| From The Editor November 6, 2006 |
Military IntelligenceJohn Kerry's comments stirred up quite a bit of emotion yesterday. The American Legion promptly denounced them, and John McCain and President Bush rushed to hold press conferences. Kerry vowed to apologize "to no one" and insisted that the statement--"education, if you make the most of it, you study hard, you do your homework and you make an effort to be smart, you can do well. If you don't, you get stuck in Iraq"--was a botched joke directed at Yale graduate George W. Bush. Few, however, stopped to consider the factual nature of the assertions. If they did, they'd realize there's nothing to be offended about, because Kerry's words were simply incorrect. In fact, members of the armed forces are more often high school graduates, and more often of above-average intelligence, than average Americans. Last year, the Heritage Foundation took the time to study soldier demographics. The resulting report, "Who Bears the Burden?" disproves many of the stereotypes members of the military face. Pertinent to Kerry's comments, the study found that soldiers actually tend to have more education than the general public. Full Story Gary Jackson |
| QUOTE OF THE WEEK |
| It behooves every man to remember that the work of the critic is of altogether secondary importance, and that in the end, progress is accomplished by the man who does things. Theodore Roosevelt |
| PROFESSIONAL ARTICLES, EDITORIALS AND OPINIONS |
Germany has made it official: it is prepared to move out of
its postwar pacifist mode and undertake a greater role in global security.
Good. There has been no good reason for some time why Germany should
not do its share of global peacekeeping and peacemaking. Defending
Germany's borders, to which its army was restricted after World War
II, is hardly a consuming mission in today's Europe. |
| BREAKING NEWS FOR THE PROFESSIONAL |
Saddam Hussein Is Sentenced to DeathAn Iraqi special tribunal today convicted Saddam Hussein of crimes against humanity and sentenced him to death by hanging for the brutal repression of a Shiite town in the 1980s. As the verdict was read, Mr. Hussein shouted, "Long live the people! Long live the Arab nation! Down with the spies!" He then chanted "God is great." The chief judge, Raouf Rasheed Abdul Rahman, tried to calm Mr. Hussein down. "There's no point," Mr. Rahman said. The five-judge panel, which heard more than nine months of testimony in the case, also issued death sentences for two of his seven co-defendants: Barzan Ibrahim al-Tikriti, Mr. Hussein`s half-brother, who was head of Iraq`s domestic intelligence agency; and Awad al-Bandar, president of Mr. Hussein`s revolutionary court.Full Story Sniper Attacks Adding to Peril of U.S. TroopsThe bullet passed through Lance Cpl. Juan Valdez-Castillo as his Marine patrol moved down a muddy urban lane. It was a single shot. The lance corporal fell against a wall, tried to stand and fell again. His squad leader, Sgt. Jesse E. Leach, faced where the shot had come from, raised his rifle and grenade launcher and quickly stepped between the sniper and the bloodied marine. He walked backward, scanning, ready to fire. Shielding the marine with his own thick body, he grabbed the corporal by a strap and dragged him across a muddy road to a line of tall reeds, where they were concealed. He put down his weapon, shouted orders and cut open the lance corporal`s uniform, exposing a bubbling wound.Full Story Tending a Fallen Marine, With Skill, Prayer and FuryPetty Officer Third Class Dustin E. Kirby clutched the injured marine`s empty helmet. His hands were coated in blood. Sweat ran down his face, which he was trying to keep straight but kept twisting into a snarl. He held up the helmet and flipped it, exposing the inside. It was lined with blood and splinters of bone. "The round hit him," he said, pausing to point at a tiny hole that aligned roughly with a man`s temple. "Right here." Petty Officer Kirby, 22, is a Navy corpsman, the trauma medic assigned to Second Mobile Assault Platoon of Weapons Company, Second Battalion, Eighth Marines. Everyone calls him Doc. He had just finished treating a marine who had been shot by an Iraqi sniper.Full Story US plans N Korea nuke plant strikesTHE Pentagon is speeding up plans for possible military strikes on North Korea's nuclear program. US defence officials said detailed planning had begun for precision strikes on nuclear facilities such as the North Korean plutonium reprocessing plant at Yongbyon. The plant is thought to have supplied the plutonium fuel used in an underground nuclear test carried out by Kim Jong-il's pariah regime on October 9. A Pentagon official said "various military options" for halting North Korea's nuclear program were under consideration. "Other than nuclear strikes, which are considered excessive, there are several options now in place," the official said. "Planning has been accelerated."Full Story Indian army turns on itselfTHE 1.1-million strong Indian army's capacity to cope with the war on terror - particularly its fierce battle against the jihadi insurgents in disputed Kashmir - was dramatically brought into focus yesterday with reports that in yet another act of fratricide, a captain and junior commissioned officer were gunned down by a sergeant who then turned his service weapon on himself. The latest incident of fragging - a term that comes from the Vietnam war, when disaffected US soldiers rolled fragmentation grenades into the tents of officers they did not like - brings to almost 20 the number of Indian soldiers killed in this way in little more than a fortnight. Dozens are reported to have died in similar incidents over the past few months.Full Story |
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| SECURITY FOR THE PROFESSIONAL |
U.S.-Led Exercise in Persian Gulf Sets Sights on Deadliest WeaponsMore than two dozen countries, including three gulf states, practiced intercepting and searching vessels suspected of trafficking in unconventional weapons in major military maneuvers on Monday that emphasized their coordination and willingness to aggressively block the spread of arms. The daylong exercise, about 20 miles outside Iranian territorial waters, seemed to signal to Iran, too, that a coalition of Western powers and neighboring states was intent on denying it access to nuclear, chemical and biological weapons, even on its doorstep.Full Story Possible Iraq Deployments Would Stretch Reserve ForceThe Army's National Guard and Reserve are bracing for possible new and accelerated call-ups, spurred by high demand for U.S. troops in Iraq, that leaders caution could undermine the citizen-soldier force as it struggles to rebuild. Two Army National Guard combat brigades with about 7,000 troops have been identified recently in classified rotational plans for possible special deployment to Iraq, according to senior Army and Pentagon officials, who asked that the specific units not be named. One brigade could be diverted to Iraq next year from another assignment, and the other could be sent there in 2008, a year ahead of schedule.Full Story Police on alert over grenade launchersThe line between domestic terrorism and organised crime is starting to blur, with suspected terrorists making increasing use of criminal networks to support their operations. Senior police have confirmed reports that detectives fear a number of rocket-propelled grenade launchers smuggled into Australia by criminal gangs might be sold to terrorist groups inside the country. The Russian-made weapons have reportedly been linked to at least one Sydney crime gang, but police do not know how they entered the country or where they are now, the sources said. The head of NSW police counter-terrorism, Assistant Commissioner Nick Kaldas, said Western terrorist groups might follow the example of those in Iraq, where there was no longer an effective distinction between criminal and Muslim extremists.Full Story Avoiding the Violence in AfghanistanSouthern Afghanistan is in trouble. But what can NATO do about it? With commanders in the field in need of support, Germany prefers staying in the relatively secure northern part of the country. Criticism is growing louder. What to do about Afghanistan? On the one hand, the 37 countries taking part in the North Atlantic Treaty Organization's mission in the country remain in the country trying to secure democracy and provide Afghanis with a future. On the other, fighting is on the rise -- as are tensions within the alliance. Some countries feel they are shouldering a disproportionate share of the war's risk and lethality. It's not a difficult conclusion to arrive at. Countries like Canada, the Netherlands, Britain and the US have faced a fierce and rejuvenated Taliban in Afghanistan's southern provinces, while other countries -- like Germany -- have avoided conflict by staying in the relatively stable northern provinces.Full Story France blocks Nato bid to create a global terror forcePlans to boost Nato's co- operation with countries such as Australia and Japan in an effort to forge a partnership against terrorism have been blocked by France. The moves were to have been at the centre of a summit of the alliance's leaders to be held in Riga this month. Nato officials now accept that only a loosely worded pledge to increase contacts with partners in Asia and Australasia will be included in the communique, which will be agreed by President George Bush and other leaders in the Latvian capital.Full Story |
| TRAINING FOR THE PROFESSIONAL |
Blackwater Language SchoolLearn the language... and the culture... then deploy. Operators, analysts, military and civilian support personnel working with or deploying to Iraq or Afghanistan have two classes to choose from: IRAQI ARABIC from - 13 November - to - 17 November PASHTO/DARI from - 27 November - to - 01 December INTENSITY - Live and breathe Arabic or Pashto/Dari Blackwater Language School provides an intensive language learning environment in which participants challenge themselves and learn at a rate beyond normal limits. This intensive experience has proven to be very successful. Because you and your team-mates have limited time to study the language and culture of Iraq or Afghanistan, we substitute time with intensity. Every student is encouraged to communicate as much as possible in Iraqi dialect Arabic or Pashto/Dari during the entire week-long course. This is no ordinary course of study- it is an endeavor that is emotionally taxing- and rewarding! SURVIVABILITY - Cultural Awareness = Situational Awareness If you don't understand the culture...you can cause real trouble. Our team of accomplished staff is dedicated to helping students survive and thrive in the subject culture. A series of cultural activities will take place throughout the program. Students will be encouraged to use their new skills as they eat Middle Eastern meals and engage in situational interviews- in the immersive environment. This highly intensive language environment empowers you to immediately put your language skills into action and test the boundaries of your cultural survival skills! At only $1495 per student, space is extremely limited. To reserve a space for you or your unit... ...call or email us today! (252) 435-2016 languages@blackwaterusa.com |
| FRANKS REVIEW |
Service Equipment ReviewLeitner-Wise Piston Operated RiflesA few weeks ago on the Borelli Consulting Discussion Board, a question was asked about the pros and cons of piston operated semi-automatic rifles versus gas operated semi-auto rifles. At that point in time I had little information about the piston operated systems and therefore couldn't comment. A representative from Leitner-Wise Rifles jumped on the Discussion Board and offered some basic information. It sparked my curiosity and I had to learn more. Next thing you know, I'm at the range with the folks from Leitner-Wise shooting a collection of rifles and learning about the piston-operated system. As I learned, there are some definite benefits to be had from the piston-operated design: they are cooler and cleaner than traditional gas-operated systems. I noted that the recoil felt different and that's apparently the result of the piston itself moving in the place of gas pressure building up. More on that below.Full Story Can Be Viewed At: http://www.borelliconsulting.com/evals/guns/lwrifles.htm Recreational Equipment ReviewHardigg Storm CasesLong before I was in the Army I was using various brands of hard plastic cases to store whatever items necessary. I had a couple of handguns that needed safe (and locked) storage; I delivered pizzas and needed a small lockable container for cash and change. At that time, without being aware of all the variety available, I bought what I could find and adapted it to suit my purposes. These days I have specific needs and am slightly more familiar with what is out there. Mostly I'm using hard cases to store my firearms and for my money I've yet to find a better hardcase than those made by Hardigg. One of their product lines, Storm Cases, are amazingly resistant to abuse and protect the contents very well. I have two primary cases that I use: one holds my shotgun and lever-action rifle while the smaller one holds my Glock 19 and two spare magazines.
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| CHAPLAINS CORNER |
INFORMATION AND APPLICATION...Among my respondents I find some very interesting information.
Today I share a web site that might be of powerful interest to military
personnel heading to Iraq and to law enforcement... especially to
those who might be interested in training in tracking. I have investigated
the site and I find it to be interesting from the standpoint of
what is taught and how the group of Peace Keepers who run the training
handle the business of preparing those who are interested in the
subject of tracking lost people, fugitives and enemies such as the
insurgency in the Middle East. Take a look. You will find it very
enlightening... at least I did... and I correspond often with one
of the members of the team. The training is free... no cost to to
the student for the course of instruction... Check it out at www.centuriontraininggroup.org
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The Blackwater Tactical Weekly is a free weekly e-publication. The BTW provides readers valuable information from diverse sources regarding tactical and strategic security issues. Editor-in-Chief – Gary Jackson (btw@blackwaterusa.com) Questions regarding Security Consulting or Training
at Blackwater (252) 435-2488 Editorial Calendar: The weekly theme may change at the discretion of
the Editor based on current events. To view an archived BTW, Click Here |
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