RossElder
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I asked the question weeks ago when first reports of possible chem use surfaced: what if the opposition was the one who used it, mister president? Then what?
I don't think we have any real friends in this one. I propose be bomb both sides and call it a day.
Amen. Its sad but true and I saw the same things myself.
I've been saying this very thing for years. I mentioned it in my latest column for Soldier of Fortune magazine. So many billions simply wasted on these ignorant programs that could only be driven by a broken system and over-zealous contractors constantly pushing the latest and greatest, but soon to be discarded once they hit actual use, products and designs. To be honest, there is nothing wrong with the old BDUs. Move the pockets around, change a thing here and there, and BINGO, you have yourself a durable and useful set of NEW BDUs. These damn pajamas they make us wear now look retarded. We were hoping they would let us keep our MultiCam on when we returned to the States, but we would never be so lucky.
This book was the last book I read before putting my boots on the ground in Afghanistan. As someone who has been living military life and studying the experiences of others for more than 25 years, this is now the first book I recommend to young officers and NCOs. It should be required reading. It isnt just the interesting stories that make it worthwhile. His insights into decision making and the hindrances of the MDMP are what make it far more valuable to leaders. I loaned my copy to a young lieutenant before we touched down. It was passed around and I never got it back. Hopefully it is still circulating and influencing future leaders. Its a small sacrifice to make if it improves the lives of our future warriors. Ross
@SaysMyDerbyWife .. The specops community doesnt have any different options than the rest of the military under UCMJ. In the nonjudicial punishment world, this is considered a slap on the wrist. The only problem specops people have is that their security clearance ciuld be problematic in the future. But, the same is true of many military occupations. No spec ops guy wants to go back to the fleet or to big army. Its the trust issue that will kill their career. Some occupations have restrictions, such as mine, that if I receive NJP, I lose my MOS.
I do find this a bit disturbing. In fact, it kind of reminds me of the sort of things that occurred in Europe during the 80s with the various marxist terror groups of the time. This could easily be a robbery gone wrong but the tight lipped police approach certainly isn't going to quell the conspiracy theorists.
Interesting. The numbers must have been updated at a later date. When it happened they weren't reporting any U.S. KIA, only Afghan. They did report a lot of wounded, however. The truck got right up to the wall. Many of these FOBs and COPs are surrounded by agricultural plots and villages. It isn't out of the ordinary, per se, to have vehicles and people close to the wall. Its all up to those working BDOC to assess and respond appropriately.
Its all about social engineering to some degree for the bad guys. If they can build a pattern, lull their target into complacency, then they have created their own avenue of approach. It isn't a new tactic. We have used it successfully in the past ourselves.
That's a great piece, BW. I didn't hear all of Romney's comments on the subject. The news just plays a blurb and then everyone tries to turn it into something it isn't, which seems to be what the media does these days. I think that must be one of the intended benefits for our secret warriors, anonymity, and the ability to not be a part of someone's political dinner theater. For the rest of us in uniform, I think we are destined to be props in political maneuvering no matter who sits in the big chair in Washington. We get called heroes, murderers, angels and monsters on a regular basis... generally by our own politicians and so-called media.
Sounds like an awesome opportunity for someone. Nice touch with the SOF cover. (I write for SOF if anybody didn't know that lol) The game blog sounds hot as well. Imagine, playing the new games and writing about them.. is there a better job? hahaha I think not
I was in Afghanistan when this happened. If you know anything about hesco barrier walls, imagine this... it blew a 60 meter, yes meter, wide hole through the hesco wall. the overall attack was a complete failure, however. 15 of the 16 were killed with the last being captured. No U.S. KIA but there was massive damage and several wounded in the blast. It was the largest explosive used in country while I was there.
HAHA.. reminds me of a tshirt I saw in Afghanistan. US of A, we will free the shit out of you
I'm also a little late to this discussion. By G19 is Gen 3. I've had it for a couple of years now and have easily put 1,000 rounds through it. (I don't really keep track. If I did, I would weep at the amounts of money I spend shooting) I've never had a single problem with mine. Not one. Ever. From brand new out of the box to just a couple of days ago, every time I pull the trigger it goes bang and is ready for the next shot. I'm no dainty wristed shooter by any means, so if this issue is related to the recoil control of the pistol, I will have to try to mimic that next time at the range to see if I have that issue. But, clutch grip, one handed firing, hip firing, etc I have never had a stoppage on my 19. Could this be a problem with the Gen 4 springs?
Experts have been warning about sleeper cells for, oh, I dunno, about 3 decades now. But, the American people, for the most part, are happily asleep and blissfully ignorant of what truly goes on in the world. Its why I have to "re-educate" my kids when they come home from school and why things like Jersey Shore even get on TV. WE may not consider it a religious war, but our enemies sure as hell do. Look at the unrest that occurs among muslim neighborhoods in places like the UK, France, and other western European countries and then tell me the massive wave of muslim immigration to these countries is a coincidence. Go ahead. I dare ya. (just kidding, please don't put a hit out on me lol)
That is a great book. I read that during the pre-deployment phase of my Afghan deployment. Loaned it out for others to read. Neer got it back lol
Then we need to write MORE books and get on MORE hit lists. That would save us a TON of money in the long run. We could kill them in our backyards instead of doing all that traveling and burning of fossil fuels. That would make economists, tree huggers, AND ammunition manufacurers happy. Might even create jobs in our sagging economy.
I'm gonna go start writing now. Wish me luck!
I was just listening to the episode on video games. I've been telling people for a long time that the game Medal of Honor was probably the most realistic console game I've ever played. Unfortunately, they stopped supporting the online multiplay by the time I got home from Afghanistan. The landscapes in that game are amazing.
When we moved away from the task of hunting and eliminating AQ and the Talibs and started trying to build a nation, we sealed our fate on this one. You can't build a nation where a national identity doesn't exist. This country is locked in centuries old philosophies, the majority are illiterate, and their vision rarely extends beyond their family or their tribe. Its that simple. Dropping 21st century equipment and processes on a culture this far behind is just tossing money into a fire. They can't sustain it without us here to hold their hand and push them to do it. As Mr. Webb stated, changing a place like this takes decades, not a few years. Its a bitter pill to swallow because I dont want to think that my comrades who were lost here died for a cause that was hopeless in its ambitions.
I hope I am wrong, but, I'm pretty sure we all see the writing on the wall here.
Ross
I saw this exact smell-test scenario with my own eyes a couple of years ago. I was attending an Army school, sitting in the smoke pit with some guys, and one started rambling about some things that went down in Falluja. All of a sudden, a very quiet guy a few feet away stands up, walks over, and tells the guy to zip it and leave his AO before he choked the life out of him. Things got weird, but turns out the quiet guy a few feet away happened to be there during the specific operation being discussed and informed us all that everything the other guy said was total BS.
I've seen some odd things happen in the Army, as well as the Navy, over the years, but I never thought the SFcommunity would have similar problems. Numerous times there have been, "Um, how did you get here? why are you here?" conversations with various personnel. Even to include, "How the hell did you get to Afghanistan?"