| From The Editor April 2, 2007 |
Evil Americans, Poor Mullahs
Forty-eight percent of Germans think the United States is more dangerous than Iran, a new survey shows, with only 31 percent believing the opposite. Germans' fundamental hypocrisy about the US suggests that it's high time for a new bout of re-education.
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| QUOTE OF THE WEEK |
| "Self-reverence, self-knowledge, self-control; these three alone lead one to sovereign power. " Alfred Lord Tennyson |
| PROFESSIONAL ARTICLES, EDITORIALS AND OPINIONS |
USS Jason DunhamOn April 14, 2004, in Karabilah, Iraq, Cpl. Jason Dunham threw himself on a grenade to save the lives of his fellow Marines. For that, Dunham was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor--one of only two U.S. servicemen to receive the award since the Iraq war started in March 2003. According to the citation:Corporal Dunham led his Combined Anti-Armor Team towards the engagement to provide fire support to their Battalion Commander's convoy, which had been ambushed as it was traveling to Camp Husaybah. As Corporal Dunham and his Marines advanced, they quickly began to receive enemy fire. Corporal Dunham ordered his squad to dismount their vehicles and led one of his fire teams on foot several blocks south of the ambushed convoy. Discovering seven Iraqi vehicles in a column attempting to depart, Corporal Dunham and his team stopped the vehicles to search them for weapons. As they approached the vehicles, an insurgent leaped out and attacked Corporal Dunham. Corporal Dunham wrestled the insurgent to the ground and in the ensuing struggle saw the insurgent release a grenade. Corporal Dunham immediately alerted his fellow Marines to the threat. Aware of the imminent danger and without hesitation, Corporal Dunham covered the grenade with his helmet and body, bearing the brunt of the explosion and shielding his Marines from the blast. On March 23, the U.S. Navy announced that it would further honor Dunham by naming the Navy's newest Arleigh Burke class destroyer after the fallen Marine. Here's the official story from the Navy. Full Story Tehran's HostagesIran's act of war against our British allies.Advocates of engagement with Tehran often claim that the Islamic Republic long ago shed its revolutionary pretensions in favor of becoming a "status quo" power. They might want to share that soothing wisdom with the families of the 15 British sailors and marines kidnapped Friday in Iraqi territorial waters by the naval forces of the elite, and aptly named, Iranian Revolutionary Guards.In an earlier day, what Iran has done would have been universally regarded as an act of war. It was a premeditated act, carried out only hours before Britain voted to stiffen sanctions against Iran for its nuclear program in a unanimous U.N. Security Council resolution. Iran captured a smaller detachment of British forces in the same waters in 2004, claiming they had strayed across the Iranian border. It beggars belief--as well as an eyewitness account of the incident reported by Reuters--that the British would make that mistake twice, assuming they made it the first time. In 2004, the Iranians were quick to release the captured soldiers after extracting "apologies" and marching them, blindfolded, before the TV cameras. There is reason to believe that this time the Ayatollahs might be planning a longer stay for their guests. Full Story Walk Through FireHard times feed the insurgency, and the insurgency keeps Iraq in ruins. A report from the front, such as it is.If Col. Don Farris hoped to score points on his visit to Charlie Company, he was out of luck. He brought a message from the relative safety of brigade headquarters in At Taji, north of Baghdad, to the troops at Patrol Base Apache in Adhamiya, one of the deadliest neighborhoods in the capital. We have to get out there on foot, he told the grunts - that's how we're going to win over the locals and get to know what's really going on: foot patrols. "F- - that," more than a few of the troops muttered as he spoke. The soldier they call Dragonslayer retreated to his bunk to sit staring at his stuffed toy dragon; he's been carrying it on missions lately, ignoring the worried glances he gets from his buddies. Even one of the most gung-ho men in the unit, a Miamian known affectionately as GI Jew, didn't buy the pep talk. "There's no way that's happening," he said, almost loud enough for the colonel to hear.Nevertheless, Charlie Company is still obeying orders - after a fashion. Its soldiers have gone out on dismounted patrols, but with the heavy firepower of their gun trucks rumbling along right behind them. They couldn't go unprotected, says Pfc Daniel Agami: "Walk out of here in the middle of the day without enough firepower and you have to retreat? Guess what, your whole platoon is f---ed." Yet without old-fashioned, unescorted foot patrols the Baghdad Security Plan - the surge - is almost certainly doomed. It's not enough that body counts are down, at least for now. The plan depends on U.S. and Iraqi troops getting out on the streets to win civilians' trust and cooperation and make the city safe enough for real reconstruction, which in turn would create jobs and give ordinary Iraqis something worth defending against the insurgents and death squads. Full Story |
| BREAKING NEWS FOR THE PROFESSIONAL |
A Deadly U.S.-Iran FirefightThe soldiers who were there still talk about the September 7 firefight on the Iran-Iraq border in whispers. At Forward Operating Base Warhorse, the main U.S. military outpost in Iraq's eastern Diyala Province bordering Iran, U.S. troops recount events reluctantly, offering details only on condition that they remain nameless. Everyone seems to sense the possible consequences of revealing that a clash between U.S. and Iranian forces had turned deadly. And although the Pentagon has acknowledged that a firefight took place, it says it cannot say anything more. "For that level of detail, you're going to have to ask the [U.S.] military in Baghdad," says Army Lieut. Col. Mark Ballesteros. "We don't know anything about it." A short Army press release issued on the day of the skirmish offered the following information: U.S. soldiers from the 5th Squadron 73rd Cavalry 82nd Airborne were accompanying Iraqi forces on a routine joint patrol along the border with Iran, about 75 miles east of Baghdad, when they spotted two Iranian soldiers retreating from Iraqi territory back into Iran. A moment later, U.S. and Iraqi forces came upon a third Iranian soldier on the Iraqi side of the border, who stood his ground. As U.S. and Iraqi soldiers approached the Iranian officer and began speaking with him, a platoon of Iranian soldiers appeared and moved to surround the coalition patrol, taking up positions on high ground. At that point, according to the Army's statement, the Iranian captain told the U.S. and Iraqi soldiers that if they tried to leave they would be fired on. Fearing abduction by the Iranians, U.S. troops moved to go anyway, and fighting broke out. Army officials say the Iranian troops fired first with small arms and rocket-propelled grenades, and that U.S. troops fell further back into Iraqi territory, while four Iraqi army soldiers, one interpreter and one Iraqi border guard remained in the hands of the Iranians.Full Story Inside Hizballah's Hidden BunkersWith the bunker's heavy metal lid dragged to one side, dank musty air rose up from the entrance, the forbidding gloom of the narrow steel-lined shaft below unbroken by the bright sunlight. It had taken seven months of searching to finally discover one of the underground bunkers that had enabled Hizballah to fire thousands of rockets into northern Israel last summer even under the pounding of Israeli air and ground operations. But any sense of exhilaration at the achievement was dampened by the nagging anxiety of claustrophobia. "If we have to crawl when we're down there, I can't do it," said my colleague Ghaith Abdul Ahad. The elaborate network of bunkers and fortified firing positions built over a six-year period in sealed-off valleys and hilltops throughout south Lebanon was key to Hizballah's ability to survive Israel's onslaught during last summer's month-long war. Israeli soldiers spoke of Hizballah fighters bursting out of the ground to loose off a rocket-propelled grenade before disappearing into the earth again. Israeli air crews hunted, often in vain, for the sources of Katyusha rocket fire, sometimes emanating from within a few hundred yards of the border.Full Story Opposing view: Things are looking upTwo months ago, the Senate voted unanimously to confirm one of our most decorated generals, David Petraeus, to take command in Iraq. Gen. Petraeus promised a fundamental overhaul of U.S. strategy - with a new plan that would at last correct the many mistakes we have made in this long and difficult war. Since taking command, Gen. Petraeus has been true to his word. The result? Sectarian violence is down in Baghdad. The radical cleric Muqtada al-Sadr has fled. The Mahdi Army, which terrorized Baghdad last year, appears to be splintering. And the Iraqi government - its spine stiffened thanks to our renewed support - is taking the critical steps for political reconciliation. Amazingly, however, just at the moment things are at last beginning to look up in Iraq, a narrow majority in Congress has decided that it's time to force our military to retreat. Rather than supporting Gen. Petraeus, they are threatening to strip him of the troops he says he needs and sabotage his strategy.Full Story The War of the WordsHow long will the war on terror last? Decades, most people assume. After all, the threat of Sept. 11-style attacks persists, and as long as it does, America will work mightily to prevent them. But the "war on terror" -- as a phrase -- could be nearing its final days. When the Bush administration goes, it may, too. Start with the word "war." From the beginning it was designed to contrast with crime, which many Republicans said had been the Clinton administration's framework for fighting al-Qaeda. Democrats allegedly saw anti-terrorism as police work. The Bush administration, by contrast, would unleash the military. Lurking behind this dichotomy was the assumption that jihadist terrorists were mainly creatures of their state sponsors. If the real threat was not terrorist networks but governments, then of course war, rather than crime, was the correct prism. That was the theory, and Iraq was the test case. But as Iraq has gone south, the American public's appetite for further wars -- not to mention that of the rest of the world -- has plummeted. And even some in the Bush administration have decided that it's good politics and good policy to make the anti-terrorism effort sound less militaristic.Full Story Beyond the Call of DutyConspicuous gallantry was in abundance last Tuesday at the New York Stock Exchange - where 31 Congressional Medal of Honor recipients gathered for the NYSE's fifth annual Circle of Honor Dinner. Those heroes, who served in World War II, Korea and Vietnam, are the sort for whom uncommon valor was, indeed, a common virtue. The oldest was John Finn, 97, of Pine Valley, Calif. - whose courage as a Navy anti-aircraft gunner during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor resulted in his being the first recipient of the nation's highest award for bravery under fire during World War II. "One minute I'm in bed with a pretty blonde," Finn recalled and "the next I'm taking fire . . . thinking, how'd this happen?" No doubt it was more complicated than that; suffice it to say that Finn was seriously wounded during the battle, survived to win a naval officer's commission and served with distinction for the remainder of the war.Full Story |
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Brutal Chinese Weapon, Tailor-Made for InsurgentsPortable rocket launchers like the RPG-7 are some of the deadliest, and most common, weapons in the guerrilla arsenal. The Chinese are now producing a new warheads that'll make the weapons even more lethal -- capable of knocking down a three-story building from 200 meters away. Jane's reveals that China's Xinshidai Company is churning out thermobaric warheads for the venerable RPG-7. Thermobaric explosives are 'volumetric' - the explosion comes from a cloud rather than a point source, and produces a blast that lasts longer. Even though this increase in duration is measured in milliseconds, it makes thermobarics far more destructive than condensed explosives, against both buildings and people. The Russians were first to produce a portable thermobaric rocket with the RPO-A Shmel (which seems to be one of these that produces many of the casualties in Beslan ). The US followed with the SMAW-NE, which was used to great effect against buildings in Fallujah where one round "would incinerate the target or literally level the structure."Full Story Hunting the HuntersThe Bush administration is warning that U.S. cooperation with German intelligence agencies could be jeopardized if that country pursues attempts to extradite 13 CIA officers charged with illegally abducting a German Muslim on suspicions of terrorist connections. U.S. concerns, communicated to German authorities through diplomatic channels, are the latest evidence that the administration intends to play hardball with foreign governments that take legal action against CIA officers for counterterror operations conducted on their soil. A European diplomat confirmed to NEWSWEEK that American officials have strongly warned the German government against pursuing CIA officers charged in the abduction of Khalid al-Masri, a Lebanese-born German Muslim who was nabbed while he was vacationing in Macedonia in December 2003. He was flown to Afghanistan for questioning. Al-Masri was suspected of involvement in the September 11 terror attacks. But he was released in May 2004. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice reportedly later acknowledged in private to German Chancellor Angela Merkel that his abduction was a case of mistaken identity.Full Story China is accused of fuelling Pacific arms raceA dramatic increase in the number of submarines being built in southeast Asia
has sparked claims that a new arms race is under way beneath the
waves in the Western Pacific. Dozens of hunter-killers, armed with
missiles and intelligence-gathering equipment, are being built,
fanning fears of potential conflict in a volatile corner of the
world and threatening to alter the global balance of military power.
The Indonesian government has announced that it wants to build 12
submarines by 2024 to patrol the strategically vital waters around
its 17,000 islands. Singapore, Malaysia, Vietnam, Thailand, South
Korea, Bangladesh and -Pakistan are all buying -submarines "off
the shelf". Iran's elite Guard Corps broadens influenceIran's Revolutionary Guard Corps, the elite unit at the heart of the latest Middle East crisis, has greater power today than at any point since the revolution's early days to export Islamic militancy and challenge the West's presence in the region, say U.S. officials and Iran experts. Its naval forces abducted 15 British sailors and marines nine days ago. Its special forces unit is operating deep in Iraq, providing militias with deadly roadside explosives used against American troops, U.S. officials say. It supplied missiles used by Hezbollah last summer in the longest war Arabs ever fought with Israel. And it now plays the largest role in Iran's ambitious military industries, including attempted acquisition of nuclear weapons and surface-to-surface missiles, according to an upcoming book by Anthony Cordesman of the Center for Strategic and International Studies. But almost three decades after the 1979 revolution, the Revolutionary Guard has also become a leading political and economic force in Iran. One of its veterans, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, became Iran's president in 2005. The force and a network of current and former commanders have also moved into Iran's oil and gas business, won bids on major government construction contracts, and even gained lucrative franchises such as Mercedes-Benz dealerships, the sources say.Full Story Talking Darfur to DeathThe world has been discussing the genocide in Darfur for more than three years. But some 200,000 deaths later, it has yet to take effective action to force the Sudanese government to stop sponsoring the mass murder, rape, torture and forcible evictions being carried out on its orders in the region. Yesterday, the United Nations Human Rights Council at last expressed its deep concern over human rights violations in Darfur. That modest advance was made possible by the welcome willingness of several African countries to set aside their usual reluctance to talk about their continent's human rights problems. But in practical terms, it was only a baby step. Despite an earlier finding by the council's own investigative team that the Sudanese government "orchestrated" and took part in "large-scale international crimes," the resolution failed to identify the Sudanese government as the author of these crimes. Slow progress is also visible in the Arab League, where other leaders reportedly subjected Sudan's president, Omar Hassan al-Bashir, to tough questioning over Darfur at this week's summit meeting. Their voices are crucial. Khartoum cannot dismiss Arab critics as colonialists or crusaders against Islam. But it will take more than discreet conference diplomacy to end the slaughter.Full Story |
| TACTICAL TRAINING & INTELLIGENCE RESOURCES FOR THE PROFESSIONAL |
Humanitarian Conduct & Enhanced Operations: Specialized Training for Field Managers and Independent Contractors.The goal of this 2-Day certificate training program is to serve as a mechanism by which the IPOA Code of Conduct and other standards can be "operationalized" by contractors active in conflict and post-conflict environments around the world. Through interactive sessions and simulations, participants will be trained in essential areas such as international humanitarian law, NGO/IO interaction, cultural, gender & religious sensitivities and learn how to operationalize field guidelines, increase productivity levels and improve interaction with other actors in the field. For more information, please contact Derek Wright at dwright@ipoaonline.org or visit http://www.american.edu/sis/peacebuilding/security/traininginfo.htm. | |
| FRANKS REVIEW |
Tactical Equipment EvaluationGrayman KnivesA couple weeks ago I received two knives for test and evaluation from Grayman Knives. Now, I'll say up front, I'd never heard of the company. The pictures I saw on their website weren't particularly pretty, but the testimonials from people who had purchased their knives were very complimentary. When I got the knives I had two immediate reactions: 1) Wow, that's a hefty tool that will take a lot of abuse, and 2) that's a butt ugly blade. I had to remind myself that a little more than 20 years ago I thought Glocks were ugly too, but they work. "Pretty is as pretty does," applies. I've tested (and thoroughly abused) these blades and they've taken it without issue.Full Story Can Be Viewed At: http://www.borelliconsulting.com/evals/knives/grayman.htm Recreational Equipment ReviewPreparing For The Summer Scuba SeasonThe last time I was in the Florida Keys for some diving was in December of 2004. I was told at that time that the week after Christmas - the last week of December - was the busiest dive week of the entire year for the Florida Keys. At my local dive shop here in Maryland, I've realized that the dive season runs from mid-April through mid-September, with a heavy emphasis on July and August. The water is warmer by then in the local lakes and quarries, and school is still out making traveling easier for many. The one thing that I'm always reminded of at my local dive shop is that you simply can't pull your equipment out of storage after four to six months and just expect it to work. Some inspections and checks have to be done so that you can trust this equipment with your life. After all, that's what you're doing.
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| CHAPLAINS CORNER |
LIFE...can come at you fast and difficult sometimes.About 0600 hours... a hallway deep within General Hospital... Assisting in the moving of two fatalities to other facilities after a long night of dealing with difficulties involving several generations of two families... A Security Guard commented on what a difficult night that we had just experienced at the facility... It had definitely been a series of crisis for the emergency department. They had received the double fatality case and also two victims of a shooting case wherein the two victims were represented by opposing groups creating disturbances in the facility and an the grounds outside... Plus the Friday night load of medical cases. In my usual manner I responded with, "It is still a good night. We survived the difficulties and we get to go home. Any night is a good night when you get to go home at the end of your duty." Most people do not comprehend upbeat people and I am one of those who is accused of seeing good in places where it does not exist. Yesterday I had two death cases... One was an elderly person who died unexpectedly and I was called to handle the needs of the family until their clergy could respond. The other was the case mentioned above... Two beautiful teen girls were fatally injured when their vehicle was struck from behind. The jobs of myself and another chaplain were to notify the two families of the deceased and accompany them to the hospital for identification purposes. I had been asleep just 15 minutes when my pager sounded. I responded to the scene of the crash that was not far from my location, arriving just after mid-night. Another chaplain was called to assist with one family while I assisted with the other. I was the first to arrive so I accompanied the police investigators to the nearest family. The situation became complicated immediately. The person who was supposed to be at the address was not living there anymore. We expected to find the father there... instead we found the mother who had major difficulties immediately. We managed to calm her and transported her to the hospital. The other team could not locate the other mother nor father. Time was consumed in trying to locate these parents while we tried to locate the father in relation to the family that I was working with. Time dragged on as we tried to console the one parent that we did have with us. It is the practice of our police department to make all notifications in person if possible. This is part of our General Orders. Eventually the father of the family I was assisting arrived at the hospital and we went through his initial grief process. The mother was still deep in the grief process and would be until she left many hours later. The father went to pick up and bring to the hospital his other two children... an older brother to the deceased and a younger sister. They arrived and we went through their initial grieving... Full Story Can Be Viewed At: http://www.blackwaterusa.com/btw2007/article/040207chaplain.htm
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