The Troops

Fark Headline – Last week, my platoon’s lead vehicle was hit by an IED. It killed the gunner, SPC Robert Dixon, who was married with two children. He was my friend

Straight from TwinCities.com: “On Sunday, the Humvee in which Pfc. Dixon was riding as a gunner was hit by an improvised bomb. He died of his wounds at the age of 28, family members said Tuesday. He was three months into his tour.

His wife, Rusty Rose-Dixon, said she knew his job as a cavalry scout was dangerous and they had discussed what would happen if he were hurt or killed.

“They do scary things. They raid. They’re what goes in before the infantry gets called,” she said.

The two were married about 1½ years ago. He moved to Minneapolis in fall 2004 after divorcing his first wife, who then lived in Gladwin, Mich., with their child, Logan.The fate of Logan, 3, and a second child born after Dixon’s divorce – Michael, now 2 – prompted Dixon to enlist in July 2005. He was assigned to the Army’s 1st Squadron, Fourth Cavalry Regiment in the 4th Brigade, 1st Infantry Division, stationed at Fort Riley, Kan.”

Here are my favorite Fark comments in the thread regarding this story:

“Sad. Died for Oil and America’s illegal war of aggression. I wonder how many innocent civilians he helped to kill while out there. Don’t see many posts for them around here, 655,000 and rising, all a direct result of the USA’s actions.” – golo606

“Golo,

I assume you support the tribal militias and foreign fighters who kill scores of civilians everyday here?

What do you think is going to happen when we leave here? You think the Sunni’s and Shias are gonna run through fields of flowers and hugging and laughing?

If you really cared for the innocent civilians of Iraq, you would pray to god that we stay here until Iraqi security is good enough to protect their people from your brothers in Jihad.” – Iraqistan Man

“Dispite what hardcore librals would have you belive, this man nor any others in Iraq did not die in vain. Saddam has been taken out of power, Iraq has a democratic constitution, they are well on their way to a stable government and a self supporting security force. They have their problems sure, but things don’t get better overnight. I have many friends serving in Iraq, I would if I could, and I take personal offense from anyone who says their there for nothing.” – Kimpak

“I have friends over there, all of them Marines that say we’re “kicking the enemys ass every damned day”. All of them re-upped at the end of their tours. You tell them they’re doing this for oil or what they’re doing is illegal and they’ll likely kick your ass too.

In fact, when the day comes that our troops do come home I hope like hell some of the dedicated take it upon themselves to get even with the institutions that stabbed them in the back and invested in their defeat.” – Triaxis

“So my Sister in law and 2 year old neice and 4 year old nephew came over to the states space-a to spend some time with the family. The kids were typically rambunctious and were running all over the terminal while waiting a day to get on a flight. There were alot of soldiers on their way back to the states also waiting and my sis described how the kids antics would light up the soldiers weary faces.

One she got a flight it was in a plane where you sit in jump seats facing in towards the cargo. The cargo on this particular flight was 15 flag-draped caskets. My nephew, possibly mimicing what his dad does, stopped and saluted the flags on the way aboard. One the soldiers broke down.” – Model_Citizen

UN nuclear watchdog says Iran has begun enriching uranium on a far larger scale after solving most technological problems

Straight from the Debka File: “In advance of the IAEA report to the UN Security Council next Monday, May 21, a short-notice inspection found Iranian engineers to be using roughly 1,300 centrifuges and producing enough fuel suitable for nuclear reactors. Iranian scientists appear to have surmounted the technological roadblocks preventing their bringing the P2 centrifuges up to speed.

To attain bomb-grade material, the product Iran has achieved so far would have to undergo further enrichment, but the energy agency’s director Mohammed ElBaradei said: “We believe they pretty much have the knowledge about how to enrich. From now on, it is simply a question of perfecting that knowledge.”

“One diplomat in Vienna said Iran could have 3,000 centrifuges operating by June – enough to make material for one bomb every year – and add another 5,000 by the end of the year.

Even with bomb-grade material, Iran is not thought to have the technology to produce a weapon small enough to fit atop a missile or for delivery by air.”

Al Qaeda’s front group warns the US to back off its massive search for the three American soldiers the group claims to have captured

Straight from the Debka File: “The US military confirmed its belief for the first time Monday that al Qaeda was holding the men missing after an attack Saturday, May 12, that killed four other American soldiers and an Iraqi interpreter near Mahmoudiya south of Baghdad.

The attack included three roadside bombs. The Islamic State of Iraq stated on its Web site: “Your soldiers are in our hands. If you want their safety, do not look for them.” The statement called the attack retribution for the alleged rape and murder of a 14 year old girl a year ago.”