For those who wish to run for office:

This is Griffin speaking. If you wish to run for any type of office you MUST see me before the earlier-than-planned-date Thor's day morning. See me SOON. I only have limited spaces. Maybe only one left. I will have a meeting with those who plan to run on Thor's day afternoon. Cabinet members must see me by Freya's day. I have also had some interesting government suggestions. This makes me think that this will be a fun election. One more thing: NO COMMUNISM!

See me!

Over and out!

(Griffin, Lord of Time)

.........Not again!

for all of you who do not know(witch i am guessing is most of you) the link to the RLA government blog can be found HERE,HERE,HERE, or even HERE, or if your lucky you may even find it HERE too!!! until next time, I, Cody Lord of Yahtzee(formally known as Cody Lord of Error) signing off. Stay Classy RLA. oh ya i forgot, if you want to run for the school government you HAVE to Contact Grffin, Lord of Time(time not Thyme) or ME Cody, Lord of Yahtzee.

Obama, War in Afghanistan, and The Nobel Peace Prize

Full Text of Obama's Nobel Acceptance Speech

Please answer the following questions in complete, grammatically correct sentences.

Write your name at the bottom of your post. At a bare minimum, this assignment should take you at least 45 minutes. Don't slack on this. Do your best work. It will be graded.

1. What is the Nobel Peace Prize?

2. In paragraph three, Obama acknowledges the "considerable controversy" surrounding his winning of the Nobel Peace Prize. What is the source of that controversy? Do you agree?

3. In paragraph four, Obama acknowledges an apparent irony in the fact that he's receiving the world's most prestigious peace prize. What is that irony?

4. In paragraph seven, Obama taks about "Just War Theory." What is he talking about? What is Just War Theory?

5. In the first three paragraphs on page two, Obama talks about "the old architecture buckling under the weight of new threats." What is this "old architecture" and what are these "new threats?"

6. In the last three paragraphs on page two and the first two on page three, Obama talks about how America has "helped underwrite global security." What does this mean?

7. How does Obama challenge the rest of the world to assist the United States in the third paragraph from the bottom on page three?

8. In the first paragraph on page four, Obama speaks of a "moral interest" in the waging of wars. Break that down for me. What's he talking about?

9. On pages four and five, Obama lays out "three ways that we can build a just and lasting peace." What are they?

10. In your opinion, given the disrespect shown towards the United States and our military in the prosecution of The War on Terror, should we continue to "underwrite global security?" Or, should the other advanced nations of the world step up and shoulder some of the considerable burden our soldiers bare?

Anarchy! IT MUST END!

This bleak period in the history of RLA has brought to mind the events of the past. We must have ORDER! Without order, there is chaos (not to be confused with KAOS). Chaos leads to anarchy and anarchy is what were are suffering from. NO LONGER! I (Griffin, Lord of Time) have decided this along with my colleague (Cody, Lord of Error). We have gone into action in this matter. Directly after the break (have a good one) we shall have an ELECTION! Thou Shalt Haveth ORDER! Freshmen may only run for cabinet positions. Any pair of people wishing to run for President and Vice-President must develop a student judicial system that would effect wrong-doers. This must be creative. It requires a judge and a jury. These are nearly the only criteria. THIS MUST BE INSTALLED ONE YOU ARE IN OFFICE! If you have any question then please ask me (Griffin, Lord of Time). Further posts on this topic will be at the RLA government blog:

http://rlagovernment.blogspot.com/

Thank you.

Griffin, Lord of Time
Cody, Lord of Error

Now that you've heard the speech, we want to know what you think.    Is Obama doing the right thing by sending an additional 30,000 American soldiers to Afghanistan to destroy Al Qaeda and break the back of The Taliban?

In a well-written paragraph, please explain your opinion on this subject.  (Oh yeah, put YOUR NAME at the bottom of your post so you can receive credit)

Please Vote For Me/ One-Child Policy

Two questions. Each need to be answered in complete sentences. Minimum of 1 paragraph each.

*Note* There are three parts to both questions. All of them need to be answered.

Good luck.

1. After watching the DVD Please Vote For Me, do you believe the election for class monitor worked as an excercise in democracy? What do you think the children learned from this experience? What did you learn from this experiment?

2. Read this article on China's "One Child Policy" and answer the following question(s):

What is the tension at the center of this article? With which side do you find yourself sympathizing? Why are Chinese children often referred to as "Little Emperors?"

STAY OUT OF KARENS ROOM

If you dont work in Karens room stay out. You need to quit coming in here to slack off and piss her off it is not fair to her and her students.

He Needs Help

Hey all you bums! Ned is under a lot of stress, having to take care of a new born child is very stressful. So cut Ned Some Slack! You don't have to ask him for Every thing!!! and if he wants somthing done, "JUST DO IT"!

China Readings Jigsaw Activity

As a group, discuss the following questions and collaborate on a type-written paper that answers each in length:

1. Summary.  What's my selection "about?"

2. What is the author's thesis or main point?

3.  What did you find most interesting?

4. What was one unexpected and fascinating fact?

5. If you learn one thing from this excerpt, what should it be and why?

Obama China

Yosh! It's aggregator time. What's a aggregator you ask? Well, an aggregator is a website (usually) that collects a bunch of information and opinion from all over the web and wraps it up in a nice little bow for your convenience.



Today, you will all be little aggregators.

Here's the assignment:

In case you haven't heard, Obama's in China. As you can imagine, this official state visit isn't without some controversy. In groups of three, find five websites/articles that deal with the subject of Obama's visit to China. Elect one person in each group to write down the URLs and to summarize the main points of each article/column each.

Here are some links to get you started.....

http://www.theatlanticwire.com/opinions/view/opinion/What-Obama-Has-to-Do-in-China-1604

http://blogs.ft.com/rachmanblog/2009/11/how-would-mao-zedong-have-seen-obamas-asia-tour/

http://www.thedailybeast.com/blogs-and-stories/2009-11-16/cutting-china-down-to-size/?cid=hp:mainpromo1

http://www.breitbart.com/article.php?id=CNG.a751493682512bdc967745cbdcd60551.771&show_article=1

http://www.cnn.com/2009/POLITICS/11/16/obama.china/index.html

We will begin this assignment at 1:25. At 2:00, all groups need to be back in my room ready to present. Please write the names of your group's members on top of your paper. You will be graded on this.

Good luck.

-Ned-

Timeline of Chinese History

http://afe.easia.columbia.edu/timelines/china_timeline.htm
http://afe.easia.columbia.edu/

BE SURE TO SCROLL DOWN FAR ENOUGH TO GET INTO THE "Annotated Chronological Outline of Chinese History" SECTION. That's where the good stuff is.....

Rivercity Review Assignments

ROUGH DRAFTS MUST BE TURNED IN TO ADRIANNA BY FRIDAY:

Please give her a printed copy AND email your rough draft to her @ adriannaisagthug@gmail.com
__________________________________

Jassem - Short Fiction

Usamah - Health Care/ Front Page

Adrianna - Op-Ed

Sean - Sweet and Sour Jams / Trash Talk

KT - Spotlight ON

Conspiracy Corner - D-Van

Griffin - Magic Minute

Hillary - Ranting and Raving

Thilo - International Perspective

Jason - International Perspective

Jackie - Historical Remembrances

Cody - Nerd Nook

ATTENTION SENIORS:

Want to go to college? If so, you're going to have to write an essay.

Here's how to write one that will get you into the university of your choice.

Sick Around The World: Health Care Reform in The United States

LINKS:   

For written summaries of your country's system, check out this link.

For video clips describing your country's system, check out this link.

Now, on to your assignment:

After viewing the Frontline Documentary, I'm going to break you up into four groups representing one of the four country's we'll be studying:

1.    The United Kingdom

2.   Japan

3.   Germany

4.   Taiwan

In your group, you will need to work together to fill out your country's section of the handout.

Additionally, you will need to discuss the pro's and con's of your country's system.   When we reconvene as a whole group, one representative from your group (the reporter) will report to the whole class your findings from the hand out and the strengths and weaknesses of your country's system.  

As a culminating exercise, each of you will write an individual, one-page proposal to her or his Congressperson, advocating a specific set of recommendations to improve health insurance and care in the United States.

Good luck,

-Ned-

It's Decision Time in Afghanistan

As you may remember, President Obama campaigned on a promise to win the "Good War" in Afghanistan. With American troops bogged down with no clear mission and the country reeling from a corrupt election, our president faces an increasingly difficult decision: send more troops or pull out. As you can imagine, American Generals are requesting more troops while Obama's fellow Democrats would prefer a more cautious approach.

What do you think?

After watching the documentary, use the links found on the web page, WHAT TO DO IN AFGHANISTAN -- THE DEBATE, discuss with your small groups, post your opinion on the blog, and complete the following assignment:

Check out the political cartoons on the situation in Afghanistan for inspiration and......draw your own! Have fun, make a point, and be creative. Due Wednesday afternoon @ 2:00pm.

Oh yeah, this is going to be the subject of our first Thursday Throwdown, so EDUCATE YOURSELVES.    

-Ned-

Haunted Hike

The Haunted Hike is this weekend. Quincy is running a chain saw along with me. I am making a witch cauldron today after school. I need witches to operate the cauldron. We will be using dry ice to make smoke/steam. Please come let me know if you want work. We need parent volunteers to come and supervise. Please go home and talk to your parents if we dont have a least 1 parent we can not do this.

Check us out! do IT!

Check out adrianna and Hilarys blog asap! Warning Langauge and Angry content but enjoy anyways!

Hilary: http://falcon9393.wordpress.com/

Adrianna: http://adriannaisagthug.wordpress.com/

More MAUS

Hey all! Laughing Man here! found Art Spiegelman talking on NPR or National Public Radio as well as some audio tracks from the MAUS soundtrack!!!!! check it out!!!! it will be some good stuff!!!!


http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=1611731

MAUS author study

Hey all you MAUS readers! I found a cool audio interview with Art Spieglman!

http://wiredforbooks.org/mp3/ArtSpiegelman1991.mp3 (right click to download, left click to listen)

Listen to it, use it and expand your knowledge.

Have fun all! ^_^

Oh and if anybody finds anything that they would like to share with other MAUS readers post it in comments!!!

Author Study

Author Study Rubric

The United Nations of Obama

Earlier today, President Obama addressed the leaders of the world at the United Nations Headquarters in New York. In his speech, he laid out the four pillars of his foreign policy. What were those four pillars and what do you think of them? Are they feasible? Do you think the president should add any priorities to his list?

Please answer these questions in your post.

Second Mars Debate

First Two Mars Debates

Believe it or not, there actually is a lot of debate going on around the idea of a mission to mars in "the real world." What do you think? In your Advisories, split into pro and con groups for each of the two questions. In those groups, brainstorm arguments for your position backed by what you find on Debatepedia and any other websites you find useful. After 20 minutes of research and discussion you should elect a scribe and put your opinions on paper. Once you've done all that, we'll reconvene in the boardroom for a discussion of the issues.

The Questions:

Red Team: Risks: Are the risks of a manned mission to Mars tolerable?

White Team: Is a manned mission to Mars feasible?

Grey Team: Would a manned mission to Mars be economical?

Blue Team: Does the public support a mission to Mars?

Remember....start your research with Debatepedia

-Ned-

Life on Mars?

Here are a couple of helpful links to check out when considering the possibility of life on Mars ans whether or not the Red Planet is capable of supporting life....

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/mars/

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/mars/program.html

Letter Due @ 1:20ish!

Kennedy challenged Americans to win the Space Race against the Soviet Union. With an eye towards Mars, write a letter to President Obama either for or against further American space exploration.

Your letter needs to be properly addressed and at least one page long. Additionally, you must include the following and defend your thesis with valid reasons!

1. Hook
2. Thesis
3. Conclusion

This letter is due @ 2:20 PM. NO EXCEPTIONS.

P.S. If you need help formatting your letter, check out this link: MLA Letter Guide

First Two Mars Debates

Believe it or not, there actually is a lot of debate going on around the idea of a mission to mars in "the real world." What do you think? In your Advisories, split into pro and con groups for each of the two questions. In those groups, brainstorm arguments for your position backed by what you find on Debatepedia and any other websites you find useful. After 20 minutes of research and discussion you should elect a scribe and put your opinions on paper. Once you've done all that, we'll reconvene in the boardroom for a discussion of the issues.

The Questions:

1. Would a mission to Mars provide needed inspiration to the World?

2. Does a manned mission to Mars have scientific value?

Remember....start your research with Debatepedia

-Ned-

So yeah, school is pretty much over

That's kinda cool right?

Deaths At Disneyland!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

CH - CH - CH -CHECK IT OUT!

Bin Laden's Voice in Somalia

Osama bin Laden has sent a tape to Somalia, encouraging them to overthrow the Somali president. Take a gander at this article, not all of it is about bin Laden though.

http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,1886615,00.html

(I'm new at this website link thing)

Not me

imposter posted New Free Write

NEW FREE WRITING.

FREE WRITING

Remember....this blog is open to the public. Please keep your writing within the bounds of public decency.

Have fun.

Yearbook Information

Leslie needs your email and to know if you want the yearbook staff to do your page or do it yourself.



POST IMMEDIATLY!!!

d(>_<)b

Columbine

so yesterday was the 10 year anniversary of the shooting in columbine highschool. after having watched a documentry about it on the history channel last nnight i thought this might be a great topic of disscusion.

there are many arguements about why harold and erik went on their spree. some say it was violent music and media, some say that it was the high-school enviroment, some say they were mentally disturbed, and most say it was a perfect storm of all these. what are your thoughts on why they did this, and why school shootings have become so infectious. also, what do you think can be done to prevent these events?

Thursday THROWDOWNS online (only)?

Because of the argument we are commencing on the blog right now, should we have all of the “Thursday THROWDOWNS” online?

Pointers:

1st It will be easier for people to talk without getting interrupted, with the addition of automatic turns.

2nd People will have more time to think and edit their ideas.

3rd The THROWDOWNS can last longer then 20-30 minutes (maybe the arguments should last until the next Thursday).

Those Darn Fat Cats on Wall Street.....

So, after viewing the video on "Class Warfare" we'd like you to respond to the following question in preparation for this week's Thursday Throwdown.

Considering that the once merely "rich" have grown obscenely wealthy over the past decade thanks to preferential treatment from the IRS and the government, is it now fair and just to increase the tax rate on the top 10% of individuals to help pay for the tremendous cost of the bailout which was brought upon by the greed of those same individuals in the first place?

In other words, do the wealthy have a moral obligation to their fellow Americans?

TBD......

THROWDOWN!!!!!!!!!

we need to get the thursday throwdowns back into action. i miss the smell of sweat, pringles, and mountain dew on thursaday mornings as we debate and a few scream. those were the good old days. we should revive it with some conflicts based in the middle east, and some local issues as well. thoughts?

Scenes From Spring Break....

Welcome back. Your first "official assignment" can be found bellow.

Take fifteen minutes out of your busy morning and share the highlights and lowlights of your Spring Break with your peers and advisors. That's right, I want an entertaining re-telling of your vacation. Have fun with this, but please try to keep the content somewhere South of an R-Rating.

Ourselves or Them?

Does anybody, besides myself, realize that we have programs to feed other people around the world, yet we can not feed ourselves? Also, if we are one of the riches country in the world, why are homeless people sleep outside the White House? Why have not any of the presidents of the United States help these people? I guess it is right to help the homeless that live in poor countries, it is America's duties to help it's fellow man. I want your opinion on this subject, what is your position?

History of Japanese Art

Alright gang, let's get away from the Japanese language for a little while and consider the long history of Japanese art. This assignment is due Wednesday....or maybe Friday. Either way, you will briefly present your analysis in class.

1. Explore the Asia for Educators web site, using the “Online Museum Resources on Asian Art” link.
http://afe.easia.columbia.edu/.

2. Choose one image from Japan to use for this assignment. The images may be paintings, sculptures,
ceramics, clothing, but must be considered a form of art.

3. Read accompanying information about the historical period represented in the image, or any other
appropriate source, and learn about the relevant time period.

4. Then write a 1 to 2 paragraph description of the historical context for each image. This should be done in
Times New Roman, 12pt font. Please put the appropriate heading in the upper-right hand corner of your
paper.

5. On the same sheet of paper, I want you to answer the following questions based on the process of thinking critically about art. Each answer should be no shorter than a paragraph in length.

• What do you see?
• What does is mean?
• What is going on?
• Why did the artist do this work?

"We Will Rebuild, We Will Recover"

Now that you've seen the speech, I want to hear your thoughts on President Obama's first "State of The Union" address.

1. What specific plans and promises did Obama set forth for the economy, energy policy, the environment, education, foreign policy, and health care?

2. If you had to grade Obama's performance and leadership, what would you give him and why? A? B? C? D? F?



Once you've answered these two questions, you can mull over tomorrow morning's debate topics:

"Is Obama promising too much? Can he possibly deliver? Do the Republicans have a point?"

CBA Powerpoint LInk

Fight the Google! Stop Wikipedia Abuse! Embrace Rigor!

IF YOU WANT TO GO TO MEXICO!

EVERYBODY!

Today I got a message about how much my tour to Mexico would cost. It's a little up there but defiantly doable. This is just about seeing who wants to go and what each of you think you could contribute to the trip minus the fundraising. I am going to step up and be strict about this. IF YOU ARE NOT WILLING TO DO FUNDRAISING YOU ARE NOT GOING AT ALL! yes i can understand that you might need to miss ONE OR TWO. but if you want to be a part of this you will have to work for it. please help me see who wants to really go!

thank you

when you reply i will give you a rough out line of the trip

please also put your name with your comment because i do not know all your usernames : (

Inside The Meltdown

Now that you all have a clear understanding about the root causes and evolution of our current financial crisis, I would like you to complete the following two tasks in response to this post:

1. You have been asked to explain the financial crisis, the major banks involved, and the government's response to a group of aliens. In clear, concise, and simple English please compose a paragraph
that accomplishes this.

2. After watching the Frontline documentary, who - in your opinion - emerges as the biggest villain in this
story? Don't just post a name, but logically defend your answer.

-Ned-

Need name for Octopus

Please I would like for everyone to suggest one or two names for the octopus....comprende?

Weekly Update

Week# 25: Partners

The alarm goes off at 0300. I roll out of bed and with a LOT of cold water, I start my day. But as I step outside and begin to breathe in the frigid air, I come to the realization that I must be out of my mind! What could possibly be the source of my willingness to endure this completely unnecessary endeavor? Well, it was Superbowl Monday of course! (8 hours ahead of EST) And with the help of our automation professionals, they were able to connect the Armed Forces Network (AFN) cable to our conference room 75-inch retractable screen. Watching the big game on AFN did have some drawbacks; no commercials. Many do not realize that AFN is a non-profit cable organization, specifically with the purpose of providing USA broadcasting for our deployed forces worldwide. Therefore, we had no option of watching any elaborate, usually hysterical, costly commercials. However, seeing the final game was only half the reason for enduring the early morning; coming together and being part of the camaraderie was the other half. So, despite the lack of the traditional munchies and thirst-quenching refreshments, we had a great time and thoroughly enjoyed the nail-biting last quarter.

Another first this past week was getting used to being addressed as Lieutenant Colonel. Multiple times I would find myself answering the phone as Major Miceli or saying Sir to my new peers. Needless to say, it made for a fair share of awkward moments. The weather has been magnificent. After some warming trends and periodic rains, there is no snow in our vast valley. I swear on a clear day you can see the farthest mountain range with almost every trail in detail. Who knows, maybe someday Afghanistan can sport the most ultimate in extreme skiing and snowboarding! Maybe we should consider investing in the Taliban Reality Inc. for those winter timeshares and chalets before the prices go up.

Our presence here is growing like wild-fire and one could say the same for some of our coalition partners. Interestingly, I always hear from various media outlets about the comparisons of how other nations contribution of troops are found to be minuscule aside their US counterparts. Of course, arguments can be made that certain nations commit just enough to show allegiance without provoking riots in their country and resulting in political suicide. However, there are nations that do so much more and give more than expected. We live in a new world; where the lines between East and West have dissolved and where both emerging democracies and terrorist states are finding themselves the center of attention. My recent experiences with some of the Polish Brigades have been eye-opening. Ive found their soldiers to extremely well-disciplined, eager to learn, and committed to total teamwork. Particularly, my observations were keenly centered on the quality of their equipment and the utilization of emerging technologies. It is true, one can never fully appreciate what they have until its either gone or you see someone with less.

Throughout this deployment, I have had the opportunity to see how some of our international partners are equipped, and I must say that it is no wonder why we are the envy of so many. So much credit and accolades should be given to our countrys infinite number of research laboratories and commercial corporations that are constantly pushing the boundaries of emerging technologies and inventive solutions. Furthermore, it goes without saying that most people overlook those soldiers, sailors, and airmen who are doctors, researchers, scientists, biologists, engineers and acquisitions. Merge these entities between the military and corporate America and the result is the absolute finest in equipment for our nations defense and offense. Many nations simply do not have the resources we do, and yet its no wonder they desire our Mine-Resistant Ambush Protective vehicles, various weapon systems and our logistics/sustainment capabilities. Yet, at the end of the day, regardless of nation, and no matter what we drive or carry, we have all committed our loyalties, offered our discipline and skills to the mission, and some have made the ultimate sacrifice to the protection of the local populace and each other.

Robert

9/11, Liberty, The NSA, and You

Do you think the NSA knows about this blog? Do you think they read all of your posts? Does it even matter?

Well, how about this question: What personal liberties, if any, would you be willing to sacrifice in order to maintain national security?

the middle east has not changed much. Special Edition.

Week# 24: SPECIAL EDITION; Promotion

Effective, 1 February 2009, the President of the United States has reposed special trust and confidence in the patriotism, valor, fidelity, and abilities of Robert Joseph Miceli. In view of these qualities and his demonstrated potential for increased responsibility, he is therefore promoted in the United States Army to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel.

For those of you not familiar with military protocol, these words are written on the actual promotion order. The words are succinct, direct and powerful. Therefore, in light of this special occasion, I find myself diverting from my usual weekly reminisce. Instead, I wanted to take the time to say, Thank You. And although I cannot think of a better place but here on the battlefield to receive such an honor, please know that if I were with you on this day, you would hear these words

First, I would be remiss if I did not give both praise and overwhelming gratitude for the multiple blessings I have received from above. The Lord has truly graced me with opportunity, and while never leaving my side, His presence and my faith have only grown stronger over the years.

To say I would not be where I am today, if not for my parents, is an understatement. I inherited my mothers attention to detail, coupled with her competitive and decisive nature, not to mention my short-fused Italian temper. My father, being the consummate professional and retired Non-Commissioned Officer in the United States Air Force, for years challenged both my problem analysis and critical thinking abilities; not to mention teaching me when to get my hands dirty. He taught me to never tell someone to do something unless you were willing to do it yourself and set the standard with both honor and integrity.

For seventeen years, I have had the absolute best of the US Armys Non-Commissioned Officer Corps working alongside me. Without their wisdom and guidance, many of our great missions would not have been so successful. To my fellow officers, senior officers and commanders; like many, I have learned what not to do and what right looks like. But it would only be most appropriate to give a special thanks to those senior officers who took the risk and time to give me those opportunities in which to excel; it is their trust and confidence I will always value. It is because of these great men and women, I strongly believe in the coach, mentor and teach philosophy with others.

Thank you to all those Government Civilians who have supported me in my military endeavors and in many cases held perspectives that were often invaluable insights which resulted in tremendous contributions. And to those contractors, that regardless of employer, I could never dispute their patriotism, loyalties and unwavering devotion in supporting the warfighter, both on and off the battlefield.

To my bedrock, my fountain of youth, my source of love and purpose in this precious life; my family! For my children, who have always given love unconditionally and have given me the sense of completeness to this life; daddy wants to thank you. And to my wife, who without hesitation, agreed to join me on this unpredictable journey, never knowing where the road would led or end. She has been both my motivation and encouragement, without her love, I would have been lost 13 years ago!

This promotion would not have been possible if not for all these things mentioned. Individually, I am eternally grateful; collectively I stand here today a better man and a better officer.

And finally, to my fellow Knights of Columbus This deployment, like many others, has reinforced my unwavering stance that together, we can remove the darkness of this world and make a difference for the better, both in our own lives and the lives of others. And as we gather others to join our ranks and purpose, never cast doubt, but know that our unity and our light, grows stronger as the darkness grows weary and fades. The Lord has placed me here and now, for His plans, not mine. I trust He will keep me safe and yet whatever lies ahead, like a soldier in the Army who follows orders, we all must know when, as soldiers in the faith, to accept the path He has set before us and finish the mission.

In Service to One. In Service to All.

Robert J. Miceli

Lieutenant Colonel, US Army

He was a Major.

Just wanted your opinion

I would like to ask a question to all of you, after you answer the question could you respond to others, similar to a little debate......do note that this is serious.

A random Arab is between you and Bin laden and the only way to kill him is to shoot through the Arab and thus taking Binladen and the Arabs life. What would you do? Would you take the life of an innocent to kill a murderer? Bring justice by being unjust......avenge those innocent who he killed by killing an innocent. What if there was two in the way or three, ten, 500 or even 1,000,000.....what would you do? Do you have a specific amount that you would kill? And if it was a person from Russia, Canada, or even the USA would it be the same? If you hate something so much could you defy your own morals to destroy it? Revenge and justice are two completely different ideas...revenge with justice....or revenge with blind hatred.

I'm not trying to relate this to today's wars, I just want a reality check....see where I am compared to other Americans. To see how good of an American I really am.

I will hold this against you so Please I want your true opinion

Want to find out what's going on in Iraq 2

Week# 23: Sacrifice

According to Websters Dictionary, the word sacrifice means.., to suffer loss of, give up; to sacrifice of oneself or one's interest for others or for a cause or ideal. All I can say is that sacrifice is definitely in the eyes of the beholder! This past week, I had the distinct pleasure and up-close honor in participating with the equipping of one of the Armys finest, in the newly assigned combat unit of the 3^rd Brigade Combat Team (BCT), 10^th Mountain Division. More than half of its members have been battle-hardened from previous deployments and combat operations, while the other half still had that innocent sparkle in their eyes; ready to push out and ready to do something extraordinary.

Not a single soldier, veteran nor rookie, would have considered this time, this moment in history, a sacrifice. Those brothers-in-arms were mission-driven and well-prepared. Every soldier I talked with understood what was at stake. And most-importantly, prior to rolling out those gates for the next 12 months, those troops got the opportunity of a lifetime; they saw the reason why. There was no doubt these men, as much as many of us, had already been subjected and exposed to negative media stories, arm-chair quarterbacks with both political and military analysis, family and friends questioning their loyalties and sanity for volunteering, and who will ever forget the anger and painful memories of September 11, 2001.

But the reason why came, when the early morning of the MRAP (Mine Resistant Ambush Protection) vehicle drivers training was conducted. The training course has the obvious challenges they will most likely see throughout the countryside (rolling hills, ditches, loose stones, mud-holes, etc). But what I dont think many of the soldiers were planning to see was the local village children walking to school in the distance. They would have multiple layers of clothes and some even carried backpacks donated by so many generous church organizations from home. A nearby village, that until Americas finest secured the area, was subjected to random acts of violence and insurgent activities. Now the school is open and the children walk in safety and maybe with a little added confidence that those young troopers are close enough to give any bad man a really bad day.

The 3-10 BCT is the first of many units conducting what we refer to as RIP/TOA. The Relief in Place/Transfer of Authority is similar to any known shift-change in the civilian sector; only with a military focus and much more intense. Soon, in the June timeframe, the men and women of the 101^st Airborne Division, whom Ive stood alongside with since my arrival this past August, will be changing out with the infamous 82^nd Airborne Division.

For many of us here, you will simply not hear us use the word sacrifice. Dont get me wrong, we hear it and see it a lot; from our leaders, letters and care packages supporting the troops, and mostly from family and friends. But as I stated earlier, sacrifice is definitely in the eyes of the beholder! How can anything be considered a sacrifice if what you are doing is something you love? Sure, there have been times when Ive told myself that I do this so others wont have to or so my children wouldnt have to, but those times have been few and far between. My love for the Army has evolved, not so much because of what we have done in the past, but more so because of what we have the capability of doing now and in the future. Our Armed Services do so much more than simply fight our wars; a mindset I wish many more of our fellow citizens would share.

Major Robert Miceli

WASL's Days Numbered?

In case you haven't heard, word on the street is that the WASL is on the way out. Please read this article and share your thoughts on the subject.

Is Superintendent Dorn making the right move? Are we giving in to the rising tide of mediocrity? Has too much money been spent on the WASL to abandon it now?

What do YOU think?


p.s. Your response will be graded on a four point scale. If you do not score at least a three, you will be required to write a new post every April. Your diploma will be withheld until you are able to write a three point response.

Want to find out what's going on in Iraq

My Name is Tyler my Uncle is stationed over in the Middle East. He sends my family weekly e-mails about what is going on over in Iraq and Afghanistan. If enough people enjoy I would be glad to keep everyone in touch. Thanks for reading. Feel free to leave comments.


Week# 22:

Kandahar One of the patches we wear above our unit, on the left shoulder, is the ISAF patch. ISAF stands for the International Security Assistance Forces, and it is a special unit designation under the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). Not all of the units in Afghanistan belong under this command structure, at least for now. Eventually, this might change with the surge of forces forth coming, nevertheless, the Commander for ISAF (COMISAF) is located in Kandahar, Afghanistan, and as such, my mission this week took me there.

Land is a premium in every corner of every operating base throughout the country. With the surge, comes the increase of such requirements, and as I stated last week, the construction on such land is moving at an incredible pace. My focus was to grease the skids for our organizations much needed requirements for both the land and the construction assets. Normally, this does not fall into my lane of responsibilities, but considering no one knows better the sense of urgency, countryside, our coalition partners and the commanders vision, my team was asked to intercede.

More ambassador than soldier, our meetings were with both our international coalition partners and other DoD agencies. For the majority of the time spent in Afghanistan, ISAF/NATO Forces have dominated the Kandahar Providence (some say it is the birthplace of the Taliban), and established both operational and logistical footprints. Each of these footprints were substantial enough for their required support, however, these are in no way robust enough to support the massive U.S. Armys war-machine.

So, after a quick mission analysis, our course of action was to divide and conquer; each going forth independently to negotiate smaller pieces of the overall requirement. Asking for all of it at once, would have been perceived as undoable by many and too much for any landlord to section off willingly. By coaxing a patch of dirt here and a plot of land there we were able to convince our military neighbors that our presence would not be so dominating. Needless to say, our team was able to acquire a 90% solution for the first three of the four-phased build-up strategy. The next challenge was keeping it. Knowing you cannot build all at once, we were able to develop a concept where if we build on patches throughout the obtained land & space requirements, then to others, wide-open spaces would not exist, nor would the small disjointed empty patches be so desirable.

The weather in Kandahar was quite miserable; especially for walking the land to achieve our mission. Our military flight out of Bagram was delayed for 6 hours due to heavy rains and fog. Our flight was just over an hour due south, at which point we found constant rain. It rained on us for three days straight. The only good thing about it was that I was able to sleep in my newly issued Army gortex sleeping bag within a metal-roofed structure. This actually brought a smile to my face each night as I would look up and remember the nights my family and I would sleep in our camper in the backyard of our home in Virginia. Walking in that slick fine mud was worse than any heavy red-clay mud back in Fort Knox, KY or Fort Benning, GA!

Of course, trying to return back north to Bagram did require some patience. As it rained on us down south, it snowed up north causing delays for our little airfield. But then again, its all good; everything happens for a reason. While waiting, our team refined our support plan as we were able to accidently meet up with a unit set to depart within the next few months and was willingly to forego their office containers and the land that their sleeping tents were placed on. After another quick meeting with the Base Operations Mayor cell, we had completed our mission requirements to 100%. It just goes to show you that when you dont think things are going your way, God has a unique way of those opportunities revealing themselves. The trick, I think, is to have the foresight and patience to recognize His ways more so than your own.

Major Robert Miceli

Barack Obama, The Future, and You

Alright gang, I think we can all agree that it's been a historical day. So far though, you've been passive observers.

It's time to switch roles.

I want to hear your analysis of what's happened today. To that end, please answer the following three questions in complete sentences and to the best of your abilities:

1. How, if at all, will the election of Barack Obama directly effect your life as a high school student in Spokane?

2. Do you feel that the enormous expectations placed on President Obama are unfair? If so, why? If not, why do you believe he's capable of leading the world into an era of unprecedented progress and change?

3. MLK, Obama, and Lincoln. Beyond the obvious ( Emancipation Proclamation, Civil Rights, America's first black president) what is connection between these three American leaders? Has real progress been made? Is oppression still a part of American life?

SLOW DEATH

is it just me or has the blog slowed down to the point of near death?

Hyperactive Teens and RLA

The debate topic this week has to do with the drug, CAFFEINE! When you get a minute, head over to Ned's room and check out the latest issue of "Current Events." The cover story, "Jittery," contains all the information to need to form a well-reasoned opinion on the following statement. After you've spent some time thinking about your opinion, post it on the blog.

In the interest of creating a positive study environment and to be fair to students who don't drink these kinds of beverages, students at RLA should be prevented from drinking engergy drinks such as AMP, RockStar, Monster, FIXX, SoBe NoFear, and Red Bull.

Israel and Hamas

We spent a fair amount of time last week working though the issues surrounding Israel's latest incursion into the Gaza Strip in pursuit of Hamas militants. When asked what your advice to President-Elect Obama would be on the matter, most of you copped out. After going through your responses, I'd say about 90% were along the lines of "we should remain neutral." While I can certainly respect the sentiments behind this response, it's just not realistic. With that in mind, I'm asking you to reconsider and post a well thought out, legitimate recommendation to the President-Elect.

Does Israel's right to self-defense justify the civilian deaths in Gaza? Does it matter?

Let me know what you think.......