Light blogging this weekend as I have the plague.
Please check Michael Yon's piece on Men of Valor part3
He also has in interesting article by Joe Galloway of we were soldiers once fame. I will warn you if you are fan of this adminstration you will not like it.
Friday, November 30, 2007
Tuesday, November 27, 2007
From the Defense Department
Ok tonight is for the zoomys Air Force Special Agent Gregory Carmack . My brother will be out of control.
Paris Intifada
Let me make myself perfectly clear here these are not 'youths' these are islamic urban terrorists.
From the COIN field manual urban terrorists try to
From the COIN field manual urban terrorists try to
- Sow Disorder (check)
- Incite sectarian violence ( not yet but I promise the immams are preaching this)
- Weaken the gov't they have not yet but how long before the people of Paris shout out to their new gov't this has to stop
- Intimidate the population (check)
- Kill govt leaders. Well they may not be leaders but they are making a heck of a try on police men.
From what I can gather two 'youths' on a stolen motorcycle ran a red light hit a police car and after the policemen tried to revive them expired. Then rumors where spread that the police fled the scene the rioting began. Well Let me tell you folks they have escelated quite allot now that the youths are using shotguns with buck shot.
The French better grow a set and fast.
From the Long War Journal
Seems the chechnyans are getting froggy Again see here. You know they export fighters all over the world reading in House to House they fought whole basically platoons of these guys and had to fight them to death. I am with the Russians on this one they waged war and they did it the WW2 way.
Air force Snipers I will never hear the end of this
KIRKUK REGIONAL AIR BASE — When service members here have to go “outside the wire,” they sometimes have an extra set of eyes watching over them.
Concealed and usually from a long distance away, the members of the 506th Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron’s Close Precision Engagement Team (CPET), also known as the Tiger Team, observes, provides intelligence, and, if necessary, neutralizes threats.
The Tiger Teams consist of Air Force security forces counter-snipers whose expert marksmanship and ability to practically stay invisible allow them to sneak up to an enemy undetected.
“A large part of our job here is reconnaissance for the Army and sometimes agents with the Air Force Office of Special Investigations (OSI) detachment here,” said Staff Sgt. Curtis Huffman, CPET non-commissioned officer in charge.
“When they have a mission outside of the wire, we’ll set up near that location about an hour or more before they get out there. Concealed and out of sight, we are able to observe the area and give them real-time intel before they even arrive,” Huffman said.
Through direct communication with the mission commander, the sharpshooters let the team know how many people there are in the area, their exact location, if there are any weapons, or if the people seem to be hiding anything. That way, they know exactly what to expect before arriving at the location.
“Close precision engagement provides us with the ability to see into the future,” said Special Agent Christopher Church, OSI Detachment 2410 commander. “They provide us with a situational awareness that we would not have without them. Having them watch over us during missions makes an enormous difference.”
The sharpshooters’ skills also help save lives during counter-improvised explosive device (IED) and counter-indirect fire (IDF) operations.
“We respond to routes that get hit by IED a lot or an area that is known for launching IDF (attacks),” said Huffman, who is deployed from Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska. “We’ll set up somewhere concealed along that route or that area, where we can watch people setting stuff up so we can get them before they can hurt our guys. We could be there from (24) to (72) hours.”
CPET members also respond to their own comrades. If security forces members on patrol or on a post perceive suspicious activities in the area, they can call on the team to come out and, using their trained eyes, optics and night-vision capability, determine if there is an actual threat.
Each sniper team consists of two people – the spotter and the shooter. The spotter’s responsibility is to determine things like the distance to the target, wind direction and then provide the shooter with corrections, which are adjustments on the rifle.
“Spotters do all the mathematical equations for range estimation, windage, everything from start to end,” said Airman 1st Class Matt Leeper, CPET member, also deployed from Eielson. “The spotter definitely has the more difficult job. Your spotter has to be quick and accurate when giving the corrections. There is no time for the shooter to think twice. Your spotter is always right.”
The Air Force has about (350) trained sharpshooters. To become a counter-sniper, one has to be a security forces member, have proven marksmanship abilities and accomplish three weeks of training at Camp Robinson, Ark.
“The school is physically and mentally very challenging,” Leeper said. “You are learning from the first day you get there. The first few days are in a classroom, and then you are on the range shooting.”
This is where the students are introduced to the M-24 sniper rifle, the military version of a Remington Seven Hundred.
“The trigger squeeze on this weapon is a lot lighter than the M-4, and it also has a lot more kick,” Leeper said. “Your shoulder gets roughed up at school, where we fire more than (100) rounds a day.”
Though shooting is only a small part of their job at Kirkuk, it’s often the most important aspect.
“Only about (5) percent of our job is taking that shot, and the other (95) percent is intelligence gathering,” he said. “But when you are in a situation where you have to neutralize a threat, you can’t really think about anything except you have positive ID on that target, they have a weapon or you know they are placing an IED. You put that target in your crosshairs, you imagine it’s just a blank target at your school house and you pull the trigger. You don’t have time to think about anything else.”
The counter-snipers accomplish many missions at Kirkuk, but they find the most rewarding thing is being able to watch over soldiers or OSI agents.
“This is the reason why I joined,” Leeper said. “When we are out there giving them info and providing cover, I feel like I’m doing my job. I don’t feel like I deserve a medal -- nothing like that. This is what my job is and what I joined to do. I joined to come to Iraq, and I went through sniper school to be an asset to the Air Force.”
(Story by USAF Staff Sgt. Markus M. Maier, U.S. Central Command Air Forces Combat Correspondent Team)
Concealed and usually from a long distance away, the members of the 506th Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron’s Close Precision Engagement Team (CPET), also known as the Tiger Team, observes, provides intelligence, and, if necessary, neutralizes threats.
The Tiger Teams consist of Air Force security forces counter-snipers whose expert marksmanship and ability to practically stay invisible allow them to sneak up to an enemy undetected.
“A large part of our job here is reconnaissance for the Army and sometimes agents with the Air Force Office of Special Investigations (OSI) detachment here,” said Staff Sgt. Curtis Huffman, CPET non-commissioned officer in charge.
“When they have a mission outside of the wire, we’ll set up near that location about an hour or more before they get out there. Concealed and out of sight, we are able to observe the area and give them real-time intel before they even arrive,” Huffman said.
Through direct communication with the mission commander, the sharpshooters let the team know how many people there are in the area, their exact location, if there are any weapons, or if the people seem to be hiding anything. That way, they know exactly what to expect before arriving at the location.
“Close precision engagement provides us with the ability to see into the future,” said Special Agent Christopher Church, OSI Detachment 2410 commander. “They provide us with a situational awareness that we would not have without them. Having them watch over us during missions makes an enormous difference.”
The sharpshooters’ skills also help save lives during counter-improvised explosive device (IED) and counter-indirect fire (IDF) operations.
“We respond to routes that get hit by IED a lot or an area that is known for launching IDF (attacks),” said Huffman, who is deployed from Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska. “We’ll set up somewhere concealed along that route or that area, where we can watch people setting stuff up so we can get them before they can hurt our guys. We could be there from (24) to (72) hours.”
CPET members also respond to their own comrades. If security forces members on patrol or on a post perceive suspicious activities in the area, they can call on the team to come out and, using their trained eyes, optics and night-vision capability, determine if there is an actual threat.
Each sniper team consists of two people – the spotter and the shooter. The spotter’s responsibility is to determine things like the distance to the target, wind direction and then provide the shooter with corrections, which are adjustments on the rifle.
“Spotters do all the mathematical equations for range estimation, windage, everything from start to end,” said Airman 1st Class Matt Leeper, CPET member, also deployed from Eielson. “The spotter definitely has the more difficult job. Your spotter has to be quick and accurate when giving the corrections. There is no time for the shooter to think twice. Your spotter is always right.”
The Air Force has about (350) trained sharpshooters. To become a counter-sniper, one has to be a security forces member, have proven marksmanship abilities and accomplish three weeks of training at Camp Robinson, Ark.
“The school is physically and mentally very challenging,” Leeper said. “You are learning from the first day you get there. The first few days are in a classroom, and then you are on the range shooting.”
This is where the students are introduced to the M-24 sniper rifle, the military version of a Remington Seven Hundred.
“The trigger squeeze on this weapon is a lot lighter than the M-4, and it also has a lot more kick,” Leeper said. “Your shoulder gets roughed up at school, where we fire more than (100) rounds a day.”
Though shooting is only a small part of their job at Kirkuk, it’s often the most important aspect.
“Only about (5) percent of our job is taking that shot, and the other (95) percent is intelligence gathering,” he said. “But when you are in a situation where you have to neutralize a threat, you can’t really think about anything except you have positive ID on that target, they have a weapon or you know they are placing an IED. You put that target in your crosshairs, you imagine it’s just a blank target at your school house and you pull the trigger. You don’t have time to think about anything else.”
The counter-snipers accomplish many missions at Kirkuk, but they find the most rewarding thing is being able to watch over soldiers or OSI agents.
“This is the reason why I joined,” Leeper said. “When we are out there giving them info and providing cover, I feel like I’m doing my job. I don’t feel like I deserve a medal -- nothing like that. This is what my job is and what I joined to do. I joined to come to Iraq, and I went through sniper school to be an asset to the Air Force.”
(Story by USAF Staff Sgt. Markus M. Maier, U.S. Central Command Air Forces Combat Correspondent Team)
From the joint chief of staff
WASHINGTON — The United States military must look beyond the current conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan and press forward with a view of shaping the strategic environment, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff said at the Foreign Press Center here yesterday.
Navy Adm. Michael G. Mullen specifically chose the venue to highlight the need to reach out to people around the world. He said the United States recognizes how important it is to work with other nations and non-governmental agencies to reduce the uncertainty of an uncertain world.
Mullen said Army Chief of Staff Gen. George W. Casey Jr. is correct when he talks about the world entering an era of “persistent conflict.” He said he would add to that phrase that the world also is entering an era of “persistent engagement.”
“We need to recognize both, because while this long war on extremists is generational – it will take many, many years – we also need to recognize opportunities to engage other partners’ militaries and other agencies from around the world,” he said. “We also need to get at the root causes of terrorism and mitigate them.”
The American military is learning that last lesson. “I talked to a lot of our operational commanders in Iraq recently, and they will tell you that they have learned more about civic projects – electrical power, water, sewage treatment systems, schools and hospitals – than they ever dreamed of,” Mullen said. “And they are seeing terrific success in that regard.”
While that is a testament to the troops, the counterinsurgency strategy and the surge, it also is “a testament to partnership and engagement to local leaders,” he said.
The U.S. effort in the Horn of Africa, the humanitarian voyages of the hospital ships Comfort and Mercy and the outreach efforts by U.S. Southern Command leaders are more examples of this engagement philosophy. And the new U.S. Africa Command will rely on this philosophy as the backbone for its mission, he said. “If we’ve learned anything since 9/11, it’s that no one can do it alone anymore; We need partners,” Mullen said.
The admiral said he is concerned that the U.S. military has “left strategic deterrence behind when we left the Cold War behind. And the work of deterrence is as vital now as it was then.”
“I’m concerned that while there certainly needs to be a focus on the here and now, it’s not the only areas we should focus on,” he continued. “It’s incumbent on all of us who lead to get above the here and now, and look to the future.”
The conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan weigh heavily on the Americans, but Mullen warned that the nation must not be myopic. “There is more to the Middle East than those two countries, and there is more to the world than the Middle East,” he said.
Mullen said he is working on that setting as his top priority to develop a military strategy that is focused on bringing stability to the Middle East.
“Consider the situation in Pakistan today,” he said, noting the state of emergency declared by President Perves Musharraf. “Pakistan has been a strong ally, and we wish to see these emergency measures end soon. The situation is stable from a military perspective, but we are watchful, as we must be, because the stakes are very high and the security there affects regional security, and regional security affects global security.”
Mullen said he has the same concern about Iran. Iranian leaders’ actions and rhetoric have been destabilizing not only in Iraq, but in the region, he said. “I think we would all like to see Iran take a constructive and responsible role,” Mullen said. “It is too soon to tell if, in fact, they are living up to their pledge to do so.”
U.S. military thinkers need to take a close look at global strategic risk. “We must be ready for who and what comes after Iraq and Afghanistan,” he said. “With everything going on all over the world, what missions should our military be prepared to undertake and where? How do we retain all the great combat experience we are gaining on the ground without losing our need to be ready for conventional warfare as well? How do we keep the strategic and operational reserve power of our Guard and reserves?”
These questions need to be answered, and how they are answered will affect security around the world, he said.
The Asia-Pacific region also is of particular concern, said Mullen, who just returned from visiting South Korea and Japan.
“Significant security concerns persist there, with the threat of ballistic missiles from North Korea and the tensions over the Taiwan Straits,” he said. “What are we doing to defend our vital national interests in the Asian-Pacific region?”
A peaceful, productive rise of China would be a good thing for everyone, the admiral said. “How do we help ensure that outcome and improve the military-to-military relationships we have?”
The key to American military strategy is engagement and dialogue, he said.
“We must tap into that approach,” the chairman told the audience. “We must realize and preserve our strengths in the U.S. military while understanding and improving the things in which we are not quite as strong: cultural awareness, language proficiency, civil affairs. It really is the world we’re living in.”
Navy Adm. Michael G. Mullen specifically chose the venue to highlight the need to reach out to people around the world. He said the United States recognizes how important it is to work with other nations and non-governmental agencies to reduce the uncertainty of an uncertain world.
Mullen said Army Chief of Staff Gen. George W. Casey Jr. is correct when he talks about the world entering an era of “persistent conflict.” He said he would add to that phrase that the world also is entering an era of “persistent engagement.”
“We need to recognize both, because while this long war on extremists is generational – it will take many, many years – we also need to recognize opportunities to engage other partners’ militaries and other agencies from around the world,” he said. “We also need to get at the root causes of terrorism and mitigate them.”
The American military is learning that last lesson. “I talked to a lot of our operational commanders in Iraq recently, and they will tell you that they have learned more about civic projects – electrical power, water, sewage treatment systems, schools and hospitals – than they ever dreamed of,” Mullen said. “And they are seeing terrific success in that regard.”
While that is a testament to the troops, the counterinsurgency strategy and the surge, it also is “a testament to partnership and engagement to local leaders,” he said.
The U.S. effort in the Horn of Africa, the humanitarian voyages of the hospital ships Comfort and Mercy and the outreach efforts by U.S. Southern Command leaders are more examples of this engagement philosophy. And the new U.S. Africa Command will rely on this philosophy as the backbone for its mission, he said. “If we’ve learned anything since 9/11, it’s that no one can do it alone anymore; We need partners,” Mullen said.
The admiral said he is concerned that the U.S. military has “left strategic deterrence behind when we left the Cold War behind. And the work of deterrence is as vital now as it was then.”
“I’m concerned that while there certainly needs to be a focus on the here and now, it’s not the only areas we should focus on,” he continued. “It’s incumbent on all of us who lead to get above the here and now, and look to the future.”
The conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan weigh heavily on the Americans, but Mullen warned that the nation must not be myopic. “There is more to the Middle East than those two countries, and there is more to the world than the Middle East,” he said.
Mullen said he is working on that setting as his top priority to develop a military strategy that is focused on bringing stability to the Middle East.
“Consider the situation in Pakistan today,” he said, noting the state of emergency declared by President Perves Musharraf. “Pakistan has been a strong ally, and we wish to see these emergency measures end soon. The situation is stable from a military perspective, but we are watchful, as we must be, because the stakes are very high and the security there affects regional security, and regional security affects global security.”
Mullen said he has the same concern about Iran. Iranian leaders’ actions and rhetoric have been destabilizing not only in Iraq, but in the region, he said. “I think we would all like to see Iran take a constructive and responsible role,” Mullen said. “It is too soon to tell if, in fact, they are living up to their pledge to do so.”
U.S. military thinkers need to take a close look at global strategic risk. “We must be ready for who and what comes after Iraq and Afghanistan,” he said. “With everything going on all over the world, what missions should our military be prepared to undertake and where? How do we retain all the great combat experience we are gaining on the ground without losing our need to be ready for conventional warfare as well? How do we keep the strategic and operational reserve power of our Guard and reserves?”
These questions need to be answered, and how they are answered will affect security around the world, he said.
The Asia-Pacific region also is of particular concern, said Mullen, who just returned from visiting South Korea and Japan.
“Significant security concerns persist there, with the threat of ballistic missiles from North Korea and the tensions over the Taiwan Straits,” he said. “What are we doing to defend our vital national interests in the Asian-Pacific region?”
A peaceful, productive rise of China would be a good thing for everyone, the admiral said. “How do we help ensure that outcome and improve the military-to-military relationships we have?”
The key to American military strategy is engagement and dialogue, he said.
“We must tap into that approach,” the chairman told the audience. “We must realize and preserve our strengths in the U.S. military while understanding and improving the things in which we are not quite as strong: cultural awareness, language proficiency, civil affairs. It really is the world we’re living in.”
Monday, November 26, 2007
Back to Iran
Now if we strike Iran they have promised massive retaliation against the United States and our allies. The FBI acknowledges there are active Hezbollah cells in the U.S. and Great Britan so that creates a problem for our elected officials how much damage are we will to do to ourselves in order to do the right thing as regards to Iran and nuclear weapons or the war we are already having with them.
While the U.S. and our allies would smoke them in a conventional fight even with Iran's massive build up of Russian weapons including double didgit SAMs, MiG-29s etc. The Iranians have shown a talen for unconventional warfare these are the same people who do not mind killing kids to kill one U.S. soldier and during the Iran v Iraq war would walk arm in arm and swamp Iraqi defense in human waves.
Just something to ponder.
While the U.S. and our allies would smoke them in a conventional fight even with Iran's massive build up of Russian weapons including double didgit SAMs, MiG-29s etc. The Iranians have shown a talen for unconventional warfare these are the same people who do not mind killing kids to kill one U.S. soldier and during the Iran v Iraq war would walk arm in arm and swamp Iraqi defense in human waves.
Just something to ponder.
Iran
from The Long War Journal Bill Roggio
http://www.longwarjournal.org/archives/2007/11/iranian_special_grou.php
Anyone that thinks we are not at war with Iran is a durn fool.
1. Embassy take over 1979
2. Bombing the Marine Barracks 1983
3. The Tanker War 1984-1987
4. The capture of several US soldiers in Iraq.
5. Now they blow up more civilians in Iraq.
All you pointed heads that think that this is going away sadly wrong. I think we should talk directly to Iran. Saying hey we can be great friends or at least ignore each other in peace or we are going to rip off your arms and beat you with them.
http://www.longwarjournal.org/archives/2007/11/iranian_special_grou.php
Anyone that thinks we are not at war with Iran is a durn fool.
1. Embassy take over 1979
2. Bombing the Marine Barracks 1983
3. The Tanker War 1984-1987
4. The capture of several US soldiers in Iraq.
5. Now they blow up more civilians in Iraq.
All you pointed heads that think that this is going away sadly wrong. I think we should talk directly to Iran. Saying hey we can be great friends or at least ignore each other in peace or we are going to rip off your arms and beat you with them.
I am sure we have all heard about this.
A wedding party is stopped in Iraq and low and behold the bride and groom are both wanted terrorists!! This gives me the giggles. They need to throw this dude in Abu Graib with his dress on .
Better yet send him to Angola state prison in LA he will be most welcome down on D block.
The Iraqis want us to stay
What the f!@# over
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20071126/ap_on_re_mi_ea/iraq_us
OK well then now we are talking. I thought we were the evil storm trooping thugs? Maybe not huh...
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20071126/ap_on_re_mi_ea/iraq_us
OK well then now we are talking. I thought we were the evil storm trooping thugs? Maybe not huh...
Good Stuff From Blackfive
Staff Sgt. Charles M. Evers, a platoon sergeant with 3rd Battalion, 5thMarine Regiment, Regimental Combat Team 6, was awarded the Silver StarMedal during an evening ceremony here, Nov. 23, by Gen. James T. Conway,the 34th commandant of the Marine Corps.Evers, a native of Lewiston, Idaho, was presented the award for his actionsagainst insurgents during Operation Iraqi Freedom while serving as platooncommander with third platoon, Company I, 3rd Battalion, 5th MarineRegiment, Regimental Combat Team 5, I Marine Expeditionary Force Forwardduring June, 2006.On June 8, 2006, Evers’ platoon endured a four-day assault on theirobservation post when enemy forces attempted to close in on his Marinesfrom three different directions. Due to Evers’ combat leadership, theMarines held their position and defeated the attacks.With disregard to his own safety, Evers valiantly maneuvered through enemymachine gun and small arm fire to assess enemy positions and direct hisplatoon’s fire.The fighting positions constructed under Evers’ leadership and supervisionprotected his Marines’ lives while holding up against a barrage of rocketpropelled grenades, thousands of small arm fire rounds and a vehicle borneimprovised explosion device detonation.Evers’ decisive actions to coordinate fire superiority with his platoon andemploy air support and tank fire overwhelmed his enemy allowing his Marinesvictory.Conway pinned the medal on Evers with a smile, a firm handshake andapplauding the warrior’s achievement.Evers’ gave a few short words about his accomplishment.“I was just doing my job,” said Evers. “I’m proud of my Marines. I led themand they did their job.”The Silver Star is the nation’s third-highest award, after the Medal ofHonor and the Navy Cross, respectively.
As my friend Kev says 'no matter how good your officers are without good NCOs your unit sucks'
As my friend Kev says 'no matter how good your officers are without good NCOs your unit sucks'
Here at home
Thanks to the Wa Post for this one http://www.washingtontimes.com/article/20071126/NATION/111260034/1001.
Yes from a third party source but still the drug guys will do anything for money and or guns and the islamists will sleep with anyone to further islam.
Yes from a third party source but still the drug guys will do anything for money and or guns and the islamists will sleep with anyone to further islam.
Sunday, November 25, 2007
Thoughts on shooting
My family are avid shooters even the ladies get involved I would not get into a gunfight with my mother when she has her wheel gun.
I also have an uberti .45colt / .45 acp that I am very happy with yes I know is a single action wheel gun but hey.
Ok here we go deer hunters dont just shoot the couple weeks before the season starts. Be intimately familar with you weapon. Shoot at least once a month that way your skills stay sharp and you will know about a malfunction before it goes click in the deer woods.
Shoot at known ranges and unknown ranges.
Shoot off hand, sitting, kneeling from your stand if you sit in a chair practice shooting from a chair.
Get some snap caps work on your trigger pull at home and practice working the bolt from a shooting position. I recently had to modify mine because of a shoulder surgery.
Pistol shooters.
Again practice practice. There are a million pistols schools if you are so inclined. Also remember that you dont need the newest 1911 with all the latest gizmos use what you are comfortable with. I am actually in the market for a plain .45 I may have a little work done on it but I am not going to spend $1,000 on any pistol.
Tactical Rifle as a graduate of USMC marksmanship school there are things they teach now they did not then. I think a good AR15 with a 18 inch barrel and good scope can do you justice. Again there are a million and 12 schools for those so inclined.
Again practice practice.
I also have an uberti .45colt / .45 acp that I am very happy with yes I know is a single action wheel gun but hey.
Ok here we go deer hunters dont just shoot the couple weeks before the season starts. Be intimately familar with you weapon. Shoot at least once a month that way your skills stay sharp and you will know about a malfunction before it goes click in the deer woods.
Shoot at known ranges and unknown ranges.
Shoot off hand, sitting, kneeling from your stand if you sit in a chair practice shooting from a chair.
Get some snap caps work on your trigger pull at home and practice working the bolt from a shooting position. I recently had to modify mine because of a shoulder surgery.
Pistol shooters.
Again practice practice. There are a million pistols schools if you are so inclined. Also remember that you dont need the newest 1911 with all the latest gizmos use what you are comfortable with. I am actually in the market for a plain .45 I may have a little work done on it but I am not going to spend $1,000 on any pistol.
Tactical Rifle as a graduate of USMC marksmanship school there are things they teach now they did not then. I think a good AR15 with a 18 inch barrel and good scope can do you justice. Again there are a million and 12 schools for those so inclined.
Again practice practice.
This is my Rifle
There are many like it but this one is mine.
Savage Scout 7mm x 08 so far this year we are 4 for 4 on hunting. Yes we eat everthing I shoot. I was a little leary at first on the forward mounted scope but after every shooting session I like it more.
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