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timtufuga's Homepage http://www.zorpia.com/timtufuga Fri, 01 Jan 2010 18:54 EST Fri, 01 Jan 2010 18:54 EST Zorpia.com Logan Thunder season tip-off 2nd October, 2009. http://www.zorpia.com/timtufuga/journal/1932132 The first game of the WNBL season will be tipped off at the new Logan Metro Indoor Stadium on the 2nd October, 2009.  <a href="http://www.loganthunder.com">http://www.loganthunder.com</a> I will be attending this first game of the season and I will write a review of this match up soon after. I will be a new fan for the Logan Thunder for the first time since they are in my suburb of Crestmead or at least along Browns Plains road. So, I will meet you all at the Tip off at 7:30 pm this Friday 2nd October, 2009. News & Sports http://www.zorpia.com/timtufuga/journal/1932132 Tue, 29 Sep 2009 03:49 EST The Nifo Oti, an illustration by Tim Tufuga http://www.zorpia.com/timtufuga/journal/1931959 The weapon of choice for the Samoan warrior in a bygone era. <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4GFSFEyxp4M">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4GFSFEyxp4M</a> It was initially designed to confront the larger weapons of the Tongan warrior for hand to hand close quarter battle. The weapon proved superior to the impressive, but, cumbersome and lethargic Tongan weapons. The Tongans were completely defeated and routed by the Samoan warrior with the 'Nifo Oti'. The most famous conflict is the war of vengence by the Malietoa Vainuupo forces which included the entire Island of Savai'i, Manono, Apolima, along with Tuamasaga, in a war against Aana and Atua which was a single sided rout by the Malietoa forces. My ancestors, from Asau village, in the Vaisigano pule, were bestowed the honour of the victors, as Le "Itu O Tane", in recognition of their warrior prowess in this particular war. They were all armed with "Nifo Oti" amongst other weapons. The weapon has recently been used in the turn of the century civil war insurrections between the amalgamated chieftains, Matafa Iosefo, Tupua Tamasese and Malietoa Tanumafili muamua, supporters in and around the Tuamasaga areas. These skirmishes were intermittent using western weapons and American, German and British forces taking side in a miniture world war stand off Philosophy & History http://www.zorpia.com/timtufuga/journal/1931959 Mon, 28 Sep 2009 04:12 EST The new Logan Metro indoor stadium, Crestmead, Q.. http://www.zorpia.com/timtufuga/journal/1931480 <img border="0" hspace="0" align="baseline" src="http://org111.zpcdn.com/0/5511/35274129.fc4a67.jpg" /> The new Logan Metro Basketball Stadium, in Crestmead, Queensland, is now open. The new home for the WNBL Logan Thunder is now open for business. I went yesterday to check it out and practised for an hour and a half in very excellent facilities. <img border="0" hspace="0" align="baseline" src="http://org111.zpcdn.com/0/5511/35274150.8bd359.jpg" />  I will be practising here more often in the near future. All the while, I am back into training for my roadrunning events. The stadium is well ventilated and the natural lighting throughout the day is excellent. Plenty of room to swing a cat in without feeling particularly agoraphobic with the three basketball courts within this excellent stadium. The seating is superb, with the roll out and roll in stadium grandstands like some IKEA fold away. Other indoor sports are not neglected with all badmington, volleyball sporting interests being considered. The floating floorboards are not too spongey for the basketball, unlike the Cornubia courts, and this allows for some decent bounce into the dribblers hands. Particularly in the eastern side court which is quite solid underneath, around the key areas. Good for a decent drive onto the low post for dribblers. My first impressions of the Metro is very good. The showers, toilets, and drinking fountains, and the disabled persons access amenities are completely politically correct. Car parking is fully functional and not too confusing for anyone with half a brain. The $17 million complex is most cost beneficial for the Crestmead locality, the accessability for sports fans can not be measured in monetary terms. It is so easy to get here being on the Browns Plains Road. I am pleased with the Logan City Council and the Queensland State government for their investment in Logan City sports.  They have certainly excelled themselves here. Cheers. Tim     News & Sports http://www.zorpia.com/timtufuga/journal/1931480 Fri, 25 Sep 2009 19:57 EST Canberra marathon 2010 training begins now. http://www.zorpia.com/timtufuga/journal/1931161 Ok folks, my three days hiatus is now over. The Sydney marathon 2009 has been and gone. That is behind me now it is just another feather in my cap folks. Now, it is back to training for the Canberra 42km marathon, in April 2010. Training starts tomorrow for a 28 week training regime. I will be training through Xmas and NY and no rest for the next 28 weeks, just as I did not rest at all for the Sydney marathon which resulted in a very mediocre run. If this continues well, I will have to contend with my average times in my 5th 42km marathon run. <a href="http://www.canberramarathon.com.au/">http://www.canberramarathon.com.au/</a> So folks see you back on the road. Going to go through some more running shoes for this one. Tofa Soifua Tim Tufuga Endure and endure some more!   News & Sports http://www.zorpia.com/timtufuga/journal/1931161 Thu, 24 Sep 2009 05:45 EST My fourth 42km running effort was rather arduous.. http://www.zorpia.com/timtufuga/journal/1930683 <img border="0" hspace="0" align="baseline" src="http://org111.zpcdn.com/0/5506/35239988.01044d.jpg" /><img border="0" hspace="0" align="baseline" src="http://org111.zpcdn.com/0/5506/35239971.32a679.jpg" /> My fourth 42km running effort was a bit of a painful effort particularly in the final 10 kilometres of the marathon. I had surprised myself with having to slam into the wall with cramps all over my body which was strange bearing in mind I had ensured that I had taken all the proper precautions before I had embarked upon my fourth 42km running effort. <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vw2s8_jP4bo">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vw2s8_jP4bo</a> I was rather disappointed with tasting one of those weird bitter water cups from one of the water stations which reminded me of my previous efforts in the Brisbane 42km marathon as well as the Gold Coast 42km marathon efforts previously. This time the funny tasting water occured at the 11th km mark and after this recycled water type taste the subsequent water drink stations were normal in comparison to the one funny water drink station back in the 11th km mark. I had realised that nearing the 22km mark the cramping started to kick in and by the 31st km mark I was feeling very tight and sore from my armpits, to my neck, shoulders down to my legs. This is very unusual for me since I have only felt cramping on my legs in my previous three 42km running effort. I had taken all precautions leading up to this run and I was so surprised on how soon I had began cramping after just passing the halfway mark. I had not even exerted myself at all. I was only running at 60% throughout the first 21km. The end result was not particularly flattering but at least I have been there and I have done what I had promised to do, as is evident in the video. So as Julius Caesar once cited "I came, I saw, I conquered". Well, at least I have endured the pain and agony of my fourth 42km effort. I am setting my sights for the Melbourne marathon next, or, perhaps, the Canberra marathon? Needlesstosay, I am hoping to train for the Ironman triathlon but this is dependent upon whether I can afford the time and the money to enter the Australian IM in either 2010 or 2011. beleive you me, I can do the IM just as I can do the 42km marathon without these funny water at the drink stations. It is hiatus for a week or so then it is training again for another endurance event. News & Sports http://www.zorpia.com/timtufuga/journal/1930683 Tue, 22 Sep 2009 00:29 EST In Sydney for the 42km marathon run on 20/9/9 http://www.zorpia.com/timtufuga/journal/1929925 Im in Sydney after a smooth Qantas flight from Brisbane on Thursady arvo 17th September, 2009. I met Phil at the airport and went to collect my racing timing chip and race number from the registration at Circular Quay. We had gone to Darling Harbour by accident and were lost for about half an hour or so. Then we checked out the Sydney harbour bridge then the Glebe bridge, or the ANZAC bridge, the scheduled course for the 42km marathon run. Upon arrival the humidity was very high and thankfully this morning's 6.5km run from Petersham to Circular Quay was not so humid but it was warm and saslight distraction during my run when a white sedan had crashed in front moments earlier in Parramatta road which was not a good welcome to Sydney for me. <img border="0" hspace="0" align="baseline" src="http://thm.zpcdn.com/0/5498/35187484.c0ee23.jpg" /><img border="0" hspace="0" align="baseline" src="http://thm.zpcdn.com/0/5498/35187566.0e1416.jpg" /> Running on Sunday morning where some 1,600 or so marathoners are expected to run the 42km distance. I have seen the course and it is rather challenging from a car's perspective. See you after the finishline. Soifua Tim Tufuga      Travel http://www.zorpia.com/timtufuga/journal/1929925 Fri, 18 Sep 2009 00:22 EST Something to while away my time, whilst I wait. http://www.zorpia.com/timtufuga/journal/1928563 So the ADF has decided that I need to wait for 6 months, fair enough. I bought myself a 8 foot pool table whilst I wait for enlistment procedures. <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k6MQNzhXBOE">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k6MQNzhXBOE</a> Boring, heh? Happy hunting boys! Tim Tufuga Personal http://www.zorpia.com/timtufuga/journal/1928563 Fri, 11 Sep 2009 01:38 EST ADFR specialist testing, "Pulleys and Levers" http://www.zorpia.com/timtufuga/journal/1928405 ADF 2nd round testing Mechanical "levers and pulleys" a failure. I had sit my second round of defence force testing and I was surprised with the test. It was a mechanical test, which I had half expected it to be. However, I had not expected that this test would be on 'levers and pulleys' and directions, which caught me off guard. I had studied for something completely different and was surprised with the test. I had failed this test, obviously. This mechanised test is to be expected in a 'combat engineering' test but I was surprised with the visualised nature of the test which I do not like. I am not visually astute as some people. I am still accepted to proceed with my scheduled combat engineering ECN within the Australian Army but at a very reduced priority as a consequence of this abject failure result. Subsequently, then, I have been consideredless on the demand list as a combat engineer as was before when I had sit the original aptitude test which I had apparantly performed above expectations for Australian Army recruitment requirements. I have been informed by the ADF that I will be called up for further testing within 6 months andif I pass these tests then I will proceed to enlistment to commence BTs and IMT for 80 days, then if I pass this then IET within ARA for an additional 71 days. Overall, I will be considered only as a recruit for about 2 and a half months, then as a lowly private after IMT,for about a year before being elevated to a private proficient, that is a proper private after a year of fulltime service within the ARA? Then I will remain a 'private proficient' for at least 12 months after IMT and the IET within ARA. After a couple of years I might make it to lance corporal level. Wow, and to think I needed a University degree for this? haha. Its not a job, its an adventure andyou've gotta love the perks. Hey, in combat, and in contact situation, the enemy does not discriminate rank, and more importantly, a 7.62mm does not discriminate on an acquired target, right? Ia ua lava fo'i lenei talanoaga. O Tim Tufuga Personal http://www.zorpia.com/timtufuga/journal/1928405 Thu, 10 Sep 2009 04:52 EST The Australian Army recruitment http://www.zorpia.com/timtufuga/journal/1927952 I went into the Australian Army recruitment for my second round of testing and I had performed fairly badly. I was then informed that I was not required for active enlistment for at least six months. So, it is back to training for yet another triathlon and running event. This is getting a bit boring and I am getting older damn it!   Personal http://www.zorpia.com/timtufuga/journal/1927952 Tue, 08 Sep 2009 05:23 EST Earmarked for Sapper selection after ARTC http://www.zorpia.com/timtufuga/journal/1927152 My next preliminary tests for DFRS is my psych test and my physical including a medical and fitness test. There are four classifications for medical fitness assessment which I feel I will be able to pass quite easily. My criminal records and ASIO clearances have to be bureaucratically processed and finally determined by the interviewing panel within the ADF DFRS. The BFA tests is the shuttle run test, if I pass this, then the enlistment process will be finalised and a military career offer and an appointment package will then be issued. So far, SFTC has declined my application stating that only current serving members may apply, including lateral selection considerations from overseas military services, ie, NZSAS, British SAS, US Navy SEALS etc. As a consequence of the initial tests, including my IQ test, I was offered a regular army recruitment offer, with an earmarked ARA 'Combat Engineer' career offer being considered negotiable prior to enlistment and deployment to ARTC. I have been offered selection as a combat engineer or in layman terms as a "Sapper", within the Royal Australian Engineers (RAE) as part of my ARA IET. In order to be considered favourably by the interviewing panel I have to demonstrate some knowledge of the combat engineer package. I have previewed the Initial Employment Training (IET) schedule which runs for 71 days and contains four phases of military instructions. This encompases a level of civil engineering as well as military training in their syllabus. <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EWuk1XqCh8w">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EWuk1XqCh8w</a> Overall, the Sappers are reputedly the brains trust of the Australian Army, they are the 'constructive' component of the Army. The crucial role of the Sapper is to construct buildings, military Forward Operations Bases (FOB) eg, Tarin Kowt, Afghanistan, in conflict zones, combat Team barracks, bases and perimeter defences. As well as assisting in constructing infrastructure for various deployment areas, namely in reconstruction of war ravaged countries or natural disaster areas. Some of the Sappers job description in civilian life is to assist in developing community areas such as Aboriginal communities ravaged with anarchic disharmony with alcoholism related violence and abuse. The Royal Australian Engineers (RAE), 3rd CER and 1st CER, are currently deployed in operation RTF 4, 2009, in Afghanistan, helping with reconstruction of the Afghanistan infrastructures, ie, Oruzgon Province, and Helmund province, in Afghanistan, as well as, mentoring the Afghanistan Nationaly Army (ANA). The 'Sappers' now also have an 'out of the wire' component units, supporting SASR and 4th RAR (Commando Regiment), which have now become a fully instituted functional unit, the Incidence Response Regiment (IRR), which is now divided into two mainstay squads, the Alpha Squadron and Bravo Squadren. These combat engineers are able to offer infantry combat units with equal fire power support as well as offering to construct bases, perimeter defence positions, and check points, for Australian infantry units. I am scheduled for my final assessment before enlistment on Tuesday, 8th September, 2009. Then, I will continue with my training for the Sydney 42km marathon, I will be flying out of Brisbane in less than a fortnights time. 20th September, 2009 is the Sydney 42km marathon. See you on the starting line. Tim Tufuga   Personal http://www.zorpia.com/timtufuga/journal/1927152 Thu, 03 Sep 2009 21:10 EST Its official Im in for 80 days ARTC then ARA http://www.zorpia.com/timtufuga/journal/1926377 Its official now. I have passed the preliminary tests at the Australian Defence Force Recruitment at Brisbane DFRC, for The Australian Regular Army (ARA) selection. So, I am going in for 80 days of Basic Training, at The Australian Recruitment Training Centre, in Kapooka Army Barracks, in Wagga Wagga, New South Wales. So this is what I will be doing <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=22-_8H39YzA">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=22-_8H39YzA</a> I have found my motivation and true calling, I am in full time as a Regular Australian soldier grunt. 80 days of pure adrenalin rush and it will be an undeniable adventure ladies!! IET after march out parade but its ARA for me! See ya at ARTC after the marathon run in Sydney! Tim Tufuga   Personal http://www.zorpia.com/timtufuga/journal/1926377 Mon, 31 Aug 2009 04:16 EST I am motivated to join 'the war on terror.' http://www.zorpia.com/timtufuga/journal/1924402 The recent deaths of Samoan soldiers in Afghanistan has motivated me to want to enlist into the Australian Army. I have considered the value of joining the Armed forces even at this late stage of my career. Why? I have realised that the recent increase of Semitic elements within Logan City and the loudness of the Arab communities within my neighbourhood, ie, within the Logan area, which has prompted me to consider that similar situations that have occured in Lakemba, in Cronulla-Sutherland, in southern Sydney, will occur here as well. The rise and rise in ethnic tensions with the recent spate of violet shootings in NSW and Victoria perpetrated by feuding Arab gangs has given a very dire omen to South East Queensland. The situation will undoubtedly spread like a contagion to South East Queensland. I am a Samoan Australian who has lived in this country for over a quarter of a century, in the past five years the Arab and Semitic population has increased by over half its population. The Samoan population is increasing ever so slightly in comparison to the influx of Arabs into Queensland. If NSW and Victoria is any indication of what the Arabs are bringing into Queensland then I am wary of this situation. What is even more annoying is the arrogance of the Muslim community with their beliefs that Australia will inadvertently become some kind of Caliphate as predetermined by some Arab cleric in some Mosque from South East Asia, which is in its own right very sick and unreal posturing. We, Polynesians, Samoans, Tongans, NZ Maori, Cook Islanders, and other Polynesian ethnic groups have never embraced the Islamic faith, a minority group of Samoans have accepted the Baha'i faith but not Islamism. The Islamic faith has been forged in hatred and bloodshed. The Hegira or the flight of Mohamed in circa 600AD from Medina to Mecca was a violent journey filled with killings perpetrated by their Prophet and his followers. The Christians have a truly noble prophet in their Jesus Christ, who taught the world the messages of the Beatitude's from the Mt of Olives. As for Jihadi Muslim they would choose to kill all NON-Believers, people who do not believe in their versions of Islamic teachings and Koranic laws, including the Sharia laws pertaining to the suppression of their women. The largest Muslim nation in the world is the Indonesians, then it is India, then Pakistan, then finally, Saudi Arabia, etc. The Polynesian race are predominately Judaeo-Christian and or atheists, such as myself. I do not subscribe to the caliphate ambitions of our northern neighbours and I certainly view that we as Polynesians must enjoin in this holy crusade to prevent the insidious spread of anti-Christian faiths from amongst our community. The issue is no longer winning the 'hearts and minds' of the Middle Eastern cultures and its people, for this war has long been lost, but, rather it is to win the war at home so as to prevent the fragmentation of the Judaeo-Christian foundations which have underpinned Australian and New Zealand cultural values, as well as, the Pacific Island cultures, for the past two centuries. It is as the old adage states, "it is better the devil you know, than the one you don't". Australia and New Zealand's wartime enemy is our enemy, and if this enemy is amongst our midst then we will encounter them and fight them in a time and a place of our choosing. We will go to their neighbourhood and fight them there, before they stealthly invade us en masse through our lenient immigration policies. To the sons and daughters of Samoa in Afghanistan, fight well. This is your religious and cultural duty to uphold your faith and never feel diminished by the enemy. Ia manuia le TOA SAMOA. Soifua Tim Tufuga ( I am still an atheist, but, I am a Samoan Australian and I will die as a Samoan Australian)       Religion & Ethics http://www.zorpia.com/timtufuga/journal/1924402 Fri, 21 Aug 2009 01:31 EST The Reaper UAV drone is remotely piloted from US.. http://www.zorpia.com/timtufuga/journal/1923706 The Reaper UAV Drone Bomber The latest weapon in global conflict. the Reaper drone is being used by the United States Army and the British military forces to remotely attack insurgent targets within the Helmund province and within Pakistan. Since 2004-2008 some 84 Predator and Reaper drones have bombed various targets within Pakistan. In 2008 till March 2009 some 46 Reaper attacks have been made. The death toll from these drones have been 513. Of this number some 14 confirmed Taliban elements have been eliminated (Aljazeera news).  <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M86E_QX11v4&NR=1">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M86E_QX11v4&NR=1</a> The Reaper has become the most lethal weapon in the most state of art technological strike weapon ever devised. What is even more significant is where the pilots are actually situated which has become the most amazing story. From a classified base in the Nevada desert in the United States of America, the Reaper, is remotely controlled from this base area, it is half a world away from Helmund province, Afghanistan. The weapon system being used are Hellfire missles which have reeked devastating results upon the target areas. Some proponents even theorised that the "Reapers", are being remote controlled from as far as the Pentagon itself (Tim Tufuga theory). The international implication according to Hamid Mir, a Pakistanis government spokesperson, (Aljazeera) has declared that article 34 of the United Nations Charter are being breached and flouted by the RAF and the US Army. The significance of the unmanned drones has revealed the new world order in global conflict, ie, to conduct global conflict with military men remotely controlling weapons of immense destruction with pinpoint accuracy upon acquired targets from half the world away. Whether these military men, hidden away within a bunker in the Nevada desert, could be caught, arraigned, and charged, for any war crimes by the victim nation states, ie Pakistan, is a matter that is almost impossible to account for. The future theatre of war is truly global indeed.     Personal http://www.zorpia.com/timtufuga/journal/1923706 Mon, 17 Aug 2009 03:45 EST No public accolades for these soldiers http://www.zorpia.com/timtufuga/journal/1923695 These New Zealand military elements embedded in Afghanistan for the past few years on half yearly tour of duty deployments, are not acknowledged by the public media, for they do not exist. <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cjpsl2zwRVA">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cjpsl2zwRVA</a> The people whose job is to do the proper gardening, and then the reconstruction. Sole malo le tau Kia Kaha Tim Tufuga Miscellaneous http://www.zorpia.com/timtufuga/journal/1923695 Mon, 17 Aug 2009 02:51 EST The Bravo and Charlie coy, 100BN, 442Inf US Army http://www.zorpia.com/timtufuga/journal/1923591 The American Samoan units of the Charlie and Bravo Company from the 100th Battalion 442 infantry Corp, United States Army, have lost up to 17 Samoan Soldiers? making the Samoans as being listed at the top in the casualty list of all coalition forces in Afghanistan and Iraq.  The following videos are from the troops serving within the bravo and charlie companies within the 100th Battalion, 442nd Infantry regiment of the United States Army. These men and women soldiers' GHQ is Fort Shafter, Hawaii. The recent spate of 'hot contact' has raised some concern regarding the numbers of Samoan KIA which has been reported from American Samoa news sources to be 17 Samoans from both Iraq and Afghanistan.  The conflicting news reports from New Zealand radio seems to lessen the number of Samoan casualties to nine, however, this report can not be confirmed from American Samoa.  <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mt85ShJGgqI&feature=fvw">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mt85ShJGgqI&feature=fvw</a> <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=51jBSlY0vbo&feature=fvw">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=51jBSlY0vbo&feature=fvw</a> <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LXIIaQ0MJiM">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LXIIaQ0MJiM</a> <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7r7dDEiV8J4">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7r7dDEiV8J4</a> <a href="http://www.youtube.com/user/Aviu">http://www.youtube.com/user/Aviu</a> Samoan Congressman Faleomaveaga addresses congress regarding the anti-surge address <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NHJr6ZqWWCc&feature=related">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NHJr6ZqWWCc&feature=related</a> The subsequent reports from the present Samoan military sources have been contested by Radio New Zealand which may arouse some skepticism of whether there really are Samoans in US army USMC units within Afghanistan and Iraq at all? Or is this some elaborate ruse by some Samoan CGI designer? It has convinced me though. There is an American Samoa territory, which has a population of some 34,000, and that there are men and women from American Samoa's bravo and Charlie company, enlisted within the 100Bn, 442nd Inf, who are presently serving in Iraq and Afghanistan. What is also interesting also is the support that was included in the video by the 263rd Calvary with their M1A1 Abrams MBT who have shown some of their irrepressible talents against the Iraqi armoury with their Soviet designed T72 MBT, in Iraq. Unfortunately, on the ground level of the conflict, the IEDs and RPGs have taken its toll on these GIs, and taking in Abrams to fight RPGs, it is like taking in a bulldozer to uproot a single tree when all you need is a shovel, 'rapid response delta hunters' or something like the SASR from Australia and NZSAS to stealthly deploy, acquire, and neutralise insurgent units systematically, it is hard cold and calculating but it is something that these predators are groomed for. Samoan warrior pride is called into question here? Will they win the hearts and mind debate or go for broke as their motto suggest and flush out the insurgency? The regimental pride has been sorely tested since the true story 'Saving Private Ryan' rescue mission in 1944 in which some 800 Japanese American GIs were KIA by the Germans. "Their bloodiest battle occured during their rescue of the "Lost Battalion". The First Battalion of the 36th Division had been given the assignment to clear a ridge deep in the Vosages, but had been cut-off by the Germans. The battalion, the 1st Battalion, 141st Infantry Regiment (a former Texas National Guard unit), had been cut off since October 24,1944. The other two battalions of the 141st were unable to break through. The 100th /442nd, was ordered to rescue the Lost Battalion in a real-life "Saving Private Ryan" mission (More men were lost in the 100th/442nd in the rescue operation than there were to save in the 1st of the 141st.)." <a href="http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/agency/army/100-442in.htm">http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/agency/army/100-442in.htm</a> The war has exhausted so many people and has emotional scarred so many lives it has become a truly lose lose situation for all bellicose participants. Look at the weary faces of these soldiers they have had enough, morale is waning, and yet they have to convince themselves that what they are doing is noble and it will be 'better' for all concerned, in the long run, just wait and see?  In the true essence of a soldiers code, 'De Oppresso Liber', which is an elite special (delta) force, American soldier's personal motto, which would motivate him/her till he/she is either terminated or to become the 'liberator of the oppressed'. As for the rest of these GIs well most will be wanting to return home they want to pick their bat and ball and take it with them mid game. The endgame is nigh but these weary combatents are suffocating with the stench of cadavas, cordite, and the warm sweet insipid taste if putrified blood in the back of their throats day in day out. Pissing in a pipe and having cold showers is no homely lifestyle but they endure it, it is part of their rotation and tour of duty. "So who is on the latrine shift, once again?"  They'll get a medal and parade for this when they go home! "Bulldozer to do some weeding when just some shovelling would do, hah!" Happy hunting boys, the singing is morose but appropriate.  Ia manuia le toa Samoa Tofa Soifua Tim Tufuga Brisbane Australia News & Sports http://www.zorpia.com/timtufuga/journal/1923591 Sun, 16 Aug 2009 09:44 EST