This story from GruntDoc tells the whole tale. What these guys did is harder than anything I've ever been asked to do, or want to do. We often think of the serviceman, the armed citizen, and the policeman who confronts evil directly. But the medics are the ones who pick up the pieces, and start putting it all back together.
Sharp Knife
With Trembling Hands:
Noel at Sharp Knife has secret details from the exchange of letters between Ted Rall and David Horowitz. He has the on the record details too, of course.
MECHA WARRIORS: Turning Soldiers into Armored
Mecha Warriors:
That's the title of this article on efforts to build giant robots for the Army. One reservist has built one in his backyard that can shoot spikes and spit fire. Can't walk yet, but... one thing at a time.
Things like this and the TRAP make me think that the military is thinking ahead. What I imagine they are thinking is this: "We used to have the best marksmen in the world, because they all grew up shooting squirrel in the backwoods. What are we going to do when all our potential volunteers have only Xbox shooting skills?"
Well, we'll have the best giant robot warriors around, no doubt.
DriveWerks.com - 7" Straight Jaw Locking Pliers
*Grumble*
Why, oh why, must these manufacturers of automobiles make battery terminals out of such poor quality steel?
Battery died in the truck today, so I hiked into town, got a new one, and carried it back. (An aside: these things are not feathers. My son, who is two, was deeply impressed. He kept trying to lift it after we got back home,and then pointing it out to his mother, and saying, "Daddy do!")
I have exactly the right size ratchet socket for the business of replacing the battery: 7/32. (For some reason, however, other bolts in the engine are metric; parts I have to take off to get at the battery are 12mm.) Fits like a glove; but no matter. The negative terminal came off with no problem, but add a little corrosion, and it's no go on the positive. The "steel" bolt stripped away like butter.
I ended up having to pry the thing loose with a pair of these. What a pain.
So, that's how I spent my afternoon. How was yours?
On the upside, the wife did compose a new song in honor of the occasion. She calls it "the Daddy Hero song." That's a bit much, but it is nice to hear her praise me to the boy, and it is nice to know I made her day.
Musings of The GeekWithA.45
Handguns to a Gunfight:
One of the easiest ways to solve the problem of body armor is with a rifle. Only the very best body armors can stop even one rifle round, though some of those can stop multiple hits of small-caliber rifle rounds. In addition to a vastly increased ability to overpower body armor, though, the rifle has the advantage of increased accuracy. At the short ranges at which gunfights are likely to take place, a rifle is almost pinpoint accurate. Striking areas not protected by the armor becomes much easier.
When I was growing up, it was entirely usual for people to carry a rifle or two in their truck, in town as in the country, mounted in a gun rack. I never heard of any of those weapons being used in a crime, and they provide a much improved capacity for a citizen called upon by Fate to do his duty for the common peace. In many states, there is no need for a permit to carry such a rifle, so long as it is openly displayed and/or carried without ammunition in the chamber.
There is an old adage: "Never take a handgun to a gunfight." Of course, we don't go looking for gunfights. But if you're going to prepare for the possibility that one might find you, a rifle can make a big difference.
The GeekWithA.45 has a story today that is both proud and tragic. It is tragic because it involves the death of a good, brave man acting in his proper role as a citizen: a defender of the common peace. It is proud for the same reason.
This law abiding fellow found himself outgunned by the criminal who killed him. He had armed himself with a 9mm handgun, to carry on his daily business. The fellow who came looking for trouble came with a Kalishnikov rifle, plus a bulletproof vest overtop of which he was wearing a flack jacket.
The armed citizen wasn't the only one outgunned; the police suffered three casualties as well. Mr. Mark Wilson, the armed citizen, is credited with saving the life of one of the intended victims, at the high cost of his own.
Another citizen, Ron Martell, followed the fleeing criminal by car in order to point him out to police. Between the two citizens, enough time was purchased for the police to coordinate their response and kill the criminal.
The Geek comments:
We must also remember that the problem of the armored opponent is solveable, and can occur at any time.Indeed, it is, and it can. There's enough body armor out there to pose a threat to police and citizens alike; we see it popping up just now and then among the more vicious criminals, the ones who set out to cause mayhem rather than just make money at their crime.
One of the easiest ways to solve the problem of body armor is with a rifle. Only the very best body armors can stop even one rifle round, though some of those can stop multiple hits of small-caliber rifle rounds. In addition to a vastly increased ability to overpower body armor, though, the rifle has the advantage of increased accuracy. At the short ranges at which gunfights are likely to take place, a rifle is almost pinpoint accurate. Striking areas not protected by the armor becomes much easier.
When I was growing up, it was entirely usual for people to carry a rifle or two in their truck, in town as in the country, mounted in a gun rack. I never heard of any of those weapons being used in a crime, and they provide a much improved capacity for a citizen called upon by Fate to do his duty for the common peace. In many states, there is no need for a permit to carry such a rifle, so long as it is openly displayed and/or carried without ammunition in the chamber.
There is an old adage: "Never take a handgun to a gunfight." Of course, we don't go looking for gunfights. But if you're going to prepare for the possibility that one might find you, a rifle can make a big difference.
China e-Lobby
No Punishment:
China e-Lobby has a piece that points to an interesting fact: Huawei Technologies is a "principle supplier of Iraqi communications hardware for the current cellular contract."
Why is that interesting? Because Huawei has experience working with Iraq. They are "the Communist Chinese firm that integrated Saddam’s air defenses in 2001."
Good job, too. It's almost enough to make you wonder if they were on our payroll the whole time; indeed, I expect the topic to pop up any time on DU.
Setting aside conspiracy theorizing, however, I do wonder about this business. There was a great deal of moaning and whining about the CPA keeping French companies out of Iraq; but Communist Chinese ones, ones that actually participated in Saddam's defenses, are OK? Or has Iraq's interim government decided that they care more about integration into the world economy than they do about punishing bad actors? That would be an understandable sentiment, though I am always sad to see anyone doing trade with China's defense industry.
Speaking of which, here is a Xinhua piece on US-Japanese military integration. The Chinese have been feeling a bit sour since... well since about 1930, where Japan is concerned. But they've been especially irritable since this joint US/Japan statement on Taiwan. There are attempts to play it down, but there's no doubt that it's big news. I expect to see, in the next year or two, a Japanese amendment removing the pacifist language from their Constitution.
The Daily Collegian - No yellow ribbons here
An Education:
I suppose a man writing from a publication called "The Daily Collegian" must desire an education, and I think he's going to get one. JHD points out that he's earned the wrath of a particularly fearsome bunch: The Marine Corps Moms.
Although I have no use for the fellow at all, I can only pity him a bit. Still, it should be a learning experience indeed. In a few years, when the bruises heal and he's old enough to understand what he's about to be hit with, he should have ample fodder for reflection and edification.
What is Snow Cream?
Snow Cream:
Great stuff.
It's snowing -- again -- and has been all day. However, this time I don't mind so much. The last time it snowed, I went out and bought some Eagle brand condensed milk, and so this time I was kitted out to make snow cream.
1. Start with 6 to 8 cups of CLEAN, FRESH snow.I haven't had the stuff since I was a little boy. It's very good, just as I remember. To make sure the snow is clean enough, wait until it's been snowing for at least two hours. That should draw down all the pollution from the air. Go and clean off a place outside -- the hood of a truck, say -- and then wait for snow to build there. That snow should be perfectly clean, assuming no animals have gotten at it.
2. Gradually add condensed milk (not evaporated). Continue mixing, adding more snow and milk until desired consistency is reached.
3. 1/2 teaspoon of vanilla can be added if desired.
4. Best if eaten immediately, but can be frozen (the consistency will be hard, more like popsicles).
Great stuff.
Bangkok Post Thursday 24 February 2005 - Unrest fails to deter Chinese shrine faithful
A Goddess Through Fire:
Never let it be said that the Chinese people are cowards. Chinese culture may have little use for soldiers or warrior virtue, but there is a native heedlessness of violence: the spirit of the famous man who stood down the tanks at Tiananmen.
The celebration of the Chinese New Year (Year of the Rooster, this year) is ongoing across Asia, including southern Thailand. Despite a massive car bomb set off there last week, celebrants flocked to this famous temple. And no wonder! Anyone who will turn up to participate in that ritual isn't worried about a little thing like a car bomb.
INTEL DUMP -
Up The Militia:
INTEL DUMP has a piece on the rise of militias and private regiments in Iraq:
Greg Jaffe had an exceptional piece in Wednesday's Wall Street Journal (subscription required) describing the rise of 'irregular' Iraqi units around the country, which were popping up on their own, raised by individual officers, funded privately, with little connection to the U.S.-led effort to raise an Iraqi army. Surprisingly (or maybe not so), these ad hoc units appear to be better led, better equipped, and more combat effective than their 'official' brethren. And, perhaps more importantly, some U.S. officers are recognizing this, and figuring out how they might co-opt or work together with these Iraqi forces.Hat tip Chester. The militia, I belive, is an idea which has come again -- or which is, rather, coming again quickly. Nothing says "defense in depth" like an armed citizenry, which complicates the planning for hostage-takers and other terrorists immeasurably.
bloodletting.blog-city.com
Gun Crimes:
Doc Russia is playing Deguello to CNN. He's not the only one:
The Geek with a .45
War On Guns
The Smallest Minority
Freedom Sight
Trigger Finger
Smallest Minority reports that the BATFE is investigating.
Channelnewsasia.com
The Bashir Trial:
In case you are not familiar with the fellow, Abu Bakir Bashir stands accused of being the most important terror-supporting religious leader in Asia. He is accused of being the "spiritual leader" of Jemaah Islamiyah, and is currently standing trial for alleged involvement in various bombings across Indonesia. Although it's largely passed below radar in the US, his is the biggest terror trial in the world just now.
He's going to walk, too.
And not only that, he deserves to walk. This trial has been a joke from start to finish. A prosecution that can't do better than this does not deserve a conviction. The prosecution, which started off pursuing capital punishment, is today reduced to stridently repeating its "demand that Bashir be sentenced to eight years in jail." This trial has seen convicted bombers -- themselves under death sentences -- walk across the stage to kiss Bashir on the cheeks, before testifying that of course Bashir knew nothing about anything at all. It's seen a former US State Department official testify that the whole prosecution was cooked up by evil George Bush.
The only good thing that's come out of the business has been that Bashir condemned terrorism against civilians, although in the same breath he urged Indonesians to go fight Americans in Afghanistan.
This is the problem with the law enforcement approach to terrorism. It just doesn't work real well.
My Way News
Avian Flu:
Still slogging my way through a bout of what al-Reuters calls "garden-variety influenza," count me a believer on this Avian flu thing. Whatever we have to do to avoid a worse version of this, let's do it. Oof.
Grim's Hall
The only person ever to cheat me in a financial transaction was a minister, so I suppose I shouldn't be surprised by bad behavior from the pulpit. Still, this use of a common prayer to sneer at political opponents is ugly, low behavior.
Of course, it was ugly last year, too. I'll point this year's offender in the same direction.
Kim du Toit - Daily Rant
A Death of One We Knew:
Those of you who have given, from time to time and as asked, to the Walter & Adam Fund know that it was providing resources to a pair of young American snipers in Iraq. Together, we bought them the best of scopes, laser rangefinders, and body armor. But no armor is ever quite good enough.
I have terrible news to relate. A car bomb exploded in Mosul on Wednesday Feb 17, 2005, killing this young man:Kim links to this piece by Rivrdog, who came from the same hometown. Doc Russia has something as well.U.S. Army Sergeant Adam J. Plumondore
Age: 22
From: Gresham, Oregon
Assigned to: 1st Battalion, 24th Infantry Regt., out of Fort Lewis, WA.I regret to tell you that Sgt. Plumondore is the “Adam” of the Walter-Adam Fund.
Recruitment drive for Iraqi Army draws thousands
Two Pieces of Iraq News:
Via Central Command, two stories you may not have otherwise encountered. First, this: Recruitment Drive for Iraqi Army Draws Thousands:
An estimated 8,000 to 10,000 men arrived by foot, bus, and other vehicles by sun up Feb. 14, at an airfield outside an Iraqi Army base in an effort to join Iraq’s army, officials said.Then, some news about American Combat Engineers from down Tennessee way:
Of that, approximately 5,000 made it through a screening process that led them onto the base, which is home to several thousand Iraqi Soldiers and a contingent of U.S. service members, officials said. Most will be transferred to other bases in Iraq to supplement existing units.
The process was a result of the largest recruitment effort for the Iraqi Army to date, said U.S. Navy Lt. Cmdr. Anthony Woodley of the Multi-National Security Transition Command-Iraq.
During the screening process, potential recruits were given a literacy test, physical condition check and questioned about prior military service. Once inside the base, they went through a medical screening and received uniforms, boots and other military-related clothing.
Of those who were turned back, or did not make it through the screening, leaders told them to return for another recruitment drive.
In an effort to make Iraqi roads safer for fellow Soldiers, a U.S Army Reserve company of combat engineers patrol selected roads near Baqubah, searching for "trouble" in a mission called Operation Trailblazer.There's more, in both cases.
Soldiers from Company A, 467th Engineer Battalion, Memphis, Tenn., took over operations from the 141st Engineer Battalion, North Dakota National Guard, at Forward Operating Base Warhorse.
Their mission is focused on searching pre-determined supply routes in the Baqubah area for improvised explosive devices planted by terrorists.
"Our job is to go out and look for trouble in the form of IEDs planted near the sides of roads," said Sgt. 1st Class Dallas Bryan, combat engineer.
With teams of 18 Soldiers or more, the "Trailblazers" set out on convoys of several supporting vehicles and one "Buffalo," scouring the road-side for signs of terrorist activity.
The Buffalo, a ground mine detection system, uses a hydraulic arm to sift through trash piles or probe areas where IEDs are thought to have been hidden.
Tactics
Hello everyone.
My name is Daniel and I've volunteered to spearhead the discussion of Tactics.
First, I would like to thank Grim for the invite of facilitating the tactics portion of his military science 101.
Second, I would like to point people in this direction: MCDP 1-3 Tactics as this is the work which will be used.
Finally, I would like to disclose that I am by no means a master tactician, I have a modicum of skill and experience in utilizing small unit tactics; beyond the platoon level I would feel like a fish out of water.
Strategy and tactics are interesting bed-fellows… strategy is your overall plan for the winning of the war… loosely, tactics is the means by which you accomplish your operational plan. The best way to begin is by defining what, exactly, tactics are:
“Tactics is ‘the art and science of winning engagements and battles. It includes the use of firepower and maneuver, the integration of different arms and the immediate exploitation of success to defeat the enemy’” MCDP1-3 pg. 3
The first striking feature is the reference to tactics being an ‘art and science’. This is not solely a modern martial reference to an old 16th century treatise on warfare (reminiscent of the old ‘fechtbuchs’ reference to science), it is a quantifiable truth.
Art:
1. High quality of conception or execution, as found in works of beauty; aesthetic value. 2. A nonscientific branch of learning; one of the liberal arts.
Science:
1. The observation, identification, description, experimental investigation, and theoretical explanation of phenomena. 2. Such activities applied to an object of inquiry or study. 3. Methodological activity, discipline, or study.
The art is best expressed in the intuitive factors involved in the decision making process and also manifests in the fluidity of utilizing combat power. The science is best expressed in the quantifiable skills such as land navigation, marksmanship, and so forth.
Breaking down the definition further, we see some things that, hopefully, should engage our brains from the Strategy lesson.
1. That is that there is a marked emphasis on ‘engagements and battles’; the distinction being that an engagement is a singular occurrence, whereas a battle may include a series of engagements,
2. The re-emphasis on the ‘fire and maneuver’ doctrine, and
3. The integration of combined arms, which is somewhat unique to the Corps in application.
For those who have neglected their Carl von Clausewitz, Patton, Sun Tzu, etc... let me say that from reading 'MCDP 1-1 Strategy' and the three points above... you should begin to realize that within military science, synthesis is the key. As we saw in Strategy, the synthesis lay in recognizing the needfull 'ends and means' and understanding the strategic environment of ones forces and the state. On the tactical level, that synthesis is the melding of the artistic and scientific concepts and then utilizing them from that point forward.
I invite folks to read the publication, and utilize the comments section to discuss the text. Again, as I said above, I am by no stretch a master tactician... it's my hope that others far wiser and more capable glance through the comments and help out where I fall short.
Finally, I leave you with the words of General Patton:
"There is only one tactical principle which is not subject to change. It is to use the means at hand to inflict the maximum amount of wound, death, and destruction on the enemy in the minimum amount of time."
See ya next month,
Daniel
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