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To: Emile Vidrine who wrote (25675) 2/26/2012 12:01:05 PM From: Nixpix    of 28681   It may not be there yet, but the article indicates it may be headed there soon. USS Enterprise Returns to Naval Station NorfolkPosted on Feb 13th, 2012 with tags Enterprise, Naval, Navy, News by topic, Norfolk, Returns, station, USS. Sailors aboard the aircraft carrier USS Enterprise (CVN 65) returned to Naval Station Norfolk Feb. 10 after completing a month of crucial pre-deployment qualifications and certifications at sea. During the past month, Enterprise Carrier Strike Group Sailors and Marines participated in three major workup exercises: a composite training unit exercise (COMPTUEX), a Joint Task Force Exercise (JTFEX) and exercise Bold Alligator 2012 – the largest naval amphibious exercise conducted in more than a decade. The exercises mark the final steps in the 50-year-old carrier’s preparation for its 22nd and final scheduled deployment. The culmination of months of training since Enterprise concluded its last deployment in July 2011, the exercises presented various scenarios and situations the Enterprise crew may face while deployed. “These exercises are important because they allow us to evaluate our ability to accomplish the very missions we will be called upon to complete during deployment,” said Rear Adm. Walter E. Carter, commander, Enterprise Carrier Strike Group. “Over the past month we have trained as a strike group and have shown that we are more than capable, as a team, to succeed across the full spectrum of warfare capabilities.” The complex scenarios and missions required hard work and dedication at all levels, from the strike group’s most senior leadership to the youngest Sailors on the deckplates, experiencing their first underway period. The exercises are designed to involve every warfare area and ensure each Sailor and Marine knows their role to the fullest. “The Big ‘E’ crew did an outstanding job this underway,” said Master Chief Aviation Boatswain’s Mate Eric J. Young, Enterprise’s acting command master chief. “Our Sailors and Marines were really put to the test, and they answered those challenges without hesitation. I am very proud of their performance and look forward to deploying with such a motivated team.” COMPTUEX, which occupied the first three weeks of the underway, was the first critical test for the strike group to operate together as a cohesive team. Evaluators from Commander, Strike Force Training, Atlantic grade the strike group’s overall combat readiness by simulating the occupation of an area with high tensions existing between fictional countries in scenarios loosely based on real world geo-political conditions. “It’s important to practice operating under these conditions so we’re ready when the time comes to do it all for real, whether it’s against pirates or other enemies,” said Cmdr. James Midkiff, operations officer for Enterprise Carrier Strike Group. During the scenario-based training, strike group ships encountered threats including small boat attacks, mines, strait transits through hostile waters, aircraft, surface and submarine threats, as well as internal damage control and security threat drills. After accomplishing its tasks, evaluators then certified the strike group for open ocean operations. “I’m extremely proud of how all the Sailors and Marines of the Enterprise, Carrier Air Wing 1, and DESRON 2 team performed during the exercise,” said Carter. “The crews’ performance during these exercises inspires in me a great sense of confidence that the Enterprise’s final deployment will be both memorable and successful.” The last week of the month-long underway included both the JTFEX and Bold Alligator 2012 exercises. More than 14,000 personnel from the U.S., France, Great Britain, Canada and other countries joined together in a massive joint exercise involving at least 25 ships. The exercises involved scenarios that required the rapid development of defense strategies to defeat a fictional enemy in an ever-evolving combat climate. The exercises concluded with the launch of a massive amphibious raid from several ships to bring the fictional enemy to their ultimate demise. “We flew 107 sorties [in one day] from Enterprise to support the amphibious landing, which is an amazing feat for our air wing, flight deck crew and maintenance crews that keep things running the way they should,” said Midkiff. “It was a great example of our surge capacity and highlighted the key role that a Carrier Strike Group plays in such crucial operations. It’s remarkable what we’ve accomplished as a strike group in such a short period of time – and I have no doubt that we’re ready to deploy.” In the midst of all the combat training scenarios, Enterprise also played a secondary role. During the last month, Sailors and Marines aboard Enterprise demonstrated the capabilities of the Navy’s first nuclear-powered aircraft carrier and its crew to more than 200 distinguished visitors, including the secretary of defense, chief of naval operations, master chief petty officer of the Navy, chairman and vice chairman of the House Armed Services Committee and other representatives from Congress, Department of Defense, and Navy leadership. Welcome to Slider's Dugout | Political Discussion ForumsShare RecommendKeepReplyMark as Last ReadRead Replies (1)

From: Hugh Bett 2/26/2012 12:45:01 PM 2 Recommendations   of 28681   [url=]They hate Ron Paul--but they fear you[/url] Sunday, February 26, 2012 8:47 AM Are you going to let the mass media decide who rules this country? Dear Michigan Patriots, I arrived in Hudsonville late last night, exhausted from a wonderful campaign event with Dr. Paul and followed by a long drive on slippery roads. But after reading the early media coverage of our tremendous event, my blood boiled. On the key facts about what took place last night, coverage ranged from slim to nil. Almost nobody reported on the hundreds turned away. Almost nobody reported on the theme of the event, with none even using the title, "Soldiers, airmen, and sailors for Ron Paul." Disgracefully, articles in the Detroit News, AP, and Mlive.com completely omitted the stage presence of veterans, let alone that we had veterans from every war since World War II (we had two WWII veterans present). Most articles didn't even mention Congressman Amash's rousing introduction of Dr. Paul! And although he surely knew his face-- he did a story on him earlier that same day--the Associated Press's Tim Martin failed to note that winner of the Tea Party summit's Senate straw poll that day, Gary Glenn, appeared on stage with soldiers, airmen, and sailors for Ron Paul (Glenn is a Gulf War veteran). In fact, AP's Tim Martin chose not to mention the veterans' presence at the rally at all. What a sham. Turnout was lowballed, as usual. NBC News' Mike McManaman wrote, "Close to a thousand people packed into the auditorium to hear Paul speak Satruday [sic] evening." We had two thousand people there. Almost nobody noticed the 500 people turned away for lack of room. (Yet they never forget to include the lowest poll standings they can find to report on, can they? Never miss a chance to tell you how to think, do they?) Of course, anyone who actually attended the event saw a wildly different picture than what the media reported. But, so it goes--par for the course for a mass media establishment that subjects Dr. Paul to what pastor Chuck Baldwin called "the most outlandish brand of humiliation and censorship ever seen in modern politics." Well, now you see it firsthand. But remember: they censor him because they fear him... and you, who power this campaign. At a recent tea party meeting I mentioned Dr. Paul's stunning fundraising figures from the military: always the most since 2007; as much as everyone else's combined in this campaign; double that this last quarter: in fourth-quarter 2011, Dr. Paul raised six times as much as all other Republicans combined from active duty troops, and three times as much as Barack Obama--double them both put together. Ron Paul's top three donor empoloyers are U.S. Army, Navy, and Air Force. The tea partiers bristled that we weren't making use of this remarkable fact. But I did then, I did again at the summit today, and Tony (a veteran who introduced the other members of the group) made a point of it as well. The fact is, not one media outlet reminded voters of this critical point that Tony and I keep emphasizing. Today and tomorrow we will have four stunning events with Dr. Paul, each designed in its own way to showcase compelling facts proving that Ron Paul is the only candidate in the Republican field capable of defeating Barack Obama (and rightfully so.) Don't expect the media to report a thing. But guess what... they can attack him, but they are powerless to stop you from turning out the vote for Dr. Paul on Election Day. So I hope will join me. I hope you will join me in directing your well-placed anger and frustration with the major media toward a personal resolution: to do everything possible to turn out the vote on Election Day. Here's how. Step 1: Make a complete list of everyone in Michigan you know. Everyone you've EVER known. Step 2: Call them on the phone. Ask them whether they are going to waste their vote on Tuesday on counterfeit conservatives Mitt Romney or Rick Santorum, or whether they will stand for freedom and prosperity and vote for the champion of liberty, Ron Paul. Step 3: If they say they will vote for Ron Paul (or say so at any later stage), make sure they know that they can vote, and how. If you're on-line, you can visit michigan.gov/vote and look up their polling location. Polls are open 7am -8pm and you simply ask for a Republican ballot. Step 4: If they are undecided, persuade them, on their own terms, to vote for Dr. Paul. Tip: LISTEN to them on reach them on THEIR issues, not yours Tip: Never argue with a voter, except on the one biggest issue, electability, where you must argue that Ron Paul is the only electable candidate. Any guff about needing to support Santorum v. Romney or vice versa, kindly remind them there isn't a dime's worth of difference between them and neither one has a remote shot of defeating Barack Obama. That's it. Do your best, and contact as many people as you can. Then, talk to people (do NOT just wave signs!) on the streets. And attempt to persuade them as well. Do not just wave signs. They have no effect. Talk to people. Two-way communication. Find out and overturn whatever reservations they have to vote for Dr. Paul. If we can all do our best on Election Day, we will win Michigan for Ron Paul. Thanks for all that you do for Liberty, Adam de Angeli Michigan Coordinator, Ron Paul 2012 Welcome to Slider's Dugout | Political Discussion ForumsShare RecommendKeepReplyMark as Last ReadRead Replies (1)