, 14 sailors were in the compartment with the boilers, or the “fireroom.” Early in the test, with steam pressure increasing in the No. 1 boiler, and “no lifting of the safety valve,” a section of the boiler system “split open, emptying the contents of the boiler inside the contents of the fireroom.”

Boiler No. 1’s support tubes failed, releasing steam into the boiler’s firebox and sweeping unburned fuel vapors into the stack, where they ignited.

The stack sent hot steam into the fireroom where 14 sailors were acting as technicians, standing watch or observing the safety check, the report said.

The sailors reacted quickly.

“Watchstanders immediately took action to secure the boiler to prevent further damage and exited the fireroom,” the report states.

All but one sailor who’d been in the fireroom were injured. Six were burned seriously enough to be evacuated to Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio.

Machinery Repairman 3rd Class Jack Valentine died of his injuries less than a week later, on Dec. 7.

Chief Machinist’s Mate Delfin Dulay died at Brooke Army Medical Center on May 1.

Among the criticisms leveled in the report are that local ambulances took “47 to 70 minutes” to fully respond to the casualties; that sailors’ coveralls did not offer adequate protection; and that the ship’s stretcher inventory was inadequate for a mass casualty event.

While the reviewing officer holds the opinion that the crew’s response was “satisfactory,” he points out that “most fireroom watchstanders did not don” Emergency Escape Breathing Devices.

In the recommendations submitted by the initial reviewing officer, the commanding officer and the chief engineer committed “errors in judgment” by allowing the safety valve maintenance despite reported deficiencies in the system and both “should be reviewed for administrative or disciplinary action.”

The chief engineer and the executive officer are recommended for similar review for failure to train sailors in evacuating the main space that “may have lead to more serious injuries.”

Four of the 14 sailors had no documented emergency exit training out of the fireroom and no one could recall having a mass training on the subject since 2003, the report said.

The report vindicated the sailors hurt in the tragedy, saying that their injuries were suffered in the line of duty, not through misconduct.

Neither the CO, XO, or CENG were onboard when this took place. Steam incidents like this give me the cold sweats. I am so glad most all steam plants are gone - they give me the willies because I truly fear steam. Respect isn't enough for me - I fear it.

In that light, the following needs to be taken on board by everyone when they get a chance to look at the nuts and bolts of being a Sailor when they get through all the flotsam and jetsam we make people go through on a day to day basis that has nothing to do with making a ship ready to go in harm's way.

sailors’ coveralls did not offer adequate protection; and that the ship’s stretcher inventory was inadequate for a mass casualty event

Ahem. At least Task Force Uniform has us in SA like khaki and black.

Some of the Sailors did not have emergency training. Here are the report's recommendations.

The following are recommendations endorsed by Command Submarine Group, Pacific Fleet for the USS Frank Cable.

1. The commanding officer and the chief engineer errors in judgment allowing the ship to steam No. 1 boiler in order to perform safety valve maintenance before determining the cause of chemistry concentration and abnormal feedwater consumption of the number one boiler should be reviewed for administration or disciplinary action.

2. The executive officer and chief engineer’s failure to conduct proper mainspace (fireroom) and evacuation training may have led to more serious injuries and said failure should be reviewed for administrative or disciplinary action.

3. Several sailors should be commended and recognized for their admirable effort to secure the boiler to prevent further damage to the ship, to assist other sailors with evacuation from the fireroom and to provide first aid to wounded shipmates. A board should be convened to review personnel actions to determine if awards or recognition is warranted.

4. The No. 2 steam drum safety valve should be removed and “hot-tested” prior to reuse.

5. Naval Safety Center evaluate and promulgate best practices for EEBD’s (Emergency Escape Breathing Devices) available to watch standers.

6. That any incomplete actions listed in the preliminary statement be acted upon.

7. BUMED evaluate which stretcher is best suited for medical transport of sailors aboard ship when taking into consideration the possible accompanying on oxygen bottles, and traveling up and down steep ladderwells.

8. BUMED evaluate capability of medical facilities on Guam to respond to a mass casualty.

9. The ship should conduct recurring, meaningful and realistic evacuation drills.

10. The Frank Cable’s engineering department should be evaluated on training, watch standing, maintenance and risk management practice.

11. A training plan should be developed for submarine tenders holding to the same standards of other surface ships with steam plants, but tailored to a submarine tender’s unique parameters.

And we have more units going to Guam - they need to cowboy up, now.

Among the criticisms leveled in the report are that local ambulances took "47 to 70 minutes" to fully respond to the casualties; that sailors' coveralls did not offer adequate protection; and that the ship's stretcher inventory was inadequate for a mass casualty event.

No excuse. If you want better reporting on this, I recommend a visit to Bubblehead's place.

Sic semper tyrannis

Dead.

Sunday Funnies

I not cheezburger

My try.



Why? Source. Make your own.

Hat tip Chap.