tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27994346290807139562024-03-12T20:33:51.625-05:00Cowboy JihadDrive your enemies before you and hear the lamentation of their women.Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger585125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2799434629080713956.post-22085749913182829672012-05-22T07:43:00.001-05:002012-05-22T07:43:37.633-05:00Team M&M<span xmlns=''><p style='text-align: center'><span style='font-family:Century Gothic; font-size:36pt'><strong>Cystic Fibrosis Foundation<br /></strong></span></p><p style='text-align: center'><span style='font-family:Century Gothic; font-size:28pt'><strong>at<br /></strong></span></p></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2799434629080713956.post-56398921091095930602012-03-18T21:37:00.003-05:002012-03-18T21:37:59.585-05:00CommentingWhile I do not get many hits I would encourage you to leave a comment positive or negative. Just no more death threats please, my wife does not like those.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2799434629080713956.post-75504814165405115732012-03-17T23:10:00.000-05:002012-03-17T23:11:14.473-05:00N. Korean and Iranian Missile Test<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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This week North Korea announced a missile test to put a satellite in orbit in what everyone know is a ballistic missile test that has the world up in arms. What I do not think anyone has brought up is that it will also be a test for the Iranians. The North Korean No-Dong and Taep'o-dong series is being developed in <br />
parallel with the Iranian Shahab series of long range missiles. The No-Dong and Shahab 3 have a range 1350km/839 miles with a payload of 2550 lbs. The longer range Taep'o 1 and Shahab 4 when using three stage rocket have a range of 2475km/1538 miles with a 500lbs payload. However dropping to two stage the range is still 2000km/1243 miles with a 1000 kilogram/2205 lbs payload which is much more useful in military terms. It is believed that Korea and Iran are testing the Taep 2 and Shahab 5 with a 3500km/2175 miles range with a 1000kg/2205 lbs payload. <br />
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While both countries latest missiles have ranges greater than what I have listed their throw weight at those ranges is small. Somewhere in the neighborhood of 500 lbs. While useful in a bomb not so much which these weapons can only target cities. <br />
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<a href="http://www.fas.org/nuke/guide/iran/missile/index.html">The FAS</a> has a great overview of both countries missile programs. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgihWPNB-H4knvyzUvw0Xf9Of12fW_9N9sbnJCahVRiMQrhdONKLh3d40R2HtmxeHM3scdz_cYMtxA1m2TX1fQbFN1CpHr5aTtnt5w5P5F2j4E4aS3aw5a9JM5qRqSeUcdjT8gc7sFBehcM/s1600/NKorean+Missle+Ranges.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgihWPNB-H4knvyzUvw0Xf9Of12fW_9N9sbnJCahVRiMQrhdONKLh3d40R2HtmxeHM3scdz_cYMtxA1m2TX1fQbFN1CpHr5aTtnt5w5P5F2j4E4aS3aw5a9JM5qRqSeUcdjT8gc7sFBehcM/s320/NKorean+Missle+Ranges.gif" width="254" /></a></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2799434629080713956.post-58377271833963225572012-03-10T20:25:00.001-06:002012-03-10T20:26:50.659-06:00Syrian RebellionI had opined earlier that without serious outside help which the world would not give the Syrian rebels would more than likely lose. It appears that the<a href="http://www.breitbart.com/Big-Peace/2012/03/10/Syria-assaults-opposition-as-diplomacy-staggers"> assault</a> on the rebels has begun and they are losing and losing badly. Syria has access to just too much firepower and man power. With Iran and Hezbollah both helping plus around a 300,000 man well armed and trained (to fight Israel army) military. <a href="http://militarytimes.com/news/2012/03/ap-mattis-syrian-air-defense-stymies-us-options-030612/"> Air power</a> alone is not enough to help them as the first several hundred missions will be to roll back <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Syrian_Air_Defense_Force">Syrian air defenses</a> which are significantly better than Libya's or even Iran during the first Gulf War. Also the Syrian's have a significant chemical (verified) capability combine this with Iran being able to hit any target it wants in the Middle East with conventional rockets attacking Syrian directly becomes a thorny issue that will have to have substantial Arab backing. Go back to the poll from yesterday that view the U.S. as the 800lbs gorilla in the room and it is doubtful the Arab street would take well to another Western invasion. <br />
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The rebels just do not have the firepower or a sanctuary like the Vietnamese or the Taliban currently have to sustain a campaign against the Assad government. The rebels are right in front of Syrian firepower with no way to flee from it. Unless Turkey wants to step up and with its new found friendship with Iran it ts doubtful the Syrian military and security services are just too strong.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2799434629080713956.post-4242298569548108752012-03-09T19:08:00.000-06:002012-03-10T13:31:39.458-06:00Interesting New Poll from the Middle EastA poll reported by al JazeeraThe U.S. which has done nothing but support the Arab Spring, militarily help overthrow one dictator, and politically another (who was an ally) is still viewed less favorably than the realy enemy at the door step Iran. "<a href="http://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/opinion/2012/03/20123793355501965.html">73 per cent</a> of those polled see Israel and the US as the two most threatening countries. Five per cent see Iran as the most threatening." This is a telling statement that I think comes from two things year of Arab countries blaming the West particularly the U.S. on all of their woes. Crops were bad the U.S. caused it, you cannot get a job the Jews did it. This is the kind of things the Arab governments tell their people to deflect the blame from themselves. <br />
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Another telling finding is "A relatively high 36 per cent wouldn't support those they disagree with in their political platform to take power, a percentage that doesn't bode well for democracy". This tells me there will always be revoluts or the threat of them no matter who comes to power or how.<br />
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If it were not for the oil I would be all for letting this region rot in its own igonorance. The problem with this is with their very high percentage of military aged males it makes this region ripe for causing trouble if something or someone where able to unite the Arab nations like the poll suggests the people want that could cause serious trouble. We would always have to keep an eye on them.<br />
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We need to exploit every oil field and source that we have and work very quickly on other types of cheap energy.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2799434629080713956.post-88382733533616778672012-03-09T18:44:00.001-06:002012-03-10T13:31:46.136-06:00Why is it only our Navy is under threatNaval spending by the six Gulf Co-operation Council (GCC) states has markedly increased in recent years as the region seeks to build upon maritime security...From JanesUnknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2799434629080713956.post-44505738550278493422012-02-20T20:17:00.001-06:002012-02-20T20:28:50.807-06:00Mother RussiaRussia who does not have the money to spend is dumping hundreds of billions of dollars into their military. Putin has made this a priority to the tune of $770 billion US. Putin vowed to deliver an "effective and asymmetrical response" to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization's plan to cast a missile-defense shield over Europe while thoroughly overhauling the army's ability to confront modern threats.<br />
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Read more: <a href="http://www.foxnews.com/world/2012/02/20/russian-prime-minister-vladimir-putin-pledges-more-defense-spending/#ixzz1myjSbryk" style="color: #003399;">http://www.foxnews.com/world/2012/02/20/russian-prime-minister-vladimir-putin-pledges-more-defense-spending/#ixzz1myjSbryk</a><br />
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Great guerilla warfare with nuclear weapons. <br />
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Yes we needed to cut our bloated defense budget but cut it smartly not amputate it that is the wrong approach. The administrations pledge to cut our nuclear stockpile to 300 not smart. Cutting back the number of ground units even dumber. Meanwhile the administration claimed it is going to increase naval and air capabilities it cut the F-22 and F-35 programs. The F-35 is vital for the Air Force, Navy, Marine Corps and several of our allies again a mistake. However we are getting exactly what he promised in 2007 when he said he would question the defense review, cut back new weapons development and cut back the nuclear force. Well good sir in probably one of the most unstable times in recent history you are cutting the force of the world's police force.<br />
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2799434629080713956.post-81662025347970279262012-02-18T22:19:00.001-06:002012-02-18T22:19:35.450-06:00ReckoningThere comes a time when a country has to defend itself sadly our current administration does not see it. I for one hate war as odd as that sounds I know the costs and stand to lose a great deal if a large conflict breaks out but here is what the US and its allies are facing from the mullahs in Iran.<br />
1. Iran's threat to the Straights of Hormuz threaten to drive US gas prices to $5 a gallon which will end the economic recovery and cripple most Americans.<br />
2. Nuclear program is proceeding apace this program needs to be knocked back several years.<br />
3. Continued support of Assad in Syria as he slaughters the resistance to him<br />
4. The continued arming and training of Hezbollah (who by the way are also helping Assad).<br />
5. Rumors of MS 13 being trained by Hezbollah or IRGC <br />
6. It is now a fact that <a href="http://www.captainsjournal.com/2010/09/16/weekend-reading-4/">Hezbollah</a> is operating and cooperating with drug cartels in Mexico (read these papers on Hezbollah it will open your eyes).<br />
7. This weekend Iran has sent two more warships through the Suez canal they did this earlier this year and docked a cargo ship and destroyer in Syria. The ship of course could not be inspected or intercepted by the Israelis and probably contained more weapons for Hezbollah. Which will use these weapons against Israeli at some point in the future. They do not just stockpile for the fun of it.<br />
8. Iran is shadowing our warships in the Persian Gulf. Yes these ships are a threat and can put big holes in our ships with little warning. Yes they will be sunk but compare an aircraft carrier verses a gunboat see how that weighs on the scales. <br />
9. Iranian support for <a href="http://www.longwarjournal.org/archives/2012/02/treasury_iranian_int.php">al-Qaeda</a> and other jihadist networks.<br />
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Here are my humble thoughts on the matter we must do several things in a hurry.<br />
1. The Iranian nuclear program must be stopped and stopped now they are not building these things as deterrence. Unlike Pakistan that uses theirs as a shield against India (much the same way that the USSR and the US did) the mullahs have already said they will use them. Imagine if you will an Iranian cargo vessel docking in Saudi Arabia and it detonates a nuclear device there goes your oil and the Middle East will explode with a Shia on Sunni war. Imagine at the same time Iran hits Israel with a missile. The scenarios get worse and worse.<br />
2. Iran's threat to navigate in the Persian Gulf and the Straights must be ended once an for all. Back during the Iran - Iraq war the US Navy did a good job of rolling back the gun boats that were putting holes in tankers this needs to be done again.<br />
3. Actively support the Iranian people that want to get out from underneath the robes of the mullahs. There is a thriving movement that our current administration will not support that wants a non-theocratic rule. If people in this country worry about the Christians taking over go live in a Muslim theocracy and see how much they care for that. <br />
4. Assad in Syria has to go without Syria Iranian support for Hezbollah will be diminished if not cut off entirely. I am not saying that Syria will live in peace with its neighbors (there are reports of Free Syrian Army (FSA) members already saying that once they overthrow Assad Israel is next. What I am saying is damage the near enemy first then deal with that later. <br />
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Instead the US is disarming at a rapid rate. Yes we must cut some of the bloat but we must maintain our ground forces and have the naval and air power to support them. Instead we are doing our defense reductions in the wrong direction. The US and its allies must move soon as it faces an immediate threat not only to the world's economy but world peace such as it is as well. Remember Iran has been killing US citizens since the 1980s and hell they took over one of our embassies something I think our current diplomats either do not know or have forgotten. It is time for the mullahs to go.<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2799434629080713956.post-69875393631958195912012-02-17T11:26:00.001-06:002012-02-17T11:26:27.869-06:00Typical BehaviorEvidence has come to light the Iranian bombers who attempted to attack the Israeli diplomats in Bangkok where having a <a href="http://www.foxnews.com/world/2012/02/17/thai-police-2-more-suspects-in-terror-case/?test=latestnews">rocking good</a> time beforehand. This is not uncommon behavior for so called martyrs before they carry out their attacks. The 911 bombers where know to hang out at strip clubs, drink, and carry on before dying for their so called prophet. They also do this for operational cover to fit in with the locals.<br />
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They can get away with behavior they could not normally because their act will according to Mo send them straight to the arms of Allah. However these guys got a huge fail as their explosives went off before they could use them. You would have thought the Iranian Revolutionary Guard would send some more competent guys but whenever you have to deal with homemade explosives you have this issue. Keeping the Iranian embassy out of the loop was also decent op sec to give plausible deny ability after the attack. Instead now the Iranians have live bombers that I am sure the Thais who have their own Muslim problem will not be real kind to.<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2799434629080713956.post-54723249954163891832012-02-13T17:08:00.002-06:002012-02-13T17:23:38.449-06:00Two generations of Marines<a href="http://thebutter-cutter.com/A_Ski_Story_.php">Lieutenant Colonel</a> Stanley J. Wawrzyniak, USMC name has been submitted to have the Navy name a ship after it. According to the good guys over at Black Five Lt Col Ski is only the second Marine to be named to the Ranger hall of fame.<br />
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Next week have Sgt Phillip McCulloch who received the <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/bi-robert-johnson-mcculloch-marines-earns-silver-star-2012-2">Silver Star</a> while aboard MCRD San Diego where I did my boot camp about a zillion years ago it seems like. He was in 3/5 when they were taking and also dishing out the highest number of casualites in Afghanistan 25 KIA 200 WIA in seven months. After this particular battle the area was littered with abandonded<a href="http://www.utsandiego.com/news/2012/feb/10/san-diego-marine-awarded-silver-star/?page=1#article"> Taliban</a> motorcycles and their riders. <br />
Sgt McCulloch is now a Jr Drill instructor at MCRDSD I hope those recruits know how good of a teacher he is and that he is not bending them out of anger but because he knows what it takes to stay alive and succeed on the battlefield. <br />
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Ooorah Marines.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2799434629080713956.post-55897377584096195362012-02-12T09:29:00.001-06:002012-02-12T09:29:07.520-06:00Sadly we are being proven rightAnyone who was paying attention during the Arab spring knew exactly what was going to happen when the secularist/dictators <a href="http://www.jihadwatch.org/2012/02/egypt-charges-finally-filed-in-armys-massacre-of-christians-but.html">fell</a>. Whole segments of the population are now in danger. Coptic Christians, women, and any liberals are being persecuted and killed. Bassar Assad who maybe the worst of the lot and who really has to go has some unlikely semi-allies...Christians because they fear massacre and persecution like they see happening to the Copts in <a href="http://www.jihadwatch.org/2012/02/syrian-christians-fear-genocide-if-assad-falls.html">Egypt</a>. The same situation is happening in Iraq however since it does not fit the mantra of Western press it is not being reported. Also the liberal media groups like Kos and Huf-po do not report on it because they are blind to facts on the ground. Now the Egyptian government has arrested 19 US citizens including the son of an US diplomat for charges of incitement. These people are a democracy advocate group. Every country that has gone through the Arab spring revolts has brought in governments that are Pro-Sharia law and that have started rolling back freedoms for women and , Christians, Jews, the press, and democracy. We maybe looking at Saudi and Iranian style governments from the borders of Europe to India in just a few short years.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2799434629080713956.post-6325904812085304482012-02-10T22:30:00.000-06:002012-02-10T22:30:21.733-06:00Now for some Marines in AfghanistanNot all war pron but footage taken by combat cameramen and women.<br />
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<iframe width="560" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/T7VwUpiz-KQ" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
The Taliban using mortars, sniper, and it sounds like a AGS-17 30mm grenade launcher.
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/FJ-dm5lcchY" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2799434629080713956.post-58773231361453860642012-02-09T20:48:00.003-06:002012-02-09T20:48:46.601-06:002011 Domestic TerrorismAccording to the <a href="https://wits.nctc.gov/FederalDiscoverWITS/index.do?t=Records&Rd=ICRegion%7C4294955628%7CNorth+America+and+Caribbean&N=0&Nf=p_IncidentDate|GT+20110101" target="_blank">National Counter Terrorism Center</a> (NCTC) and<a href="http://sanford.duke.edu/centers/tcths/documents/Kurzman_Muslim-American_Terrorism_in_the_Decade_Since_9_11.pdf" target="_blank"> Duke</a> University 2011 was a blissfully domestic attack free year here in the U.S. Duke Classified one Islamic terrorist attack in the U.S. in 2011. This was Yonathan Melaku who was arrested shooting at military recruitment centers in Northern Virginia. The NCTC does not classify any Islamic terrorism related attacks in 2011 however they list an attack by the ALF and the Arson Unit both animal rights groups. <br />
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In case no one has noticed that for the last several years the largest group of active terrorists in the U.S. are the "issue" or "cause groups". While the ELF was broken by the FBI the ALF and its offshoots continue to attack what they deem as targets of opportunity their favorite method of attack is arson.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2799434629080713956.post-10461622910679436382012-02-09T17:35:00.000-06:002012-02-09T17:35:27.655-06:00Lt. Col DavisThis Lt. Col is hold true to his beliefs that the war is Afghanistan is not going as rosy as some leadership including former Gen. Petreaus would have us believe. The <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2012/02/06/world/asia/army-colonel-challenges-pentagons-afghanistan-claims.html?_r=4&pagewanted=all" target="_blank">NY times</a> actually has a decent article about what this Col is doing. Just so everyone knows I would not normally link to the times. Take the time to watch the video as well.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2799434629080713956.post-52775601458344649692012-02-09T15:04:00.000-06:002012-02-09T15:04:10.727-06:00Commander killed in drone strike 'funneled Pakistani jihadists' to al Qaeda - The Long War Journal<a href="http://www.longwarjournal.org/archives/2012/02/commander_killed_in.php">Commander killed in drone strike 'funneled Pakistani jihadists' to al Qaeda - The Long War Journal</a><br /><br />Very cool looks like the drones are being unleashed again. I will say this about the Obama administration they have not been afraid of using drones to hit targets in Yemen, Pakistan, and Somalia.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2799434629080713956.post-59264431720361267812012-02-08T21:50:00.003-06:002012-02-08T21:50:47.421-06:00Good on HimPrince <a href="http://news.sky.com/home/uk-news/article/16166016" target="_blank">Harry</a> is going back to war this time as an AH64 Apache pilot. You have to give it to the Royal Family they do serve in their countries armed forces something most of our political class and their children have forgotten. Yes their are exceptions but...Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2799434629080713956.post-29348925818359170612012-02-08T21:06:00.000-06:002012-02-08T21:06:05.920-06:00Taking a StandToday Pakistan's High Commissioner to Britain made the statement that "Pakistan would have no choice but to <a href="http://www.dawn.com/2012/02/08/no-choice-but-to-support-iran-if-israel-attacks-wajid.html" target="_blank">stand</a> with Iran if Israel attacked." He claims that Pakistan's Shia population would not stand for an attack on Iran. Really sir you can say this with a straight face as the Pakistan security services stand by and watch Shia get killed in their mosques, on the street, and wherever else terrorists can find them. <br />
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Mr. Hasan also went on to state that the U.S. drone attacks have to stop. What I find interesting is that the Pakistani military has fed the U.S. targets and have been very please at our killing off of the Meshud family. He also stated that Pakistan would have to take punitive action against US forces if the drone attacks did not stop. What Mr. Hasan should have said was that we do not like it when the U.S. kills off certain terrorists that we support. This would have been a much more accurate statement by him. <br />
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I think Pakistan already does enough by training, paying, and equipping the Taliban to kill US forces and by doing the same for groups like LeT to do the same to Indian targets and on occasion US targets in Afghanistan. There is so much evidence to prove this it is becoming nearly impossible for the Pakistani government to do anything but cross their arms and say "is not."<br />
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On a different note I guess they feel like they have punished us enough for the killing of their soldiers who were firing on US and Afghan forces and have decided to start <a href="http://www.dawn.com/2012/02/09/contacts-with-nato-and-isaf-resume-2.html" target="_blank">talking </a>to NATO and the ISAF again. Until the next time they get mad and close the borders again. I like that Gen. Mattis is going to be the first one to visit.<br />
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Thanks <a href="http://www.blackfive.net/main/" target="_blank">Black Five</a> for the Motivation Picture</div>
General Mattis Led the First Marine Division into Iraq and commanded it during operations in Fallujah. At one point during negotiations in Fallujah intelligence came out that the terrorist were going to kill him. He actually wanted this to happen knowing that if he was killed his troops would be unleashed to clean that town out. He is a guy I want as my commander putting him over Centcom was a great idea. Only if they would let him do what needs to be done which is the leave the Taliban and their allies sticky, broke, and confused.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2799434629080713956.post-21561577374920955542012-02-06T21:17:00.001-06:002012-02-06T21:17:31.788-06:00Syrian Civil WarIt is time to call this what it is a full on civil war. The<a href="http://www.gloria-center.org/2012/02/arab-world-taking-center-stage/" target="_blank"> Free Syrian Army</a> (FSA) while small has been able to inflict significant<a href="http://www.military.com/video/specialties-and-personnel/snipers/sniper-attack-on-shabiha-member-in-homs/1426128253001/" target="_blank"> casualties</a> on Syrian Security forces. This last weekend the FSA was able to kill several dozen Syrian security forces troops however Syria has launched a full scale artillery assault on <a href="http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/news/regions/middle-east/120206/homs-syria-army-fresh-attack-un-veto" target="_blank">Homs</a> much like Hafez Assads did to<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hama_massacre" target="_blank"> Hama</a> 30 years ago. The world response has been to basically write a series of sternly written letters. The U.S. finally closed our embassy today, however lots of good things have to be said about the our <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2011/10/25/world/middleeast/us-ambassador-to-syria-leaves-damascus-amid-threats-to-safety.html" target="_blank">Ambassador </a>Mr. Ford Syria who has been assaulted and under threat for supporting the Syrian resistance. <br />
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Over the weekend the Russians (who are trying to sell the Syrians airplanes) and the Chinese who get their oil from Iran blocked a U.N. resolution on Syria. The Arab League's observation team also failed to accomplish anything but see hundreds of protesters killed. The world's reaction in Libya was a great deal different to what is happening in Syria this is probably happening for a couple of reasons. Syria is not low hanging fruit militarily like the Libyan armed forces were. Syria actually has a reasonably competent military. Secondly Syria has some pretty nasty allies, Iran and Hezbollah which both have said they would launch retaliatory attacks should Syria be attacked by anyone. Iran is already assisting the Syrians in a support role with intelligence gathering and possible Basji militiamen acting in a kinetic manner. <br />
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I would encourage our Arab allies to support the FSA in a manner similar to what Syria, Iran, and Hezbollah do with terrorists in Iraq and Syria. Supporting an insurgent movement with arms, training, and intelligence is not out of our or the Arabs capability. An unstable Middle East while not great on gas prices is not a bad geopolitical proposition and here is why. If these countries who are our enemies or fast becoming them like Egypt, Syria, Libya, Pakistan are busy fighting amongst themselves it makes them less capable in spreading their message elsewhere. Yes this is a very Machiavellian thing to say but that is the way of the world. The FSA and Syrian resistance as a whole has a major Sunni influence. If the Sunnis were to kick the Alawites out of power chances are they would also divorce themselves from their relationship with Iran. They would be able to do this as the Sunni countries would be able to provide the support to Syria that Iran currently does. This would in turn remove Syria as a major backer of Hezbollah who rely on Syria to get Iranian weapons and training. <br />
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I feel for the people of Syria as it is again the civilians who get caught in the middle but sadly there is no easy way to handle the Assad government especially when now that they have the permission of the Russians and Chinese to act in anyway they like seem determined to destroy the rebellion.<br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2799434629080713956.post-88747851036452574012012-02-05T21:10:00.001-06:002012-02-05T21:10:14.983-06:00PakistanPakistan in case no one has figured it out is no friend or ally of the United States. Not only are they <a href="http://www.southasiaanalysis.org/papers29/paper2839.html" target="_blank">state</a> sponsors of terrorism they have also violated every piece of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation treaty there is with their support of <a href="http://www.globalsecurity.org/wmd/world/pakistan/khan.htm" target="_blank">AQ Khan.</a> Dr. Khan has assisted the N. Korean and more recently the Iranian nuclear programs. <br />
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The United States and it real allies at this time must work with the Pakistanis or our troops cannot be effectively supplied and admittedly the Pakistanis have attacked the Taliban groups that strike internal targets. In saying this though with the other hand they equip, train, and fund the original Taliban, <a href="http://www.satp.org/satporgtp/countries/india/states/jandk/terrorist_outfits/lashkar_e_toiba.htm" target="_blank">Lashkar</a> e Toiba (LeT) and other groups. The LeT under direct control of the former head of the ISI (Inter-Service-Intelligence) Ahmed Ghul carrid out the<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2008_Mumbai_attacks" target="_blank"> Mumbai</a> attacks that killed 164 people and wounded a further 308.<br />
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Pakistan must be treated like the rouge nation its leadership has turned it into. This desent happened under General Zia and expanded following the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan. The same set of sanctions that are imposed against Iran and N. Korea must also be implemented against Pakistan. In addition their nuclear weapons must be neutrilized and the U.S. ally themselves even closer to Indian. This will serve two purposes help stop the spread of jihadism in S. Asia and counter China who is as big a rival of India as the U.S.<br />
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While Saudi Arabia and the Gulf funds the Jihad it is the Pakistanis who train and set them on their deadly course. While al-Qaeda central has been reduced the tribal area of Pakistan still serves as a breeding ground for jihadists from across the world.<br />
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It is time the world treated Pakistan as it deserves to be treated.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2799434629080713956.post-30593027287787576892012-02-02T21:25:00.000-06:002012-02-02T21:25:05.297-06:00Shooting WarsAfghanistan where the President has decided to end our combat role next year something that I think if we get an adult President in office they will change for good or ill. Allowing the Taliban to go to the negotiating table under no duress is a mistake. Even in Vietnam it was bombing that forced the North to the table. Not having any bases to launch drone strikes in the the tribal areas of Pakistan is going to hurt US counter-terrorism efforts. This will be a main negotiating point for the Taliban, one has to remember the birthplace of AQ and its related groups is the tribal area. Leaving them unmolested is going to cause difficulties for Pakistan, Afghanistan, the region as a whole, and the West in general.<br />
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Yemen AQAP al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula in addition to fighting the Yemeni government the Shia rebels and plotting to hit western targets has been under pressure from both manned and un-manned US air strikes. At times the Yemeni government takes credit for the attacks especially the manned ones to give the US cover. Since May 2011 the US is know to have launched 11 air strikes in Yemen. Also Yemen was hit right after 9/11 when a known AQ leaders was spotted by a drone. The two most famous at least to Americans are the two US citizen killed Samir Khan the person behind AQAP Inspire magazine was killed along with Anwar Alwalki. The <a href="http://www.longwarjournal.org/archives/2012/01/us_drone_strike_kill.php" target="_blank">Long War Journal</a> as always has excellent coverage of the drone strikes in Yemen. As in Pakistan the leadership of AQAP has been hit hard but always seems to recover, however there is something to be said for them to always have to have their heads on a swivel. <br />
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Somalia has been the on again off again target for everything from SEAL teams, AC130 gunships, Predator drones, and Navy Fighter bombers since 9/11. In 2009 a daylight raid carried out by helicopter gunships and a SOCOM ground team (allegedly SEALs) finished the destruction of the convoy and removed the bodies. Their target was Saleh Ali Saleh Nabhan who was involved in the Embassy bombings in Kenya and Tanzania as well as a 2002 attack in Mombasa, Kenya against a hotel and an airliner. Last week a SEAL team rescued two hostages held by Somali piratesUnknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2799434629080713956.post-10407245568595012512012-02-01T18:45:00.003-06:002012-02-01T18:45:26.435-06:00U.S. to Change Role in 2013Defense Sec Panetta today announced the U.S. will end its combat mission in Afghanistan in 2012 and transition to a training role only. If the current administration stays in place it will be followed very shortly by a complete withdrawal and within a year the Taliban will be back in power. <br />
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Something that has been public knowledge for some time and has been extensively written about by myself and others is an intelligence estimate was leaked stating that the Taliban and Al Qaeda is still supported by all levels of the <a href="http://www.foxnews.com/world/2012/01/31/classified-us-report-says-taliban-ready-to-take-power-in-afghanistan-backed-by/?test=latestnews" target="_blank">Pakistani</a> government. Well no kidding so we prop up the Pakistani government so they can fund the very people that want to kill us...<br />
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Chew on that one a bit.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2799434629080713956.post-10126967818863180742012-01-31T21:14:00.001-06:002012-01-31T21:14:28.404-06:002 minute Fire fight<object id="flashObj" width="300" height="225" classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=9,0,47,0"><param name="movie" value="http://c.brightcove.com/services/viewer/federated_f9?isVid=1&isUI=1" /><param name="bgcolor" value="#FFFFFF" /><param name="flashVars" value="videoId=1423607281001&linkBaseURL=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.military.com%2Fvideo%2Foperations-and-strategy%2Fafghanistan-conflict%2Fhelmet-cam-firefight-level-zero-heroes%2F1423607281001%2F&playerID=791346831001&playerKey=AQ~~,AAAAEgPl55E~,U85ckMrT9QAbqFBf7jaKBoKCwq74RQ0V&domain=embed&dynamicStreaming=true" /><param name="base" value="http://admin.brightcove.com" /><param name="seamlesstabbing" value="false" /><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true" /><param name="swLiveConnect" value="true" /><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always" /><embed src="http://c.brightcove.com/services/viewer/federated_f9?isVid=1&isUI=1" bgcolor="#FFFFFF" flashVars="videoId=1423607281001&linkBaseURL=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.military.com%2Fvideo%2Foperations-and-strategy%2Fafghanistan-conflict%2Fhelmet-cam-firefight-level-zero-heroes%2F1423607281001%2F&playerID=791346831001&playerKey=AQ~~,AAAAEgPl55E~,U85ckMrT9QAbqFBf7jaKBoKCwq74RQ0V&domain=embed&dynamicStreaming=true" base="http://admin.brightcove.com" name="flashObj" width="300" height="225" seamlesstabbing="false" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowFullScreen="true" allowScriptAccess="always" swLiveConnect="true" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/shockwave/download/index.cgi?P1_Prod_Version=ShockwaveFlash"></embed></object><p></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2799434629080713956.post-8384104766938443152012-01-30T07:00:00.001-06:002012-01-30T07:01:30.337-06:00InfidelsIn Clash of Civilizations a Muslim military officer says "the West has all kinds of great stuff we can use, weapons, technology, computers, but it is your culture we do not want." Apparently this was brought up again after the <a href="http://dailycaller.com/2012/01/28/we-are-not-allies-we-are-still-the-infidels/" target="_blank">Gulf War</a>. East is East and West is West and never the twain shall meet (Kipling). One should read a lot of Kipling he delves a great deal into Britain's imperialism and writes at length about Afghanistan.<br />
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The sooner we learn that most of the Arab/Muslim world views us as infidels no matter what we have done for them the better off both sides will be.<br />
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A big thanks to the Daily Caller for that article.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2799434629080713956.post-38863437644561480212012-01-29T23:10:00.000-06:002012-01-29T23:10:44.597-06:00Personal informationI have been diagnosed with a liver and blood disease called Porphyria. Normally it is a genetic disease but it is also be caused by other things such as sickness or trauma. The good news is that it is controllable. The bad news is there is no cure. It is controlled with diet, medication, and blood withdrawl. <br />
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95% of the time I am going to be just fine. The other 5% is at times going to suck but oh well what can one do. I am calling the doc in the morning to see if I can get blood drawn at the clinic instead of the ER it is cheaper there.<br />
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2799434629080713956.post-16677653902520682502012-01-29T22:20:00.003-06:002012-01-29T22:20:58.220-06:00AC130 footageI have a special place in my heart for AC130 Gunships. I was out cruising the Marine Corps Website and came across this little gem of video footage. Let me tell you for the Marines to be hosting AC130 footage on their site is pretty cool. I could not get the video on my site so here is the link <a href="http://www.usmcscoutsniper.org/hogsden/video_clip_iraq.htm" target="_blank">thingy</a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0