Just depends on what day it is....
Tuesday, October 21, 2008
Credit Markets Continue to Thaw Out
The lending rates between banks in the U.S. and Europe have dropped to the lowest levels in over a month as credit markets continue to improve.
The rate on three-month loans in dollars has slumped 0.23 percentage points to 3.83%. The so-called European Interbank Offered Rate for three-month euro-denominated loans has fallen 0.03 percentage points to 4.968%.
That is the first time the euro rate has dipped below 5.00% since Sept. 18, when it shot higher after U.S. investment bank Lehman Brothers collapsed.
Interbank rates are important because they affect the cost of loans to businesses and individuals. They skyrocketed in recent months as banks worried that other lenders might collapse.
After massive intervention from governments and central banks, that worry is slowly fading.
The rate on three-month loans in dollars has slumped 0.23 percentage points to 3.83%. The so-called European Interbank Offered Rate for three-month euro-denominated loans has fallen 0.03 percentage points to 4.968%.
That is the first time the euro rate has dipped below 5.00% since Sept. 18, when it shot higher after U.S. investment bank Lehman Brothers collapsed.
Interbank rates are important because they affect the cost of loans to businesses and individuals. They skyrocketed in recent months as banks worried that other lenders might collapse.
After massive intervention from governments and central banks, that worry is slowly fading.
JOE D'OH PUTS O IN 'CRISIS' MODE
Joe Biden warned that America's enemies would test Barack Obama with an international crisis within six months if he's elected president - a shocking comment John McCain eagerly pounced on yesterday to claim Obama isn't ready to be commander-in-chief.
Monday, October 20, 2008
U.S. Marine Lt. Col. Richard Hall: Enemy Engagements Decrease for Marines in Afghanistan
Enemy Engagements Decrease for Marines in Afghanistan
By Navy Seaman William Selby
Special to American Forces Press Service
WASHINGTON, Oct. 17, 2008 – As the 2nd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment continues to enhance security in Afghanistan, Marines there are experiencing decreased enemy engagements, the battalion’s commander said yesterday.
“We’ve killed or captured a lot of the [Taliban’s] leadership,” U.S. Marine Lt. Col. Richard Hall, commander of Task Force 2D Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, told bloggers during a teleconference.
Other possible reasons Hall cited for fewer engagements include the recent Muslim holiday of Ramadan, the beginning of winter in Afghanistan and the enhanced efforts of the Afghan National Police.
“We’ve now trained over 800 Afghan National Police and have placed them in various districts,” he said.
Most people think that training and mentoring are not critical parts of counterinsurgency operations, when in fact, they are a subset, Hall said.
“The first thing is the force comes in here and establishes themselves and initiates the security piece, then what we had to do is we had to concurrently do the training and mentoring” of the police, he said.
In addition to training, the Marines have initiated several other long- and short-term projects under strategies they call “focused district development” and “in-district reform.”
The Marines have enhanced the Afghan economy, opened mosques, built schools, and are hoping to build a road, although that may not happen soon, Hall said.
“We’re hoping to build a road here, probably not on our watch, but certainly on our replacements’ watch,” Hall said. The 2nd Battalion, 7th Marines will be replaced by the 3rd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment in the near future.
Hall said that while he is constantly seeing improvement in his districts, there are still several challenges, specifically in recruiting for the Afghan police.
“We really need to recruit from districts in which we are going to replace those [police],” Hall added. “They get a good education, they come back, and there’s an immediate change in the district when they go out there. All our guys that mentor them when they’re back out in their districts have noted the significant improvements that are made.”
As the Marine units prepare to rotate, a top priority is ensuring that the Afghan recruitment is done right.
“I think we got it right now,” said Hall. “The next evolutions [in reform and development of districts] are going to be much more successful, and so it will be the way of the future in emplacing these [police] in the districts, which becomes a foundation for governance at the district level.”
To set the stage for the incoming Marine unit, Hall said his Marines would prepare training on lessons learned.
“We want to give them the proper introduction to the history, teach them the techniques and procedures that will keep them alive,” Hall said. “And we owe that to our brothers.”
In order to be successful, the 3rd Battalion, 8th Marines have to continue to do what the 2nd Battalion, 7th Marines have done - focus on the Afghan people, Hall said.
“We have focused on the enduring effort, those things that will last, those operations which create a foundation for the future, like building schools, educating people, building roads, providing jobs, and aiding commerce,” he said.
(Navy Seaman William Selby works for the New Media branch of the Defense Media Activity)
Hero: Sergeant Jack Bodani
On a mission in Afghanistan, then-Specialist Jack Bodani was in an up-armored humvee column when a massive explosion ripped through his vehicle, engulfing it in a fireball. Simultaneously, automatic weapons fire and well-aimed mortar rounds began hitting dangerously close to the convoy. Bodani, burned on the face and neck from the conflagration, got out of the vehicle and immediately helped another trapped soldier escape.
Safely evacuating the first soldier away from the vehicle, Bodani realized there was another unaccounted for, so he disregarded his own wounds and again ran back to the burning vehicle. At the humvee, the heat of the fire reached a critical temperature and ordinance and rifle ammunition began exploding in every direction. From the east, insurgent attacker became increasingly accurate with their weapons fire. Ignoring all of this, Bodani, and with the aid of another, extracted the dazed soldier.
Still in the height of the ambush and far from safety, Bodani reached for a rifle at the casualty collection point and provided vital security from the brazen enemy fighters. Because of Bodani’s brave acts, the wounded soldiers survived to receive a medevac and receive the urgent care they needed.
Then-Specialist Jack Bodani was awarded the Bronze Star with Valor for his courageous actions.
The Bronze Star
Background: President Roosevelt authorized the Bronze Star Medal by Executive Order 9419 dated Feb. 4, 1944, retroactive to Dec. 7, 1941. This authorization was announced in War Department Bulletin No. 3, dated Feb. 10, 1944. The executive order was amended by President Kennedy, per Executive Order 11046 dated Aug. 24, 1962, to expand the authorization to include those serving with friendly forces.
Criteria: The Bronze Star Medal is awarded to any person who, while serving in any capacity in or with the military of the United States after Dec. 6, 1941, distinguished himself or herself by heroic or meritorious achievement or service, not involving participation in aerial flight, while engaged in an action against an enemy of the United States; while engaged in military operations involving conflict with an opposing foreign force; or while serving with friendly foreign forces engaged in an armed conflict against an opposing armed force in which the United States is not a belligerent party.
Hero Support: Air Compassion For Veterans
The mission and purpose of Air Compassion For Veterans is to ensure that no financially stressed veteran / active duty military person or their family member(s) is denied access to distant specialized medical evaluation, diagnosis, treatment, or rehabilitation for lack of a means of long-distance medical air transportation. ACV is committed to the ongoing healing process of our wounded warriors and will provide transport for activities that aid in the process.
There are various ways to give to Air Compassion For Veterans. Make your gift to help our wounded warriors online. Use your credit card through our secure server by clicking on HERE.
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Virginia Beach, VA 23455
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Give through the Combined Federal Campaign
Give to the ACV Program in the CFC by designating Mercy Medical Airlift which is CFC #11844
US Airways Miles of Hope Program
Help us help veteran patients in need of distant transportation by donating to the US Airways Miles of Hope Program. Click on the US Airways link below and donate to the Air Charity Network.
For more information on giving to Air Compassion For Veterans please contact us at 757-318-9174 ext. 205.
Marcus Aelius Aurelius
"Loss is nothing else but change, and change is Nature's delight."
-- Marcus Aelius Aurelius
-- Marcus Aelius Aurelius
Nietzsche
"Believe me! The secret of reaping the greatest fruitfulness and the greatest enjoyment from life is to live dangerously!"
-- Friedrich Wilhelm Nietzsche
-- Friedrich Wilhelm Nietzsche
The Real Plumbers of Ohio by Paul Krugman
Krugman says the avg. plumber in Ohio only made about $48k in 2007. On a 40 hour week that's just $23 an hour. Can someone please give me that plumbers phone #?
Geez I can't even get my lawn mowed for $23. A plumber here is $80 an hour plus a trip charge of $75 with a minimum of $150.00...but then everything is bigger in Texas, either that or there is just that much more s*** here in Texas!!!!
Geez I can't even get my lawn mowed for $23. A plumber here is $80 an hour plus a trip charge of $75 with a minimum of $150.00...but then everything is bigger in Texas, either that or there is just that much more s*** here in Texas!!!!
Michael Yon Has A New Post
Please remember Michael is able to do this work by your donations. His work is critical, in my opinion, to our ability to capture a better idea of what is happening on the ground.
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