The MV Iran Deyanat. Photo from Maritime News Russia.

It's called "fanfiction."

Fanfiction, in the simplest definition I can provide, is a story based off of a videogame or a produced work and written by a "fan" of such work. Stories written based on videogames are classified as fanfiction because they create their own stories based on the narratives already provided by the videogames. The Halo novels are not fanfiction because they are intuned with the game series' storylines (and also because I think they are written by Bungie employees, unless I'm mistaken). If a work is written in connection with the story line, it may not be a fanfiction. However, in my case, I actually follow along the Command & Conquer plotline, but I am not an employee of the games' creators (I hate to speak their names), Electronic Arts.

Fanfiction involves the act of analyzing the game or produced work in an effort to better understand it in hopes of producing a finely-crafted work of art based on information provided in the game. In my case, I take the weapons and soldiers and maneuvers presented in the Command & Conquer series, introduce my own character amongst them, authenticate all related military information related to the series and other military matters as they are in real life, and attempt to create a factual, believeable, and realistic format for retelling the Command & Conquer storyline with a heightened sense of graphic realism.

This process involves not only me playing the games to understand their plotlines, but also doing additional military research on certain weapons and tactics, maneuvers, vehicles, soldiers, doctrines, and even material which was not present in the C&C series. I have worked thus far for over 6 years on my work, and this process, like humanity's love and lust for war, will be a never-ending struggle in order to complete, what I feel, is an authentic and believeable work of art dedicated entirely to the Command & Conquer community.

After years of testing, the Active Denial System — the pain ray which drives off rioters with a microwave-like beam — could finally have its day. The Army is buying five of the truck-mounted systems for $25 million. But the energy weapon may face new hurdles, before it’s shipped off to the battlefield; a new report details how the supposedly non-lethal blaster could be turned into a flesh-frying killer.

The contract for the pain ray trucks is “expected to be awarded by year’s end,” Aviation Week notes. “A year after the contract is signed, the combination vehicle/weapons will start be fielded at the rate of one per month.”

It’s been a very long time coming. As we’ve previously reported, there have been calls to deploy the Active Denial System in Iraq going back to 2004. But it’s always been delayed for legal, political, and public relations reasons. Anything that might be condemned as torture is political dynamite. Interestingly, the version being bought is not the full-size “Version 2,” but a containerized system known as Silent Guardian, which Raytheon have been trying to sell for some time. They describe Silent Guardian as “roughly 1/3 the size and power of the other Active Denial Systems,” and quote it’s range as “greater than 250 meters.” The larger system has a range somewhere in excess of 700 meters.

(hat tip:Chuckles)

Charles D. Thackson, pvt, Co. D, 56 Ga. Inf.
Register of POWs captured Nashville Tenn 16 Dec 1864.  Forwarded to Louisville Ky 01 Jan 1865.
On roll of POWs "at Nashville, Tenn., captured by forces under Maj. Gen. Thomas, commanding Dept.of the Cumberland, and forwarded to Capt. S. E. Jones, Add'l A. D. C., Louisville, Ky., 31 Dec 1864.
On roll of POWs at Military Prison, Louisville, Ky.  Received 02 Jan 1865, discharged same date to Camp Douglas.
On roll of POWs who arrived at Military Prison, Louisville, Ky., during five days ending Jan. 5, 1865.  Captured near Nashville, Tenn. 16 Dec 1864.
On roll of POWs transferred to Camp Chase, O, 02 Jan 1865; and on roll of POWs received at Camp Chase, Ohio, from Louisville 04 Jan 1865.
Name appears on Oath of Allegiance sworn to at Camp Chase, Ohio, 12 Jun 1865. [Oath not included in file]  Note says "signs by mark."  Description: res Cherokee Co Ga; fair complexion, light hair, brown eyes, 5' 8 1/2" age 18.

*     *     *

J. H. Thackston, pvt, Co. M, 18 Ga. Inf.
Only one card: on company muster roll for 22 Jul to 31 Aug 1861 dated 23 Oct 1861.  Enlisted 22 Jul 186[ ] in Cherokee Co. Ga by Capt Burtz.

*     *     *

W. B. Thackston, pvt, Co. M, 18 Ga. Inf.
On Statement of Service Reference Slip.  Communication fro Comm'r of Pen Ga.  William B. Thackston pvt Co. F, 28 Regt Ga. Inf.  "Unrecorded records show Wm B Thackston pvt Co. F. 28 Ga. Inf. C.S.A. Enl Aug 10 - 1861 & Died at Chimberazo Hospital, Richmond Va 27 June 1862, cause not shown."
Only other card: on company muster roll for 22 Jul to 31 Aug 1861 dated 23 Oct 1861.  Enl 22 Jul 186[] Cherokee Co. Ga by Capt Burtz.

*     *     *

John H. Thackston, pvt, Co. F, 28 Ga. Inf.
On receipt roll for clothing, issued 30 Jun 1864.  Signed J. H. Thackston.
Statement of service reference slip re communication from Com Pen Ga.  "Nothing addl found [in Archives]"
On muster roll for 23 Feb to 31 Aug 1862, present; for 31 Aug to 31 Dec 1862, last paid by Capt. Hill to 31 Aug, "Furnished description roll to draw in Richmond," name appears in column of names present canceled by line, enlisted 22 Jul 1861 by Capt. Burtz; for May & June 1863, says enlisted 22 Jul 1861 in Orange Ga, last paid by Capt Hill to 30 Apr, present; for July & Aug 1863, says enlisted in Orange, Ga, last paid by Capt. Hill to 30 Jun 1863, present; for Sept & Oct 1863, last paid by Capt. Hill to 31 Aug 1863, present; for Nov & Dec 1863, last paid by Capt. Hill to 31 Oct 1863, present;
Pay record 20 Jany 1863 for John H. Thackston from 1 Sep 1862 to 31 Dec 1862 pay $44 [plus] Bty $50 [total] $94.  Signed John H - X his mark - Thackston.  Statement that "I certify, that I have endorsed this Payment on Thackston's Descriptive Roll & Furlough."

*     *     *

William B. Thackston, pvt, Co. F, 28 Ga. Inf.
W. B. Thackston on company muster roll for 28 Feb to 31 Aug 1862, enlisted 22 Jul 186[ ] by Capt. Burtz, remarks: "Died 21 June".
William B. Thackston pvt Co. F 28 Regt appears on a register of Claims of Deceased Officers and Soldiers from Georgia which were filed for settlement in the Office of the Confederate States Auditor for the War Department.  By whom presented: John H Thackston, atty, filed 27 Jan 1863.
W. B. Thaxton pvt Co. F 28 Regt Ga. appears on a Report of Sick and Wounded in Chimborazo Hospital No. 2, Richmond, Va., for the month of June 1862.  Disease: Phthisis, date of death 26 Jun 1862.
On register of Chimborazo Hospital, No. 1, Richmond, Virginia.  Disease: pneumonia, admitted 07 Mar 1862, returned to duty 01 Apr 1862.
On register of Chimborazo Hospital, No. 2, Richmond, Virginia.  Disease: Chronic Diarrhoea, admitted 14 May 1862, died 26 Jun 1862.  Remarks: Phthisis.
On register of Moore Hospital at General Hospital, No. 1, Danville, Virginia.  Complaint: not mentioned.  Admitted 17 Jan 1862, sent to General Hospital Front Royal.
Wm B. Thackston claim for pay & c.  Tabith B Thackston Widow.  Includes certificate from William Sharp Lieut, commanding company, that Wm B Thackston a private of Captain L R Wade Company F of the 28th Regiment of Georgia vols born in Laurence in the State of South carolina aged 28 years, 5' 10", fair complexion, blue eyes, light hair, and by occupation a farmer was enlisted by Capt. Jesse Burtz at Orange Ga on the 10 day of August 1861, to serve for the war, and died at Chimborazo Hospital Richmond Va on the 27 day of June 1862.  The said Wm B Thackston was last paid by Capt B F Bornar? to include the 28 day of Feb 1862, and has pay due from that date to the present date of his death.  There is due him Bounty $50, and "for commutation for clothing $25.-"  Dated near Gwinell, 19 Jan 1863.
Also an affidavit by Tabitha D. Thackston (her mark) dated 26 Aug 1862, Cherokee County.  William B. Thackston's widow.  Repeats vital information in Sharp's certificate.  Witnesses James Pace & Allen D. Smith.  Tabitha appoints John H. Thackston her attorney to recover the arrearages.  Witnesses James Jordan, J B Langston J. P.  At bottom is certificate of death from William Sharp 1st Lieut Camp near Fredickburg Va 13 Jan 1863.

*     *     *

J. M. Thackston, pvt, Co. A, 38 Ga. Inf.
Note included: see paper filed with rolls of Co. N/I 38 Ga. Inf.  Case of Henry W. Blackburn.
Appears on consolidated Report of Sick and Wounded of Medical Director and Inspector, Various Hospitals in Virginia, for the month of July, 1862.  Disease: Febris Typhoides.  Date of death 28 Jul 1862.
Company muster roll for (Old) Co N, 38 Reg't Georgia Inf. (Wright Legion) [subsequently became (New) Company I, 38th Regiment Georgia Infantry] for 15 May to 31 Oct 1862, enlisted 15 May 186[] at Atlanta Ga by Capt Blackburn.  Last paid: "The Company has never been paid off"  Remarks: Died 27 July 1862.
On Report of Sick and Wounded in General Hospital, Charlottesville, Va., for July 1862.  Disease: Typhoid Fever, date of death 28 Jul 1862.
Jas M. Thackston, pvt, Co. H, 38 Regt, on register of Officers and Soldiers of the Army of the Confederate States who were killed in battle, or who died of wounds or disease.  Born Gwinett Co. Ga.  Deceased 27 Jul 1862 in Hospt.  Amount of money left $10.00 (also one that says Amount of money left $4.25)
James M. Thackston, Pvt Co. N, 38 Regt, on register of claims of Deceased Officers and Soldiers from Georgia which were filed for settlement in the Office of the Confederate States Auditor for the War Department.  By William A. Walton, atty.  Filed 24 Jul 1863.
J. M. Thackson, Pvt. Co. A, 38 Regt Ga, on Register of Effects of Deceased Soldiers turned over to Quartermasters, C. S. A.  One for $4.25 and one for $10.00.
Reference card: see Manuscript No. 2309 dated 12 Nov 1863.  Apparently mentions death date of 27 Jul 1862.
J. M. Thackson on register of C.S.A. General Hospital, Charlottesville, Virginia.  Complaint: Typhoid Fever, admitted 25 Jul 1862, died 28 Jul 1862.
Re claim: Dawson Co., Georgia.  16 Oct 1863. Jesse W Blackburn authorizes Wm A Walton to collect the claim.  Note from John W. Hughes judge and clerk of Ordinary of Dawson County, Georgia, certifies that Blackburn is administrator of James M Thackston a deceased soldier late of said state and county.
16 Oct 1863.  Certificate from Blackburn that he is administrator of James M Thackston, deceased, who was a private of Captain Elijah Blackburn's Company, N 38 Regt commanded by Col. G. W. Lee; entered service at Atlanta 15 May 1862 and died at Charlottesville Virginia on 28 Jul 1862, leaving "a widow and no children."  Also an affidavit by Blackburn to that effect dated 11 Jul 1863.
Another certificate concerning enlistment, pay history, faded to be almost illegible.  Indicates he was never paid.  $10 commutation due for clothing and transportation.
Note: I checked files for Elijah Blackburn - born Wilkes Co. GA.  Used same atty Walton.  Witnesses were Linzy Vaughter and Samuel R Findley, Dawson County.  In files of Henry W. Blackburn: same attorney.  Jesse Blackburn is Henry's father.  I did not see any paper in either file concerning Thackston.

*     *     *

W. H. Thaxton, pvt, Co. B, 38 Ga. Inf.
On register of Effects of Deceased Soldiers, turned over to Quartermasters, C.S.A., amount $6.50.
In letter from the 2d Auditor's office, C.S. Treasury Department, requesting Q.M. Receipts for the effects of deceased soldiers, reported as having died in Chimborazo Hospital, Richmond, Va.  Letter dated 19 Nov 1864.  Date of death 10 Dec 1862.

*     *     *

Henry J. C. Thaxton, Co. I, 14 Ga. Inf.
On company muster roll for Sep & Oct 1861, pvt, enlisted 12 Jul 1861 at Atlanta, Ga by Capt. McMichael, absent, sick at Rock Bridge Alum age 23.  Muster roll for May & June 1864, 3 Lt, enlisted 09 Jul 1861 at Jackson, Ga, by Capt. R. W. McMichael, present.  Muster roll for Sept & Oct 1864, same enl info, present.  Muster roll For Nov & Dec 1864, 2 Bvt Lt, present, signed roll Commanding Company.  Muster roll for Jan & Feb 1865, present.
On Regimental Return for Dec 1862, present for duty.
On List of Prisoners of War, belonging to the Army of Northern Virginia, who have been this day surrendered by General Robert E. Lee, C.S.A., commanding said Army, to Lieut. Genl. U.S. Grant, commanding Armies of the United States.  Appomattox Court House, Virginia, 09 Apr 1865.  Signature also on list of paroled POWs at Appomattox C H.
Medical record: Admitted 29 Sep 1862 to Confederate Hosp. Culpepper Va.  Complaint: Vul[?] Sclopeticum.  Sent to General Hospital 30 Sep 1862.

On register of General Hospital, Howard's Grove, Richmond, Virginia, received 15 May 1864.  Disease: V. S. Right Shoulder.  On register of Receiving and Wayside Hospital, or General Hospital No. 9, Richmond, Virginia, admitted 11 Nov 1864, disposition "Duty" 12 Nov 1864.  On register of Medical Director's Office, Richmond, Va., under the head of "Furloughs and Leaves of Absence"  When received 19 May 1864, date of paper 16 May 1864, where from Howard's Grove.  Remarks: "Appd fwd". On register containing rosters of Commissioned Officers, Provisional Army Confederate States.     Information regarding "Leave" is included in Special Order No. 128/2 dated 02 Jun 1864.

Pay receipt 08 Aug 1864 through 31 Dec 1864.  Voucher 05 Oct 1864 from 01 Aug 1864 to 30 Sep 1864 $160.00.  [Actual] Signature of H.J.C. Thaxton, Brvt 2nd Lt Co I 14th Geo Regt.  Voucher 10 Feb 1864 from 01 Jan to 31 Jan 1864 $80.  [Actual] Signature Henry J. C. Thaxton.

*     *     *

James F. D. Thaxton, Co. I, 14 Ga. Inf.
Inquiries from pension office Oct 1914, no additional info found.
On company muster roll for Sep & Oct 1861, enlisted 12 Jul 1861, Atlanta, Ga., by Capt. McMichael, absent, sick at Rock Bridge Alum., age 19.
On Regimental Return for Oct 1862, absent sick.
On register of Officers and Soldiers of the Army of the Confederate States who were killed in battle, or who died of wounds or disease.  Deceased 03 May 1863, Killed at Chancellorsville.
Mentioned in General Order No. 131/3 03 Oct 1863 regarding Med. honor.

*     *     *

James M. Thaxton, pvt, Co. I, 14 Ga. Inf.
Inquiries from pension office Oct 1914.  "Other records show that he enlisted July 9 1861 and died Dec 16 1861 at Culpepper C. H. Va."
On company muster roll for Sep & Oct 1861 at Atlanta by Capt McMichael.  Last paid by Maj. Corley to 31 Aug 1861, present, age 32.
On register of Claims of Deceased Officers and Soldiers from Georgia which were filed for settlement in the Office of the Confederate States Auditor for the War Department.  By T. M. Carter atty, filed 03 Mar 1863.  Born Butts Co Ga; died Culpepper C H.
On register of Officers and Soldiers of the Army of the Confederate States who were killed in battle, or who died of wounds or disease.  Deceased 16 Dec 1861.  Where and from what cause: Manassas Junction, Va.
Claim of Mrs. Sarah Thaxton former wife of J. M. Thaxton of my company now deceased submitted by Capt. J. M. Carter.  He died the 16th of Dec 1861.  Send money to Mrs. Sarah Thaxton to the care of W. H. C. Mickelberry and Charles F. Newton, Griffin Geo.
Sarah J. Thaxton, Butts County, appoints Thomas M. Carter of same county and state attorney to collect claim for husband James M. Thaxton, who was a soldier in Company I Commanded by Rufus W. McMichael 14th Regiment commanded by Felix Price Colonel.  3 Sep 1862.  Witnesses Sackville Lynch & James B Clark.  Affidavit of service and death with actual signature of Sarah J Thaxton.
[Neat document] Descriptive list and account of pay and clothing of Private James M Thaxton of Cap T M Carter's Co.  James M Thaxton, private, age 35, blue eyes, light hair, fair complexion, 5' 10"  born Butts Co Georgia, farmer, enlisted 09 Jul 1861 in Jackson Georgia by Cap R W McMichael for the war, last paid  by Maj Cowley to 31 Aug 1861, bounty due $50, "Died Dec 16th 1861 Culpeper C H.  He was indebted to for 1 shirt $1.30 one dollar & thirty cents"
Note: there is a record for a T. M. Thaxton, pvt, Co. I, 14 Regt Ga, on Report of Sick and Wounded at General Hospital, Culpeper Court House, Va., for month of Dec 1861.  Disease: Typhoid Pneumonia.  Date of death 16 Dec 1861.

*     *     *

William R. Thaxton, Corporal, Co. I, 14 Regt Ga Inf.
On company muster roll for Sep & Oct 1861, enlisted 12 Jul 1861 at Atlanta by Capt McMichael, absent, sick at Rock Bridge Alum Hospital age 18.  Company muster rolls for May & June, Sep & Oct, Nov & Dec 1864, Jan & Feb 1865, all say absent, Prisoner of war since the 12 of May 1864, last paid by Maj. Ambler to 29 Feb 1864.
On Regimental Return Dec 1862, absent sick.
On register of POWs at Old Capitol Prison, Washington, D. C.  Committed 26 Nov 1864, captured Spottsylvania Va 12 May 1864.  Sent to Elmira 16 Dec 1864.  On rol of POWs received at Elmira, N.Y., 17 Dec 1864 from Old Capitol Prison.  Remarks: transfd for exch Feb 13 1865.  On roll of POWs paroled at Elmira, N. Y., 09 Feb 1865 and sent to James River for Exchange.
On Hospital Muster Roll in Henningsen Hospital, Richmond, Va., for Mar & Apr 1863, last paid by Capt Hardy to 31 Dec 1862. 3 Corpl.
On muster roll of detachment of paroled and exchanged prisoners at Camp Lee, near Richmond, Va., dated 21 Feb 1865.  Enlsted July 1861 at Jackson by Capt Price.  Last paid by Maj Ambler to 31 Dec 1863, present.
On Hospital Muster Roll, Henningsen, to June 30, 1863, enlisted 09 Jul 1861 at Jackson Ga by Capt McMichael, last paid by Capt. Mason to 30 Apr 1863.  And on roll to 31 Aug 1863, last paid by Capt mason to 30 Jun 1863.
On register of Medical Director's Office, Richmond, Va.  Hospital: Henningson, admitted 20 Apr 1863.
On register of Receiving and Wayside Hospital, or General Hospital No. 9, Richmond, Virginia, admitted 20 Feb 1865, disposition Jackson 21 Feb 1865.  Also admitted 27 Mar 1864, disposition Duty 28 Mar 1864.  Also 20 Apr 1863, transferred to Henningson Hosp.
On register of Chimborazo Hospital No. 3, Richmond, admitted 16 May 1862.  Disease: convalescent.
On register of General Hospital No. 8 (St. Charles Hospital), Richmond, admitted 01 Sep 1862, Typhoid fever, transferred Oct 28, 1862 to Camp Winder.  Admitted 12 Nov 1862, Disease: Eff. of Vacn, transferred to State Hospital 12 Jan 1863.
On register of Medical Director's Office, Richmond.  Hospital Winder Div 4, admitted 28 Oct 1862, returned to duty 10 Nov 1862.
On receipt roll for clothing at Henningsen Hosp., Richmond, 17 Jun 1863.
Admitted 15 May 1864 to 2 Div G A C? Hosp. A of P.  Diagnosis: "Fract Malor bone"  Missile: Bullett.  W'd at Spotts. C H. 15 May 1864.  Treatment: Simple Dressing.
Admitted 28 Nov 1864 to Old Capitol Prison U.S.A. Hosp., Washington, D.C.  Complaint: "Gunshot wound of head."  Ret'd to duty 16 Dec 1864.
Admitted to Harewood U.S.A. Gen'l Hosp, Washington D.C. from Field Hospital 26 May 1864.  Corpl, Co. I, 14 Reg't "Geo Rebel Inf."  Diagnosis: " G.S. W of face"  Missile: Conical Bullet.  W'd at Spottsylvania 12 May 1864.  Transferred to G.H. Lincoln D.C. 09 Jun 1864.
Admitted to Lincoln U.S.A. Gen'l Hosp., Washington, D.C. from G. H. Harewood 08 Jun 1864.  Diagnosis: Gunshot wound face fract lower jaw.  Missile: conical.  W'd at 12 May 1864, transferred to G H O C P 26 Nov 1864.  Age 21.
A medical certificate for Extension of Furlough in the case of Corpl W. R. Thaxton of Co. I 14 Ga Regiment, Thomas' Brigade, Army of Virginia.  O.M.D. Hospitals Columbus Ga 07 Apr 1865.  Had been granted a furlough on 21 Feb 1865 at Richmond Va.  Surgeons have examined him and find that: gun shot wound of the face ball passing diagnally through and emerging near rt angle of the left jaw paralyzeing muscles of left side of face wound not healed"
Pay record 25 Sep 1863 at Camp near Orange C H Va $14.85 for commutation of rations while he was on furlough from 18 Mar to 18 Apr 1863, making 30 days at 33c per day also from 05 Aug to 20 aug 1863, 15 days, 33c per day.  Apparently signed by W R Thaxton.
Pay record $125.50 paid 22 Jul 1862 for 01 Nov 1861 to 01 Jul 1862.  Eight mos at 13 $ month.  Also balance on clothing of $22.50.  signed by W R Thaxton.
Pay record 02 Sep 1862 from 01 Jul 1862 to 31 Aug 1862 $26 plus $25 clo. for $51.  Signed by W. R. Thaxton.
Pay record 01 Apr 1864 from 01 Jan to 29 Feb 1864, $26.00.  Signed by W. R. Thaxton.  Note: states "Furloughed," that payment has been endorsed on Thaxtons Furlough.  Signed by W. R. Thaxton.
Pay record 10 Nov 1862, from 31 Aug to 01 Nov 1862, $26.  Signed.

*     *     *

Yelverton Thaxton Jr., pvt, Co. I, 14th Ga Inf.
Pension office inquiry Oct 1914.
On company muster roll for Sep & Oct 1861, enlisted 12 Jul 1861 Atlanta by Capt McMichael, last paid by Maj Corley to 31 Aug 1861, present, age 38.
On company muster roll for May & June 1864, enlisted 09 Jul 1861 at Jackson Ga by Capt McMichael, last paid by Capt Heggie to 30 Apr 1864, present.
On company muster roll for Sep & Oct 1864, last paid by Maj Taylor to 30 Jun 1864, present.  Same info for Nov & Dec 1864.
On company muster roll for Jan & Feb 1865, last paid by Capt Hill to 31 Dec 1864, absent, "absent without leave since 20 Feby 1865"
On Regimental Return Oct 1862.  Enlisted men on Extra or Daily Duty: Wagoner.  On R R Dec 1862, absent sick.
On register of General Hospital No. 8 (St. Charles Hospital), Richmond, admitted 03 Oct 1862.  Disease: Spinal affection.  Deserted 12 Oct 1862.
On register of Receiving and Wayside Hospital, or General Hospital No. 9, Richmond, admitted 03 Oct 1862, disposition same date Chimbarazo.
On register of Chimborazo Hospital No. 3, Richmond, admitted 03 Oct 1862.  Disease: Hepatitis.  Furloughed 26 Nov 1862 for 30 days.
On hospital muster roll, Henningsen Hospital, Richmond, Va. to 30 Jun 1863 dated 07 Aug 1863, last paid by Capt Haggie to 30 Apr 1863.  On hospital muster roll, 1st Division, General Hospital Camp Winder, Richmond, Sep & Oct 1863, last paid by Capt Haggee to 01 Sep.
On receipt roll for clothing at 1 Div. Gen. Hosp. Camp Winder, issued 16 Nov 1863.  Same for Henningsen issued 20 Aug 1863.
On list of soldiers on furlough from Capt J M Carters Co. (I) 14th Ga Regt.  From 30 Jun 1864 to 31 Dec 1864.  Received payment 02 Feb 1865 from Chas? D Hill Capt & Paymaster.  Y. Thaxton [appears to be actual signature].  Witness: H. J. C. Thaxton.

*     *     *

J. H. Thaxton, Co. B, 55 Ga. Inf.
On register of Receiving and Wayside Hospital, or General Hospital No. 9, Richmond, admitted 28 Nov 1864, disposition Duty 29 Nov 1864.
On company muster roll for Nov & Dec 1862, enlisted 05 May 1862 at Crawfordsville by Capt Griffin, absent.  Remarks: "Left at Hospital in Richmond Ky [sic] have received [sic] official notice of his death but suppose he is dead"
On company muster roll for Jany & Feb 1863, absent.  "Left sick in Richmond Ky supposed to be dead but have no official information of the fact."
On company muster roll for March & April 1863, "Left in Hospital at Richmond Ky unofficially informed of his death Died Nov 1862."
On Regimental Return Dec 1862 - Hosp Richmond Ky.
On pay roll dated 05 Jul 1862.  Capt. J. M. Griffin's Company, 55 Reg't Georgia Infantry.  Bounty due $50, paid $50.
On company muster roll for 05 May 1862 to --, absent sick. Enl Lawrenceville Ga by Capt J M Griffin.
On company muster-in roll, dated Camp Stevens 13 May 1862, joined for duty 05 May 1862, Crawfordsville.

*     *     *
James M. C. Thaxton, corporal, Co. I, 53 Ga. Inf.
On company muster roll for 12 May to 31 Oct 1862, enlisted 12 May 1862 Griffin Ga by Col L. T. Doyal, last paid by Maj. Ambler to 31 Aug.  Absent, in hospital, appointed 1 Corp Aug 15.  [Not finished]

*     *     *

R. Y. Thaxton, Co. E, 9 Batt'n Georgia Cav. (State Guards)
On muster-in roll 28 Aug 1863 at Buchanan by Capt W J Walter for six months.  No other record.
*     *     *

Merrell Mason, Co. N, 38 Ga. Inf.
Enlisted 04 Mar 1862 Dawson Co by Lt. Hendrix for 3 yrs; then called (new) Co. G (Chestatee Artillery, Wright Legion); present Mch & Apr 1862, May & Jun 1862; present sick Jul & Aug 1862 then called Capt. Thomas H. Bomar's Co. (Chestatee Artillery); present Sep & Oct, Nov & Dec 1862, Jan & Feb 1863; next roll is dated 31 Aug 1863 absent without leave since 30 Aug 1863 (now says enlisted 01 Jul 1862 Dawson Co. by Lt. Taylor); Jan 01 to 31 Aug 1864 absent sick, Lynchburg June 1864; next roll undated showing payment from 30 Apr to 31 Aug 1864 says absent without leave since 12 Oct 1864; bounty pay and receipt roll not dated, says Recruit 15 Mar 1862 Camp Bartow by Capt. Bomar, bounty $50, (not original) signature Merrell (x) Mason.  On register of CSA Gen Hosp, Charlottesville VA adm 25 Apr 1864 returned to duty 28 Sep 1864, disease Diarrhoea act.

*     *     *

Bassett S. Tillman, Co. F, 7th Ga. Inf.
On company muster-in roll, pvt, enlisted 10 May 1861 Carrollton, Ga, by Capt. A. J. Burke for 12 months, 65 miles traveling to place of rendesvous; on receipt roll for clothing for 2qr 1864, (not original) signature B S Tillman; present 31 May to 31 Aug 1861, not stated Sep & Oct 1861; present Nov & Dec 1861; Jan & Feb 1862 present, re-enlisted for 2 years or the war, recd bounty; Mch & Apr 1862 detailed Co. Cook; May & June, 30 Jun to 31 Oct 1862, Nov & Dec 1862, Jan & Feb 1863, Mch & Apr, May & Jun, Jul & Aug, Sep & Oct 1863 present; Jan & Feb, Mch & Apr, Jul & Aug, Sep & Oct, Nov & Dec 1864 present; Jan & Feb 1865 AWOL since 15 Feb 1865; pay voucher from 01 Jul to 31 Dec 1864 $108, says born in Coweta County, Georgia, age 23, 6' tall, fair complexion, gray[?] eyes, [?] hair, a farmer, enlisted by Major Elsey 31 May 1861, is receiving pay because has been given furlough for 24 days, he is owed $186.11 for commutation of clothing, he is indebted to the Confederate States for 2 packets, 3pr pants 3 shirts 4 prs drawers 4 pr shoes 2 pr socks & 1 blanket.  Original signature B S Tillman but probably won't copy well.
*     *     *

Robert Wiley Aiken, Co. I, 45th Ga. Inf.
As R.W. Akin, on undated receipt recipt roll, enlisted 04 mar 186[] Jackson, Butts Co., by Capt Dupree for the war, signed (not original) R W Aiken for $50 bounty paid; As R. W. Aiken absent with leave Jan & Feb 1864; present (R. W.) May & Jun, Jul & Aug, (Wiley R.) Sep & Oct, Nov & Dec 1864, present (Wiley R.) Jan & Feb 1865, all say enlisted 04 Mar 1862; on roll of prisoners of War at Point Lookout, Md, arrived City Point Va 04 Apr 1865 captured Petersburg 02 Apr 1865, released 22 Jun 1865; R. W. Aiken (by mark; not original) signs on oath of allegiance sworn to at Point Lookout, Md, 22 Jun 1865, residence Butts Co Ga, fair complexion, lt. brown hair, blue eyes, 6' 1 1/4" tall.
*     *     *

Arnold Johnson, pvt, Co. I, 14th Ga. Inf.
Enlisted 12 Jul 1861 Atlanta Ga Capt McMichael; on muster roll Sep & Oct 1861 absent Sick at Rock Bridge Alum Hospital age 41; on regimental return for Oct 1862 absent sick; on report of sick and wounded in G H Danville Va March 1863, disease veriola, died 08 Mar 1863; on register of Medical Dir's office Richmond adm 19 Dec 1862 Winder Div 1 Hosp, transferred Danville Va 26 Dec 1862; on register of claims of deceased officers and soldiers from Georgia which were filed for settlement in the Office of the Confederate States Auditor for the War Department, presented by Henry J. C. Thaxton Atty filed 13 May 1863, died 07 Mar 1863, amount found due $225.22, Cert. No. 17834; on register of soldiers killed or who died, died 09 Mar 1863 Danville [cause not given]; same register, deceased 08 Mar 1863 G H No 1, Danville; on register (as Corp) of Chimborazo Hosp No 5, Richmond 05 Jul 1862 trans. to Farmville, Danville or Lynchburg; adm Chimborazo 30 Mar 1862 Debility; on register (as Corp) of CSA Gen Hosp, Danville, Va 06 Mar 1863 Variola, died 08 Mar 1863, no effects; original Account, due $225.22, to Elizabeth Johnson, Jackson, Butts Co. Georgia, widow of Arnold Johnson, deceased, late corporal of Co. I, 14th Regt, pay from Sep 1862 to death 08 Mar 1863 at $13/mo & $50 bounty & 93.76 clothing; inventory of effects of AJ who died 08 Mar 1863, no effects; statement of clothing (dates, etc. arriving at $93.76 signed by B. H. Thackston Examiner - probably too faded to copy); original claim from Elizabeth (x) Johnson 11 Apr 1863, document apptg Henry J.C. Thaxton attorney; document indicates Arnold enlisted 12 Jul 1861 for the War, recd pay, as Corporal, to 31 Aug 1862; original receipt COPY for pay from 01 Nov 1861 to 31 May 1862 as Corp, $13/mo, total $91, received 14 Jun 1862 signed Arnold Johnson.

*     *     *

Charles T. Foster, pvt, Co. I, 53 Ga Inf.
Enlisted 12 May 1862 Griffin Ga by Col. L. T. Doyal for 3y; on company muster roll 12 May to 31 Oct 1862 present, on extra duty from 19 May 1862, Wagon Master; 31 Oct 1863 to 29 Feb 1864 absent on detail, under special orders 20; 29 Feb 1864 to 31 Aug 1864 absent sick in hospital; Sep & Oct 1864 absent on detached service at Augusta Ga; Nov & Dec 1864 absent on detached service; Jan & Feb 1865 absent on detached service in Augusta Ga; on register of Receiving and Wayside Hospital Richmond adm 28 Jan 1864, disposition Duty 29 Jan 1864; on register of Med Dir's office Richmond, Stuart Hosp to 27 Sep 1864, remarks Augusta, Ga; on hospital muster roll G H No 21 Richmond to 30 Apr 1863, present; on register of G H No 21 complaint Ch Bronchitis adm 08 May 1863, furloughed 27 May for 20 days; on rgister of Receiving and Wayside Hosp Richmond adm 03 Jul 1864 disposition Stewart 04 Jul 1864; on register of Stuart Hospital Richmond adm 03 Jul 1864 disease Febris Int. returned to duty 22 Sep 1864; on register of Med Dir's office adm 29 Apr 1863 G H 16; on register of Approved Furloughs, Med Dir's Office, 05 Dec 1862 40 days; Special Order No. 223/24 detailed 20 Sep 1864; payment 02 Jul 1864, 18 Jan 1864; original receipt signed C.T. Foster; original application for detail 01 Aug 1864 Augusta Ga: "Genl.  I have the honor to apply for the detail of Private C. T. Foster Co. I. 53 Regt Geo. Vols he being unfit for field service & admirably qualified for duty at recruiting lots.  Enclosed you will find certificate of Medical board." From Norman W. Smith, Maj & Chf Insp, from Office of Chief Inspector of Field Transportation; on outside of letter is note from W H Gibbons Maj & Actg Insp Gen, 18 Aug 1864 stating "Approved & respy for/d -- This man is wanted as a farrier ? at one of the horse infirmaries in Georgia - and is especially skilled in such matters."; medical certificate for detail states incapable of performing duties of a soldier with his company because "of Hypertrophy of the Heart of nine months standing", will not be fit for 60 days; signed voucher for pay from 12 May to 31 Oct 1862, going on furlough, original signature.

*     *     *
Willis A. Mangham, pvt/sgt, Co. A, 30 Ga Inf.
Enlisted 25 Sep 1861 Butts Co by Henry Hendrick; on muster roll as Co B commanded by Hendrick 25 Sep to 31 Dec 1831 present; as (Old) Co. B, 39 Reg't Ga Inf Mch & Apr 1862 present; as (New) Co. A, 39 Regt Ga Inf May & Jun 1862 present, apptd Fourth Sergt on 13 May 1862; as Co. A, 30 Ga Inf Jul & Aug, Sep & Oct, Nov & Dec 1862 present.  No further record.  Note: the Lt. Col. of the 39th Regt Ga Vols as of Jul 1862 was Thomas W. Mangham (born Muscogee Co., Ga).

Willis A. Mangham, 1 Sgt, Co. D, 1 Confederate Battalion, Georgia Volunteers (consolidation of 30th Inf and others about 09 Apr 1865).
One card: on muster roll of men paroled at Greensboro, N.C. 1865, not stated whether present.  Enlisted 25 Sep 1861 Butts Co Ga by Col. Bailey for the War.

Asked how she felt about the Bush doctrine, Sarah Palin, the running mate of American presidential nominee John McCain, said the other day that she had no idea of what exactly the Bush doctrine spelled out. Quite an answer to a question about the cornerstone of her country's foreign strategies! Not necessarily an honest answer, though. But, it is worth pointing out that all the participants in the soon-to-be-over presidential race, including the Republican Party's Ms Palin, manage to make hundreds of speeches without mentioning the most-important Bush doctrine. Senators McCain and Obama are, naturally, familiar with the national security strategy of September 2002, which is better known as the Bush doctrine. The document in question introduces a concept of preventive warfare that allows America to take military action before it happens to come under attack, and encourages unilateral efforts in case attempts to forge alliances yield no result. Planned as a long-term document, this national security strategy is projected into the future. Because of that and because it has never been declared null and void, it will influence the White House's moves in the post-electoral period. This is all the more reason for pointing to the conspicuous absence of answers to the question of whether one should expect the White House to stick to that pushy doctrine in the years to come.

Eight years ago, the Bush-Cheney Administration decided to resume the once-interrupted arms race on their arrival in the White House. It is on two results of that decision, the growing public debt and the unacceptably-large budget deficit, that influential US-based experts blame the current economic crisis. Will the wasteful and dangerous arms race be continued by the winner of the presidential mandate? Will the enormous public debt and the unbearable burden of budget deficit keep growing in his years in office? Neither the loquacious Senator McCain nor the phrasey Senator Obama has been able to coin befitting answers to those questions. The new arms race will be incomplete without plans for the militarization of outer space. Another brain child of President Bush is called the space doctrine of the United States of America. Congress has, on request from Mr Bush, earmarked a hundred billion dollars for the launch of the Falcon programme, which focuses on the development of space weapons. The US attempts to turn outer space into a third field of combat operations may prove as dangerous as the American decision to use a nuclear device in August 1945. Senators McCain and Obama avoid mentioning this extremely dangerous space doctrine and voicing their view of it as much as they avoid mentioning their country's security doctrine.

America has had an extremely difficult year. Millions of American lives have been affected by natural disasters; millions of Americans have lost their movables and real property. Celebrated scholars blame the latest natural disasters on the greenhouse gas effect, which is a result of the boost in industrial production, which, in turn, explains the growing carbon dioxide emissions into the atmosphere. The United States emits as much carbon dioxide into the atmosphere as any other country does. A shared desire to avert that growing threat brought 180 nations to sign what is known as the Kyoto Protocol, ten years ago. The United States is still waiting to sign that document. President Bush is a sworn enemy of the Kyoto Protocol, and people of different nations, including his own, have to pay for his arrogance and short-sightedness. Potential leaders of the United States of America are supposed to be worried about this most pressing problem. But, the two frontrunners in the American electoral race prefer to keep their mouths shut every time they are expected to address this or either of the two earlier-mentioned problems. I could list more questions that require clear-cut and unambiguous answers on the eve of the presidential election. But, all attempts to list these sorts of questions exceed the limits of what is known as democracy. Blind luck rules in card-playing. A bet on blind luck is unacceptable and dangerous in politics.

10 October 2008

Valentin Zorin

A View from Moscow

Voice of Russia World Service

http://www.ruvr.ru/main.php?lng=eng&q=33573&cid=170&p=10.10.2008 (in English)

A draft report by American intelligence agencies concludes that Afghanistan is in a "downward spiral" and casts serious doubt on the ability of the Afghan government to stem the rise in the Taliban's insurgency there. The classified report finds that the breakdown in central authority in Afghanistan was exacerbated by corruption within the Afghan government and by an increase in attacks by militants operating from Pakistan, the New York Times said this week. The report, a nearly completed version of a National Intelligence Estimate, is set to be finished after the November presidential elections in the United States and will be the most comprehensive US government assessment in years on the situation in Afghanistan.

Apart from the cross-border attacks launched by Taliban insurgents from neighbouring Pakistan, the intelligence report asserts that many of Afghanistan's most serious problems are of the country's own making, officials interviewed by the Times said. The report cites gains in the building of Afghanistan's national army, but, officials told the Times in no uncertain terms what they described as the destabilising impact of the booming heroin trade, which by some estimates accounts for 50 percent of Afghanistan's economy. A National Intelligence Estimate is a formal document that conveys the consensus judgments of all US intelligence agencies and most NIEs remain classified.

In its waning months, the Bush administration initiated a major review of its Afghanistan policy and decided to send additional troops to the country. The "downward slide" in the security situation in the country also became an issue in the presidential campaign, along with questions about whether the White House emphasis in recent years on the war in Iraq was misplaced. Inside the US government, reports issued by the Central Intelligence Agency for more than two years have chronicled the worsening violence and rampant corruption inside Afghanistan and the central authority's reluctance to deal with booming heroin production.

Now, some in the agency, according to the New York Times, believe that it has taken the White House too long to respond to their warnings. Henry Crumpton, a career intelligence officer who last year stepped down as the State Department's top counter-terrorism official, attributed some of Afghanistan's problems to a "lack of leadership" both in the White House and in European capitals, where commitments to rebuild Afghanistan after 2001 were never met. But, it is not just American officials who offer a grim assessment for Afghanistan. A French diplomatic cable leaked to a French newspaper last week quoted the British ambassador to Kabul as forecasting that the NATO-led mission there would fail.

9 October 2008

Yuri Reshetnikov

Voice of Russia World Service

http://www.ruvr.ru/main.php?lng=eng&q=33536&cid=87&p=09.10.2008 (in English)

From the Wiki:

A non-commissioned officer (sometimes noncommissioned officer), also known as an NCO or Noncom, is an enlisted member of an armed force who has been given authority by a commissioned officer. "Noncom" is the lesser-used term in many militaries since it may also refer to non-combatants. The NCO corps includes all the grades of sergeant and, in some militaries, corporals and warrant officers. The naval equivalent includes some or all grades of petty officer, although not all navies class their petty officers as NCOs.

No one is more professional than I. I am a Noncommissioned Officer, a leader of soldiers. As a Noncommissioned Officer, I realize that I am a member of a time honored corps, which is known as "The Backbone of the Army". I am proud of the Corps of Noncommissioned Officers and will at all times conduct myself so as to bring credit upon the Corps, the Military Service and my country regardless of the situation in which I find myself. I will not use my grade or position to attain pleasure, profit, or personal safety.

Competence is my watchword. My two basic responsibilities will always be uppermost in my mind -- accomplishment of my mission and the welfare of my soldiers. I will strive to remain tactically and technically proficient. I am aware of my role as a Noncommissioned Officer. I will fulfill my responsibilities inherent in that role. All soldiers are entitled to outstanding leadership; I will provide that leadership. I know my soldiers and I will always place their needs above my own. I will communicate consistently with my soldiers and never leave them uninformed. I will be fair and impartial when recommending both rewards and punishment.

Officers of my unit will have maximum time to accomplish their duties; they will not have to accomplish mine. I will earn their respect and confidence as well as that of my soldiers. I will be loyal to those with whom I serve; seniors, peers, and subordinates alike. I will exercise initiative by taking appropriate action in the absence of orders. I will not compromise my integrity, nor my moral courage. I will not forget, nor will I allow my comrades to forget that we are professionals, Noncommissioned Officers, leaders!

Warrant Officers

In the United States military, a Warrant Officer (grade W-1 to W-5) is ranked as an officer above the senior-most enlisted ranks, as well as officer cadets and candidates, but below the officer grade of O-1 (NATO: OF-1). Warrant officers are highly skilled, single-track specialty officers, and while the ranks are authorized by Congress, each branch of the Uniformed Services selects, manages, and utilizes warrant officers in slightly different ways. For appointment to Warrant Officer One (W-1), a warrant is approved by the secretary of the service. Chief Warrant Officers (W-2 to W-5) are commissioned by the President of the United States, and take the same oath as regular commissioned officers (O-1 to O-10).

Warrant officers can and do command detachments, units, activities, vessels, aircraft, and armored vehicles as well as lead, coach, train, and counsel subordinates. However, the Warrant Officer's primary task as a leader is to serve as a technical expert, providing valuable skills, guidance, and expertise to commanders and organizations in their particular field.

Obama promises "change" and "unite." He does not define what he means by "change." That change could be pro-Muslim which is Islam World Rule and install the dreaded sharia so-called "legal and justice system" of the Koran.

That "unite" could be uniting Muslim sleeper cells and ignorant Americans around an anti-Republic overthrow.

Obama's having been born and raised a Muslim and having left the faith to become a Christian make him neither more nor less qualified to become president of the United States. But if he was born and raised a Muslim and is now hiding that fact, this points to a major deceit, a fundamental misrepresentation about himself that has profound implications about his character and his suitability as president.

The US said the deal would not affect the military balance in the region

Via BBC:

China has cancelled military and diplomatic exchanges with the US in protest at a $6.5bn deal to supply Taiwan with arms, US officials say.

A number of senior level visits and military-to-military exchanges due before November would not go ahead, the US defence department said.

The sales include advanced interceptor missiles, Apache helicopters and submarine-launched missiles.

China regards Taiwan as its territory and opposes US military support.

'Unfortunate'

Pentagon spokesman Maj Stewart Upton said: "China's continued politicisation of our military relationship results in missed opportunities."

The Chinese move affects a visit by a senior Chinese general, navy port calls and meetings on the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction.

China will also not participate in an exchange on humanitarian assistance and disaster relief.

"It's an unfortunate step," said US state department deputy spokesman Robert Wood.

On Saturday the Chinese foreign ministry said: "The Chinese government and the Chinese people strongly oppose and object to the US government's actions, which harm Chinese interests and Sino-US relations."

The US is Taiwan's largest arms supplier.

The US said the deal would not alter the military balance in the region but was "a demonstration of the commitment of this administration to provide Taiwan the defensive arms its needs to be strong

And so I am going to stick my toes into the water here and try to tackle a subject that has been weighing on me lately. You may agree wholeheartedly with me, you may vehemently disagree. You may just not understand a word I'm talking about, feel free to stop reading and rest assured I'm not trying to take my blog off in a different direction. Maybe I'm tackling this issue because I want to know where grace resides in the midst of this issue.

I grew up as Mennonite as they come. (No, not the little bonnet and buggy type, trust me, you could pass most Mennonites on the street and have no clue of their denominational affiliation.) One of the tenets that the Mennonite church holds firmly to is the idea of non-resistance, pacifism to call it by the common name. Not pacifism in the 'ho-hum, let's sit back and do nothing' sense, but pacifism in the sense of 'how can we actively work to bring about peace', or 'how can we be peace-bringers in today's world'? Unfortunately, we tend to be rather smug in our pacifistic little hearts, certain that we are somehow more right than the other denominations. And so I was raised with the idea of what good Mennonites do to create and maintain peace.

And then those ideas began to be shattered. My first encounter was while on a gospel team spring break outreach in college. We gave programs in various churches and were hosted by families from that church. And the so-sure-of-myself little Mennonite girl landed one night in a host family in which the father was a retired something high up in the military. Wait...a MILITARY person attending a MENNONITE church? But...but...but... how do we teach consistency to our faith when HE is sitting there?

Then, my brother joined the army. To my parents, this was perhaps the only thing that could have topped me announcing I was a Democrat. How could I say that 'we' did not approve of the army (picture pursed lips and self-righteous smile) when that is my brother we are talking about? How can I be immune to the plight of the soldiers and families when he has just shipped out in the past month, leaving a wife and three young children behind for a year?

And then there is Gates. Wonderful, complicated, uncoordinated, socially and behaviorally awkward Gates. Mother-love says that I will do anything for that child. And guess what his developmental pediatrician recommended? Yep, martial arts. You want to put a pacifist's soul at war with itself, tell a mother her child would benefit from taking martial arts. He's been at it a month now; I'm still struggling with "But I'm teaching him to FIGHT!" And we've raised a few eyebrows among friends, and maybe someday I'll be able to just say "Yeah, Gates is taking tae kwon do," without feeling that I need to jump into the five-minute explanation of WHY.

All that to say that over the years I have begun to realize that the issue of peace is much more complex than my early years would have lead me to believe. I think it is much more complex than many people are yet willing to admit.

So, what do I teach my children about peace? HOW do I teach my children about peace?

We tried banning anything resembling a toy gun. We tried to shelter them from the news, violent movies, etc. Guess what? Somehow, the concept of 'gun' still crept into their little minds and unless I sweep my house of all Tinker-toys, straight pipe-like objects, Legos and anything that has a bend in the middle including half-eaten pieces of toast, pretend guns are going to happen. All we can do is set parameters and stick to them, enforcing the idea that real guns can hurt people and therefore we never pretend to hurt people.

Already we are talking to them about the concept of 'making things right'. We don't use physical punishment because we believe it reinforces the idea that the strong can make the weak behave by virtue of their strength. Instead, we constantly reinforce the idea that their actions affect others and when their actions hurt it needs to be made right. To me, this is sowing the seeds of peace; acknowledging our part and making amends.

When you look at it that way, suddenly the tent of peace gets a whole lot bigger.

When you look at it that way, some of the actions done in the name of peace begin to look a whole lot more political and a whole lot less like peace making.

But what do I know? I'm just a mom trying to raise her children to know what it is to be peacemakers.

So Torres, an Argentine immigrant who works in food service in the Chicago suburbs, launched his own investigation. Now, he is convinced that his son did indeed kill himself. But he blames Lariam, a drug taken by tourists, Peace Corps volunteers and troops to prevent malaria. An Army psychiatrists report also suggests the medication was a factor in Torres' suicide.

Controversy swirled around Lariam in 2004 after a UPI-CNN investigation linked it to the suicides of six Special Forces soldiers, including three murder-suicides at North Carolina's Fort Bragg in the summer of 2002.

... The Food and Drug Administration's Web site warns of anxiety, hallucinations and other side effects, and says: "Some patients taking Lariam think about killing themselves, and there have been rare reports of suicides. We do not know if Lariam was responsible for these suicides."

The Pentagon launched an investigation into the drug in 2004, but it is still regularly prescribed for troops in Afghanistan, Iraq and other regions.

Now, Torres, 53, is asking for congressional hearings and is demanding a moratorium on Lariam pending more investigation and stricter oversight of the drugs used by troops.

via Washington Post:  Family Blames Soldiers Suicide on Anti-Malaria Drug

People in South Ossetia fear they are vulnerable to Georgian attack after the pull-out of Russian troops, claiming that leaves them defenceless. Instead, European observers are in place, but, they are unarmed, and locals say they are frightened of renewed Georgian aggression. The completion of the Russian withdrawal from Georgian territory this week was part of the peace plan brokered by the Russian and French presidents. The pull-out was from territory adjoining South Ossetia and Abkhazia.

European Union observers watched every move of the departing Russian troops and, now, it is their responsibility to keep the peace. But, the fact they are unarmed, and cannot interfere if violence breaks out, means there is not a lot of confidence among locals on both sides. "Now, the Georgians will be able to continue their provocations, shootings, and bombings", said South Ossetian resident Alic Dzigoev. French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner came to visit the region, smiling to the cameras and promising everything would be okay. He also said Russia only partially met its obligations in Georgia under the EU-negotiated ceasefire. But, Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov dismissed the claims as unfounded.

"I've heard that some European representatives expressed their regret that the Russian peacekeepers hadn't been withdrawn from the Akhalgori district", he said. "But, this would totally disagree with the Medvedev-Sarkozy plan. It says, plain and simple, that as we withdraw troops from the areas bordering South Ossetia and Abkhazia they'll be replaced by EU monitors. But, Akhalgori is inside South Ossetia".

12 October 2008

Russia Today

http://www.russiatoday.com/ossetianwar/news/31752 (in English)

... The likelihood of an American attack has diminished. American commanders "think it would complicate the situation in Iraq and the region," John Bolton, the former U.N. ambassador, told me. He favors an attack but says "the Bush administration was much more inclined to do it a few years ago." 

... Would Washington support an Israeli attack? Recently, the administration has given clear signals that it would not. But then, why did the Pentagon announce last month that it planned to sell Israel 1,000 new GBU-39 bunker-busting bombs? 

... Why does Israel need those bombs? Israeli military analysts have been saying they are for attacking underground weapons depots in Gaza or southern Lebanon. Perhaps.

But then, why about the same time did the Pentagon agree to sell Israel sophisticated upgrades for the countrys Patriot anti-missile missiles - and send more than 100 technicians to install them? If Israel attacked, Iran has warned that it would fire volleys of ballistic missiles in response.

And there's more: Just last week came the news that the United States has deployed an advanced early-warning radar system in Israel for detecting incoming missiles. It is so sophisticated that, for now, U.S. Army crews will be stationed there to operate it.

by Joel Brinkley, Belleville News Democrat: Evidence grows that Israel, with U.S. aid, is preparing to attack Iran

In an attempt to enhance his legacy and place his stamp on the direction of the war after he leaves office, President George W Bush is expected to announce a “surge” of up to 10,000 troops in Afghanistan as part of a political, military and diplomatic offensive in the region after the November 4 elections.

A leaked classified draft report by US intelligence agencies has concluded that Afghanistan is in a “downward spiral”, confronted by increasing violence from a resurgent Taliban, debilitated by the drugs trade and hampered by rampant corruption at the highest levels of President Hamid Karzai’s government.

“The trends across the board are not going in the right direction,” Admiral Mike Mullen, chairman of the joint chiefs of staff, said last week. “It has been very, very tough fighting this year and it will be tougher next year unless we [develop] a way to get at all aspects of the challenge.”

Bush cannot bind the hands of his successor but is eager to pass on the lessons learnt from the troop surge in Iraq. General David Petraeus, the new chief of US Central Command, has set up a brains trust of military advisers to explore fresh counter-insurgency strategies for Afghanistan as part of a review.

The Pentagon, State Department, Treasury and other US agencies have been conducting their own reviews on how to reverse the deteriorating security of Afghanistan. Lieutenant General Douglas Lute, the deputy national security adviser, has been drawing together their conclusions so a new strategy can be announced before Barack Obama or John McCain is sworn in as president on January 20.

A defence source said: “It will look like whatever new strategy is delivered was started by the Bush administration. It is a big legacy issue.”

via Times Online (UK): Bush troop surge to stem rise of Taliban

The militants had attempted to enter Lashkar Gah from three directions, said the British military.
It also said the scale of the attacking force and their co-ordinated plan was "virtually unprecedented" in the area.

Read more here:Sky News

Read more here:Fox News

Troops in northern Somalia's semiautonomous Puntland region unsuccessfully tried to take back a ship that was hijacked by pirates on Thursday, said Ali Abdi Aware, Puntland's foreign minister. He said two pirates were killed.

The vessel, which was carrying cement, is believed to have Syrian and Somali crew on board.

Read more here:Fox News

Let us not forget this. Let us not forget the dead.

Now and then I will write a post about war. Real war. A matter I take immensely serious, especially knowing those who lost comrades, friends & family. However, I will keep all the images that are of Death and Horror of and on the battlefields as a very small thumbnail (since the cut function does not seem to work).

All armies in World War I used underage soldiers. Recruiting Officers used to close their eyes when boys - clearly under the required age of 18 years - wanted to join. Boy soldiers, the youngest recording dead being 12, were sent to the trenches in Belgium, France, and Russia, where they fought, suffered the horrors and died with the adult soldiers.

WWI dead boy-soldier

Siegfried Sassoon wrote: "As I stepped over one of the Germans an impulse made me lift him up from the miserable ditch. Propped against the bank, his blond face was undisfigured, except by the mud which I wiped from his eyes and mouth with my coat sleeve. He didn`t look to be more than eighteen. Hoisting him a little higher, I thought what a gentle face he had." (in Memoirs from an Infantry Officer)

Dead German boy-soldier

Sometimes whole schoolclasses enlisted together - and died together, as can be read in Erich Maria Remarque's famous Great War-novel All Quiet on the Western Front.

Dead English boy-soldier

Dead French boy-soldiers

If any ask us why we died
Tell them, Because our fathers lied
(Rudyard Kipling)

Child Soldiers today

After the Great War there have been many attempts to put this to an end, and finally, on 2nd September 1990, the 'United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child' came into force.

Article 38 states:

1. States Parties undertake to respect and to ensure respect for rules of international humanitarian law applicable to them in armed conflicts which are relevant to the child.

2. States Parties shall take all feasible measures to ensure that persons who have not attained the age of fifteen years do not take a direct part in hostilities.

3. States Parties shall refrain from recruiting any person who has not attained the age of fifteen years into their armed forces. In recruiting among those persons who have attained the age of fifteen years but who have not attained the age of eighteen years, States Parties shall endeavour to give priority to those who are oldest.

4. In accordance with their obligations under international humanitarian law to protect the civilian population in armed conflicts, States Parties shall take all feasible measures to ensure protection and care of children who are affected by an armed conflict.