October 15th is a milestone date that citizens of Pennsylvania should become familiar with.

Moms birthday - she turns (edited to protect the old innocent).

For me, it marks the 15th anniversary of my graduation from the land that God forgot (Parris Island) and became a Marine.

Most importantly, this October 15th will mark the third anniversary of when Iraq further solidified their escape from tyranny by holding a Constitutional Referendum.

The Constitutional Referendum essentially was the national referendum held on the new permanent constitution.  Despite the intimidation campaigns from terrorist and thugs with even less ideology then the terrorist 70% (9.8 million) of Iraqis eligible to vote headed to the polls.

Of particular note, the referendum established how the government was to actually be formed.  It set the basis for what was known as the Council of Representatives (CoR) Election.  Once completed, the Iraqis would then be set to go to the polls just 2 months later to elect a representative government.

Geez Pennsylvania
Unfortunately, Pennsylvania continues to drift away from good governance.  Pennsylvania is held captive by socialist czar governor Fast Eddie and a state assembly now considered by most to be the most corrupt state government in the union.

A state assembly where millions of tax dollars have not only been stolen to re-elect themselves but to defend the few who have thus far been arrested too.

The state assembly continues to force people from their homes because of property taxes.  In some instances taxes have gone up over 500% with a few nearing 1000%.  What have we come to when upon retirement your government says that house you lived in for 40 or 50 years, raised children in, and paid property taxes for those 50 years is now to be taken away just because its value increased.

With no incentives for businesses, the middle class continues their exodus while companies run to set up shop in neighboring states.

Good Going Iraq
The Government of Iraq (GoI) continues to have a public affairs campaign to have those who have left the country (middle class) to come home.  They have even started a program to have families return to the houses that were rightfully theirs when they had to flee.

The GoI is building schools, hospitals, and countless other public works through the country and without taxation to its populace.

Iraqis are continually recognizing that only with transparency in government and expulsion of corrupt elected officials can they prosper as a nation.  Only then will other countries and businesses invest.

And speaking of businesses, new businesses are encouraged at every level of government.  From loans to a more robust infrastructure Iraq understands what they need to do as a nation to lift them from what Saddam had taken.

Can Pennsylvanians Take Back Their Government?
In Pennsylvania a growing number of reformers and even some state assembly like my friend Representative Curt Schroeder are trying to call for what is known as a Citizens Constitutional Convention.  By the way, check out Curts website http://www.Vote4Curt.com.

Pennsylvania needs true reform.  It’s too big, truly socialist in many forms, and too costly.  Sadly we cannot count on “reform” candidates as the extreme majority has turned out to be other then what they promised.  Too easily influenced by party leadership and lacking moral courage to stand up for what is in the best interest of the citizens.

It’s Not All the Elected Officials Fault
Don’t blame it all on the elected officials however.  Blame must also rest on those who don’t get involved with the process.

Can you name your state rep, state senator, and congressman?  No?  Tisk-tisk.

If you complain about your paycheck or taxes but don’t vote you are part of the problem.

If you don’t wish to “rock the boat” as a committee person or elected official and just go along to get along then yes you are part of the problem too.

Bad things happen when good people don’t take action.

Things I Know and Don’t Know
I know it’s embarrassing that with over 200 more years more experience, Pennsylvania seems to trail the GoI when its comes to good governance.

I don’t if a Constitutional Convention will be successful because most citizens don’t seem to recognize the power of their voice and vote.

I do know that when I go around meeting Pennsylvanians talking about good governance they understand what I am blathering about.  They crave a candidate that will remove government from their lives.  Someone that will side with personal responsibility vice a government program.  A true representative that will work to empower the people and not himself or the legislature.

I don’t know if the political parties can see past their thinking of party first vice Pennsylvania first.

I do know that we need change.

Ok I am Finished with My Rant
Maybe it’s the Marine in me for seeing things simply as they need to be.  Without emotion or playing favorites just execute the mission without regard to self.  Just seems so clear. 

Semper Fi,

GySgt Jonathan Jenkins

Popularity: 79% [?]

The other day my friend and patriot, Bob Guzzardi, forward me an article that he found interesting and asked for my opinion.

The article, titled Winning Isn’t News, was published in the Investors Business Daily with the online version being found here http://www.ibdeditorials.com/IBDArticles.aspx?id=300324023809577.

In my opinion it is a good article that exposes how the main stream media continues to fail in reporting to the world that only a few Al Qaeda (AQI) members are in Iraq and that the other yahoos who are not dead or in prison are up against the wall waiting to be killed or captured.

Reading the article and my participation in the effort here in Iraq has led me to concur with just about everything written.  My only differences of opinion are with the time table and the number of AQI operatives.

The Government of Iraq has the right man for this moment in time as Prime Minster, Nouri al-Maliki.  However, the best man for the job of defeating a counter insurgency and jihadism is General David Petraeus.  Of course don’t ask Obama or his MoveOn.org types instead ask those who have been on the field.

Time Table
Iraq and al-Maliki may make mention of a timetable and even discuss operationally how it should work but at the end of the day it will be the decision of General Petraeus.  You will not even hear our government explicitly say this but thousands of inferences are there.

President George Bush’s primary reason sending us over here was to kill or capture bad guys to prevent attacks like 9/11 again not the liberation of Iraq.  Eerily similar to what John McCain is saying right?  Country First.

Number of AQI Operatives
The only other item I would not fully concur with is the estimate of AQI operatives.  In my opinion, that number is much less.  While we cannot quantify the number of yahoos I can tell you that the daily observance indicates most are very small groups more bent being free of government so that they can develop a criminal enterprise.  Thugs if you will.

Another interesting fact that is being missed is Iraqi on Iraqi crimes are either for profit or personal reasons.  Attacks that have nothing to do with Al Qaeda, Muslim values, the CF being in Iraq, etc…  So be careful when you read about shootings and IEDs.  Pay attention to who was targeted and witness what wasn’t told to you by the media i.e. ‘The Why’.

Now, don’t misunderstand me though as there is still yahoos that have nothing to do so take up arms against the CF for a “job”.  They rob, kidnap, and kill for money to support their daily habits (drugs), to eat, and when possible buy weapons or weapon making material to go after Iraqi Police then the Iraqi Army and if bold then the CF.

AQI Frustrations
Lastly, let’s talk about AQI frustration and disruption.  It’s so bad for AQI that they rarely if ever do the grunt work anymore in Iraq.  We killed so many of them that they are primarily just planners who then solicit others to do the dirty work.  This is great because when we kill or capture the planner the group is unable to continue as a functional cell.  Often the existing yahoos turn themselves in, join another rag-tag group, or get murdered by a rival group.  Gang mentality no?

It’s so bad for AQI that they have focused effort away from the CF.  Instead they are trying to get back at the Muslims who are siding against Al Qaeda.  So beaten down they had to completely change their strategy.

Closing
Why are these easy to make observations not being expressed in the media?  I am not sure but I know it should.

America would serve itself well only if we stay focused on the prize.  Total defeat of Jihadism in every corner of the earth. 

Continue the Bush strategy to fight the enemy abroad rather then at home.

Give General Petraeus what he needs to win the war.

Country First.

Semper Fi,

GySgt Jonathan Jenkins

Popularity: 99% [?]

God bless me but sometimes I am just not bright.  Self-incriminating evidence below.

Since Monday early evening the top of my head was hurting.  I dismissed it figuring it was either caused by wearing my helmet so much or denting my head of the inside wall of the MRAP due to the bad roads causing us to bounce around so much.

It took idiot me until Tuesday afternoon to figure out it was because my head got sunburned while at Nukhayb.  I was only in the direct sun for 5-6 hours but that was enough.

To enhance my whining I paid a guy $3 to punch me on the top of my head.   I knew a haircut was not going to feel good but I felt like a hippy as it was probably grown out to an eighth of an inch or so.  Once my head goes from feeling like sandpaper to velvet it’s either put dreadlocks in or cut shave it.

What do you get for a $3 haircut?  Just what you expect and don’t expect. 

Don’t worry about looking in the mirror as it’s already too late to fix it.

Don’t worry about the guy massaging (really its punching) the top of your head for 20 seconds or so after the barber butchers your head.

Do worry about bald barbers.

Do worry about the goofs who wish to then massage your back (freaks).

Do worry about the barber with the ‘I ♥ Ba’thist t-shirt)

Semper Fi,

GySgt Jonathan Jenkins

Popularity: 64% [?]

Calling all farmers; legal and illegal.  I implore you, no I beg you,  please please please destroy your banana crop.

You folks burned me earlier this week and again this morning.  God help you if I ever get into a position of authority with the Department of Agriculture.

Banana Milk
The other day I took 2 small milks from the chow hall so that I can have it for my coffee (Can you sense another immature foody issue coming up?).

So I am scanning all the milks as I prefer just to have the low fat.  Seeing nothing but half & half (yuck) and heavy cream (double yuck) my eyes finally focus on the yellow boxes that don’t say half & half or heavy cream.  Inner Voice: Sweetttttttttt normal milk.

Walking back from the chow hall I keep wondering why the boxes were yellow.  Having a gut feeling something is wrong and being unable to live in denial, I look at them more closely to read Banana milk.  Inner Voice: What the ^&^%$@%%.

Don’t Violate My Pancake
‘Twas the day of the Sabbath, when all thro’ the camp.

Not a creature was stirring, not even little haji.

The M-16s were hung by the rack with great care.

In hopes the Al Qaeda would soon be shot dead there.

The Marines were nestled all snug in their huts.

While Jonathan had visions of coffee and pancakes in his gut.

And the general is his boonie cover and I in my cap.

Had just entered the chow hall thinking about this poorly written rap.

When watching the cook sloppily poor Banana batter.

I screamed in my head ‘Oh God please don’t let him violate my plain pancake batter’.

Away to the table I flew like a flash.

Guzzled my juice in hopes that I wouldn’t toss my cookies trying to eat this trash.

War is Hell
Banana smelling French toast.

Banana milk.

Pancake batter violations.

When will this war end?

Semper Fi,

GySgt Jonathan Jenkins

Popularity: 49% [?]

The last couple of weeks neither the Marines in my workspace and I noticed new food as our shelves of goodies were not being replenished as often as they were a month or so ago.

However thanks to some of my family, the American Sheep Dogs (West Chester, PA), and new friend Cathy Bates (Collegeville, PA) we are back on track to indulgence.

Also need to thank fellow leatherneck Jim Doedderlein (U.S. Marine 1967-1970) who not only sent a hand written card but a small Marine Corps flag.  May sound odd to some but when the other warriors in the work space seen it they made mention of it.  Now we just need to find a place to hang it in here.

Please accept our gratitude for your generous donations.

Semper Fi,

GySgt Jonathan Jenkins

Popularity: 49% [?]

150 calories per Gatorade.  150.  Wow I know.  And so much sugar.  Grrrr

Well I guess I have to change another habit.  First it was cutting back on coffee and now looks like more water and less Gatorade.

Normally I drink 5 to 6 20 ounce bottles of water a day and 3 to 5 Gatorades a day.  Oh yea and of course start everyday the American way, 2 cups of java.

Now I guess cutting down to 1 Gatorade a day and going up to 8 20 ounce bottles of water is better for me.  So with those still wishing to send out goodies I ask to hold off on the Gatorade.

The only problem I have now is what to put in my water.  So much water gets boring and I have liked the Propel but of course need to check on if that’s sugar free and near to no calories. 

Anyone know?

Any other suggestions?

Semper Fi,

GySgt Jonathan Jenkins

Popularity: 47% [?]

Ok this may sound weird but since I already clued you in on my food-touching-issue  (See my blog entry Why Does My French Toast Smell Like Bananas?) why not tell you about my potential PJ and slipper issue.

First, I don’t wear PJs or slippers.  Second, I will never wear PJs or slippers.  Third, if I did then that’s something I wouldn’t admit in a public forum anyway.  Oh mom and sisters, don’t put your two cents in on this blog entry.

Ok getting to my latest “issue”.  Each morning when I awake and finally walk outside to drink my coffee or head to the chow hall I find my inner voice yelling “I hope you are not wearing PJs and manly slippers socks”.   Seriously, this has been happening the last few weeks now.

It’s just that since my little piggies are better and found great cushions for my boots too it always feels like I am wearing a new pair of ubber-supper-fantasic-best-acme-zenith-thick socks.

As for the cammies, until about 9AM they always feel light and soft (ahhhhhhhh).  From 9AM  until I crash later that night they of course just suck.  With the nearly 120 degrees they feel water logged (ewwwwwww).

So there you go.  My latest issue.   Ha-ha

Thoughts on a cure??????

Semper Fi,

GySgt Jonathan Jenkins

Popularity: 52% [?]

Just went rolling through a few towns the other day but when getting to Ramadi I was surprised how trashed that place still is.  Actually worse then what I saw of Baghdad.

Ramadi was a key location for the Ba’ath party and assorted other loyal Saddam goofs so the coalition forces did some re-decorating via at the outset of the war.  But still, it’s been how many years now?  Clean it up already as you and your children live there.

I was up there to take a look at a few places that we suspected as potential problem areas for movement.  In hindsight I think the whole place is a problem area.

Getting out of the MRAP I certainly gained a better understanding of their hardship but was also trying to reason why they didn’t rise up against Saddam.  Knowing that they are above pre-war levels in all the basic needs (water, sewage, communication, electricity, health, etc…) and recognizing it to still be a complete dump one can only imagine how bad it was under that yahoo.

Trash in the street.  Wires running like spider webs barely over the streets.  Metal objects sticking out of the ground everywhere.  Other then one soccer field I didn’t see anywhere the kids can play safely.

The populace is certainly much more used to use rolling through certain cities and areas and that showed the other day.  As soon as I got out to take pictures people to start coming out of their “homes” and seeing what was going on.  This is a pain because not only do you have to scan the area for IEDs as you walk and all the vantage points for possible yahoos but now you have to continually scan the crowd as you try to do your job.  Basically, you are looking for anyone in the crowd with a possible weapon, cell phone, camera, or just watching too intently to what we are doing.

All in all it was a success. I got the information I needed and the engineers got the information they needed to collect.

Below is a picture of an MRAP in case you didn’t know what they look like as well as some pictures from one of the streets we rolled down.

Semper Fi,

GySgt Jonathan Jenkins

Popularity: 98% [?]

Looks like we didn’t have to wait few more days as we got our first Black Flag of the year today.  The high is going to be about 116 degrees today (about 42 Celsius).

I am still thinking about what to grow out here before I leave.  This lack of green is just fundamentally wrong.

If anyone has suggestions for what we can grow other then traditional desert plants please write me.

Semper Fi,

GySgt Jonathan Jenkins

Popularity: 69% [?]

OMG it gets so stinking hot out here.  Right now it’s a red flag.

We have weather forecasters who continually monitor the weather and run up a colored flag depicting the head index.  From lowest to OMG its no flag, green, yellow, red, and finally black.  Its forecasted that the black flags should be here in just a couple more days.  So woo hoo!.

I get emails from back in the states of yahoos complaining about the heat.  Today its gettign up to 117 degrees.  What color is your flag? 

Semper Fi,

GySgt Jonathan Jenkins

Popularity: 62% [?]