Bicycle Free Zone!

"what are you guys, jawas?" haha

Totten is a national treasure!

Wow !

Totten, my annual contribution has just been made. Keep up the great coverage.
BIG KISS.

Read that article earlier - excellent work as is typical of Totten.

Don't know why he hasn't been put in major syndication.

re: #6 karmic_inquisitor

Read that article earlier - excellent work as is typical of Totten.

Don't know why he hasn't been put in major syndication.

Because he writes with truth, unlike a majority of current mainstream journalists.

re: #7 MrSilverDragon

Because he writes with truth, unlike a majority of current mainstream journalists.

And first-hand observation, not questionable reports from dubious stringers.

Any media outlet that decided to syndicate him, I think would end up with a major readership spike.

Absolutely gripping story (read it just a couple days ago)...

Points out a couple things that still need a good deal of improvement in Iraq though. It's quite the contrast to Michael Yon's optimism (as Totten himself will point out).

I discovered Totten through LGF, and I'm quite a big fan.

Excellent work, as usual. I want to see him do a story on the schools built, the little spots of sunshine that our troops have created or enabled. Like the one he did on Kosovo (although I realize Iraq is still at early stages of rehab compared to Kosovo). The press just won't do a story re something that facilitates normal life that our troops are proud of. I was hoping Michael would do that, but he's still out on door kicking patrols. He's the best, though. I've been sending his link to everyone I know.

-- “If your men conduct any raids,” I said to Captain Todd Looney at Combat Outpost Ford on the outskirts of Sadr City, Baghdad, “I want to go.”

Looney US troops are killing civilians in Iraq!

/CodePink

re: #9 Joo-LiZ

Any media outlet that decided to syndicate him, I think would end up with a major readership spike.

I think a couple have tried, and he turned them down because of the restrictions and editing.

Thanks for this link, Charles

And I hit the jar.

To be fair, the MSM is just waiting for the official end of 2008 so they can contrast and compare murders in Baghdad vs. murders in Detroit or Philly for the same timeframe proving that Iraq is now as safe as American cities, just like President Bush predicted! It will be the MSM's parting gift to the President that they have wholeheartedly supported for 2 wonderful terms !

/// geeezzz ,, sometimes I scare even myself !

Hats off to Mr. Totten and especially to our guys over there.

bbiaw. Have to go get the car out of the shop. Alternator fried yesterday on the way home from work. $130.00 tow, $147.00 labor and $87.00 for the alternator. Christmas just got a little leaner.

I heard Captain Looney's voice in the back room where the women and children had been corralled. The woman who had screamed when her door was broken down was crying hysterically.

“I've been in Iraq too long for your crying to affect me,” Captain Looney said in a hard, even, and no-bullshit tone of voice.

She stopped crying instantly. She didn't even continue to sob. She just stopped as if the captain had flipped off a switch.

re: #18 Bubblehead II

bbiaw. Have to go get the car out of the shop. Alternator fried yesterday on the way home from work. $130.00 tow, $147.00 labor and $87.00 for the alternator. Christmas just got a little leaner.

AAA.,,, best $75 I spend every year!

re: #9 Joo-LiZ

Any media outlet that decided to syndicate him, I think would end up with a major readership spike.

He's on PJTV [Link: www.pjtv.com...]

And Commentary [Link: www.commentarymagazine.com...]

I have to protect the Army's operational security, so I cannot tell you how the suspect was spotted. But I can tell you that if I were a terrorist or insurgent in Iraq, and if I knew what kind of sophisticated high-tech surveillance equipment the Americans used as a matter of course, it would scare the living daylights out of me. No one can hide in Iraq forever from the American military.

Now tell me that sentence doesn't warm the cockles of your lizardoid heart.

re: #20 sattv4u2

AAA.,,, best $75 I spend every year!

That is just what I was going to post! BHII would have paid for AAA for two years with just one tow.

Well worth the money!

So in a music forum I read people got started arguing over Iraq, one is enthusiastic about progress and the other replied with this:

I don't claim zero chance of success. You have to torture your own misinterpretation of my actual words to even reach that.
I have said to basic things in recent replies. One is that it doesn't matter if you cheerlead the effort or not since that has no bearing on outcome. Two is that we have failed. Actual results so far. Failure. Expected future results: no better than past and current results. We have shown what we are capable of over the last several years. That we should spontaneously become more capable at some mysterious future time, but really soon, right!, is highly unlikely. I'll go so far as to say it's stupid to think future outcomes will be markedly better than past and present ones. Delusion is the word.

Now if that isn't a whole bowl of crazy I don't know what is. And this is from an American.

I almost wanted to respond 'Hey who gave Harry Reid an account?'

Slum dogs barked and charged from every direction. Captain Looney pointed his rifle at one. I saw a red laser dot on its side.

Please don't shoot the dog.

I didn't want to see a dog shot right in front of me[...]

An aside; slum dogs the world over will usually retreat if you stoop as if to pick up a stone.

Totten is a hell of a lot more worthy of a "Person of the Year" title than Barry ever will be.

re: #23 Occasional Reader

Now tell me that sentence doesn't warm the cockles of your lizardoid heart.

I'm waiting just waiting for these toys (Israel develops them, too) to result in a story saying that the Sderot rocketeers fired rockets and darn if they didn't get shot out of the sky and the launch site hit (actually, they seem to be hitting the launch sites much faster lately).

Good thread and glad to have it here. Went to lunch and came back to find a flame war on the bicycle thread. Now that BHO is coming in, even with the same SecDef, the MSM coverage of our troops will I predict turn on a dime, Totten will be very popular with Publishers and Producers if he so chooses.

I sure hope Obama, Pelosi and Reid don't find a way to lose this war.

re: #24 Outrider

That is just what I was going to post! BHII would have paid for AAA for two years with just one tow.

Well worth the money!

Been signed up for over 15 years now. About 10 years ago, I discovered that you don't even need your card most of the time, so I cancelled the "associates membership", have my wife carry the current card and I have the expired one with me just for their emergency # and my account #. Anytime I've had to use the 'old card" the guy that comes out just takes the number, calls AAA and it's fine (because they have my "new" expiration on file) I know, its kinds cheating the system

BAD SATT ,, BAD BAD BAD

re: #29 buzzsawmonkey

"Slumdogs" is a good rock band name.

Or a movie.

re: #32 experiencedtraveller

I sure hope Obama, Pelosi and Reid don't find a way to lose this war.

You mean like a complete pullot within 6 months?

Totten has earned the respect of the soldiers.
This moment must have been quite uncomfortable for Totten. Do you go or do you dare stay with just your camera in your hand...

"Do I need to go over the 7 ft concrete wall), too?”
ready to take orders from even a private.

“Yes, sir,” he said, whoever he was. “You need to go over.”...

“Why the fuck are you here voluntarily?” Captain Looney said to me.

Thank you so much Michael Totten for your resolve to cover this war with such
truth and clarity to share with everyone who appreciates those virtues...
Bless you and stay safe.

Michael desperately needs an IR lens and a pair of night vision googles for
Christmas!

Of course, all the Pulitzers for Iraq reporting will be awarded to journalists who do their investigation from the bar at the al-Rasheed Hotel.

Totten's got big brass ones; they wouldn't understand him.

re: #32 experiencedtraveller

I sure hope Obama, Pelosi and Reid don't find a way to lose this war.

They all sure tried their hardest over the past few years, didn't they? I think reality has sunk in with Obama, he knows he cannot do what he was telling the KOS/MoveOn/Looney Left during the primaries. At least, I hope he knows...

Wow, that could have turned out very differently if they had really had come up on the bad guy's meeting in that house. Scary.

Thank God for the American military and also Totten for bringing us the truth from Iraq, and not hyperbolic garbage.

Hit the tip jar, so Totten can buy some fricckin' night vision goggles!

re: #35 Kragar (Proud to be Kafir)

You mean like a complete pullot within 6 months?

Yes. Or they could find something even dumber.

From the article:

“I've been in Iraq too long for your crying to affect me,” Captain Looney said in a hard, even, and no-bullshit tone of voice.

She stopped crying instantly. She didn't even continue to sob. She just stopped as if the captain had flipped off a switch.

Performing thus for the quisling media in the USA.

re: #37 Occasional Reader

Of course, all the Pulitzers for Iraq reporting will be awarded to journalists who do their investigation from the bar at the al-Rasheed Hotel.

Totten's got big brass ones; they wouldn't understand him.

And where did he find them? I was looking for his bio, but couldn't see it right away on his blog. I think he's an Oregon boy (definite Blue state, but he is oh so reasonable). And he was a tech writer or software guy or something before he started this. He must have known or at least suspected that he was cut out for this. He's amazing.

OT

Blago appointed Obama’s AG to probe corruption; probe found no corruption; Holder forgets the whole thing

Governor Blago appoints Obama AG nominee Eric Holder to investigate corruption. Holder receives $300,000 for his legal services. Corruption probe finds no wrongdoing.

And, oops, Holder neglects to mention all this on his AG questionnaire.

re: #44 Kragar (Proud to be Kafir)

OT

Blago appointed Obama’s AG to probe corruption; probe found no corruption; Holder forgets the whole thing

The Office of the President-Elect, the gift that keeps on giving.

Way OT, but I'm heading out for a while:

This looks incredibly dangerous. Really.

See y'all later. :)

Is the preschool food fight still going on on the bike thread?

totten is such a good writer. i could smell the garbage in the streets of that slum area he was describing. and feel the intensity of these soldiers doing a dangerous house to house search at night. the photos are beautiful even tho the subject is so bleak. great work.

re: #38 Desert Dog

They all sure tried their hardest over the past few years, didn't they? I think reality has sunk in with Obama, he knows he cannot do what he was telling the KOS/MoveOn/Looney Left during the primaries. At least, I hope he knows...

Now that victory is obvious to all but the most committed defeatists, Barry may be looking for ways to take credit for it.

re: #43 Sunlight

He must have known or at least suspected that he was cut out for this. He's amazing.

I know many who think they were cut out of his character... you see who goes and who STAYS right next to the troops.
Totten has earned his brass.

re: #48 Sunlight

Is the preschool food fight still going on on the bike thread?

I just dodged a soggy cookie.

re: #47 gop_patriot

Don't snooze or you become derailed.

re: #46 taxfreekiller

[Link: www.nws.noaa.gov...]

Check out the Grand Canyon/Flagstaff Area of Az.

Thursday night, 10 F ,

100% chance of snow

Willcox Az, Thursday night, 20 F, 10% chance of rain/SNOW

Winter Storm Warning parts of Nev. , Az, New Mexico

Global Warming is the largest attempted fraud in the history of mankind.

All of those areas are well above 5000ft. It snowed in the mountains around Phoenix last night. It gets cold here (relatively speaking) sometimes. New Mexico gets a lot of snow. But, that said, I agree, GoreBull warming is crock.

re: #32 experiencedtraveller

I sure hope Obama, Pelosi and Reid don't find a way to lose this war.

Lose? They're going to win it for their Islamic overlords.

Another gripping report from Iraq by Michael J. Totten

I drove on ice today. That's as exciting as my day's been. God bless the USA.

re: #48 Sunlight

They've just about used up all the mashed potatoes and peas and jello...

i'm so glad cap't looney did not shoot the dog.
i liked it when he said, "you're saying inshallah, i don't want to hear that word."

re: #47 gop_patriot

Way OT, but I'm heading out for a while:

This looks incredibly dangerous. Really.

See y'all later. :)

I see pictures from the Subcontinent like that all the time. Sure it's risky, but if you ask any of the "observation deck" train riders why they would want to do that, I'm sure they'd look at you like you're from another planet and ask, "what are we supposed to do, walk?"

Great piece, as always!

re: #58 nyc redneck

i'm so glad cap't looney did not shoot the dog.
i liked it when he said, "you're saying inshallah, i don't want to hear that word."

I enjoyed "There is no inshallah on my watch."

re: #52 MandyManners

I just dodged a soggy cookie.

At least it wasn't an Iraqi shoe.

re: #46 taxfreekiller

[Link: www.nws.noaa.gov...]

Check out the Grand Canyon/Flagstaff Area of Az.

Thursday night, 10 F ,

100% chance of snow

Willcox Az, Thursday night, 20 F, 10% chance of rain/SNOW

Winter Storm Warning parts of Nev. , Az, New Mexico

Global Warming is the largest attempted fraud in the history of mankind.

Speaking of which, the Tim Blair "AGW denier" list continues to grow. Get thee over there, Lizards, and sign the Big List.

my 3000th comment on lgf... yay!

I wish I had the courage of these men. Thank you from the Big Apple.

re: #48 Sunlight

Is the preschool food fight still going on on the bike thread?

Naw, it's over.
Dave apologized.
Charles dropped in and helped calm things down.

/There's still food on the walls, JIC you haven't had lunch yet.

re: #62 Kragar (Proud to be Kafir)

I enjoyed "There is no inshallah on my watch."

cap't looney and his men are fierce and tuff soldiers but they have not lost their humanity. i am in awe of our military. i admire them so much.

re: #54 Desert Dog

All of those areas are well above 5000ft. It snowed in the mountains around Phoenix last night. It gets cold here (relatively speaking) sometimes. New Mexico gets a lot of snow. But, that said, I agree, GoreBull warming is crock.

I'm at about 3,400' in the SoCal High Desert and it has been snowing all day. There's about 6 inches of Glowball Warmening Climate Change™ on the ground so far, the most we've had in four years.

re: #65 winston06

my 3000th comment on lgf... yay!

congrats. i like your posts.

re: #20 sattv4u2

AAA.,,, best $75 I spend every year!

It ends up being free if you make it a point to know what discounts you can get from it.

re: #65 winston06

Mazel tov!

All I can say is 'wow'... Excellent writing... I always tell people at work to read his work as well as that of Michael Yon... It is the truth in what is going on... If more people read it and understood, they would see we are winning...

re: #65 winston06

my 3000th comment on lgf... yay!

Good job Winston. You are a valuable contributor to LGF. Here's to 3000 more.

I know he is with America's finest. Still, no gun and only a camera. Dude.
Hat's off to Michael Totten.

re: #70 Spiny Norman

So your in San Bernardino County...Hesperia area ?

re: #20 sattv4u2

AAA.,,, best $75 I spend every year!

Man, am I glad I looked up the link to AAA discount. I'm about to get DirectTV and I see this at the AAA discount site:

DIRECTV®
AAA Members who subscribe as new customers to DIRECTV receive a $10 bill credit on their monthly bill for 24 months, a free HD Receiver or DVR upgrade (qualifying programming, DVR and or HD Access fee commitments required.) and free standard installation. That totals $240 in savings—much more than a year’s AAA Membership

I love AAA!

re: #65 winston06

my 3000th comment on lgf... yay!

Nice. Congrats.

re: #78 SeafoodGumbo

I loved AAA when they handed me my check for a stolen Vette...
Then they canceled me! WTH?

I like the part where he talks about "Inshallah". LOL. That's funny.

Oh the weather outside is frightful
But global warming is so delightful
And since we have no place to go
Let it snow! Let it snow! Let it snow!

re: #77 reloadingisnotahobby

So your in San Bernardino County...Hesperia area ?

Sounds like he's in for Banning.
/couldn't resist it!

re: #83 pre-Boomer Marine brat
Yup Banning is that altitude or close!
I was in P.S. last week...needed a coat!

re: #76 Oh no...Sand People!

About equivalent to a Chaplain, they are always unarmed.

re: #83 pre-Boomer Marine brat

Doh... LOL

re: #80 reloadingisnotahobby

I loved AAA when they handed me my check for a stolen Vette...
Then they canceled me! WTH?

I only have roadside/towing with them. I've got auto insurance with someone else. That sucks about them canceling you over a stolen car. :(

USAA used to be like that - get a speeding ticket going 21 in a 20 and they'd drop you.

re: #62 Kragar (Proud to be Kafir)

"Insallah" is a denial of freedom, responsibility and what it means to be a human being.

There you see perhaps the central defect of islam.

re: #32 experiencedtraveller

I sure hope Obama, Pelosi and Reid don't find a way to lose this war.

Where've you been, hiding under a rock? SanFranNan and Co. have already said we've lost the war...

Did you mean, re-lose, perhaps?

JAFLW
///

re: #90 buzzsawmonkey

I don't know that one, what does the real line say?

re: #81 WriterMom

I like the part where he talks about "Inshallah". LOL. That's funny.

yes, he definitely has no use for "inshallah".
what a devious word.
sneaky.

That report was great. Well worth reading the entire thing.

re: #10 Joo-LiZ

Absolutely gripping story (read it just a couple days ago)...

Points out a couple things that still need a good deal of improvement in Iraq though. It's quite the contrast to Michael Yon's optimism (as Totten himself will point out).

I discovered Totten through LGF, and I'm quite a big fan.

I think both Totten and Yon are right. It's a matter of perspective.

Yon is an ex special forces guy and looks at situations through a military prism. From a purely military perspective, most of the heavy listing has now beeen completed in Iraq...unless Obama fumbles the ball by withdrawing the American tribe too early.

Totten does not have a military backgraound. He tends to look at things from a political prism. Politically, there is a lot more work to be done in Iraq. It'll take a generation, at least, for the shit-for-brains attitudes that Saddam created to be weeded out of the system.

BTW - Thanks for posting that one, Charles. It was a great read.

re: #93 nyc redneck

That is sooo prevalent in Muslim cultures, Inshallah this, Inshallah that.

Interestingly, in Hebrew it's 'b'ezrat Hashem'-with G-Ds help. Not if G-d wills it, as per the Arabic.

re: #67 buzzsawmonkey

Vanilla wafers Ginger snaps dunked in strong tea milk. Yum.

Fixed.

JAFLW

re: #89 Ojoe

Well, that's one of 'em.

Incidentally, Lizards, Michael is from Portland, Or - that's right, he hails from the heart of Moonbat Central North...

Take it for what it's worth - but even being from Portland, the guys no LLL.

JAFLW

Will my tip pay for his photography classes? My eyes hurt looking at the pics.

re: #101 xshaisu

Will my tip pay for his photography classes? My eyes hurt looking at the pics.

C'mon, YOU try taking decent pictures in low light during a combat mission.

Me? I'd shake so hard ALL of the pictures would be unusable!

JAFLW

re: #100 just another four-letter word

Incidentally, Lizards, Michael is from Portland, Or - that's right, he hails from the heart of Moonbat Central North...

Take it for what it's worth - but even being from Portland, the guys no LLL.

JAFLW

perhaps all of Portland will soon see the light, insallah.

BTW - Steve Blake is turning into a pretty good basketball player.

re: #101 xshaisu

Will my tip pay for his photography classes? My eyes hurt looking at the pics.

After reading that brave man's story that's what you get out of it?
Sad.

Does anybody know how much a pair of night vision goggles cost? It seems that is what Mr. Mikey needs for Xmas!

re: #89 Ojoe

"Insallah" is a denial of freedom, responsibility and what it means to be a human being.

There you see perhaps the central defect of islam.

What about "if the good Lord's willing and the creek don't rise"?

re: #102 just another four-letter word

Me too. Hard to take pictures when you're curled up in a ball.

re: #108 scathach

WTF are you talking about.

re: #108 scathach

Waiting...Would you care to elaborate-or would you prefer to have your mildly antisemitic comment remain hanging there without clarification?

Hello.

Alrighty then.

My work here is done.

re: #104 monkeytime

I don't think they read the story... just looked at the pictures...
re: #104 monkeytime

After reading that brave man's story that's what you get out of it?
Sad.

re: #106 SanFranciscoZionist

Yes, but also there is the saying "God helps those who help themselves."

And if the creeks rise, build a bridge, etc.

No use sitting on our butts now.

Yee Ha!

Totten, Yon, and Roggio.

On the subjects at hand, there are no better.

BBC
SESSIONS,
R