Lost Carcosa

Its been 6 years since the attacks on the U.S. Am I going to say anything about them? Nope. Plenty of others will have something to say.

I’ll just say this. A successful Counterinsurgency (COIN) in Iraq and Afghanistan may take a while. COIN is won with not just with bullets and bombs, but with rebuilding the infrastructure and giving medical aid to the local population. Its won by helping the Host Nation (HN) with their police and military work. It may take a while, but success can be had.

Will it succeed if we pull out now? I highly doubt it. That wont be helping the HN to succeed. That will be turning our backs on them and turning them into a future enemy.

What about all the reports of soldiers getting killed? Seems to be thats all we hear about. Where are the reports of the power generators getting put back online. Where are the reports of the towns that now have food shipments thanks to the hard work of the U.S. and Iraqi militaries working together? The mass news doesn’t seem to want to report that because this sort of news doesn’t sell as well as Private Joe Snuffy getting his leg blown off.

We can win this, and by we, I mean the people of Iraq as well as the U.S. We means everyone. Anytime we help create a place where parents don’t have to live in fear that the local “authorities” will be serving their child’s head as a main course to them, the world is better off for it.

I’m really feeling out of the loop for all things computer, H.P. Lovecraft, and real world right now.  The army training is going well, and I’ve got some really good buddies here that I’ll miss when we leave, but I feel separated from life here.  Which, really isn’t all that bad of a thing, really.  Except when I do stuff like miss HPL’s birthday!

Oh well.  Thanks to The Serpenteens‘ great music for helping me through the training.  And here’s a picture of me behind a Mk-19 (”Mark 19″) 40mm grenade launcher.

Well. I graduated from Phase I, and now its time for Phase II. This will be the more interesting side of the training. Where Phase I was more garrison Law & Order stuff, Phase II is combat oriented. Good stuff! More details will be posted later. For now, just know that I am still around, and have not done a single thing comic related, unfortunately.

I’m still here! Still doing the Army training thing. Yeay! Its pretty fun stuff, although a bit rushed. Here’s a picture of what I believe is a Luna Moth on the wall of the school building. My hand is in there for reference.

For the next 30 odd days, I’ll be away on some fancy-dancy Army training. For certain reasons, I’ll refrain on the when and where specifics, but I will say that internet usage will be severely decreased for me. I will definitely not have the time to post as often as I normally do, and I won’t be surprised if I manage to post more than once a week. I hope that I’ll at least be able to check email every couple days. How will I ever make it without my IV of internet?!?!
That said, the Lost Carcosa WebComic will be posting on its regular schedule! I’ve managed to complete comics through the first Monday of November! Yeay! Hopefully I’ll be able to do a little drawing while I’m away. Maybe we’ll see some Army themed comics come out of this. Well, I hope you all stick around and wait for my return!

Till then, enjoy the comics!

Today the U.S. Army turned 232 years old! HOOAH!

Since its birth on 14 June 1775—over a year before the Declaration of Independence—the United States Army has played a vital role in the growth and development of our Nation. Soldiers have fought more than 10 wars, from the American Revolution through the Cold War, the Gulf War, to the current War on Terrorism. This 232nd Birthday is a recognition of The Army’s history, traditions, and service to the Nation, a Call To Duty, 232 Years of Service to Our Nation.

The Army turns 232