Space Porn...NASA's new heavy lift rocket.

Tigre beauty shots...

Pic of the day. 9/14/2011

Photo by LCpl Ryan Carpenter

11th MEU begins second sea period since becoming a MAGTF

Light Combat Tactical - All Terrain Vehicle

LATV_Bro_9-9-2011

31st MEU trains for airfield seizure..

Rangers----82nd Airborne---watch out------we're training to do your mission....all photos by 2nd Lt. Dave Baugh

Marines from Company E, Battalion Landing Team 2nd Battalion, 7th Marines, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, unload from a CH-46E Sea Knight helicopter of Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 265 (Reinforced), also with the MEU, during a mock airfield seizure here, Sept. 9. The helicopter raid exercise is part of a series of training events to prepare the 31st MEU for its upcoming deployment.

Marines from Company E, Battalion Landing Team 2nd Battalion, 7th Marines, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, prepare to breach and secure a room during a mock airfield seizure here Sept. 9. This helicopter raid exercise, which integrates both the air combat element and the battalion landing team of the 31st MEU, is part of a series of training events to prepare the Marines for its upcoming deployment.

Marines from Company E, Battalion Landing Team 2nd Battalion, 7th Marines, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, are extracted by a CH-46E Sea Knight helicopter, part of Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 265(Reinforced) during a mock airfield seizure here, Sept. 9. The helicopter raid exercise is part of a series of training events to prepare the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit for upcoming deployment.

Marines from Company E, Battalion Landing Team 2nd Battalion, 7th Marines, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, assault the airfield here during a mock seizure, Sept. 9. The helicopter raid exercise is part of a series of training events to prepare the 31st MEU for its upcoming deployment.

Pic of the day. One wrong step and you're a medivac...

U.S. Army Soldiers begin their descent from the summit of "Big Nasty," a mountain in Paktika province, Afghanistan, Sept. 8, 2011. The soldiers are assigned to Company C, 3rd Battalion, 66th Armor Regiment, 172nd Infantry Brigade. The unit was on a joint mission with the Afghan army and border patrol in the mountains near the Pakistan border. U.S. Army photo by Spc. Ken Scar

 

 

Wow.

Terrible terrain. 

A challenging patrol problem.

Mountains suck but at least its not winter...

It feels....off....

Is it me or does something seem off about the remembrance events that are being held around the nation with regards to the 9/11 attack?

Its not political.

Its not regional.

Its not a statement about the times that we live in (at least I don't think that it is)...but something about it seems --- not real ---- almost artificial.

I won't forget the events of that day.  I will always remember where I was when I got word of the attack.

But I also can't shake the feeling that this is more of an orchestrated rather than heartfelt occasion.

I could easily be wrong though and if I am wrong then good.  But if I'm right...

*UPDATE*

Now I know why this feels off to me.  Its because the story as we're being told it, is incomplete.  There is alot more to be said about the events of that day...there are still people AND nations that should be held accountable and we haven't done it.

What do I mean?

Check out this article from BlackFive.

The public knows who the skyjackers were but knows little about their support teams in country nor the nations which sponsored them. All of that needs to be exposed and the people involved hunted down and killed. And that trail will lead back to Saudi Arabia, the author of this religious war of terror.

Am I saying that we should declare war on Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and Iran?  No.  Am I saying that we can't have a proper remembrance event until we're honest with ourselves about who was behind these attacks?  Yes!  We need to have an adult conversation about this and we're not even close yet.