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Category Archives: Military Matters
The Warrior Song
I think this rocks, so here it is in honor of Veteran’s Day.
Posted in Military Matters, Synova's Page
3 Comments
GPS System Could Break Down Next Year
On the bright side, I’ll be able to save battery life on my iphone by turning off the gps. The downside of course being that the gps is increadibly useful.
Posted in Chris' Page, Military Matters, Technology
1 Comment
Send in the SEALS
Well, here’s a true foreign crisis to test the President with. My response is noted in the title. And we should kill the pirates. In fact, after rescued the hostages, and killed the pirates, we should get all Jeffersonian with … Continue reading
Posted in Domestic Politics, Foreign affairs, Keith's Page, Military Matters
Tagged maersk alabama, pirates, Somalia
1 Comment
Iraq – We’re Winning!!!
A funny thing happened on the way to Iraq, President Obama declared that we’re winning. Anyone who’s been keeping up to date knows we’ve been making great progress, and I say, winning in Iraq. President Obama acknowledges the courage and … Continue reading
Obama Snubs MOH recipients
In a sense, this is surprising to me. I thought Obama had more political sense to him then this. It might have been his handlers fault. That’s being generous though. http://pajamasmedia.com/blog/obama-snubs-medal-of-honor-recipients/ In this case, the American Legion, the Military Order … Continue reading
Posted in Domestic Politics, Keith's Page, Military Matters
Tagged medal of honor, military, President Obama, veterans
3 Comments
Armies of the Obsolete
Light and infrared targeting devices for games. (Photo by Rob Stradling | website) Al Qaeda technicians have apparently pioneered the use of electronics in old SEGA game cartridges for bomb detonators. A smaller precedent than the use of the airliner … Continue reading
Posted in Lee's Page, Military Matters, Technology
Tagged 1990s, al Qaeda, cartridge games, CDR, compact discs, Culture, Earth, electronics, energy, engineering, engines, environmental, extraterrestrial civilizations, games, geology, Greeks, human civilization, infrared targeting, laser guided munitions, light guns, media storage, military technology, modernity, oil, petroleum, physics, post-vietnam, resources, Rob Stradling, science, security threats, SEGA, slave labor, Stephen Hawking, Technology, technology transfer, Terrorism, Transportation, West, Yemen
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“Setbacks”
We see this kind of thing in the press all the time: U.S. and Afghan troops have abandoned a remote outpost in eastern Afghanistan where militants killed nine American soldiers earlier this week, officials said Wednesday. Compounding the military setback, … Continue reading
Posted in Foreign affairs, Lance's Page, Media, Military Matters, Notes on the war
Tagged Afghanistan, Media, paratroopers, war
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From Galula, to Anbar and the Surge
In the ongoing discussion of who has done a better job of describing the time line around the surge, I certainly recommend McQ’s discussion. The Minuteman however has a couple of key points to make on this issue as well: … Continue reading
Posted in Domestic Politics, Election 2008, Foreign affairs, Lance's Page, Military Matters
Tagged COIN, David Galula, Iraq, the surge
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Boumediene — The Great Sandbagging
UPDATE: Welcome QandO readers. Please look around after you’ve finished with this post, but McQ says you have to go back over to QandO when you’re done … but I won’t tell if you won’t. _____________________________________________________________ The recent Supreme Court … Continue reading
Posted in Domestic Politics, Foreign affairs, Law, MichaelW's Page, Military Matters, Notes on the war
Tagged 9/11, Afghanistan, Boumediene, CSRT, detainees, Gitmo, GTMO, Guantanamo Bay, habeas corpus, Hamdi, Iraq, Law, September 11, U.S. Supreme Court, war
7 Comments
(Relatively) Measuring Success
This is the most recent of a series of posts on Registan.net where I explore some of the fundamentals of conflict within the tribal areas of the Afghanistan-Pakistan border. At the end of this post is a link to the … Continue reading
Posted in Foreign affairs, Military Matters, Notes on the war
Tagged AAF, Afghanistan, COIN, conflict, fundamentals, metrics, propaganda, Success, Taliban, Terrorism, war
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Fallon and Petraeus sitting in a tree…
I was catching up a bit on my reading, and thanks to McQ found this interview with Admiral Fallon. As McQ points out, the conversation did not go the way Kyra Phillips was trying to steer it. Given our own … Continue reading
Posted in Lance's Page, Military Matters, Notes on the war
Tagged Admiral Fallon, Iran, Iraq, Petraeus, surge
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War, Peace, and Reconciliation
Some thoughts from Hal Moore on war, peace, and reconciliation. When the blood of any war soaks your clothes and covers your hands, and soldiers die in your arms, every breath forever more becomes an appeal for a greater peace, … Continue reading
Posted in Culture, Keith's Page, Military Matters
Tagged Hal Moore, LZ X-Ray, peace, reconciliation, Vietnam, war
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Of “Battle Fatigue” and National Caveats
Posted first to Registan.net, your one-stop shop for all things Central Asia, this is a tangent to a really excellent theme I’ve been tracking the past few weeks—the flow of press releases masquerading as journalism from Afghanistan to our largest … Continue reading
Posted in Foreign affairs, Military Matters, Notes on the war
Tagged Afghanistan, Germans, military, NATO, policy
2 Comments
Roads, More Roads, and Still More Roads Indeed!
This is the latest post in a running commentary on a new meme to emerge from the PR folks in Afghanistan: the security benefits of building roads. The argument, advanced by a few American reporters and one David Kilcullen, is … Continue reading
Posted in Foreign affairs, Media, Military Matters, Notes on the war
Tagged Afghanistan, COIN, gullible, Media, roads
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Chicks Are Cool, ‘Long As They Know Their Place
Only in America’s Army: KHOST, Afghanistan — Pfc. Monica Brown cracked open the door of her Humvee outside a remote village in eastern Afghanistan to the pop of bullets shot by Taliban fighters. But instead of taking cover, the 18-year-old … Continue reading
Posted in Domestic Politics, Military Matters, Society
Tagged DADT, military, women, WTFBBQ
7 Comments
Airspace Violations
Cross-posted to Registan.net, which is “All Central Asia, All the Time.” Last year, Georgia was abuzz with accusations against Russia for its military jets supposedly violating its airspace and possibly even attacking radio stations. Now, Georgian officials are hopping mad … Continue reading
Posted in Foreign affairs, Military Matters
Tagged Abkhazia, Airplanes, Georgia, military, Russia, Sovereignty
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More Like This Please
I was pleasantly surprised, and mildly irritated, to see that Condi Rice basically called Muqtada al-Sadr a coward while she was in Baghdad recently (via: Instapundit): Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice mocked anti-American cleric Muqtada al-Sadr as a coward on … Continue reading
Posted in Foreign affairs, MichaelW's Page, Military Matters, Notes on the war
Tagged Condi Rice, GWOT, Iran, Iraq, Muqtada al-Sadr, rhetoric, Terrorism, terrorist cowards, war
14 Comments
What Is ASHC?
There seems to be some confusion on the part of some as to exactly what sort of place ASHC is: I was rather surprised to read this dubious and scornful appraisal of Michael Yon’s Wallstreet Journal editorial at A Second … Continue reading
Those Magnificent Men
I was sent this via e-mail from my Uncle Pat, also known as Colonel Alfred H. Paddock. Uncle Pat is a story in and of himself, but I’ll tell you a little more about him after the e-mail. Let it … Continue reading
Posted in Foreign affairs, Lance's Page, Military Matters, Notes on the war
Tagged Alfred H Paddock, Austrailia, Green Berets, Iraq, military, Special forces
2 Comments
What They Won’t Ask Petraeus
3. Recent Senate testimony by General William Odom and journalist Nir Rosen presented a portrait of Iraq that is at odds with the more rosy picture painted by the Bush Administration. General Odom has said “the decline in violence reflects … Continue reading
Posted in Military Matters, Notes on the war
9 Comments
Political Progress in Iraq
This will be good news if it happens… http://hotair.com/archives/2008/04/07/sadrs-political-universe-continues-to-shrink/ Iraq’s major Shiite, Sunni and Kurdish parties have closed ranks to force anti-American cleric Muqtada al-Sadr to disband his Mahdi Army militia or leave politics, lawmakers and officials involved in the … Continue reading
Posted in Keith's Page, Military Matters, Notes on the war
Tagged Iraq, Maliki, political progress, Sadr
1 Comment
Uncertain Future of Iraq
Fred and Kimberly Kagan have a decent analysis of what we do and don’t know about the situation in Iraq. Just the highlights (as I see them) Do Know * The legitimate Government of Iraq and its legally-constituted security forces … Continue reading
Posted in Foreign affairs, Keith's Page, Military Matters
Tagged Basra, Iraq, Madhi Army, Maliki, Sadr
4 Comments
Operation Lost Cause
Let’s see, the Mahdi Army is in retreat, and the ISF is continuing operations, and sending reinforcements. Isn’t it OBVIOUS that Maliki is loosing. Update – This puts things into perspective… Mission accomplished has been duly declared, although the JAM … Continue reading
Posted in Keith's Page, Military Matters, Notes on the war
Tagged Iraq, Mahdi Army, Maliki, Sadr
7 Comments
What’s wrong with Iraq War Movies?
I’m often guilty of seeing connections between things that others seem to think make no sense at all. So bear with me and then tell me what you think. The New York Times review of “Stop-Loss” explains the failure of … Continue reading
Posted in Culture, Military Matters, Society, Synova's Page
Tagged Hollywood, Iraq, John Kerry, Rovian Plots, war movies
8 Comments
There is no perfect option
Posted first on Registan.net. While I cringe at the idea of missile strikes in Pakistan—no matter the attention or care paid, there will be innocent people killed in the process (especially when a target is missed and vows increased attacks)—it … Continue reading
Posted in Foreign affairs, Military Matters
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How Protectionism is Undermining A Key Defensive Alliance
Stewart Koehl writes about how a clever lobbying campaign on the part of Lockheed Martin is undermining a decades-long arms alliance with Sweden. Yes, Sweden, card credit hsbc philippinebusiness card credit find smallbank card credit login orchardcard consolidation credit debt … Continue reading
Posted in Around the Web, Foreign affairs, Military Matters
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The Problem With Assassination
Posted first on Registan.net. Yesterday, I expressed skepticism about the “decapitation” strikes the U.S. military carries out in Pakistan (and also Somalia, Yemen, and so on). One issue I skirted around was the messy problem of sovereignty: in a very … Continue reading
Posted in Foreign affairs, Military Matters
20 Comments
This is the sort of thing I hate
Posted first on Registan.net. There is a fine line between sympathetic reporting and outright propaganda. I would say this post at Long War Journal crosses that line: At 9:40 PM local time, US officials declared the group posed an imminent … Continue reading
Posted in Foreign affairs, Military Matters
11 Comments
Success Strategies
The former commander of inifini-detention center Guantanamo Bay—a man who has sown tremendous mistrust and hatred of the U.S. in the Muslim world—is now being made chief Defense Representative… in Pakistan.
Posted in Around the Web, Military Matters
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Howlers on Fallon
There are many reasons to speculate about Fallon’s resignation at CENTCOM: a probable policy dispute over how best to handle Iran (despite the self-serving claims by military officials there was none, it was clear Fallon is at odds with the … Continue reading
Posted in Military Matters
1 Comment
Pearls of Wisdom from USAF
“Affordability can’t always be the rule.” So says U.S. Air Force Secretary Michael Wynne when explaining his mad rush for hundreds more hyper-advanced single-role air dog fighters than either the SecDef or President thinks his service needs to Senator Carl … Continue reading
Posted in Around the Web, Military Matters
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This Is Not At All A Bad Idea
Kip explains: Overweight? Under-trained? Non-branch qualified? Still wondering what will become of your career after that general officer letter of reprimand? Today, the NY Times announced that the US is looking to send 100 combat advisers to Pakistan… Anyway, now … Continue reading
Posted in Around the Web, Military Matters
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Stretched, but not broken
A poll conducted by Foreign Policy and the Center for a New American Security (which just hired the almost-retired LTC John Nagl, one of the coauthors, along with GEN Petraeus, of FM 3-24) asked what worries 3,400 active and retired … Continue reading
Posted in Military Matters
1 Comment
‘Chaos is the enemy’
War correspondent David Axe notices that the Army seems to be cluing itself in to the fact that its conflicts in the short-to-medium term will be counterinsurgent, “small” wars, while the Air Force keeps wanting to bomb China. There are … Continue reading
Posted in Around the Web, Military Matters
3 Comments
Hrm
New Army Chief of Staff Gen. George Casey thought, in stark contrast the many mil bloggers and several co-bloggers here, that Barrack Obama’s claim about equipment shortages was credible. This doesn’t mean anything, though—he just can’t discount it, and believed … Continue reading
Posted in Around the Web, Military Matters
2 Comments
Does the Air Force Hate Us?
First it’s their reckless profligacy, replacing old airframes with fewer, newer ones at a 300% markup. Then they dig for $59 million to lobby Congress to spend another $20 billion on worthless junk. This is to say nothing of how … Continue reading
Posted in Around the Web, Military Matters
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Everything You Need To Know About Berkeley
If you are like me, and have trouble understanding the mindset of the Berkeley City Council, here’s an easy way to figure it out. In the City Council’s letter to the U.S. Marine Recruiting Center, why is the term “unwelcome … Continue reading
Berkeley Backs Off
Probably a wise decision when up against Marines, although, as is usual with politicians, this decision is driven mainly by government largess (or the lack thereof): As six Republican senators devised a plan to yank $2.3 million in federal funding … Continue reading
M16s for Iraqis
Photo: Atlantic Firearms Upgrades for Iraq’s Presidential Brigade. They’ve purchased M16 rifles to replace their AKs: The Iraqi Army’s Presidential Brigade turned over their older AK-47 model rifles for newer and more accurate M-16s at Besmaya Range Complex in Iraq … Continue reading
Posted in Firearms, Lee's Page, Military Matters
Tagged AK47, Firearms, guns, Iraq, Iraqi Army, Kalishnikov, M16, M4, marksmanship, Presidential Brigade, rifle
2 Comments
A Candidate Without A War
Is the Iraq War hurting John McCain’s candidacy? By “hurting” I’m referring to his struggle to be the true conservative candidate who unites the party. Despite his clear lead in the primary race, McCain has not been able to capture … Continue reading
The Air Surge
Bob Owens tackles the lazy reductionist thinking behind claims that the recent use of air strikes in Iraq shows a worsening situation, or is at odds with the counterinsurgency strategy we should be pursuing. I especially like this quote from … Continue reading
Posted in Foreign affairs, Lance's Page, Media, Military Matters
Tagged Air Surge, bombing, Human Rights Watch, Iraq, Petraeus, surge
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Mukasey on Waterboarding (UPDATED)
Attorney General Michael Mukasey sent a letter to the Senate Judiciary Committee regarding the interrogation technique known as waterboarding. Mukasey remarked that it is not an authorized interrogation technique, and that it “is not, and may not be, used in … Continue reading
Possibly the Two Dumbest Political Moves in the Last 6 Years
I would have to think Saddams bluff against the world would be up there at #1. A possible number 2 would be Rumsfeld, in 2004, siding with decision not to publicaly release information that supported going to war. http://www.spectator.org/dsp_article.asp?art_id=12652 One … Continue reading
Posted in Domestic Politics, Keith's Page, Military Matters, Notes on the war
Tagged , anthrax, Iraq, Iraq Survey Group, mustard gas, Rumsfeld, Saddam Husein, WMD
1 Comment
Frank Miller’s Geostrategic Theory
Frank Lovece sat down with Frank Miller for Newsday to discuss his upcoming film The Spirit. Toward the end of it Lovece asked Miller about remarks he’d made in 2007 in support of the Iraq War, and offered him an … Continue reading →