brownc72

It is a roadblock and message to Iran, Iran is primarily Shiite and the majority of Iraq is Shiite. Saudi Arabia is primarily Sunni and is a counter to Iranian influence, Saddam was Sunni which is a minority in Iraq and partly while he ruled with such an iron fist because he was trying to control a majority population. Hence the term Sunni Triangle which was very prosperous to include Fallujah and Ramadi because Saddam always took care of them a little better.

Your subject is misleading, I am a veteran. Don't know where you were going with this...BORING!!!

BORING!!!

This is not a GOP/Tea Party/Tea Bagger political forum or a "beat up the President of the United States" forum...but NO ONE seems to be complaining about that. Fairness across the board I say...if it was up to me we'd keep ALL the conversation dinar investment related ONLY!

You political nuts never cease to amaze me...what about the crosshairs Palin had on her website for Gifford and how they conveniently disappeared after the shooting. The political rhetoric is exactly the kind of talk that produces nuts like the shooter regardless of party affiliation. So there, you got what you wanted...someone is dead and you're busy bashing. Are you happy now?

I would tend to agree with others about religion not belonging here, but the problem is I don't see many of the same people taking such a strong stance on politics belonging on here either. I don't come on here to be talked to death about what's wrong with Obama and everything else under the sun either. Seems like a double standard...but maybe it's just me.

You've summed up your ignorance in one statement..."Yes it's tough times during his presidency, but certainly no tougher than many others before him." Wow...ignorance is bliss, silence is golden and reading is fundamental. I rest my case...exit stage right. BTW...in case you didn't know we don't need performance pay in the military, your freedom isn't free...we provide it complimentary for all of our "countrymen" as you put it...even idiots like you. Keep the change!

Basing disrespect of the Office of the President of the United States on what a foreigner did to Bush? Not American disrespect of the office which is what I addressed? Disrespect of our own? The fact I stated that military officers like myself are not afforded even the option of public disrespect according to the Uniform Code of Military Justice. And now in the spirit of democracy, the President elected by the People of the United States is NOT your President? That just about makes you an enemy of the state then and in the '50 & '60s you'd been labeled a separatist or communist...they'd be pulling up to your house right about NOW! I politely explained that I'd love to chat intelligently with you before, but again you appear to be struggling to keep up at this juncture so I appreciate you being done with the thread. I also appreciate the middle eastern history lesson, but I doubt you spent as much time in the sandbox as I did so I'll just "wallow in my delusion". Hail to the Chief (whoever he or she is!). Pop some dip in your mouth and relax (brilliant assumptions complete).

It doesn't matter who he is, it matters what he is. You don't have to respect the person, you respect the position because he is the President...your President. Many Presidents did things that were not honorable...I don't they were bashed in such a vicious manner as this one. I think the underlying issue truly me be racism or maybe not...but this level of disrespect is TRULY on another level and unpatriotic. You cannot consider yourself a patriot and respecter of our government system when you cannot respect the office. I won't waste too much of my precious time with you because it's already apparent you are closed many and incapable of conducting civilized and intelligent dialogue. If you aren't racist don't sweat the aforementioned comments...but for someone to claim they are not racist you sure are ADAMANTLY defending yourself. Hey wait a minute...maybe at this point you actually DO have an idea of what Obama feels like being attacked for something you aren't all day!

Perhaps many of the Obama jokes & rhetoric are considered racist because no one and I do mean no former president has ever caught as much hell and disrespect for the office as he has gotten. I am military and politically there is always plenty of disagreement amongst ourselves, but we aren't allowed to show disrespect for elected officials. The rhetoric goes too far for a sitting president even going so far as to yell "You Lie!" at the President during session in Congress. Where does it end because he is OUR president no matter what and the same was Dems had to suck up 8 years of Bush is the same ways Reps will have to suck up 8 years of Obama. It isn't a democracy only when Republicans...it's a democracy for all that deserves respect at all times.

I've been riding this thing out since 2004 so if anyone understands...I DO!!!

This is stupid...you got so-called experts hiding their faces in videos...and deputy registrar supposedly certifying a 1961 birth in 1964?! ARE YOU F**KING SERIOUS?! Get a life...anybody can buy documents for the right price by the way...but you post a supposed 1961 document certified three years later if you really look at it closely?! Get over yourself...this country is way too strong and powerful to let something like this slide. No one at NSA, CIA or DIA has raised the flag on this but the knuckleheads in the field have it all figured out? Yeah right...bring on the negatives because I LOVE them but leave me with an even number of negatives because that always equals positive if you know anything about science unlike these self-proclaimed forgery clowns...oops I mean experts!

The guy is a fraud. His real name is Ron Polland. He received a BA in Psychology from Florida State University in 1970, a Masters in Educational Research from FSU in 1972, and a Doctorate in Instructional Systems from FSU in 1978. His curriculum vitae lists the other accomplishments he finds noteworthy. He holds himself out as an expert on surveys and market research. He has NONE of the expertise he dishonestly claims. Why do you think he blurs his face? What's the point of a video if you're going to puss out and hide your face?! LAME!

This is ridiculous, soldiers are always paid in USD's...PERIOD!!! And Direct Deposit is required for all service men and women, back in the day it used to be referred to as SurePay.

Enough already with this garbage...the LTC you referenced never asked G.W. Bush for a copy of his birth certificate when he was deployed many times under his presidency did he? So what is the "real" reason...the true underlying issue for why he persists on pressing this ridiculous issue and ruining his career over it? I feel confident I know the answer...do you?!

I knew to invest in Dinars when I could literally see oil seeping out of the ground in the middle of the desert of Iraq...literally. I think Iraq's rate will have to be comparable with Kuwait's.

No, the price of the shoes should drop proportionately with the dropping of zeros meaning the 5000 dinar should would now cost 5 dinars because the 5000 dinars you paid for them initially is equivalent to 5 dinars after removing the zeros.

I have held my dinar since 2004 and NEVER told my wife they existed because her impatience would have drove me CRAZY!!! All I can say is that if you can keep it to yourself...KEEP IT TO YOURSELF!!!

+1 U.S. Army & Army National Guard 1990-Present OIF II

Newbies aren't the problem, it's the veterans that post everything non-dinar related under the sun, berate you for disagreeing with them, and are just downright negative & nasty at times. Take care of THOSE people and we'll be good!

It's just the price of doing business...no different than a pawn shop. They buy your goods for less and sell them for more...from a business standpoint it makes sense. It has nothing to do with the value of the dinar, RV, etc.

I disagree...from first hand experience I can say with certainty that by our standards you would think they were some of the laziest, complacent people on the planet. There attitude is TRULY...it will happen when it will happen! When we move Paul Bremer out of there after the first election it was the beginning of the end to telling them what to do as opposed to prodding them.

OMG...here we go again. He is not a muslim, but if he was I don't think Jesus would mind. He also married in a Christian church and baptized both of his children in one. Jesus didn't try to overthrow governments, but that's what people holler here all the time because they don't like Obama. Jesus said give unto Caesar what is Caesar and unto the Church what belongs to the Church. I don't agree with burning the Bibles, Torah, Quran or any other religion, but the point that was being made about sending them elsewhere did not really make sense because Pashto and Dari are very regional languages primarily Afghanistan. The other point is that the General Order has been in place since 2003 from the Bush Administration in order to not make the people of Iraq & Afghanistan nervous that we were on a crusade like the original crusade. You know the one where THOUSANDS died in the name of Christianity to conform or die! Here we are trying to fight a war and in the midst of ONGOING combat operation civilians thousands of miles away want to try to recruit new Christians. I am a Christian, but I'm also a soldier and it's the same point I made to people last week about burning the Bible. I was livid with the pastor because regardless of what religion...that's just plain disrespectful. People who have never had to sacrifice and SO quick to come with ideas like that genius that puts lives of soldiers in theater at risk. Those who have served or serve in the military make up less than 1% of this nation's population. The pastor didn't get the big picture, his point was more important to him than stirring the hornet's nest forcible our soldiers to deal with it. As Christians we sometimes to forget to apply the basic question...what would Jesus do? If Obama was a muslim...what would Jesus do? If this pastor proposed to burn the Quran's what would Jesus do? I don't know what would Jesus do, but I do know he wouldn't do a lot of the things people post they wish we could do. He wouldn't post the hate that we see others post on here EVERY day.

This is very lengthy so I apologize, but it illustrates the point I tried to make to some fellow posters last week that soldiers have enough issues on their hands in the theaters of operations and don't need an idiot civilian in Florida stirring the pot by burning Qurans. I felt like posting this because some here stated that it's important to "smoke the enemy out" by burning the Quran. This is guerilla warfare, there is no front line or distinguishing uniforms so you clearly know who the enemy. The main players that you want never show their heads anyway and won't be "smoked out". Here's the latest update from Afghanistan on what my fellow comrades-in-arms are up against. Go ARMY! Support our troops of all branches. A letter from Maj. Gen. John F Campbell, Commanding General, CJTF-101 & RC-East Afghanistan by The U.S. Army on Sunday, September 12, 2010 at 1:33pm Greetings again from Afghanistan! A quick update...this is the Eagle 6 Update #5, and today is the anniversary of an historic day in our nation’s history. Nine years ago today, nineteen Al Qaida terrorists executed a devastating attack that killed 2,996 innocent people from 70 different countries in attacks on the twin towers, the Pentagon, and a failed attack that was thwarted by heroic Americans in a Pennsylvania field. After nine years of war, public opinion is waning, and many are asking why we are still in Afghanistan. Indeed, in several of my recent office calls, I have had several visitors ask me why we are still here. Generally, I tell them we can sell Kentucky Fried Chicken, McDonald’s, and Coca Cola all over the world, but we do not do a good job selling why we are fighting in Afghanistan. The simple reason why we are here is summarized very well by a slide GEN Petraeus uses entitled, “Why This War Matters”. Bottom line, we want to prevent attacks like those depicted on the slide from happening again in our country and other countries. The specific reasons we continue to fight in Afghanistan are more complex. We are here to disrupt Al Qaida and other transnational extremist organizations. We are here to prevent extremists from having a safehaven for training camps where they can plan future attacks. We are here to strengthen and enhance the government and security forces of a country attempting to re-establish some sense of normalcy in a war-ravaged country. For the people of Afghanistan this is important because it provides them hope for the future after nearly 30 years of war. For Americans and many other countries around the world, we are here to provide for safer environments for our Families, free from fear that terrorists will once again kill thousands of innocent people. You may have heard about insurgents attacking Forward Operating Base (FOB) Salerno and FOB Chapman on 28 August. An estimated 50-60 insurgents near simultaneously massed to attack both of these FOBs that are a couple miles apart. During the attacks, we suffered four Soldiers wounded in action, three of whom were quickly returned to duty. The enemy, however, suffered a disruptive blow against his ability to conduct an effective attack against the FOBs in the near future. In addition to the 41 insurgents killed, we captured 13 suicide vests, a vehicle-borne improvised explosive device (VBIED), and various other weapons. This attack failed as did an attack in June on FOB Fenty in Jalalabad and a third attack on Bagram in May. The Haqqani network leadership orchestrated these attacks from relative safety in Pakistan hoping for a spectacular display. All three of these attacks were quickly defeated and the cowardly leadership continues to hide in Pakistan while sending ill-equipped and ill-trained insurgents to fight against a strong coalition of well-equipped, trained, and disciplined Soldiers. Another thing we do not do a good job of explaining is the primary cause for civilian casualties (CIVCAS) here in Afghanistan. A few months ago, if you were to watch the news, you might think that coalition forces were responsible for all the CIVCAS here in Afghanistan. That incorrect perception is beginning to change, and the true picture is beginning to emerge. The facts show that only 10% of CIVCAS is caused by coalition forces, 4% ANSF, and 86% by the insurgents. Even one civilian casualty is a tragedy, and our forces put a lot of effort into training and planning to minimize the potential to cause civilian casualties. We have seen the insurgents target the civilian population to intimidate and spread fear. The insurgents have no qualms about killing innocent women and children, or dressing as women in burkhas and then blowing themselves up to cause as much harm to civilians as they can. Again almost 90% of CIVCAS is caused by the insurgents...that ought to speak for itself. Our Afghan partners are at the end of Eid. As I mentioned in my last update, on the 14th we will host a post Eid celebration dinner for our partners, I have invited the Govenors of the 14 provinces in RC-East plus many of the ANSF partners here to Bagram...we are expecting about 200 people to attend, and we'll share Afghan cuisine and even have some entertainment which will consist of Afghan music. Another Screaming Eagle has joined the team here in Afghanistan. On 1 Sep, ISAF bid farewell to CSM Michael Hall, and welcomed CSM Marvin Hill as the new International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) and United States Forces-Afghanistan (USFOR-A) Command Sergeant Major. CSM Hill most recently served as the CENTCOM Command Sergeant Major, and is a former Eagle 7 (Command Sergeant Major of the 101st). It is great to have the former Screaming Eagle team of GEN Petraeus and CSM Hill back together and in charge of ISAF and USFOR-A. The Currahees are now in charge of their battlespace, the Paktika Province. They assumed their battlespace on 8 September. They are the final piece of the "surge", I have mentioned continuity in previous updates, and how we are trying to maintain as much continuity with units as we can, and the Currahees are a prime example. 1-506 is back in Sharana…where they were on their last deployment, and 2-506 is back at FOB Orgun-E…also where they were before. About 60% of the battalions were on the last deployment, and have rekindled relationships with Afghans they met on the last deployment. The Currahees complete the deployment of Force Package 3, the last of President Obama’s surge announced earlier this year. We now have the 101st Division Headquarters, Bastogne (1BCT, 101st), Strike (2BCT, 101st), Rakkasan (3BCT, 101st), Currahee (4BCT, 101st), and Destiny (101st CAB) in Afghanistan. The Sustainment Brigade Headquarters will join us here later this fall, and 159th CAB will replace the 101st CAB in the JAN/FEB timeframe. This makes the first time that an entire US Division is deployed to Afghanistan. Bastogne (1BCT, 101st) has received 1-61 Cavalry Squadron from the Currahees, and has conducted operations in Laghman Province and Nangarhar Province to set conditions for TF Panther. They continue to face a determined insurgent force in their area with increased IEDs on southern routes and attacks on COPs and FOBs in Kunar Province. Strike (2BCT, 101st) continues to improve security in the Maiwand, Zharey, and Arghandab Districts of RC-South. They recently bid farewell to 2-508th Infantry who redeployed to Fort Bragg, and recently welcomed the 1-66 Armor from the 1st “Raider” Brigade of 4th ID. Rakkasans (3BCT, 101st) continue to face a determined enemy who, as mentioned above, is suffering from a failed attack. Rakkasans have relinquished Paktika to the Currahees, and now focus on Paktiya and Khowst Provinces. 3-187 has moved to East Ghazni, and will work for Task Force White Eagle, the Polish Brigade. 1-187 will go down to RC-South to assist in operations there. Bayonet (173rd Airborne) focuses on Logar and Wardak provinces. They have helped GIRoA respond to the flooding in their area of operations. Recently, 60 farmers in Wardak attended agriculture training designed to improve their farming methods. Like the rest of CJTF-101, they are preparing for the upcoming parliamentary elections. Lafayette (the French Brigade) remains focused on conducting operations to disrupt the insurgents’ ability to impact Highway 7. In the Kapisa Province, they have conducted operations in Alasay, Bedraou, and Tag Ab valleys. Tracing the roots of the French working with the 101st back to World War II, they are very proud to be working with us again, and can frequently be heard saying, “Air Assault!” White Eagle (the Polish Brigade) has received 3-187 Infantry from Rakkasans, and is conducting operations along Highway 1 to disrupt insurgent IED cells. They are also preparing to transition in the next contingent of Polish forces who begin arriving later this month. Wolverine (86th IBCT- Vermont NG) continues to conduct operations in Parwan, Panjshir, and Bamyan. Partnered with governors and ANSF leaders, their civilian led Provincial Reconstruction Teams continue to make positive progress in the most stable provinces of RC-East. Falcon (3rd CAB) and Destiny (101st CAB) both continue outstanding support to conventional and special operations forces in both RC-East and RC-South respectively. They routinely coordinate for nightly contingency operations while maintaining the flexibility for time-sensitive targets as required. SOF missions account for 52% of 479 missions flown over the past nine months by 3rd CAB in RC-East and 69% of 216 missions flown in five months by 101st CAB in RC-South. They manage to do this while providing lift and attack helicopters to support the rest of the Coalition Forces in RC-East, RC-Capital, and RC-South. Back at Fort Campbell, the Lifeliners (101st Sustainment Brigade) and Eagle Thunder (159th CAB) continue their preparations for their upcoming deployments. Lifeliners just completed their Command Post Exercise, and are in their final preparations for deployment as they prepare their colors casing and block leave in October. Thunder is conducting off-post training events in preparation for an air training exercise in December. They have a little more time to train, and will deploy after the New Year. We have had several visitors over the last few weeks. We hosted former Eagle 6 and Army Vice Chief of Staff, GEN (ret) Jack Keane. It was great to have one of my predecessors visiting us here in Afghanistan. He is serving as an advisor to GEN Petraeus, and his wise council was well-received here. We also hosted the Supreme Allied Commander Europe (SACEUR), Admiral James Stavridis, who is very positive about the results he has seen in Afghanistan over his last seven visits in the past fourteen months. Ambassador Eikenberry also visited for a day from Kabul. We had two separate Congressional Delegations visit. The first was led by Representative James Moran (VA) with Harold Rogers (KY), Rodney Frelinghuysen (NJ), and Tom Cole (OK) also in attendance. We then hosted a Congressional Delegation led by Representative Jim Marshall (GA) with Representatives Jane Harman (CA), Peter Welch (VT), Charlie Dent (PA), and Cynthia Lummis (WY). It was great to inform these superb leaders of the successes Coalition Forces are achieving in RC-East. On the media front, I have done several interviews over the past few weeks. Martha Raddatz (ABC News) conducted battlefield circulation with me for two days, and was able to interview several Soldiers. I did an interview with Jason Carroll of CNN at FOB Rushmore while visiting with the Iron Rakkasans (3-187) and Red Currahees (1-506). I also did a phone interview with Ann Petrie from WHVO Radio in Hopkinsville. The piece that Lara Logan worked on in the last update will most likely be on the premier for CBS 60 Minutes (26 Sept). CNN Interview: http://www.cnn.com/video/#/video/us/2010/09/02/carroll.campbell.afghanistan.cnn Geraldo Interview: http://video.foxnews.com/v/4324593/distorted-picture-of-afghanistan Below are the same websites I have sent in my previous updates. They will enable you to keep up to date on our Screaming Eagles and Regional Command-East. • www.cjtf101.com • The Fort Campbell Courier at www.fortcampbellcourier.com • www.ClarksvilleNow.com • The 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) Facebook page at www.facebook.com/101st The September issue of the Freedom Watch Afghanistan Magazine is now online for viewing at: http://www.cjtf101.com/en/archived-mainmenu-253/24-freedom-watch-magazine/3217-freedom-watch-september-2010.html The last 10 days have been difficult for our forces. We have lost 8 Soldiers since my last update on 1 September. Our coalition units (all attached other than 101st) have now lost 27 Soldiers, and we have lost 49 101st Soldiers. I ask that you keep all of our Coalition Forces in your thoughts and prayers. Also, please pray for all of our Families, they sacrifice so much and rarely receive the recognition they deserve. We should never forget the sacrifices they endure to enable us and our coalition members to serve our respective countries. So again, remember why we came here in the first place on this Patriot Day...we continue to live in the most dangerous times of our life...there are those that everyday seek to destroy the freedoms we have...but we again are so fortunate for the brave men and women who continue to raise their right hands and say...Send Me...I will serve my country... Thank you for all that you do to support our great heroes and their Families. We greatly appreciate your continued support of this great Division and Regional Command-East. Vr John JOHN F. CAMPBELL MAJOR GENERAL, USA COMMANDING GENERALCJTF-101/ REGION COMMAND-EAST AFGHANISTAN CSM Hill change of responsibility Currahee in overwatch Firing handheld mortor GEN Patraeus with Strike In village MRAP with mine roller On patrol Rakkasans in Sar Hawzah Working with young girls