Friendly Fire Kills Linda Norgrove?

Here it comes. The Mail Online (U.K.) is saying that "friendly fire" from Navy SEALs killed a British woman, Linda Norgrove, as they tried to save her life and rescuse her from Muslim Taliban thugs. Nato and the U.S. are launching an investigation. Of course they are.

Linda Norgrove, 36, was snatched by the Taliban along with three Afghan colleagues on September 26, 2010. She was traveling in a two-vehicle convoy. She wore a burka. It didn't save her. She was moved from mud hut to mud hut - over and over.

A senior security source said: 'It was clear from very early on that the level of threat was very high that she would be moved from the very bad people who were holding her to even worse people across the border in Pakistan.

The last thing we wanted was for her to be passed into the hands of Al Qaeda.

One-hundred and fifty "heavily armed U.S. troops, supported by Afghan soldiers, launched the raid in the early morning hours of Saturday - before the dawn call to prayer. The troops wore-night vision goggles. Predator drones and Apache attack helicopters were standing by.

Americans fight the Taliban small arms fire for half an hour, and then make it through to where Linda Norgrove lay, guarded by about 8 Taliban. They find her alive but "fatally wounded." Urgent medical aid tried desperately to save her life.

If you read my blog with any regularity, you know that I am exasperated and saddened at the number of Westerners who travel to these dangerous areas to work in Islamic countries where they are hated. I understand that Afghanistan women, especially, need all the help they can get, but when a lovely young woman like Norgrove is in their midst, they are sure to have a target on their back the minute they step foot in the country. Every American is a target.

There must be a realization that if you get in trouble, you put the lives of others at risk, and in Afghanistan, it makes fighting a war so much worse. Linda Norgrove was working toward an MBA at the University of Warwick. She worked for the UN in Afghanistan from 2005 to 2008 and returned there in February of this year. The UN cannot protect anyone. The UN does not protect anyone. Please. Find other, safer places to spread charity, and to do doctoral work. Stay home where you will not need our Military.

General David Petraeus notified Prime Minister David Cameron today that Linda Norgrove may have died of a grenade thrown by the SEALs. This according to Cameron:

Miss Norgrove’s life was in 'grave danger' from the moment she was seized and there were fears that she might be passed up the terrorist chain to bases in Pakistan and put at greater peril if she was not rescued. 

'I am clear that the best chance of saving Linda’s life was to go ahead, recognising that any operation was fraught with risk for all those involved and success was by no means guaranteed,' Mr Cameron said.

Here is the story from the U.K.:

A British aid worker may have died when U.S. special forces lobbed a grenade in a frantic bid to save her from the Taliban.

Linda Norgrove, 36, was fatally wounded when  U.S. troops stormed the compound where she was being held hostage.

It was initially thought she died when her captors blew-up a suicide vest.

But today Prime Minister David Cameron said a review of the Navy SEALs' rescue operation had uncovered a new 'deeply distressing development' suggesting a grenade detonated by taskforce members may have been to blame.

If you must have an investigation, make it quick and let these heroes move on. God bless Linda Norgrove and God bless our Military.

Prime Minister David Cameron on Death of Linda Norgrove (video)

Posted by Maggie@Maggie's Notebook

The Miracle Wedding

Holger at Holger Awakens tells us about his weekend when he attended "the miracle wedding." Read this touching story of the tragedy and triumph that brought two military heroes together.

This past weekend, I traveled to attend a wedding. Yeah, I can hear you now...."big deal, Holger!" Well, you see, this wasn't just an ordinary wedding, folks ... this was a "Miracle" wedding.

I sat in the overflow loft of a little country church in rural Oregon on Saturday and saw Christopher Frost and Catherine Neary exchange their vows, to promise to love each other forever and ever until death do them part. What most of you don't know, is that this member of the Airforce and this medically discharged member of the Army had to pass Death on their way to the altar.

Let me share this regarding the service of Tech. Sgt. Christopher Frost of the U.S. Air Force (from OurMilitaryHeroes):

On May 18, 2008, while conducting a counter-improvised explosive device mission in Iraq, Air Force Tech. Sgt. Christopher J. Frost was seriously wounded when the vehicle in which he was riding struck a large, buried IED.

The explosion severely injured three personnel and killed one, Frost said. I lost my right leg below the knee, sustained severe injuries to my left foot and ankle and broke the orbit of my right eye. Other than losing my right leg, the physical therapy I need for my left foot, and learning to use a prosthetic, I do not feel that my injury has changed me. I did not suffer a brain injury, nor do I suffer from any [post-traumatic stress disorder].

As Weapons Intelligence Flight team leader for Weapons Intelligence Team 1, Multi-National Division North Weapons Intelligence Section, in Joint Task Force Troy at Forward at Operating Base Brassfield-Mora, Iraq, from Dec. 9, 2007, to May 20, 2008, Frost is described as providing flawless support to the 101st Airborne Division's 2nd Battalion, 327th Infantry Regiment, and associated units.

When he first arrived in Iraq, Frost was directly responsible for the acquisition, distribution and maintenance of more than $2 million worth of technical exploitation and force protection equipment. His efforts resulted in the overwhelming success of more than 400 combat missions conducted in the most lethal area of Iraq's Salahuddin province.

Despite his injuries, Frost plans to remain in the Air Force for seven more years until retirement. He also plans on keeping his Air Force specialty code of 3E871, explosive ordnance disposal.

Now,  let me share something regarding the bride, Army Spec. Catherine Neary (from af.mil):

"This afternoon, being at Ground Zero, that's very emotional," said Army Spc. Catherine Neary. "It's something that I won't forget."

Specialist Neary was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in the spring while serving at Camp Victory, Iraq.

And this is from Cat's blog regarding the moment she was diagnosed with the tumor while in medical unit in Baghdad:

That morning I finally see the surgeon and the first thing he tells me, "hun I'm not going to sugar coat this for you" and went on to tell me they had found a 4cm tumor on the head of my pancreas. I was going to be medivaced to Walter Reed in Washington DC and have a very hard surgery to remove it. IF I was lucky and they had found this in time, hopefully chemo would save me and I could recover from this.

I took this in, listening carefully...I was so glad to finally have a reason for being sick, that I wasn't just making it up or looking for attention. So when he asked if I had any questions, I asked just one. "Sir, will I get to come back to Iraq and be with my unit?"

Now, I have had the honor and pleasure of knowing Catherine Neary for a couple of years through a blogging network - I first met her when she was serving in Iraq and along with many of her other friends, we lived through the crisis of her diagnosis of a pancreatic tumor and her transport out of Camp Victory in Baghdad to Germany and then on to Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Maryland where G_d answered our prayers and surgeons successfully removed her tumor.

This weekend, I had the pleasure of meeting her now husband, Christopher, and saw just what Catherine had seen in him when they met at Walter Reed - an honorable man, a good man and yes, a warrior.

So, as I stood in that little loft in that country church this weekend and I saw these two people who had been willing to dedicate their lives to America's service, well it was emotional - as I saw Chris, thisBronze Star recipient, walk to the back of the altar to light the unity candle with his prosthetic and Cat join him, knowing of her scar under the gorgeous wedding grown...well, I couldn't quell the emotion. How G_d has blessed this young couple - knowing each of them has so narrowly escaped death while in the service of their country, only to meet while healing at Walter Reed...well, man, it's what movies are made of!
This is my chance to tell the whole world how proud of you, I am Cat! And also my chance to tell Christopher again - thank you sir, for your service and sacrifice to this country.

May G_d bless them, and hold them and make their days together forever bright.

(Photo courtesy of: Birkenstock Cowboy)

Posted by Holger @ Holger Awakens

Alan Grayson Rescued from Niger by Blackwater Xe Military Contractor

Rep. Alan Grayson (D-FL) went to Niger, got caught in the middle of a military coup, and had to be rescued and flown out of the country by Xe Services, a military contractor, formerly known as Blackwater.

Alan Grayson

Daniel Schulman, writing for Mother Jones Online on Alternet reports:

Rep. Alan Grayson (D-FL) who made his substantial fortune by suing military contractors and later lambasted them as a lawmaker, was indeed evacuated from Niger by personnel working for Xe Services (the private security empire formally known as Blackwater), his spokesman confirms.

Grayson was spending your money and mine, while he reportedly was traveld Niger as part of a science and technology congressional delegation:

He heard gunshots in a building next door on the day military leaders stormed the nation's presidential palace and suspended its constitution.


He was taken to the U.S. embassy and put under guard -- it's not clear by whom -- and then flown to Brukina Faso, according to CNN.

 More from Daniel Schulman:

...a Blackwater executive testifying before Congress today said, in an apparent reference to Grayson: "Xe Services, through its subsidiary Presidential Airways, provides aviation support and medevac services to Defense Department personnel in Africa. Just last week, our personnel evacuated a congressman from Niger during civil unrest."

Grayson, a razor-tongued trash talking attack dog sued an American security firm operating in Iraq, Custer Battles LLC ,for "false claims," and won the case. His fees for the case exceeded $4 million. At the time this case was settled in 2006, the Wall Street Journal described Grayson this way:

A fierce critic of the war in Iraq, Mr. Grayson drives an aging Cadillac emblazoned with anti-administration bumper stickers such as "Bush Lied, People Died." ...

Here's some insight into Alan Grayson from his constitutents. The important part of the  video below starts about 1 minute 40 seconds in.





Alan Grayson's Problem with the First Amendment  

David Benke Tackles Gunman at Deer Creek Middle School: Bruco Strongeagle Eastwood is Colorado School Shooter?

A man with a "big gun" appeared on the school ground at Deer Creek Middle School in Littleton, Colorado as students prepared to board an after-school bus. Allegedly, Bruco Strongeagle Eastwood shot two students before math teacher, Dr. David Benke, tackled and disarmed him. One student remains in critical condition this morning. See a video below.

Dr. David Benke - Deer Creek Middle School

Two students were injured: Matt Thieu, 14, received a gunshot wound to the chest. Reagan Weber, 13, was shot in the arm. Matt Thieu is in critical condition. Ms. Weber was treated and released from the Littleton Adventist Hospital. Thie was transferred to Children's Hospital in Denver.

Eastwood, 32, is a convicted felon and is believed to be a former student at Deer Creek Middle School. A yearbook photo shows Bruco Eastwood in 1992. He has a long rap sheet including arrests for domestic violence, DUI, motor vehicle theft and "menacing. His father, War Eagle Eastwood says his son has led a troubled life and "hears voices," and talks back to the voices. 

According to the Colorado Bureau of Investigation, he has been arrested at least nine times. Besides intermittent stints in jail, he has lived in Hudson, Commerce City and Federal Heights, records show.

 Eastwood also has been a defendant in civil lawsuits, including one in which his horses roamed onto Interstate 76 and caused an accident with injuries. 

Steve Potter, a Deer Creek bus drive witnessed Dr. Benke taking the shooter down, and rushed to help.

Dr. Benke was out there at the time the school was being let out. It looked to me like he heard the shot and decided to react accordingly," Steve Potter told FOX31 News. "There was a little bit of a wresting match for about 5 seconds or so," before Benke had disarmed the gunman, Potter said.

Potter, who also helped subdue the gunman after Benke tackled him, said the suspect was rambling incoherently as they held him down.

"He was uttering some obscenities here and there, but nothing that made a whole lot of sense to me."

Updates on the Deer Creek shootings as available.

Daniel Lund Lifeguard Tried to Save Stephen Schafer from Shark Attack

How much courage does it take to plunge your surfboard into a swarm of sharks to save a man? I don't know that we will ever have that answer, but think about it. Daniel Lund is a lifeguard at Stuart Beach, Florida in Martin County. Stephen Schafer was in trouble about 500 yards from shore. Through binoculars, Lund could see Schafer hanging onto his kiteboard. See a video of Mr. Lund below, and hear his own shark-bite story.

Mr. Lund, 47, said he paddled 20 mintues through waves 4'-6' tall, and eventually could see blood in the water and sharks circling. He went for Shafer anyway - extraordinary bravery:

I get to him, I'm probably within 20 yards or so from him, and there's just a lot of blood in the water," Lund told the AP. He could see several sharks circling nearby.

According to the incident report, Schafer was screaming that a shark had bit him.
Lund said he pulled Schafer onto his board and headed back to the beach. The lifeguard declined to describe Schafer's injuries, but said he was conscious and speaking when they got to the beach and paramedics began treating him.

Witnesses who saw the drama unfold said that the paramedics were powerless to save Schafer.

 Mr. Schafer was 38 years old. See kitesurfing action photos of him here.

While this is Martin County, Florida's first death from shark attack, the International Shark Attack File, says surfers and wind sufers "made up approximately 57% of shark attacks worldwide in 2008." Florida has reported only 14 deaths by shark in the state's history. I hope Mr. Lund receives due recognition from his community.




Daniel Lund - Lifeguard tried to Save Stephen Schafer (video)

CIA Slain in Afghanistan: After CIA Agents Die in the Line of Duty Video

The CIA sometimes holds the names of their slain officers forever nameless, and sometimes the names of the dead are released. The families must deal with this reality after their loved one dies in the line of duty. After last week's suicide bombing resulting in the deaths of seven at Forward Operating Base Chapman on the Afghan/Pakistan border, we can be fairly certain the CIA will have little to nothing to say about the dead except to honor, remember and mourn their nameless service. See a video below.

 Harold E. Brown

 Scott Michael Roberson

Four families have released the names of their loved ones, and at least one of the families said the CIA okay' it:

Harold E. Brown, Jr., 37, Bolton, Massachusetts, stationed at Fairfax Station Virginia. A former Army reservist, left behind his wife and college sweetheart, Janet, and three children ages 12, 10 and 3. He was scheduled to return to the States in April. Brown graduated Nashoba Regional High School in 1990, and attended Mt. Wachusett Community College and George Washington University. He attended the Army's intelligence school.

Mr. Brown’s mother, Barbara, said in an interview that her son — she had believed he worked for the State Department — had intended to spend a year in Afghanistan, returning home in April. He did not relish the work, she said, and talked little about it.

Scott Michael Roberson, 39, Ohio: Formerly a narcotics detective in Atlanta, spent time in Kosovo with the UN. His wife is due to give birth to their first child. Roberson was new in the employ of the CIA as a security officer.

Postings on an online memorial site describe a hard-charging motorcyclist with a remarkable recall of episodes of “The Benny Hill Show.”

'He always said that if something happened to him, he would have no regrets,' his sister said. 'He was so proud of what he was doing.'

Jeremy Jason Wise, 35, Arkansas, and a former Navy Seal: left behind his wife and young son. He worked as a security officer for Xe Services (formerly Blackwater). See a Facebook memorial here.

Elizabeth Hanson, 31, Illinois, a 2001 graduate of Colby College

In a telephone interview, her father, Duane Hanson Jr., said an agency official called several days ago to let him know that his daughter, who he said would have turned 31 next month, had been killed. He knew little of her work, other than that she had been in Afghanistan. “I begged her not to go,” he recalled. “I said, ‘Do you know how dangerous that is? That’s for soldiers.’ ”

Ms. Hanson’s economics professor, Michael Donihue, said he was shocked to discover her career path. At Colby, from which she graduated in 2002, she paired her economics major with a minor in Russian language and literature.

“She was a thoughtful person; she had an intellectual curiosity that I really liked,” Professor Donihue said.

The Daily Beast has a very interesting article written by 60 Minutes' Howard L. Rosenberg. Rosenberg explains the CIA Memorial Wall and the Book of Honor and then profiles former CIA operative Henry "Hank" Crumpton. Crumpton appeared on 60 Minutes on December 27th. See a portion of that video below.

See this source for some of the individual profile information

Henry Crumpton, former CIA, on 60 Minutes (video)

Scott Speicher Found: Michael Scott Speicher Found in Iraq

The body of Naval Captain Michael Scott Speicher has been found in Iraq after an 18-year-search. See 8-13-09 update below:

Michael Scott Speicher

The remains of Captain Speicher were found just days ago in the Anbar Province of Iraq. They have been positively identified as Michael Scott Speicher, who was shot down in his FA-18 Hornet over the the Iraqi desert on the first night of the Persian Gulf War, January 17, 1991. For 18 years his whereabouts were unknown. Scott, who was 33 years old at the time his plane went down, left behind his wife Joanne, a 3-year-old daughter and 1 year old son; his parents and two siblings now college-students, who were toddlers at the time of his death. The family was notified Saturday that their loved one would finally come home. Captain Speicher considered Orange Park, FL home. The Navy's search for Mr. Speicher in Iraq has been unending. Immediately after his plane was reported down, the Pentagon announced the first casualty of the war. Ten years passed with no positive evidence of a death, and officials changed Speicher's status to "missing in action." Once the Iraq war started and we had a U.S. presence in the country, the search was stepped up. In October 2002, the Navy again changed the status to "missing/captured." Yet another review of the case was made in 2008. Navy Secretary Donald Winter made the decision to continue with the "Missing" status, even though there was "compelling evidence" that the pilot did not survive the desert crash. Following the fall of Baghdad, rumors circulated that Speicher may be alive and held prisoner. Iraqi citizens have been an important part of the search through the years, and finally the chain of locals led the U.S. Marines to Captain Speicher.

Officials said Sunday that they got new information from an Iraqi citizen in early July, leading Marines stationed in Anbar province to a location in the desert which was believed to be the crash site of Speicher's jet.
The Iraqi said he knew of two other Iraqis who recalled an American jet crashing and the remains of the pilot being buried in the desert.
"One of these Iraqi citizens stated that they were present when Captain Speicher was found dead at the crash site by Bedouins and his remains buried," the Pentagon said in a statement.

In 2003, the search for Scott Speicher became national news again when the initials "MSS" were found etched into a prison wall in Baghdad, and "Iraqi defectors" claimed sightings of Speicher alive. A U.S. Army camp in Iraq is named in honor of Captain Speicher, who was promoted to Captain after his plane went down. Camp Speicher is a "Contingency Operating Base," located near Tikrit in northern Iraq, about 105 miles north of Baghdad. The 42nd Infantry Division and the 101st Airbone have been based at Camp Speicher, along with the headquarters of the Multi-National Division, North during Operation Iraqi Freedom. During the reign of Saddam Hussein, the location was known as Al Sahra Airfield. Joanne Speicher married Scott's best friend, Buddy Harris, 18 months after the death of her husband. Harris was also a Naval pilot and continued to be active in the search for his close friend. They have two children in addition to Scott's daughter and son. Mr. Harris remained active in the search. Here's the rest of the story:

Harris, who married Speicher’s widow only to be told that he might not be dead after all, says he has hoped all along that his friend would return home safely, whatever the impact on his family.

“We will throw a huge welcome home party,” he said. “Then we will deal with whatever comes next in an adult and private manner.”

Harris, 44, added: “I want to be able to look him in the eye and say, ‘This is what I did, this is why I did it’. And I can’t imagine him being displeased.”

When Speicher’s aircraft vanished he left behind Joanne, his college sweetheart, Megan, three, and one-year-old Michael.

“I knew Joanne before she and Scott got married,” Harris said. “She was like a sister. We had a lot of fun together. We were all pretty close. Scott was the leader of his class, a fun-loving, nice guy, always with a smile on his face. We had that connection between us.”

Speicher became a national hero when, in May 1991, a memorial stone was erected in Arlington national cemetery in Washington.

It was less than a year after marrying Joanne that Harris, who was working at the Pentagon, heard that wreckage from the jet had been found intact. He decided to keep the news from his wife, uncertain how it would affect their marriage.

The Pentagon considered mounting a special forces operation to rescue Speicher if he could be located. “I felt it was a mission we had to perform because we never leave one of our own out there without hope,” said Tim Connolly, assistant deputy secretary of special operations at the time.

American officials approached the International Committee of the Red Cross, which obtained permission to search the crash site. It found the cockpit canopy and a flight suit with the legs cut open. There were no signs of blood.

Harris knew he had to tell Joanne. “Up to that point, there was just no sense in making her more miserable over possibilities,” he said.

She took it well, he explained, but added: “It wasn’t a happy environment for a while. I mean, you can just imagine trying to give that kind of information to your wife.” Friends of Joanne say she has dealt with the news of her husband by “putting it all into a compartment that she refuses to open." “She has moved on and at times says she doesn’t want to look back,” said a close friend. “It makes her sound uncaring and she’s not but she’s had to move on with her life.” Harris, on the other hand, remains preoccupied with the search. “I gotta find out the truth,” he said. “This is important, the most important thing in my life."

Read the Arlington National Cemetery Website Update 8-14-09: The remains of Captain Michael "Scott" Speicher returned home to Florida today - 18 years after being the first U.S. military to be shot down over Iraq. Buddy Harris, Speicher's close friend, and now the husband of his widow Joanne, accompanied the casket from Dover, DE to Florida.

This is the ultimate definition of bittersweet. We got Scott home and that was the ultimate goal," Harris said outside the base chapel as mourners slowly passed by the casket.

Captain Speicher was a native of Kansas City. He will be interred at Jacksonville Memory Gardens in private services.