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I’m Done Playing Sides
Jul 13, 2006

In our DFAC(Dining FACility) we have two sides. One side plays sports on the TVs and the other side plays the news. Being that I’m not the biggest sports fan(I like watching baseball…that’s about it) I, more often than not, choose to sit on the news side and see what madness is going on in the world these days. Some days I am interested to see a little bit about stocks, a little about natural disasters, a tiny bit about Irak, and a little more on other going’s about in the United States. And then there’s those dinners where I sit down to see Face The Nation on tv. I’m not the biggest fan of that guy mainly due to his primarily left standings, but I do learn a little bit here and there after I filter through his bull "expletive deleted". And it’s the very same "expletive deleted" that this post is going to vent on.

I’m sick and tired af hearing the left’s spin on "expletive deleted", and then when the news switches over to Fox and then I get to hear some of the right wings spin. I have always considered myself a right winger just because where most of my beliefs stand, but I am starting to see the same stupid crap on Fox that I see on CNN. The spin’s are so out of control that I don’t know who the hell to trust anymore. I hate hearing CNN pull 2nd grade tactics and pop off stupid comments that crack on the right…and the same goes for the right side.

If I’m to sit there and watch the news, I don’t want a damned spin on it. Just give me the news as it happened..I could give to shits about why you think it did, or why you think the other guys are to blame. I don’t want your God pounded opinions…I want facts or nothing at all.

I have from this point forward denounced any political standing. I am neither right wing, nor left wing. I hate both sides equally now. I will form my beliefs off of what I see and hear. I’m just gonna have to hear whatever I can and try to pick the truth out of it.

I hate politics.

http://www.military.com/blog/exist

Stretched thin
Jul 13, 2006

A couple of readers e-mailed me privately about The dance inside my head, wondering if I was OK. I’m fine, but very, very tired. If I was facing the decision to re-enlist today, I would have to say no. I’m doing the work of three people at a pace that is unsustainable. Much like the air conditioners here, I am being worked to my limits and will eventually break down without some TLC. It seems to me that we could use about twice as many staffers as we have to get the job done.

The expectations placed on us here are sometimes appallingly unrealistic. Perhaps this is because of a disconnect between leadership perceptions and the reality of the situation. I don’t kick in doors and I don’t get shot at by snipers. I have air conditioning (most of the time) and I’m not hauling sandbags all day. I can understand why some people would think that means I live on easy street.

Such is not the case. Sitting in a chair for 12-14 hours a day over the last nine months solving technical problems has exhausted me. Every day I have to battle bureaucracy to get my job done. Most of the fights I am involved in are against my own organization. I need more bandwidth, better computers, battery backups, more staff, less paperwork and so on ad infinitum. These things are hard to fight for when you are a buck sergeant surrounded by field grade and higher officers. My battles are even harder to fight for because I am already so busy that most days getting the bare minimum done is a minor miracle. No one I report to truly understands the technical details of what it is that I do. They see the end result but do not really grasp the steps and resources it took to achieve that result.

I’m a minor cog in a very large, incredibly complex machine. I don’t mind that role but I wish that I was getting a little more attention from the maintenance men. As a soldier and an NCO, I do the best I can but lately I’ve been feeling fairly jaded. The Army may not be stretched thin but I sure think I am.

http://www.military.com/blog/blackfive#blog3

The 12th Imam, Kim Jong Il & an Albino Goose
Jul 13, 2006

WHITE SANDS MISSILE RANGE , It was a picture-perfect pre-dawn Wednesday and a picture-perfect launch at White Sands Missile Range.

Hundreds of miles above southern New Mexico, it was a picture-perfect impact between two missiles.

The morning sky above the Tularosa Basin was painted in every color of the rainbow , hues ranging from iridescent purples to emerald greens and pastel blues, pinks and electric whites against the darkness of space.

The pre-dawn art show was the result of the third of five tests planned at White Sands Missile Range to determine the effectiveness of THAAD , Terminal High Altitude Area Defense missile. And military officials said the test went better than they could have hoped.

Go to link to see photo



Is it just me or do the contrails look like an albino goose? And what does that signify in Asian mythology for poofy-haired, maniacal midgets?

I think that maybe Ah-ma-nut-a-job over in Iran may be actually on to something with this whole 12th Imam thing. I mean there a whole lot of issues, and very dicey ones at that, in play right now and basically they all point back to the holy lands, Jerusalem and Mecca as the always scheme-examining Froggy pointed out. Maybe the time is now, maybe we are cursed to live in interesting times, maybe it's time to sort out this whole Mohammed says this, Moses says this, and Jesus woulda' probably kicked somebody in the cheek at this point. We are already deep in the fight against Islamism, and their biggest beef with us has always been the damn Joooooos. All the puppet masters are jumpin' around like they were workin' on Team America and all the players are playin'. The other side does not seem to feel like giving us a breather after Afghanistan and Iraq and since we know they read the NY Times they are well aware that 99.99% of Americans think W is a robotic chimp, and also that we don't have the spine for any protracted battle.

A scheme to end some global domination scheming

http://www.military.com/blog/blackfive#blog3

Welcome to my Lebanese Nightmare
Jul 13, 2006

Blogging from Beirut is Fouad from Welcome to My Lebanese Dream. Well not anymore:

We are ALL guilty. ALL OF US. Emergency hiwar watani session??? I am not sure if I should laugh or puke my guts out on the table. Let it be known to all. We are scared, our lives are on the line, our country is history, but it's all our fault. Each and every one of us. These are the people we elected, these are the people we let freely thrive in their little haven of hatred and murderous ideals, and this is us, scared and incapacitated, failing but to point fingers and complain. Well let me tell you this folks, we pulled our pants down and stuck our naked asses out, and now that we're "expletive deleted"ed, we really don't have jack "expletive deleted" to complain about.

Recognizing the reality of appeasing terrorists is a horrifying experience as evidenced by this reaction of one citizen of Lebanon.

More Lebanese blogger reaction:

Lebanese Political Journal

Lebanese Blogger Forum

Vox's Den/Cedars Awakening

Beirut Notes

Beirut Spring - This blogger advocates supporting Hizbullah "for now" but check out his comments thread. The Lebanese people are not digging it.

http://www.military.com/blog/blackfive#blog3

Two Time OEF Vet Loses Job Because He Served his Country
Jul 13, 2006

Via Mad Monk, Captain John Parker of the US Army Reserve just recently returned home to Tennessee to find out that he has been fired. I say fired. The school says "let go". Read this from Nashvilles NewsChannel 5 and decide for yourself. Contact information for the school director AND the county school board will be in the Extended Section after the Jump:

NewsChannel 5 Investigates: School System Leaves Soldier Behind

Like so many soldiers who have helped fight the war on terror, Capt. John Parker put his life on the line every day while he was deployed in Afghanistan.

"I signed up to serve my country," Parker tells NewsChannel 5 investigative reporter Jennifer Kraus.

And serve he did, which is why he was so shocked at how he was treated when he came back home to Wilson County.

"It just made me feel that the people I was fighting for were the exact people that were taking my job from me," he adds.

You see, Parker is not just a soldier.

He's also a teacher who taught criminal justice to high school students and helped coach the school wrestling team. before he was sent to the Middle East with the Army Reserves.

Parker says that before he left, "I just told all the kids, 'Hey, I'll be going, but I'll be back.'"...

He went back to Wilson Central High School after his first year-long tour in Afghanistan.

And, after a second tour of duty there, he expected to return to the classroom again.

Parker should have had no problem going back to work thanks to a special federal law that protects soldiers like Parker.

It guarantees that, when they come home from their deployment, they'll get their old jobs back for at least a year.

But just one month after Parker went back to work, the Wilson County School system told him his teaching contract was not being renewed and he was out of a job.

Wilson County Director of Schools Dr. Jim Duncan, the man who sent the letter informing Parker that he was being let go, insists that "he was not fired."

Duncan maintains that the teacher-turned-soldier was told not to return to school the next year because there just weren't enough students signed up for Parker's class.

But Duncan also admits that he had problems with Parker being sent to Afghanistan not once, but twice.

"It was like we got these classes going and you're supposed to be the teacher," Duncan tells Kraus.

"So, you're saying his teaching position should have been his priority?" Kraus asks.

"Firmly. Yes."

But it doesn't matter what Duncan thinks. In a document put out by the National School Boards Association, it's spelled out in black and white that a soldier's job is protected when he's called to service.

But despite the law, the director of schools says he still feels that when class started, instead of being on the battlefield, Parker should have been in the classroom.

"Could he have said something to his superiors? 'Look, I really need to get back there. If everything is equal, I need to get back there (to Wilson Central High School) January 3rd because that's when my class starts and I need to be with those kids for the full semester.'"

Parker's attorney Gary Blackburn says his client "chose to risk his life. He didn't choose to risk his job."

Blackburn says what happened to the soldier is not the way someone who has honorably served his country should be treated.

"People who are willing to leave their homes, go to strange environments, endure personal hardships and threats of death should not be punished when they return home for their sacrifice," Blackburn adds.

"It's wrong."

John Parker agrees.

"I just feel it's an injustice," he says.

Parker says he loves his country and his job teaching. And, he doesn't think it was fair to make him choose between the two.

"It's pretty hard to believe in a country where we're out there fighting for liberty, that those same things are not being given back to us when we come back."

Late Thursday afternoon, Capt. Parker filed a lawsuit against the Wilson County School Board claiming the school system broke the law and violated his rights.

He says he just wants his old job back at Wilson Central High School.

Here is the contact information including Jim Duncan who's quotes are in the story and the Wilson County School Board. As always, please keep your correspondence with them courteous:

Director of Schools
Dr. Jim Duncan
351 Stumpy Lane
Lebanon, TN 37090
615-444-3282
duncanj@wcschools.com
(615)444-3282/(615)449-3858

Also the Wilson County Board of Education:

Wilson County Board of Education
351 Stumpy Lane
Lebanon, Tennessee 37090
Telephone: (615) 444-3282
FAX: (615) 449-3858
http://www.wcschools.com/

http://www.blackfive.net/

Death of a Quagmire
Posted By Uncle Jimbo
Our Ambassador in Iraq spoke recently about the status of our operations in Iraq, or more importantly the status of Iraqi government operations in Iraq. Bread and roses? No. Quagmire, absolutely not. His remarks outline broad and continuing success in the training, fielding and operations of Iraqi police and security forces. But the really good news regards the accelerating move of Sunni political and insurgent leaders toward reconciliation. Full remarks here courtesy Belmont Club

I will give my bottom line up front. I believe Americans, while remaining tactically patient about Iraq, should be strategically optimistic. Most important, a major change - a tectonic shift - has taken place in the political orientation of the Sunni Arab community. A year ago, Sunni Arabs were outside of the political process and hostile to the United States. They boycotted the January 2005 election and were underrepresented in the transitional national assembly. Today, Sunni Arabs are full participants in the political process, with their representation in the national assembly now proportional to their share of the population. Also, they have largely come to see the United States as an honest broker in helping Iraq's communities come together around a process and a plan to stabilize the country.

There is plenty more in his speech to ponder. The split between Al Qaeda in Iraq and the Sunnis is complete and the foreigners have no support or staying power. The Sunni insurgent groups have increasingly seen that they cannot defeat the Coalition and Iraqi forces to return to power and are more open to solutions other than warfare. The main remaining problem is one of the stickiest, and will be a considerable challenge. There are plenty of sectarian beefs among the three major groups, and plenty of revenge killings have already occurred. The Iraqi government has begun serious operations aimed at disarming many of the militias responsible for the killings, and they have made gains there and as part of the reconciliation process.

The overall picture, as opposed to the media portrayal, shows the progress we have needed to begin drawing down our troop numbers in Iraq. And guess what, we didn't lose, we aren't cutting and running and all the attempts by Feingold and Murtha and the rest of the left to brand this victory as a defeat have failed. The left wing of the Dems has been flappin' hard getting ready to run some anti-war races in '06 leading up to making sure they have a pure anti-war candidate for the big dance in '08.

Why would they want to run against a victory? We'll see how that turns out for them. Their best hope is that the war winds down and the troops come home well before '08 so they can manufacture an actual agenda with policy ideas to run on.

http://gojackarmy.blogspot.com/

Being a Career Soldier
What is it that makes someone dedicate a large chuck of their adult life to the profession of arms? I'm sure everyone that does so has their own reason(s). Job security? Fear of uncertainty in the civilian sector? Camaraderie? Dedication to national service?

For me, it's a love of the military and all things martial. I grew up admiring a Marine. In fact, until I actually enlisted, I knew I too would be a Marine one day. I love the military lifestyle. I like moving every few years. I love having lots of opportunities and career choices. I have done so many things that I never would have dreamed of and I know there are many things left to do that I haven't yet imagined. I know that civilian employment can be very fulfilling, but I don't see many jobs that offer the same opportunities as the Army.

Another thing that makes me want to stay is the professionalism. I know there are professionals out of the military, but, again, not many jobs have the life-or-death consequences that participation in and leadership of military operations encounter on a daily basis. Even in peacetime, the dangers of daily duty in the Army are real, so therefore, the dedication to professionalism is taken so seriously.

Granted, there are individuals who don't live up to those ideals. There are those that don't share those ideals. Those folks usually don't last long, either.

But, like I said, it's the lifestyle. The constant PCS'ing, the new opportunities, the chance to see different parts of our great nation and of the world, the training, the benefits, the people I've met and will meet... the list goes on. Sure, there are things I don't like about the Army. Who can't find something about their job to complain about? I don't like how someone who didn't really know me made assumptions based on an idiot's testimony which stalled my career for a few years. I don't like how racism affects promotions and assignments in Recruiting Command. (but I'm not bitter! hehe)

It's hard to put the feeling into words. I've touched on it here, but I don't feel like I've fully explained it. You get the idea, though, right?

http://www.military.com/blog/blackfive

On Limits
Jul 15, 2006

The incomparable Winds of Change has a post on limits in warfighting, which cited in the comments my post on Hamdan.

I gather they can't communicate with blogspot, so I'm going to cross-post my reply here, in case they wish to discuss the matter. It follows in the extended entry.

It's nice to be cited at WoC, which is one of the best thinking-blogs out there.

The author of the post is broadly correct. I honestly don't think we've begun to fight -- not, at least, to fight a war. The gamble in Iraq and Afghanistan has always been about trying to prevent the escalation of the problems we face into a world war.

If it fails -- well, a world war is what America's military was designed to fight. In many ways, the task will be rather easier if North Korea and Iran and Syria and whoever else wants in escalates the situation. We will abandon those restrictions once we pass the point at which we can credibly "police" the situation, once the threat reaches the point at which we obviously must fight rather than manage the problems.

A real war will be bloodier, by far -- but it will also be easier, because we will be liberated from the self-imposed restrictions designed to prevent escalation. We have many purpose-designed tools for such an eventuality, and there are many kinds of leverage we can apply that are only appropriate to real war.

That said, I think we ought to continue trying to win the original gamble. It is harder to do, but better for literally millions of people worldwide. People who genuinely love peace, and who are of good heart -- I think most of the anti-war crowd, particularly that faction led by the Quakers, falls into this group -- ought to support the venture.

They need to grasp that what lies behind the loss of the gamble is not peace, but real war. This is the last chance for peace.

I realize that sounds Orwellian -- 'the Iraq "war" is the last chance for peace' does indeed sound much like 'War is Peace.' Yet real peace is not possible in this world: there is always violence at some level. What matters is choosing the level. Iraq gives us a chance to have a better level of violence in our lives.

Insofar as we are acting like police, we aren't acting like soldiers; insofar as we are acting like soldiers, we aren't acting like murderers. In Iraq, we are acting like police most of the time -- indeed, we are behaving rather gentler than the police of many nations. Even on those occasions when we have escalated into properly military violence (as for example in Fallujah), it has always been with the intent of returning to a policing-level as soon as possible. Our warfighting has been about cracking pockets of enemies, so that we could set up a police force instead.

I keep thinking that the anti-war movement will come to recognize this fact. So far, they seem devoted to the fantasy that the US can be beaten into submission -- that, if only we can be made to lose in Iraq, that's it, that's all, the US will be a whipped puppy and will follow tamely the guidelines of our moral betters at the UN and in Europe, and on the US left.

Such a complete failure to understand America is not reasonable. No culture on earth has such a complete hatred of the idea of failure. Indeed, if there is any common culture that can be called American at all, it would have to be the culture of success -- the notion that a man should take care of himself, and that his failure to do so was a moral as well as a practical failure.

This is not a nation that will respond to a loss of its gamble in Iraq by becoming submissive. It will respond by becoming aggressive. If it cannot rebuild certain nations into successful, peaceful democracies, it will instead destroy those nations. It will not submit to a future of being blackmailed by the most murderous and least free nations of the earth. Nor ought it to do so.

That model of destructive warfighting was advocated by the 2004 Kerry Campaign (among other things it chose to advocate), and by John Derbyshire in the present context. It is a workable strategy. As just demonstrated, it has powerful advocates on both sides of the political spectrum.

If North Korea will not be reformed, it must not be allowed to dictate through terror and nuclear power the future of northern Asia. If Iran cannot be reformed, it must not be allowed to dominate the lives of millions of people in Iraq and elsewhere. If Syria will insist on backing terrorist groups as a matter of national policy, and if indeed it is beyond us to change them, then their state power must be laid waste. The future of humanity, a future in which every corner of the globe is increasingly important to the entirety of humanity, will be brighter if we strike down such tyrants.

I continue to believe in the gamble in Iraq. I continue to believe that we ought, morally, to avoid real war and pursue a type of fighting that will spread freedom and prosperity now. I hate the idea of laying waste even to a tyranny, for there are innocents there who are victims of these evil states. Far better if we can free them, help them shake off the sickness of the mind and heart that tyranny embeds in men, and teach them to rejoin peace-loving people abroad.

My feeling is that the Special Forces have the right motto, which ought to guide America: De Oppresso Liber. That is the right way for us.

But if that way proves impossible, I know America well enough to know that she will not submit. All decent people should look true war in the face, and reconsider if they will not back America in Iraq and elsewhere. We have now only three paths before us, and we shall take one of them whether we like any of them: We shall succeed in Iraq and elsewhere; we shall fight a true war; or we shall see the tyrants of the world, some of whom cannot even feed their people, assume a new place of power in the world.

That last one must not be. America will not let it be -- and she does indeed have the strength to stop it. Her military was made for a war of that type. We can fight and win, if we must.

Far better, though -- far better! -- the first. All people who wish the best for all mankind should join with us in bringing peace and order to Iraq, to Afghanistan, and elsewhere as we must. Let us pursue that road as long as there is any light at all to guide us on it. It is the right road, if only we can find the strength to walk it.

Blackfive (Matt) enlisted as a paratrooper at age seventeen. He served as Sergeant in Special Operations before being commissioned as an Armor Officer. Most of Matt's assignments have been in Infantry, Cavalry or Military Intelligence units. Matt left the military in July of 2001 and his last assignment was as the XO of an Intel Detachment for the Defense Intelligence Agency. He is an IT Executive in Chicago. Blackfive.net, a blog dedicated to supporting our troops, has won consecutive Best MilBlog Awards.

http://www.military.com/blog/defensetech

Iran Missile Drone Bomb Hits Israelis, U.A.V. Pioneers
Jul 15, 2006

UPDATE 07/15/06 11:19 AM: There's an old saw about war: that first reports are always wrong. Looks like that the case about this unmanned plane attack. "A missile fired by Hezbollah, not an unmanned drone laden with explosives, damaged an Israeli warship off Lebanon," Fox News reports.


The attack on Friday night had raised widespread concern in the Israeli military because initial information indicated that the guerrillas had used a drone for the first time to attack Israeli forces.

But the army's investigation into the attack, which left four Israeli sailors missing, showed that Hezbollah had fired an Iranian-made missile at the vessel from the shores of Lebanon, said Brig. Gen. Ido Nehushtan.

"We can confirm that it was hit by an Iranian-made missile launched by Hezbollah. We see this as very profound fingerprint of Iranian involvement in Hezbollah," Nehushtan said in an interview with The Associated Press.

Another Hezbollah missile also hit and sank a nearby civilian merchant ship at around the same time, Nehushtan said. He said that ship apparently was Egyptian, but he had no other information about it.


UPDATE 07/15/06 12:29 PM: Bill Roggio is now throwing cold water on the missile theory. "The use of a ground based anti-ship missile system in these attacks, while certainly a possibility, is unlikely as the characteristics of this system would certainly have been detected by the Israeli Defense Forces," he writes. "A UAV launched missile system, on the other hand, would be a more stealthy system. The UAVs are difficult to detect as they can fly in below radar, [and] can be flown by remote visual methods."

Stay tuned.

"An unmanned Hezbollah aircraft rigged with explosives slammed into an Israeli warship late Friday, causing heavy damage to the vessel," the AP reports. It's the first time the terrorist group -- any terrorist group -- has used a drone in combat, as far as I know.

Hezbollah has flown simple "Misrad-1" unmanned aerial vehicles, or UAVs, twice before, in November 2004 and April 2005. But those were reconnaissance flights, last just a couple of minutes each. And the drones were spotted fairly quickly, both times.

But, as Defense Tech noted in the Spring, the UAV had the potential to be much, much worse -- "a suicide bomber on steroids, basically."

That's what seems to have happened around 8:30pm Friday night to a Saar 5 navy gunship, ten miles off of the Lebanese coast, according to Ynetnews.


It was reported that the stern of an Israeli navy war ship suffered a direct hit in an attack by Hizbullah, which damaged the helicopter landing pad area. The hit caused a conflagration, which was extinguished. No one was hurt in the fire.

Shortly afterwards, crewmembers assessed the damage to the ship and discovered the hit was more severe than originally thought, and had caused damage to the ship?s internal operating systems...


Four crewmembers are reported to be missing.

There's more than bit of irony in Israel being hit with drone attacks. For years, the Israeli military was the world's leader in unmanned aviation. During the first Gulf War, Iraqi troops surrendered to Israel-made, American-run Pioneer UAVs. U.S. Army drone mechanics had to learn Hebrew, to repair their Israeli drones.

But in recent years, the rest of the world has caught up. "Some 32 nations are developing or manufacturing more than 250 models" of UAVs, according to the Defense Department.

In response, Pentagon extreme science arm Darpa has launched a $5 million per year effort to build a drone-killing UAV. But the results of that effort are still years away. For now, more conventional methods will have to be used to guard against terrorists' robotic air force.

(Big ups: SMT)

Arabs to Hezbollah: Up Yours
Jul 15, 2006

Fascinating. "Arab governments... have not come to Hezbollah?s defense ? not even Syria and Iran," the Times is reporting. (Although Iran did threaten to retaliate if Israel attacked Syria.)

Israel was also pleased by a statement from the Saudi government on Thursday that blamed Hezbollah for adventurism and called on it to end the crisis.

"A distinction must be made between legitimate resistance and uncalculated adventures taken by elements inside Lebanon and those behind them without recourse to the legal authorities or consulting and coordinating with Arab nations," said a statement published on the official [Saudi] news agency SPA. "These elements should bear the responsibility for their irresponsible actions and they alone should end the crisis they have created."

FP Passport has more. Meanwhile, my G'town homey Greg Djerjian, who's dad served as ambassador to both Israel and Syria, advises the Israelis (and the U.S.) not to get too cocky.

Stratfor explains why the sabras probably won't listen:


Israel lives with three realities: geographic, demographic and cultural. Geographically, it is at a permanent disadvantage, lacking strategic depth. It does enjoy the advantage of interior lines -- the ability to move forces rapidly from one front to another. Demographically, it is on the whole outnumbered, although it can achieve local superiority in numbers by choosing the time and place of war. Its greatest advantage is cultural. It has a far greater mastery of the technology and culture of war than its neighbors.

Two of the realities cannot be changed. Nothing can be done about geography or demography. Culture can be changed. It is not inherently the case that Israel will have a technological or operational advantage over its neighbors. The great inherent fear of Israel is that the Arabs will equal or surpass Israeli prowess culturally and therefore militarily. If that were to happen, then all three realities would turn against Israel and Israel might well be at risk.

That is why the capture of Israeli troops, first one in the south, then two in the north, has galvanized Israel. The kidnappings represent a level of Arab tactical prowess that previously was the Israeli domain. They also represent a level of tactical slackness on the Israeli side that was previously the Arab domain. These events hardly represent a fundamental shift in the balance of power. Nevertheless, for a country that depends on its cultural superiority, any tremor in this variable reverberates dramatically. Hamas and Hezbollah have struck the core Israeli nerve. Israel cannot ignore it...

It is difficult to overestimate the impact of the soldier kidnappings on the Israeli psyche... Having a soldier kidnapped by Arabs hits every family in the country. ...

The more fundamental issue is this: Israel withdrew from Lebanon in order to escape low-intensity conflict. If Hezbollah is now going to impose low-intensity conflict on Israel's border, the rationale for withdrawal disappears. It is better for Israel to fight deep in Lebanon than inside Israel. If the rockets are going to fall in Israel proper, then moving into a forward posture has no cost to Israel.


One last thing -- has anyone seen confirmation of this Counterterrorism Blog tidbit? "According to Israeli Channel 10, Hezbollah was able to hack into the Israeli Army's computer systems prior to the attack."

Lasers: Israel's Rocket Defense?
Jul 15, 2006

It was, perhaps, the most successful laser gun in the history of energy weapons. Now, it could just prove to be the key to Israel's defense. Maybe.

In the early part of this decade, the Israeli and American militaries worked with Northrop Grumman to build the Tactical High Energy Laser, or THEL. During tests at the White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico, the chemical-powered energy weapon blasted out of the sky 28 Katyusha rockets -- just like the ones now assaulting Israel. Another 18 artillery shells and mortars were successfully zapped, as well. No other laser has ever come close to building up that kind of track record. (Here's a video of some of the shoot-downs.)

"All my career, I've been interested in fielding lasers," Jeff Sollee, a veteran Northrop laser scientist, told Defense Tech earlier this year. "THEL was as close as they come."

But generating the THEL's megawatts of laser power required hundreds of gallons of toxic chemicals ? ethylene, nitrogen trifluoride. The weapons grew bulky; one proposed small-scale version was supposed to be kept in a mere eight cargo containers, each 40 feet long. A mobile THEL, on just a couple of trucks, proved to be too complex, and too expensive to contemplate. Worse, after a few shots, the lasers would have to be resupplied with a fresh batch of reactants. The logistics of hauling those toxins either through the air or across a battlefield made generals shiver. Israel eventually dropped out of the program. Then America did, too, turning its focus instead to solid-state, electric lasers.

Now, Northrop is pushing an upgraded THEL, under the name SkyGuard. The system is being pushed for airport defense, to keep jetliners safe from shoulder-fired missiles (kind of like this microwave-based missile-zapper from Raytheon I reported on last year).

But "Northrop executives have pitched [the] laser system in meetings with Israeli officials, including Defense Minister Amir Peretz," the Wall Street Journal reports. "Based on Israel's expression of interest in the laser technology, he said, Northrop has begun the process of applying for an export license."

SkyGuard is about a quarter the size of the original THEL, although not much smaller than the eight-container proposal. Northrop claims that the system's exhaust is mostly helium and steam, and requires a "keep out zone" of only 30 meters, Aerospace Daily notes. The price: maybe $200 million, plus $1,000 per shot.

Raytheon is also pitching Israel on air defense, too -- but not the microwave system. A few years back, the company began modifying its Phalanx 4,500 round-per-minute gun, originally designed for ship defense, to knock down mortars.

The WSJ says that "six batteries currently are deployed in Iraq." And from the reports I've heard, the Phalanxes are performing rather well, with several confirmed kills. Presumably, the systems could be shipped to Israel in fairly short order. The laser-based Skyguard is still very much on the drawing board, however. So Israel would still have to wait quite a while for its speed-of-light defense.

http://www.blackfive.net/

What Price A Folded Flag?
Posted By Blackfive
I have been corresponding with the nephew of Viet Nam vet, John Vaillant, who wrote the poem below:

What Price A Folded Flag

Old men talk of battles won, of battles lost, of honor and duty

Young men wrap themselves in flags of glory and march off to war
With sounds of marshal music and cheers ringing in their ears

some to return as whole
some to return as part
some not to return at all

The audience demands the actions of the Military and wonders why
Only after the eminent danger is obvious to all

The self proclaimed elite intelligentsia distains the brutality of conflict
and proposes a group hug and a politically correct discussion
to solve all problems great and small

the only value of the military to resolve social complaint

The businessmen talk of duty and need … and the resolve to win
a physical resolve that will include neither them nor theirs
but a resolve that is evident in their bottom line

The media will advise us of all the gore with film and word
that nicely matches their primary feel
and will then present the exception as the norm

Our elected on stages of bunting and flags
will call for patriotism and courage of our convictions
speeches will be made of fire and righteousness

rules will be written and conduct curtailed

until such time as we get weary…
And then the flags put away and promises forgot

And those young men who went off to war with flags and cheers
Will finally come home to a quiet welcome if at that

For all those brave young men…
for all the cheers and fears
for all the hopes and wishes
for all the cheers and scorn

remember, it is they who suffer the brunt of all
with appreciation from none

When their time is done and the need no longer
They will return to hearth and home…to hospitals...
…or to grassy fields of cemetery row

their actions .. resolve .. and need to be quickly forgotten
by all but them

The audience will drift off to other pursuits

The military to be stored in a box
Placed on the top shelf of an ill used closet
To only gather dust and be forgot

Until such time as danger lurks
And then questions “ where was our support “

John Vaillant, First Lieutenant, Ret.
John Valliant volunteered for duty in 1968, was commissioned in 1969 and served in Viet Nam as a Forward Observer and received two Bronze Stars. Vaillant's poetic work was only recognized at the Officer's Club where he received the honor of "the Best Pour" and this may be first time that it's been published.

http://www.military.com/blog/blackfive

question your patriotism
Jul 17, 2006

Over at Pundit Review on a post about their producing the Military.com's Editor's Desk Podcast this week, there's a commenter claiming that questioning one's patriotism is just a way to silence debate.

It could easily be argued that removing the patriotism question from the table is really the way to silence debate. Six months ago, I wrote the following about military blogs and our role in this war (and, yes, I do question the patriotism of the New York Times when they MANIPULATE words to fit their own template rather than tell the truth) - read on:

...The US Military will NOT lose this war. We can lose only if the country loses it's will to fight. And the media plays a very large role in the will of our country.

I wasn't able to say everything that I wanted to say "On the Story". I think that I was asked two questions, and it went by quickly. I did say that while Iraqi school openings weren't exactly newsworthy, the heroism of our Sailors, Soldiers, Airmen, and Marines IS NEWSWORTHY.

I asked if anyone had heard of Brad Kasal, or Rafael Peralta or Paul Smith?

I believe that I didn't get much of a response. I had a long list that I didn't have time to present - starting with Rick Rescorla, then Jason Dunham, Zach Wobler, Kenneth Conde, Hoby Bradfield...You can read more about military people that you should know here and more about our fallen heroes here.

Until the media stops celebrating it's own celebrity and starts focusing on people that are real heroes, we stand to lose. When Sean Penn's words matter more than Corporal Jeff Starr's, we stand to lose. And when the media does pay attention to the words of a Jeff Starr, they select only the words that serve their own agenda. What other conclusion is there other than much of the media wants us to lose the will to fight the war...

Many times, I believe that the left wing elements (certain media and political orgs, etc.) of this country would have us lose. There are those within the Democratic party that do not want us to lose, and there are Democrats that I do admire. Not many, but they are there. But I believe many of the left elements would throw our soldiers under the bus in order to win elections (as evidenced by the recently pulled commercial produced by the DCCC). They are running the game with the John Kerry Winter Soldier Playbook. The big difference between now and then is that active duty and veteran military folks have the same tools as the media...and then there is all of you, too.


The left should face the facts - we are still in Kosovo, South Korea, Germany, Japan, and if they believe that we will be completely out of Iraq anytime within the next decade, they are kidding their selves. If I were a Democrat, there would be plenty of political hay to be made in supporting the troops and winning the war and caring for the troops upon their return - being pro-victory. But they don't do that.

Por ejemplo, here's how Democrats treated the Fourth of July and a War Hero in California in 2004. Unfortunately, it's a true story:

Democrats Block Independence Day Celebration

by Assemblyman John Campbell

In each of the 4 years that I have been a member of the state Assembly, we have had many "celebrations" on the Assembly floor. These "celebrations" are orchestrated by the Democrats who control the House and often involve singing and dancing. Every one of my 4 years have seen substantial celebrations of Cinco de Mayo (Commemorates the Mexican victory over the French at the Battle of Puebla), St. Patrick's Day (for the patron Saint of Ireland) and Chinese New Year's Day, among others. But never once have we celebrated America's Independence Day, the 4th of July.

So, this year, Republican Assemblyman Jay LaSuer of San Diego arranged for Vietnam war hero Admiral Jeremiah Denton to come to California to be a part of a 4th of July ceremony. As you may know, Admiral Denton was a Navy pilot in Vietnam who was shot down and spent 8 years in a Vietnamese prison. In 1966 while in prison, he was interviewed by North Vietnamese television in Hanoi after torture to get him to "respond properly." During this interview, he blinked his eyes in Morse code to spell out the word "torture." He was asked about his support for the war in Vietnam to which he replied "I don't know what is happening now in Vietnam, because the only news sources I have are Vietnamese. But whatever the position of my government is, I believe in it, I support it, and I will support it as long as I live." Four of his 8 years in prison were spent in solitary confinement. He later wrote the book When Hell was in Session, chronicling his experience in Vietnam.

When he stepped off the plane after being released from prison in 1973, he said "We are honored to have had the opportunity to serve our country in difficult circumstances. We are profoundly grateful to our Commander-in-Chief for this day. God bless America." He was later elected to the U.S. Senate from his home state of Alabama, becoming the first retired Admiral ever elected to that body. I could go on and on about his accomplishments.

Suffice it to say, Jeremiah Denton is unquestionably an American hero.

The Democratic leadership refused to allow him on the Assembly floor and there will be no 4th of July celebration. A memo from the Democratic speaker's office said "problems have arisen both with regards to the spirit, content and participation of various individuals with regard to the ceremony." Apparently, they said that he did not believe in the "separation of church and state" and they didn't like the policies he supported as a United States Senator and therefore they would not allow him to be on the Assembly floor or to speak.

Upon hearing about this, Governor Schwarzenegger offered his meeting room last Monday for a ceremony with Admiral Denton. The room was overflowing with people. Only one elected Democrat was in attendance. A number of veterans of the last 4 wars were present. Admiral Denton gave a very moving speech about the 4th of July and about the undeniable commitment of our founding fathers' to their faith in God. He talked about how the war on terrorism may be the most difficult war we have yet fought. And he went on to say that he fears that partisan attacks on our mission and our troops in Iraq and Afghanistan sound too familiar to what he experienced in Vietnam. Following his speech, The Governor came out to personally spend time with him.

Then this American hero, whose debt from us all can never be repaid, flew home to Alabama.

The Assembly did meet on that day. And we did have a ceremony that lasted nearly 20 minutes. That ceremony was to celebrate the career of a reporter from the L.A. Times on the occasion of his retirement. Democrats universally praised him as being "balanced." He was allowed to speak for about 10 minutes. Admiral Denton was no longer in the building.

Four years of Cinco De Mayo and not one recognition of the 4th of July. An L.A. Times reporter praised, and the very person whose sacrifice allows him to express his opinion is banned. It is perverse. It is wrong. And it is disrespectful to all the men and women in uniform who have stared death in the face and to those who gave the ultimate sacrifice for the American people.

Admiral Jeremiah Denton is a hero not because he was politician, but like all the other men and women of the Armed Forces, because he defended the ideals set forth with America's independence.

Democrats are always railing about intolerance and discrimination. But yet in practice, it is they who engage in regular state-sanctioned discrimination and who are intolerant of the presentation of other views. Maybe they are worried that people will listen.

I do not send you this to bash Democrats. I send you this to demonstrate the huge chasm that exists between registered, voting Democrats, and elected Democrat leadership. I hope those of you who are not Democrats, will send this to your friends who are. If you are a Democrat, don't be ashamed. Be angry. Change your party and your leadership, or leave it.

Fortunately, we do not need the approval of the Speaker of the Assembly to celebrate our nation's independence this Sunday. Nor do we need his permission to thank those who fought to give us and to maintain our freedoms. On this 4th of July, as the burgers cook and the fireworks fly, let us remember......and give thanks.

As a final offering, I give you a poem that Admiral Denton read to us this week, through eyes clouded with tears:

It is the soldier, not the reporter,
Who has given us freedom of the press.
It is the soldier, not the poet,
Who has given us freedom of speech.
It is the soldier, not the campus organizer,
Who has given us the freedom to demonstrate.
It is the soldier,
Who salutes the flag,
Who serves beneath the flag,
And whose coffin is draped by the flag,
Who allows the protester to burn the flag."
Amen. God bless America.

The Bottom-Line: No one would rather see our two parties work together towards victory than me. But as long as the extreme left elements control the Democratic party and influence a lot of the media, chances of that happening are remote...to say the least.

Until they are pro-victory, it's not much of a stretch to say that they are not patriotic.

http://www.military.com/blog/indepundit

Noncombatant Evacuation Operations
Jul 17, 2006

I DON'T have any inside information on this, but there are strong indications that the U.S. government is about to execute plans to evacuate non-essential embassy personnel and other U.S. citizens from Lebanon.

From FOX News:

The United States estimates 25,000 Americans live or work in Lebanon, but officials assume far fewer would choose to leave if they could. The State Department said it was working with the Pentagon on a plan for helping American citizens leave.
From the State Department:

The Department of State continues to work with the Department of Defense on a plan to help American citizens depart Lebanon. As of the morning of July 15, we are looking at how we might transport Americans to Cyprus. Once in Cyprus, Americans can then board commercial aircraft for onward travel. Commercial airlines provide the safest and most efficient repatriation options to final destinations.
The most likely means of evacuation would be by helicopter from a pre-arranged location (the airport, the embassy, or a large athletic field) to ships waiting offshore (most likely the Iwo Jima Expeditionary Strike Group, currently in the Red Sea), and then further transport by ship or helicopter to Cyprus.

For more information on how Noncombatant Evacuation Operations are planned, organized, and executed, see Joint Warfighting Publication 3-07.5, "Joint Tactics, Techniques, and Procedures for Noncombatant Evacuation Operations."

Noncombatant evacuation operations (NEOs) are conducted to assist the Department of State (DOS) in evacuating noncombatants, nonessential military personnel, selected host-nation citizens, and third country nationals whose lives are in danger from locations in a host foreign nation to an appropriate safe haven and/or the United States. NEOs usually involve swift insertions of a force, temporary occupation of an objective, and a planned withdrawal upon completion of the mission. During NEOs, the US Ambassador is the senior authority for the evacuation and is ultimately responsible for the successful completion of the NEO and the safety of the evacuees. The Ambassador speaks with the authority of the President and serves as direct representative on site.
Evacuation operations are characterized by uncertainty and may be directed without warning; situational awareness and correct appraisal of the changing political and military environment are key factors in noncombatant evacuation planning. Alternative plans should be developed for permissive, uncertain, and hostile environments. The geographic combatant commanders are responsible for planning and conducting NEOs to assist the DOS. Once requested, approved, and directed, the combatant commander will order supporting, assigned, and/or attached forces to conduct evacuation operations. It is imperative that the Ambassador’s evacuation plan and the joint force commander’s (JFC’s) plan for the NEO be supportive, coordinated, and fully integrated.


The military has "canned plans" for NEO from just about every location that you could imagine, but these situations are often fluid and require a great deal of flexibility and improvisation.

Interesting bit of trivia: one of the ships in the Iwo Jima ESG, which would likely provide support for this operation, is the USS Cole.

Stormy Weather
Jul 17, 2006

THUNDERSTORMS in the Nation's Capital today.

Meanwhile, the war in the Middle East just gets worse, as Hezbollah hits an Israeli ship with an Iranian cruise missile, and Israel issues a 72-hour ultimatum to Syria.

This is depressing.

But hey, the storm just broke up here. I think I'll go for a walk to clear my head.

http://www.military.com/blog/countercolumn
USMC Maj. Gen. Mike Lehnert on the military-civilian cultural divide
Jul 17, 2006


When we sent my son to Stanford four years ago, we filled out a form asking for demographic information. One of the questions for the parents said, what is your profession? After it was a list of about thirty professions including doctor, lawyer, congressman, educator, architect. Military was not listed so I filled in “other.”

My son was the only graduate who had a parent serving in the armed forces. As I was introduced to his friends’ parents, it was interesting to watch their reaction. Few had ever spoken to a member of the military. One asked me how my son was able to gain admittance with the disadvantage of having to attend “those DoD schools.” Many voiced support for our military and told me that they’d have served but clearly military service was not for their kind of people.

This year of the so-called elite schools, Princeton led them with nine graduates electing military service. Compare that with 1956 when over 400 of the Princeton graduating class entered the military. Most of the other Ivy League schools had no one entering the military this year. I wonder how many of you know the young people who are serving today. I wont embarrass anyone by asking for a show of hands to ask how many really know a young enlisted Marine who has been to war. I’m going to try to give you a better feel about those who serve our nation.

Our Marines tend to come from working class families. For the most part, they came from homes where high school graduation was important but college was out of their reach. The homes they come from emphasize service. Patriotism isn’t a word that makes them uncomfortable. The global war on terrorism has been ongoing for nearly five years with Marines deployed in harms way for most of that time. It is a strange war because the sacrifices being levied upon our citizens are not evenly distributed throughout society. In fact, most Americans are only vaguely aware of what is going on.

Consider the population our high-gloss media come from. That answers the question why Americans are only vaguely aware of what is going on.

More from the General on Payday lenders here, where I've consolidated some of the personal-finance-related content from CounterColumn and IraqNow over the last couple of years.

http://www.military.com/blog/defensetech

Hezbollah's Biggest Missile Yet
Jul 17, 2006

Watching the news over the last few years, we've grown accustomed to seeing terrorists as a low-tech threat -- guys who hijack airplanes with pocket knives and make bombs out of leftover parts. And that threat has been plenty scary, on its own.

But in recent days, we're starting to see what happens when Islamic extremists get their hands on the relatively sophisticated arsenal of a country like Iran. Talk about terror.

On Sunday, Hezbollah again struck Haifa -- a city untouched by the militia until a few days ago -- using its biggest and most powerful missile yet. It's one of 800 rockets Hezbollah has launched against Israel in the last five days.

The weapon "hit a busy railway maintenance building, destroying the roof, killing eight, wounding more than 20 and leaving congealing pools of blood on the platform," the Times reports. "Israel said [the missile] was a Syrian-produced model of a Iranian Fajr-3 model, [which Tehran claims can avoid radars and carry multiple warheads -- ed.]. [It] has a range of more than 30 miles and carries a warhead with about 100 pounds of high explosives, which includes antipersonnel shrapnel, a significant change from the smaller Katyushas that Hezbollah has mostly been using."

And there may be worse to come, Ha'Aretz warns.


The fighting between Israel and the Hezbollah, which is backed by Syria and Iran, has still not reached its zenith. The Israel Defense Forces' operational plans against the Shi'ite organizations have not yet been carried out. The next two days are the most critical and a lot depends on whether Tehran decides to take a chance and authorize Hezbollah to launch long-range missiles with more powerful warheads. This is a capability Hezbollah still retains, despite the heavy blows it has suffered in the IDF air strikes.

Israeli Military Site Gets Bloggy
Jul 17, 2006

Excellent. Defense Update, the long-standing supersite devoted to Israeli military gear, now has a blog. Here's a taste -- its take on the Hezbollah missile (not drone) attack:


Apparently, two missiles were launched toward the Israel Navy Ship (INS) Hanit (Spear), SAAR V class corvette patrolling the Lebanese coast 16 kilometers from the shore. The attack was a coordinated, simultaneous ?high/low? attack - the first ?high? missile passed over the Israeli ship. Missing the target, it continued flying, hitting and sinking a civilian Egyptian ship cruising 60 kilometers from the shore. The second missile followed a sea-skimming flight profile hitting the Israeli vessel at the stern, killing four sailors and setting the flight deck on fire and crippling the propulsion systems inside the hull.

The simultaneous attack was probably using two techniques as well, ensuring maximum chances of success. The first missiles was apparently used as a radar-guided ?bait?. seducing the ship to deploy its defensive systems against it, focusing all the attention on the ?obvious? threat while the second sea-skimming missile closing below. A supporting fact for this assumption is the fact that the first missile locked on the unfortunate Egyptian ship 44 kilometers away, as it was the next visible target in its flightpath. The second, missile could have been guided by radar or, more probably, Electro-optically. This method would require the launch of two types of missiles, a C-801/802 for the ?high? profile and a C-701 TV guided missile for the ?low? profile.


Israel's Aerial Blockade
Jul 17, 2006

Some of the same technologies that the U.S. military used to kill Abu Musab al-Zarqawi are playing a critical role in Israel's new campaign against Hezbollah. The Israeli air force has brought to bear strike aircraft armed with laser- and satellite guided bombs and toting sophisticated targeting pods. The mission: sever communications links to Lebanon -- depriving the terrorist network of foreign support -- and to ensure that captured Israeli soldiers are not sneaked out of the country.

Since Wednesday, Israeli warplanes have systematically bombed roads, bridges, television and radio stations and the runways at the Beirut airport. These attacks have effectively isolated Lebanon at the price of around 100 Lebanese deaths plus many injuries (see picture). In light of the swift and devastating nature of the air campaign, that death toll is surprisingly low. But then, considering that Hezbollah has no air defenses to speak of -- and that all the world is watching -- in this conflict the Israeli air force's greatest enemy is itself. It must achieve its operational goals with minimal civilian deaths to avoid turning world opinion against Israel.

That means accurate targeting and precision weapons. Most of the communications targets are static ones that Israel mapped out years ago, using aerial reconnaissance -- as well as signals and human intelligence. So figuring out what to bomb isn't hard. Hitting the targets accurately -- without civilian casualties -- is. And with airport terminals, bridges and highways teeming with local civilians and foreign tourists, the job is even tougher.

Fortunately for Israel, its air force is on the cutting edge of precision weapons technology. In the 1980s, Israeli firm Rafael pioneered small targeting pods for tactical warplanes. Today, the Rafael Litening family of pods -- containing day and night sensors, a laser designator and tracker and GPS -- equips Israeli F-16s and F-15s and U.S. aircraft such as Marine Corps F/A-18s.

Israeli aircrews probably approach from medium altitude, straight and level, using the cameras in their pods to zoom in on the target. They then designate it with a laser or determine its GPS coordinates -- or both. At the optimal distance and angle, they pickle the weapon, either an Israeli Aircraft Industries laser-guided bomb or a Boeing Joint Direction Attack Munition (JDAM), which Israel has procured in quantity since 1999.

To deliver these weapons, the Israeli air force calls upon the most capable tactical jet fleet in the Middle East. The inventory includes:

25 F-15I Ra'am (essentially F-15Es)
11 F-15D Akef
17 F-15C Akef
8 F-15B Baz
27 F-15A Baz
102 F-16I Soufa (advanced F-16 Block 50s, some still in delivery)
75 F-16D Brakeet
52 F-16C Barak
20 F-16B Netz
90 F-16A Netz

The F-15Is and F-16Is are the most advanced strike aircraft in the Middle East, with the possible exception of the Emirates' F-16E/Fs. But the only pictures of current air operations that I've seen have shown just F-16Cs and Ds, which makes sense. The early F-16s and F-15s are best suited for air-to-air missions and the F-15Is and F-16Is are long-range strike aircraft with conformal fuel tanks, likely being held in reserve for possible action against Iran, which reportedly has troops in Lebanon and supplied the drone that damaged an Israeli patrol boat and killed four sailors on Thursday.

--David Axe

UPDATE 6:59 PM: Stratfor says that "we are now in the period preceding major conventional operations. Israel is in the process of sealing the Lebanese coast. They have disrupted Lebanese telecommunications, although they have not completely collapsed the structure. Israeli aircraft are attacking Hezbollah's infrastructure and road system. In the meantime, Hezbollah, aware it is going to be hit hard, is in a use-it or-lose-it scenario, firing what projectiles it can into Israel."


The Israeli strategy appears to be designed to do two things. First, the Israelis are trying to prevent any supplies from entering Lebanon, including reinforcements. That is why they are attacking all coastal maritime facilities. Second, they are degrading the roads in Lebanon. That will keep reinforcements from reaching Hezbollah fighters engaged in the south. As important, it will prevent the withdrawal and redeployment of heavy equipment deployed by Hezbollah in the south, particularly their rockets, missiles and launchers. The Israelis are preparing the battlefield to prevent a Hezbollah retreat or maneuver.

Hezbollah's strategy has been imposed on it. It seems committed to standing and fighting. The rate of fire they are maintaining into Israel is clearly based on an expectation that Israel will be attacking. The rocketry guarantees the Israelis will attack. Hezbollah has been reported to have anti-tank and anti-air weapons. The Israelis will use airmobile tactics to surround and isolate Hezbollah concentrations, but in the end, they will have to go in, engage and defeat Hezbollah tactically. Hezbollah obviously knows this, but there is no sign of disintegration on its part. At the very least, Hezbollah is projecting an appetite for combat. Sources in Beirut, who have been reliable to this point, say Hezbollah has weapons that have not yet been seen, such as anti-aircraft missiles, and that these will be used shortly.


UPDATE 7:20 PM: Be sure to check out Tom Barnett's take on the crisis, too; this is Iran's "form of a pre-emptive war -- well-timed and well-placed," he says.

http://www.military.com/blog/defensetech#blog2

Israeli Military Site Gets Bloggy
Jul 17, 2006

Excellent. Defense Update, the long-standing supersite devoted to Israeli military gear, now has a blog. Here's a taste -- its take on the Hezbollah missile (not drone) attack:


Apparently, two missiles were launched toward the Israel Navy Ship (INS) Hanit (Spear), SAAR V class corvette patrolling the Lebanese coast 16 kilometers from the shore. The attack was a coordinated, simultaneous ?high/low? attack - the first ?high? missile passed over the Israeli ship. Missing the target, it continued flying, hitting and sinking a civilian Egyptian ship cruising 60 kilometers from the shore. The second missile followed a sea-skimming flight profile hitting the Israeli vessel at the stern, killing four sailors and setting the flight deck on fire and crippling the propulsion systems inside the hull.

The simultaneous attack was probably using two techniques as well, ensuring maximum chances of success. The first missiles was apparently used as a radar-guided ?bait?. seducing the ship to deploy its defensive systems against it, focusing all the attention on the ?obvious? threat while the second sea-skimming missile closing below. A supporting fact for this assumption is the fact that the first missile locked on the unfortunate Egyptian ship 44 kilometers away, as it was the next visible target in its flightpath. The second, missile could have been guided by radar or, more probably, Electro-optically. This method would require the launch of two types of missiles, a C-801/802 for the ?high? profile and a C-701 TV guided missile for the ?low? profile.


Israel's Aerial Blockade
Jul 17, 2006

Some of the same technologies that the U.S. military used to kill Abu Musab al-Zarqawi are playing a critical role in Israel's new campaign against Hezbollah. The Israeli air force has brought to bear strike aircraft armed with laser- and satellite guided bombs and toting sophisticated targeting pods. The mission: sever communications links to Lebanon -- depriving the terrorist network of foreign support -- and to ensure that captured Israeli soldiers are not sneaked out of the country.

Since Wednesday, Israeli warplanes have systematically bombed roads, bridges, television and radio stations and the runways at the Beirut airport. These attacks have effectively isolated Lebanon at the price of around 100 Lebanese deaths plus many injuries (see picture). In light of the swift and devastating nature of the air campaign, that death toll is surprisingly low. But then, considering that Hezbollah has no air defenses to speak of -- and that all the world is watching -- in this conflict the Israeli air force's greatest enemy is itself. It must achieve its operational goals with minimal civilian deaths to avoid turning world opinion against Israel.

That means accurate targeting and precision weapons. Most of the communications targets are static ones that Israel mapped out years ago, using aerial reconnaissance -- as well as signals and human intelligence. So figuring out what to bomb isn't hard. Hitting the targets accurately -- without civilian casualties -- is. And with airport terminals, bridges and highways teeming with local civilians and foreign tourists, the job is even tougher.

Fortunately for Israel, its air force is on the cutting edge of precision weapons technology. In the 1980s, Israeli firm Rafael pioneered small targeting pods for tactical warplanes. Today, the Rafael Litening family of pods -- containing day and night sensors, a laser designator and tracker and GPS -- equips Israeli F-16s and F-15s and U.S. aircraft such as Marine Corps F/A-18s.

Israeli aircrews probably approach from medium altitude, straight and level, using the cameras in their pods to zoom in on the target. They then designate it with a laser or determine its GPS coordinates -- or both. At the optimal distance and angle, they pickle the weapon, either an Israeli Aircraft Industries laser-guided bomb or a Boeing Joint Direction Attack Munition (JDAM), which Israel has procured in quantity since 1999.

To deliver these weapons, the Israeli air force calls upon the most capable tactical jet fleet in the Middle East. The inventory includes:

25 F-15I Ra'am (essentially F-15Es)
11 F-15D Akef
17 F-15C Akef
8 F-15B Baz
27 F-15A Baz
102 F-16I Soufa (advanced F-16 Block 50s, some still in delivery)
75 F-16D Brakeet
52 F-16C Barak
20 F-16B Netz
90 F-16A Netz

The F-15Is and F-16Is are the most advanced strike aircraft in the Middle East, with the possible exception of the Emirates' F-16E/Fs. But the only pictures of current air operations that I've seen have shown just F-16Cs and Ds, which makes sense. The early F-16s and F-15s are best suited for air-to-air missions and the F-15Is and F-16Is are long-range strike aircraft with conformal fuel tanks, likely being held in reserve for possible action against Iran, which reportedly has troops in Lebanon and supplied the drone that damaged an Israeli patrol boat and killed four sailors on Thursday.

--David Axe

UPDATE 6:59 PM: Stratfor says that "we are now in the period preceding major conventional operations. Israel is in the process of sealing the Lebanese coast. They have disrupted Lebanese telecommunications, although they have not completely collapsed the structure. Israeli aircraft are attacking Hezbollah's infrastructure and road system. In the meantime, Hezbollah, aware it is going to be hit hard, is in a use-it or-lose-it scenario, firing what projectiles it can into Israel."


The Israeli strategy appears to be designed to do two things. First, the Israelis are trying to prevent any supplies from entering Lebanon, including reinforcements. That is why they are attacking all coastal maritime facilities. Second, they are degrading the roads in Lebanon. That will keep reinforcements from reaching Hezbollah fighters engaged in the south. As important, it will prevent the withdrawal and redeployment of heavy equipment deployed by Hezbollah in the south, particularly their rockets, missiles and launchers. The Israelis are preparing the battlefield to prevent a Hezbollah retreat or maneuver.

Hezbollah's strategy has been imposed on it. It seems committed to standing and fighting. The rate of fire they are maintaining into Israel is clearly based on an expectation that Israel will be attacking. The rocketry guarantees the Israelis will attack. Hezbollah has been reported to have anti-tank and anti-air weapons. The Israelis will use airmobile tactics to surround and isolate Hezbollah concentrations, but in the end, they will have to go in, engage and defeat Hezbollah tactically. Hezbollah obviously knows this, but there is no sign of disintegration on its part. At the very least, Hezbollah is projecting an appetite for combat. Sources in Beirut, who have been reliable to this point, say Hezbollah has weapons that have not yet been seen, such as anti-aircraft missiles, and that these will be used shortly.

http://www.military.com/blog/countercolumn

Krauthammer's Exit Strategery for Lebanon
Jul 19, 2006

Krauthammer, I believe, has it about right.

Hezbollah has jumped the shark on this one. It has isolated itself from the support even of the Arab nations. No one in the world will intervene on its behalf now. This is a win-win situation for everyone except Hezbollah, Syria, and Iran*:

Just as in Kuwait in 1991, what must follow the air campaign is a land invasion to clear the ground and expel the occupier. Israel must retake south Lebanon and expel Hezbollah. It would then declare the obvious: that it has no claim to Lebanese territory and is prepared to withdraw and hand south Lebanon over to the Lebanese army (augmented perhaps by an international force), thus finally bringing about what the world has demanded -- implementation of Resolution 1559 and restoration of south Lebanon to Lebanese sovereignty.

*And, of course, innocent women and children caught up in the middle. But all necessary violence must be applied to destroy Hezbollah. If they are not destroyed now, in detail, while they are isolated, it will be much more difficult to do so later, when any comparable pummeling carries with it the risk of a much wider and more destructive war.

Destroy them. Now.

Splash, out

If I’m to sit there and watch the news, I don’t want a damned spin on it. Just give me the news as it happened..I could give two shits about why you think it did, or why you think the other guys are to blame. I don’t want your God pounded opinions…I want facts or nothing at all.

I have from this point forward denounced any political standing. I am neither right wing, nor left wing. I hate both sides equally now. I will form my beliefs off of what I see and hear. I’m just gonna have to hear whatever I can and try to pick the truth out of it.

Now that sounds like a grunt! F*ckin' eah right!

http://www.military.com/blog/blackfive

PFC Cindra Smith - Someone You Should Know
Jul 25, 2006

“If I can save another parent from getting the same phone call I did, then I would have done everything I came in to do." - PFC Cindra Smith

Roach sends this report on Someone You Should Know:

After Daughter Is Injured in Iraq, Mom Joins Army
By Sgt. Eliamar Trapp
REDSTONE ARSENAL, Ala., July 12, 2006 — Having volunteered with the Red Cross, Cindra Smith knew there was something wrong when she arrived home from work late one night and had a Red Cross message on her machine.

“When I called them back I was told to wait by the phone and expect a call,” she said. “When I got the phone call they said my daughter had been shot in the back during an IED attack in Iraq.”

Pvt. Tracy Branton, Smith’s oldest daughter, was a heavy wheel mechanic on a convoy in Iraq when it was hit by IEDs. When Branton and her fellow soldiers got out of the vehicles to inspect the area, she was shot in the back. Now 21, Branton is 70 percent disabled and has a slight paralysis because of the injuries caused by the shooting.

“I remember being angry,” Smith said. “As parents, we always try and look for someone to blame. But knowing that she was doing something she believed in and wanted to do helped me get over that.”

After Branton was injured, Smith’s 20-year-old son, James Pritchard, decided to join the Army to become an infantryman. He attended basic and advanced individual training at Fort Benning, Ga., and is serving in Iraq with the 1st Infantry Division...

When the Army raised its acceptance age from 35 to 40 and then to 42, Smith made a life-changing move. Two weeks away from her 40th birthday, she is now known as Pfc. Cindra Smith, a soldier in C Company, 832nd Ordnance Battalion, 59th Ordnance Brigade, where she is attending AIT to become an explosive ordnance disposal specialist.

“If I can save another parent from getting the same phone call I did, then I would have done everything I came in to do,” Smith said.

Smith said joining the Army has given her a better understanding of what her children have been through. Her journey through initial entry training, however, was harder than it is for most. While attempting to rappel off Victory Tower, a 65-foot obstacle, Smith fell and fractured her hip in five places.

“I only missed one training event after I fell,” she said. “I completed all the road marches and ran with my company for PT. I might not have been the first one in, but I finished all the company runs.”

But the biggest obstacle Smith faced was an emotional one – after fighting cancer for more than two years, Smith’s mother died.

“I had been taking care of my mother for more than two years before I came into the Army,” Smith said. “When the time came for me to join, my mother and I had a long conversation and she supported my decision. We made the agreement that I would not be called if she passed away while I was in basic so my training would not be interrupted.”

Smith learned about her mother’s death during a call home a week and a half afterward.

“You aren’t guaranteed anything in life,” she said. “So if you have the opportunity to do something you like and believe in, then go for it.”

As the oldest soldier at C Company, Smith has received the nickname “Mama” from her fellow soldiers. Smith said she doesn’t mind after having been called “Grandma” at basic training.

“She is a mother to everyone around here,” said Pfc. Kim Schoonover, C Company. “She gives us advice when we need it and she scolds us when we’re oing something wrong. If we’re messing around in formation she’ll tell us to straighten out, and everyone listens to her because she’s older and because we know she’s right.”

Smith’s determination to succeed in the military in the midst of all that has happened in her life and the lives of her children has drawn respect and inspiration from many who have met her. She has also motivated many of the soldiers in her company to volunteer with the Habitat for Humanities organization in Huntsville.

“We are fighting a war overseas to help the oppressed so why not do the same outside our gates?” Smith said. “If I can help others then my life will be complete. I’ve always been the Girl Scout and the Brownie troop leader – I’ll do anything to enhance the lives of others. It’s why we’re here.”

“I am as proud of her as I have been of any of my other soldiers over the course of two years,” Staff Sgt. Lee M. Hallman, Smith’s drill sergeant, said. “She had firsthand knowledge of what she was getting into and she chose to come in anyhow. She is a highly motivated soldier and she sets a great example for all of our soldiers.”

As far as Smith is concerned, her story isn’t a big deal and the prospect of deploying only further motivates her to succeed.

“I’m looking forward to (deploying),” Smith said. “I believe it will give me a better understanding of what my children have experienced. Also, there are so many new IEDs being found out there every day. I commend those soldiers who have been putting their lives on the line each day for our country. It would be an honor for me to dismantle IEDs with them. I could be saving the life of someone’s father, daughter or mother.”

With the support of her husband, a retired firefighter, and her three children, Smith hopes to complete phase one of EOD training in August, then move to Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., to complete phase two of her training and graduate as an EOD specialist.

Military Matters
7/25/2006 1:21 pm
Are we too nice to fight a real war?
Johnny Podhoretz gets an amen from the congregation for his piece about whether we (the civilized West) have the capacity to effectively wage war anymore. He wonders if the restrictions that we place on ourselves have limited our ability to inflict an actual defeat on an enemy and relegated us to simply stopping immediate threats, but leaving the entity threatening us viable.


WHAT if liberal democracies have now evolved to a point where they can no longer wage war effectively because they have achieved a level of humanitarian concern for others that dwarfs any really cold-eyed pursuit of their own national interests?

What if the universalist idea of liberal democracy - the idea that all people are created equal - has sunk in so deeply that we no longer assign special value to the lives and interests of our own people as opposed to those in other countries?

Could World War II have been won by Britain and the United States if the two countries did not have it in them to firebomb Dresden and nuke Hiroshima and Nagasaki?

What if the tactical mistake we made in Iraq was that we didn't kill enough Sunnis in the early going to intimidate them and make them so afraid of us they would go along with anything? Wasn't the survival of Sunni men between the ages of 15 and 35 the reason there was an insurgency and the basic cause of the sectarian violence now?

Can it be that the moral greatness of our civilization - its astonishing focus on the value of the individual above all - is endangering the future of our civilization as well?




I have made his point about not killing enough Sunnis on numerous occasions. They never had to face their defeat and consequently have been emboldened by their successes slaughtering innocents. Had they faced us in battle and been crushed there would be a completely different dynamic and I don't believe we would have nearly as bad an insurgency. This wasn't an option initially as the bulk of Sadaam's army cut and ran home when the Thunder Run began, but subsequently we never managed to engage the Sunni insurgents and put a whippin' on them. It is quite possible that a brutal campaign right after the start of the insurgency laying waste to Sunni areas supporting it could have killed it in the cradle. This would have caused considerable collateral damage and civilian casualties, but haven't those been done in spades by the very folks we never defeated. Wouldn't the deaths of the Sunni civilians to prevent an insurgency have been preferable to the deaths of all the other innocent Iraqis killed by unrepentant and undefeated Sunnis since?

Looking back now I would say yes, but how difficult would the call be to roll over the entire Sunni triangle back in 2003? The howls about civilian casualties would have been deafening and it seems counter-intuitive to think that more violence would lead to a better peace......but.

Then he looks at Israel and their current conflict


And if America can't do it, can Israel? Could Israel - even hardy, strong, universally conscripted Israel - possibly stomach the bloodshed that would accompany the total destruction of Hezbollah?

If Lebanon's 300-plus civilian casualties are already rocking the world, what if it would take 10,000 civilian casualties to finish off Hezbollah? Could Israel inflict that kind of damage on Lebanon - not because of world opinion, but because of its own modern sensibilities and its understanding of the value of every human life?




It is hard to imagine a situation where we as a country would accept the devastation we wrought in WWII to Dresden and Tokyo with fire and I'm not sure we would even retaliate with nukes if the North Koreans or someone else managed to set one off.

It would take a remarkably pragmatic and cold-blooded world view to make the call and roll through the Sunni Triangle taking out most of the military-age men, or through Southern Lebanon doing the same. Obviously there is no chance of us or Israel doing this, but it does raise some very important questions, can we win these wars if we fight in our civilized manner? Or are we simply pushing problems down the road by failing to create the conditions for an actual end game? And if we aren't willing to fight this way, what are our alternatives?



jimbo@unclejimbo.com



http://www.nypost.com/postopinion/opedcolu...n_podhoretz.htm


July 25, 2006 -- WHAT if liberal democracies have now evolved to a point where they can no longer wage war effectively because they have achieved a level of humanitarian concern for others that dwarfs any really cold-eyed pursuit of their own national interests?
What if the universalist idea of liberal democracy - the idea that all people are created equal - has sunk in so deeply that we no longer assign special value to the lives and interests of our own people as opposed to those in other countries?

What if this triumph of universalism is demonstrated by the Left's insistence that American and Israeli military actions marked by an extraordinary concern for preventing civilian casualties are in fact unacceptably brutal? And is also apparent in the Right's claim that a war against a country has nothing to do with the people but only with that country's leaders?

Can any war be won when this is the nature of the discussion in the countries fighting the war? Can any war be won when one of the combatants voluntarily limits itself in this manner?

Could World War II have been won by Britain and the United States if the two countries did not have it in them to firebomb Dresden and nuke Hiroshima and Nagasaki?

Didn't the willingness of their leaders to inflict mass casualties on civilians indicate a cold-eyed singleness of purpose that helped break the will and the back of their enemies? Didn't that singleness of purpose extend down to the populations in those countries in those days, who would have and did support almost any action at any time that would lead to the deaths of Germans and Japanese?

What if the tactical mistake we made in Iraq was that we didn't kill enough Sunnis in the early going to intimidate them and make them so afraid of us they would go along with anything? Wasn't the survival of Sunni men between the ages of 15 and 35 the reason there was an insurgency and the basic cause of the sectarian violence now?

If you can't imagine George W. Bush issuing such an order, is there any American leader you could imagine doing so?

And if America can't do it, can Israel? Could Israel - even hardy, strong, universally conscripted Israel - possibly stomach the bloodshed that would accompany the total destruction of Hezbollah?

If Lebanon's 300-plus civilian casualties are already rocking the world, what if it would take 10,000 civilian casualties to finish off Hezbollah? Could Israel inflict that kind of damage on Lebanon - not because of world opinion, but because of its own modern sensibilities and its understanding of the value of every human life?

Where do these questions lead us?

What if Israel's caution about casualties among its own soldiers and Lebanese civilians has demonstrated to Hezbollah and Hamas that as long as they can duck and cover when the missiles fly and the bombs fall, they can survive and possibly even thrive?

What if Israel has every capability of achieving its aim, but cannot unleash itself against a foe more dangerous, more unscrupulous, more unprincipled and more barbaric than even the monstrous leaders of the Intifada it managed to quell after years of suicide attacks?

And as for the United States, what if we have every tool at our disposal to win a war - every weapons system we could want manned by the most superbly trained military in history - except the ability to match or exceed our antagonists in ruthlessness?

Is this the horrifying paradox of 21st century warfare? If Israel and the United States cannot be defeated militarily in any conventional sense, have our foes discovered a new way to win? Are they seeking victory through demoralization alone - by daring us to match them in barbarity and knowing we will fail?

Are we becoming unwitting participants in their victory and our defeat? Can it be that the moral greatness of our civilization - its astonishing focus on the value of the individual above all - is endangering the future of our civilization as well?

jpodhoretz@gmail.com

http://www.military.com/blog/exist

This is Iraq
Jul 25, 2006

Iraqi air force airmen watch a video of themselves taped by U.S. Army Spc. Holly Baker, with the 55th Signal Corps, Fort Meade, Md., at the new Al-Muthanna Air Base located on the runway of Baghdad International Airport, Baghdad, Iraq, July 17, 2006. (U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sgt. Jonathan F. Doti)

The Daily Radar
Jul 25, 2006

Fair Tax update From Neal Boortz

FAIRTAX STATUS REPORT

The FairTax movement is going strong my friends, stronger than you might imagine. I can assure you that the FairTax is attracting an ever-increasing degree of attention in Washington. I wish I could share the details, but the wonderful world of politics is such that it is much better to let the people involved spill the beans than to jump the gun by disclosing their interest or involvement ahead of time.

There have been three events in recent months that have really peaked interest among the political class. First was the debut of The FairTax Book on the New York Times Bestseller’s list for paperbacks. We’re still there ranking very high in the business category. Second was the FairTax rally in Atlanta a few months ago. When we packed a room full of 4,500 people, and then turned another 4,000 away, the shockwaves were felt inside the Beltway the very next day. On the morning after the rally Congressman Linder, who had returned to Washington overnight, was buttonholed by a number of colleagues to explain “just what it was you did there in Atlanta last night.”

Last week’s Georgia primaries in Georgia also opened some eyes. The FairTax was on the Republican primary ballot in three metropolitan Atlanta counties, and in each county the idea of replacing the income tax with the FairTax was approved by over 85% of the voters. When a reform idea as huge as the FairTax receives that type of an approval rating people, especially politicians, take note.

Another thing happened last week that impressed a number of high-ranking DC political-types. I received about 15 emails from people who told me that they originally had no intention of participating in the primary … UNTIL, that is, they heard me say that the FairTax was on the ballot. Those emails are now in the hands of some of the most powerful people in Washington.

Simply put — when you have an issue that (1) sends people to the polls who would otherwise not vote, and (2) gets the support of over 85% of the voters, you have an issue that can drive an election. Politicians know it.

Help a wounded Marine

Corporal Jonathen Benson lost his right foot, left arm and left leg to an IED. Click the headline to read his story and perhaps you’ll be moved to assist him in his recovery. His life is changed forever.

For those of you who think you’ve faced hardship, I would challenge you to reassess what hardship is. Corporal Jonathen Benson knows.

PFC Cindra Smith - Someone You Should Know

Some people move me to try an be just a little better as a human being. This lady is a brave, resolute woman. I admire her.

Somalia on the edge of full scale war

Everyone is focused on Lebanon right now, but there is another looming humanitarian crisis being stirred up by another batch of angry Muslims.

Somalia has been without a functioning central government since 1991, despite more than a dozen attempts to find peace between the assortment of warlords who carved the Horn of Africa nation into a series of personal fiefdoms.

Imagine life under a religious warlord. Go ahead and make a smarmy comment about Bush if you must, but I fully expect anyone who does to purchase a one way ticket to Somolia prior to posting. I’ll require a scanned copy of your ticket in order to leave your post displayed.

IDF, Hezbollah battle over the “Hezbollah Capital”
Bill Roggio has an informative update on fighting in Southern Lebanon.

Springfield Armory XD Sub Compact .40 vs. Smith & Wesson M&P .40
Jul 25, 2006

I wrote an entry a while back wondering whether people had any positive or negative experiences with the Springfield Armory XD Sub compact .40 S&W pistol. I got lots and lots of positive feedback and nothing negative. I wrote to Springfield Armory asking for some literature on the pistol, but never received a reply. Perhaps the marketing department isn’t interested in pro-gun bloggers…

Anyhow, I’ve just stumbled across the Smith & Wesson M&P .40. The two weapons appear very similar, and I’m wondering which weapon would be better for my primary carry pistol.

Let’s start with images of both:


On the left is the Springfield Armory XD 40 and on the right the S&W M&P 40.

And here’s a handy chart of specs I care about:

Springfield Armory XD Sub Compact .40 Smith & Wesson M&P .40
Capacity 9+1 15+1
Barrel Length 3.1″ 4.25″
Trigger Pull 5.5-7.7 lbs 6.5 lbs
Retail Price $536 $624

I would like to know my reader’s experiences with these two weapons. How do they stack up against each other, aside from the fact that they are both made of modern polymers and both manufactured by reputable companies? The SA XD 40 is smaller but has less magazine capacity. The M&P 40 weighs more and holds more ammo.

Which one is more accurate? Which one feels better in your hands? Which one would you rather stake your life on if your life depended on a single trigger pull?

Trevor Snyder
Trevor is currently in Baghdad, Iraq, serving in a public affairs capacity with MNF-I. Nothing in this blog should be considered to be an official opinion of any sort. His ideas do not necessarily reflect the ideas of any governing body, board of important people, politician or leader. They belong to him.

Visit WillToExist.com/

http://forums.military.com/eve/forums/a/tp...m/2400038870001

Military.com Military.com Forums In the News Saddam's Old Army

Hardcore71
Member

Posted Tue 25 July 2006 06:23
RE: http://www.military.com/NewsContent/0,13319,106762,00.html

Is it any wonder that the former members of the Baath party choose to continue the resistence when they have lived their entire adult life as the "king makers?"

These guys have no idea what it is to live in a free and open society and no comprehension of how much life would improve for all people in Iraq if they would simply lay down their arms and become facilitators for change instead of continuing the carnage.

The ongoing occupation of Iraq is the result of their continuing resistence -- pure and simple

bartdanr
Member
Posted Tue 25 July 2006 06:31
If it is true that the former Iraqi military is behind the majority of the resistance, then I think it really calls into question those who thought we should have kept the old Iraqi military intact to stabalize the country. It would have been just keeping the old regime in power.

rayevinsonsr
Member
Posted Tue 25 July 2006 06:53
quote:
The ongoing occupation of Iraq is the result of their continuing resistence -- pure and simple
I agree.
Some might call this a endless war. Who knows, they might be right.

These "soldiers" of Saddam trained for this kind of action. Seems like this idea was promoted well before the first shot was fired. No one was listening. The US had no chance of reaching Baghdad fighting the Republican guard, Fadayeen and fires from oil ditches. Took all of 21 days, this should have said something to the amatuer prophets right there. These are the wars of the future. Live and learn.

The war is over, the battle just begun.

prime9time
Member
Posted Tue 25 July 2006 06:55
Generally, people don't like to have their country occupied, then you put likely in excess of 500 thousand seasoned combat veterans (not counting their son's now) seeing their country in essence taken over by Shiites being run by Iranians, there ARE going to be some problems which for some strange reason were not "anticipated" by Bush and "New American Century" cronies. Completely dismantling an established government is relatively uncommon in history. The Romans left the Jewish buerocracy and judicial system in tact. Admiral Doenitz was left in charge for a time in the defeat of Germany and the Emperor was left in Japan just to name a few examples. Now the problem is these "New American Century" cronies apparently missed 6th grade or something.

Hardcore71
Member
Posted Tue 25 July 2006 07:21
quote:
Originally posted by prime9time:
Generally, people don't like to have their country occupied, then you put likely in excess of 500 thousand seasoned combat veterans (not counting their son's now) seeing their country in essence taken over by Shiites being run by Iranians, there ARE going to be some problems which for some strange reason were not "anticipated" by Bush and "New American Century" cronies. Completely dismantling an established government is relatively uncommon in history. The Romans left the Jewish buerocracy and judicial system in tact. Admiral Doenitz was left in charge for a time in the defeat of Germany and the Emperor was left in Japan just to name a few examples. Now the problem is these "New American Century" cronies apparently missed 6th grade or something.


I wouldn't call the American and British presence in Iraq an "occupation." Instead, we have been forced to remain in Iraq because of the Sunni resistence.

The coalition would like nothing more than to pack up its equipment and leave Iraq. However, it would be irresponsible to simply pull out and leave the new Iraqi goverenment to fend for itself.

Like I said earlier, the former Baathists have no conception what it's like to live in a free and open society. They do not realize that everyone's lives within Iraq would vastly improve if they layed down their arms and joined the new government.

At the end of the American Civil War, the southern forces could have gone underground and carried on a resistence for years, but instead, cooler heads prevailed and the nation came together under one government.

Perhaps the coalition shoud now enter into discussions with the Iraqi resistence to determine if any accommodations can be made to ending the resistence

CSSAMO
Member
Posted Tue 25 July 2006 07:45
I have long thought that we made a mistake in our rush to Baghdad, that we should have purposefully taken longer in order to draw Saddams forces out into combat in order to achieve the most destruction possible on those forces. Instead we allowed them to fade into guerilla status. I wonder if some of our military planners didn't have the same thoughts but were forced into pursuing quick action by people in the Whitehouse??? I mean, it has always been advantagous to pick the battleground. I realize that Baghdad might have been seen as a center of gravity but just marching in is hardly the same thing as holding it.
Posts: 58 | Registered: Mon 21 May 2001

prime9time
Member
Posted Tue 25 July 2006 08:20
quote:
Like I said earlier, the former Baathists have no conception what it's like to live in a free and open society. They do not realize that everyone's lives within Iraq would vastly improve if they layed down their arms and joined the new government.

At the end of the American Civil War, the southern forces could have gone underground and carried on a resistence for years, but instead, cooler heads prevailed and the nation came together under one government.

Perhaps the coalition shoud now enter into discussions with the Iraqi resistence to determine if any accommodations can be made to ending the resistence

Not sure that a mullah theocracy is exactly what I would call and free and open society. That constitution is a theocratic nightmare. Our own civil war was a bit of a different situation and Robert E Lee told em to quit, just as Doenitz told the Wehrmacht to quit. Maybe the US line is that it isn't an occupation, but it would seem like it to me it was an occupation if something like that happened here.
Posts: 1314 | Registered: Tue 11 January 2005

Hardcore71
Posted Tue 25 July 2006 08:47
quote:

Not sure that a mullah theocracy is exactly what I would call and free and open society.

That is my point -- the Baathists have no idea what living in a open democratic scoiety is like. Therefore they are trying to hang onto the only form of government they know -- a theocracy.

There was no difference living under Sadamm or living under the mullahs. Both forms of government did not permit diversity or individual freedoms.

prime9time
Member
Posted Tue 25 July 2006 09:02
quote:
I have long thought that we made a mistake in our rush to Baghdad, that we should have purposefully taken longer in order to draw Saddams forces out into combat in order to achieve the most destruction possible on those forces. Instead we allowed them to fade into guerilla status. I wonder if some of our military planners didn't have the same thoughts but were forced into pursuing quick action by people in the Whitehouse??? I mean, it has always been advantagous to pick the battleground. I realize that Baghdad might have been seen as a center of gravity but just marching in is hardly the same thing as holding it.

Bush the first chose not to do it, but then he actually occasionally listened to people besides idealogues. My ol man the infantry dude who did a bunch of urban warfare said in this deal OH MY GAWD junior is going to put infantry in Bahgdad.

Nofluer
Member
Posted Tue 25 July 2006 09:45
quote:
Originally posted by Hardcore71:
quote:

Not sure that a mullah theocracy is exactly what I would call and free and open society.
That is my point -- the Baathists have no idea what living in a open democratic scoiety is like. Therefore they are trying to hang onto the only form of government they know -- a theocracy.

There was no difference living under Sadamm or living under the mullahs. Both forms of government did not permit diversity or individual freedoms.

Ummm... It SOUNDS like you just said the insurgency is promoting the Mullahs? Oh, Nonononono.

Since it appears that some folks are not clear as to the factions involved in the insurgency:

Baathists - Former ruling party under Saddam, individually religious Sunnis, but NOT religious (VIOLENTLY secular) government (enemy of Mullahs), nominal/actual Sunnis. (Some in much the same way that Bush and other US Federal politicians are "Christians.") Principle support comes from Syria and pre-war cash hoards set aside for the struggle by Saddam and sent to Syria (which is ALSO run by Baathists). Primary targets are US/Coalition Troops and Shiia Muslims.

Shiia Muslims - Controlled and financed by Iranian Mullahs/Ayatollahs, principle agent in Iraq is Sadr and his Mahdi Army (variously estimated at 3,000 to 15,000 strong). Allied through Iran with Hezbollah (also a creature of Iran) which supplies a ready source of suicide bombers from the Palestinian "refugee camps." Primary targets are everybody but themselves.

Although they are willing to snipe at the coalition forces, Sadr learned (twice) that his "army" wasn't up to the job of fighting people who actually know how to shoot and fight... and who own tanks and Wart Hogs, so he's now busy planting IEDs to see what grows and biding his time until the coalition forces leave and he can fight OTHER people who don't know how to shoot.

Al Queda - Wahaabi Muslims/nominal Sunnis, not interested in peace or in any sort of cooperation with anyone else. Supported primarily by Bin Laden/Saudi Arabia(ns). Now has political control of large chunks of Somalia and sections of Afghanistan and Pakistan (appears to share power with Taliban) and operates in Iraq. Primary targets - the whole freaking WORLD. They're in Iraq because targets are plentiful and the place is a good training camp for their "turists." (As GWB pronounces it)

Kurds - Odd guys out. Everyone but the Coalition wants to kill them, including the Turks (who are neither Iraqis nor Iranians). The Kurds just want Kirkuk and the rich Northern Oil Fields and to be otherwise left alone. Would be ecstatic to become independent from all of the insane people in the region.

Coalition Forces/US - God only knows why we are there because it's doubtful that Bush or his cronies do. Due to mis-steps and overweaning arrogance on the part of the civilian command structure, the war has been screwed up from since before it began. It remains to be seen if the US can pull its chestnuts out of the fire on this one. We could leave Vietnam and have a reasonable expectation that they wouldn't pursue us back to the States. Not so with these people, which is why a clear victory is critical.

Of course - it gets considerably more complex on the local level, but that's an overview. None of these groups are interested in rapproachment with the others - all want to own the place and kill or control everyone else... some being somewhat more ambitious in that they want to own Iraq, AND the rest of the world.

rayevinsonsr
Member
Posted Tue 25 July 2006 10:25
quote:
At the end of the American Civil War, the southern forces could have gone underground and carried on a resistence for years, but instead, cooler heads prevailed and the nation came together under one government.

Various groups came forward after the Civil War, many not in the south, in the west, Kansas, Missouri and Texas. Our southern contingent became known as the Klan. Six thousand KKK members were incarcerated, some without the benefit of a trial or habeas corpus. To say the country was in a state of lawlessness would be an understatement.

rayevinsonsr
Member
Posted Tue 25 July 2006 10:39
quote:
have long thought that we made a mistake in our rush to Baghdad

The rush to Baghdad took twelve years.

Assuming all the information Prime gave was correction I can't understand why Sistani, a Grandy Ayatollah and native of Iran is not sitting in Baghdad cutting heads and issuing orders.

Al Maliki even though a Shiite has been trying rearrange the deck chair on the Titanic fearing the ship is going to sink. At a glance you would have to say it's because of a representative government and by most standards unfavorable to the Shiite. They've been catering to the Sunni hardheads.

Eleminate Al Sadr and take away his toys, recapture the prisoners that were allowed from the lock up and kill the Fedayeen/Baathist that will never change their outlaw mentality. The appointed government before played this game of fairness in Fallujah until they were forced to send in the Marines. Allow the troops to do what they were trained for and quit sending them on target practice for the bad guys.

Nofluer
Member

Various groups came forward after the Civil War, many not in the south, in the west, Kansas, Missouri and Texas. Our southern contingent became known as the Klan. Six thousand KKK members were incarcerated, some without the benefit of a trial or habeas corpus. To say the country was in a state of lawlessness would be an understatement.

No due process? Doubtrful. Even during the period immediately after the war during Martial Law there was due process. There was no Habeus Corpus, but there was due process. And I'd bet being incarcerated was a whole lot better than what the KKK was doing to the former slaves who dared act like human beings!

I sure can't muster up any sympathy for the early terrorists who went around wearing masks and killing people at night. Lots of similarities between them and the terrorists in Iraq today.

Nofluer
Member
quote:
have long thought that we made a mistake in our rush to Baghdad



The rush to Baghdad took twelve years.

Assuming all the information Prime gave was correction I can't understand why Sistani, a Grandy Ayatollah and native of Iran is not sitting in Baghdad cutting heads and issuing orders.

Al Maliki even though a Shiite has been trying rearrange the deck chair on the Titanic fearing the ship is going to sink. At a glance you would have to say it's because of a representative government and by most standards unfavorable to the Shiite. They've been catering to the Sunni hardheads.

Eleminate Al Sadr and take away his toys, recapture the prisoners that were allowed from the lock up and kill the Fedayeen/Baathist that will never change their outlaw mentality. The appointed government before played this game of fairness in Fallujah until they were forced to send in the Marines. Allow the troops to do what they were trained for and quit sending them on target practice for the bad guys.

Al Maliki's strings are being pulled by Rafsanjani of Iranian radical Shiia fame, not the Sunnis.

You're making some pretty radical statements, here. What is your basis for them? You have one of those "private" profiles, so we can't evaluate where you're coming from - but on the surface it would appear that your "solutions" are simplistic and lacking in knolwedge of the issues involved. Following your remedies would probably net us more war than we can presently handle... not a good idea.

puck61
Basic Training
Posted Tue 25 July 2006 12:25
I suppose, in a nutshell as the world is now-and has been for God knows how long. War is a necessary evil. When I got out of the service, I was a peace activist until I realized that war is a fact of life. Anyone in their right mind knows it's awful and cruel, and the children suffer. It's kill or be killed. It's I don't agree with you. It's I want what you have. It's my God told me too. It's You're worrying me. add-infinitum Sorry about the lack of punctuation. Just stay alert, check the ditches, and shoulders and bumps in the road. Come home and at least experience a few years of peace with your friends and families. The "American Dream" is still back here, thank you for making sure it lasts.

wtpworrier
Member
Posted Tue 25 July 2006 12:28
Some body should have figured this out along time ago that some heads of suddams multi-headed snake was behind this whole thing. This comes as no supprise to me. That should have been the first thing our military larders figured out. Question. If they have so much intell on this guy, Why don't they just go and get him?

ropedope
Member
Posted Tue 25 July 2006 12:29
We probably got more war coming if the conflict between Israel and Hezbolla continues and expands as it appears to be doing.
Will be interesting to see how the USA reacts. I hpe we kick some *** and finish what was started.

http://www.military.com/blog/blackfive#blog2

John "Dirty Tricks" Murtha
Jul 26, 2006

Via Michelle Malkin, John Murtha hired a Private Investigator to check out Diana Irey, his competition for his Congressional seat this fall. He must be scared. Maybe he should just cut and run...

I'll close with this post that sums up the feelings of many of my Marine friends - from Old War Dogs comes this poem about John Murtha by Russ Vaughn, Milblogosphere Poet Laureate:

Semper I "Semper I" is an old Marine Corps term applied to those selfish careerists who place their own success ahead of their men and the wellbeing of the Corps. Congressman John Murtha is a living example of that disgraceful term.

A bugle blows in Arlington, Lilting notes fill still sad air, An eagle’s tears a globe fall on, Trail an anchor with despair, For a man we’d wish had not to die, Brave youth among the best, A Marine, he lived for Semper Fi, And with Semper Fi he’ll rest.


So sadly is the contrast, Between those who talk and fight; Fat Pols for whom their war’s past, But now can’t see the light, Accusing brave young fighting men, Of crimes they can’t defend, Disgraceful fat old congressmen, Who’ve lost the will to win.

Yes there we see the difference, Between those who fight to win, And a congressman with no sense, Who’s committed grievous sin; He’s turned against his Corps, And no one knows quite why, Except he loves himself much more: Classic case of Semper I.


Semper Fi to all Marines everywhere from an old paratrooper who holds Murtha in as much contempt as you do.


Russ Vaughn 327th Parachute Infantry Regiment 101st Airborne Division Vietnam 65-66

http://www.military.com/blog/justice#blog2

Summertime is Kid Time
Jul 30, 2006

Greetings everyone from the confines of a fledgling country of great people. Lately, the children have been coming out more - it is summer after all. Kids are great around the world, no question about it. I do not have any, so I live through my sibling’s and cousins’ kids - gotta love em’. The kids here in Iraq are no different, I want you all to know. They have those same smiles, that same curiosity, and that same desire to be loved, and love life. They have been approaching the convoys in my area, looking for candy, goodies, or just to check out these American boys and girls and their big trucks. They’ll get sticky fingers on your stuff if you are not careful, but who cares, it is not out of malice, it is the curiosity of youth! Insurgents don’t see what we see in the eyes of children. I read the reports from across this country - the insurgents will blow up anything and anyone. Recently, our combat hospital here released a young one whose face had been blown up by an IED. Major burns, major scars. Yes, I said the face. American doctors saved his life, and helped him heal. We gave him the royal treatment here, and everyone grew to love him. That is the American way, and even Democrats have to love that (if they like anything). What other country will take tragic cases from other countries and bring them to America for free surgeries. (then deny access for our own citizens who don’t have the right insurance forms) Here, we do it for the Iraqi’s as well. The soldiers here are doing well, living proud. We all do different jobs, some dangerous, some boring. But all part of a bigger machine, a bigger goal. The weather is HOT and this country dangerous, but we are starting to see the enemy crumble. Lately, as your news might have mentioned briefly, several SUNNI insurgent groups have made attempts to come to the table and work out cease fires - that is a sign. The foreign fighters, they’ll still keep meeting us in battle, and recently they took a “shot” or several at me - try shooting with your your eyes open boys- it might help. How do you miss with a “bazooka-type” weapon? The press is good at fooling you all about what it is like over here - this country is better off today than under Saddam, and the next time some idiot tries to go on about how wrong this war is - see if they even know about this war. I understand there is secretarian violence going on - when has Iraq not had this going on? Hell, when has Iraq ever had Kurds, Shiites and Sunni’s serving in the same army and pointing their weapons at the enemy and not at each other??? Maybe, the Iran/Iraq war from 1980-1988. So, in this country today we see them doing better (not perfect) than they ever did as far back as anyone can remember. No one wants to see 1,000 innocent lives lost in a month here, but let’s face reality. The International Red Cross estimates that 2.2 million Iraqi’s were murdered or are still missing from Saddam’s era. Divide that by his 24 years of rule and then by 12 months, and we will see that about 7,639 people a month were rounded up by Saddam’s henchmen and never returned to their families - how did the Iraqi women explain that to their children? The American media is turning their backs on reality - and the soldiers in Iraq get sick of seeing and hearing it. We do hundreds of missions at schools and villages a day throughout this country - yet how many make your evening news? How many ill-informed idiots out there, speaking against this war, know the facts of reality?? The soldiers here ask you to challenge them, and challenge your local news. What we are doing here is worth it, every smile we see across the face of an Iraqi child reminds us of it. Hug your little ones for those of us providing freedom…. on the far side of the world…….

-TROY

cleared by IO Officer for posting at 160614JUL06

http://www.military.com/blog/featured

Farewell Top
Jul 30, 2006

DoD Identifies Army Casualty The Department of Defense announced today the death of a soldier who was supporting Operation Enduring Freedom. 1st Sgt. Christopher C. Rafferty, 37, of Brownsville, Pa., died on July 21 in Sharana, Afghanistan of injuries sustained on July 20, when his unit encountered small arms fire during combat operations. Rafferty was assigned to 37th Engineer Battalion, Fort Bragg, N.C. On the 21st, I wrote an entry titled ?Early start, late ending?? and at the conclusion of that entry, I said I would write more later but could not at that time. I could not, because I cannot discuss soldiers killed in action before DOD has a chance to notify the families and then publishes the notice I have above. That morning we went looking for these bad guys because we had intel they may be staging an attack. That night we responded when they did attack. This time, they got lucky in a couple different ways. They got lucky that we did not find them early that morning, and they got lucky when they killed a great soldier like 1SG Rafferty. I did not know him, but I knew of him. Our FOB is right next to the 37th?s FOB and we work with them a lot. We shoot on their ranges, we pick up our mail from them, they fix our vehicles, and like the other night we respond on a moments notice to help them out as they do us. We all have US ARMY above our left chest, and we all wear the Flag on our right shoulder. We are all brothers in arms that are here away from loved ones and friends fighting the same enemy. We are all on the SAME TEAM. I had heard 1SG Rafferty?s name a few times as a point of coordination for some things I needed from the 37th, but have not had the time to link up, and now it looks like I never will. This lost has hit that unit hard as I saw it in the BN CDR?s face this morning in a meeting with him. They have had a lot of tough times lately, and to lose a 1SG (of which there are only 5 in a Battalion) is tough. 1SGs are the mommys and daddys of a unit. They are the top of the food chain essentially since they run the companies and run the soldiers. This is why a common nickname for all 1SGs is TOP. They take care of the soldiers, handle discipline, enforce standards, advise the commander on technical a