Two LAR In swarm tactic catches thugs off guard via Chicago Tribune |

Chicago Tribune | GIs launch new tactic against enemy fighters: "While the idea to swarm enemy fighters is not new to the Marines in Iraq, it is rare that they do it fast enough for more than a few dozen Marines to shoot back at the fighters, let alone to surround the fast-moving insurgency. When the Americans shift forces into a town, it is usually only for a few days, and the action is so telegraphed that insurgents and foreign fighters can flee ahead of them.

Because several smaller units near Haqlaniyah were ready for other missions April 20, nearly 200 troops from the 3rd Battalion, 25th Marines were able to respond to the shootout there within the first hour. The troops remained in town for the next three days. When left Haqlaniyah on April 23, things appeared to have returned to normal. The locals had learned on several previous occasions that the Marines rarely stay.

But on April 26, about 500 Marines from 3/25 and other battalions suddenly returned to Haqlaniyah, a small town of about 5,000 on the Euphrates River. Not only were major roads sealed off, but so were the desert and surrounding villages. Troops began rolling into all of Haqlaniyah's neighborhoods almost at once, and stayed until early Sunday.

Besides being able to actually shoot back at insurgents in the first phase, more than 40 arrests were made in the second phase, said battalion commander Lt. Col. Lionel Urquhart. Marine officials said the insurgents were apparently surprised the Marines had returned.

Outnumbered by insurgents

The first move in the new strategy for Anbar could not have begun in a more mundane way. Just after noon on April 20, two gunmen fired on a civil affairs patrol carrying repair proposals to schools in a neighboring town.

A description was sent out of the shooters' getaway car, which Hanselman's patrol stumbled across south of Haqlaniyah. But the Americans quickly found themselves outnumbered by an insurgent counterattack that sent gunfire and rockets down on them from several homes on the edge of town. Another American platoon arrived to pin down the Iraqi gunmen, and then a fresh company of troops backed them up.

By the time the fighting died down five hours later, hundreds of Marines from the 3/25 had poured in, supported by tanks, armored vehicles and helicopters.

'It's one of the first times they actually stayed and fought,' said Staff Sgt. Michael Knittle, 35, of Wakeman, Ohio, who was in the initial firefight alongside Hanselman.

Then came the pullout and the surprise return April 26, when hundreds more troops from battalions as far away as the Jordanian and Syrian borders sealed off Haqlaniyah, trapping insurgents and foreign fighters.

'Insurgents typically run like rats on a sinking ship,' said Maj. Steve White, the operations officer who directed the fight in Haqlaniyah. 'This time, I don't think they realized the ship was sinking.'

The 3rd Battalion moved almost all of its forces in the area into town April 26 and sat there, hoping for insurgents to grow impatient and begin fighting again.

North of them, a company from the 3rd Battalion, 2nd Marines, based in Al Qaim, seized the shops, neighborhood and pontoon bridge where the fight had begun a few days before. Across the river and on the outskirts of town, parts of the 2nd Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion, stationed on the border with Jordan, blocked off road junctions in the desert.
"

WorldNetDaily:Hackworth to Gen. John Sattler, USMC Three LAR Reserve Marines screwed over for promotion. " REAL" Marines Only

Hackworth is coming down hard for those LAR Marines who went IRR back to Iraq with "real" Marines and were passed over for promotion by dinosaur Marine lifers. Ask me if this bullshit bingo pisses me OFF.

"a company first sergeant called a meeting in Iraq solely to share his intent that none of the Reserve Marines in his company would be promoted on his watch because such promotions would count against the quotas for "real Marines." And even after an affected Gyrene researched the promotion policy and tried to tell the first sergeant there was absolutely no connection between regular and IRR promotions, his righteous words fell on deaf ears.

"Gen. Dennis McCarthy, commander of Marine Reserve Forces, also read my column (Hackworth) and had his staff review "the entire IRR promotion system." According to Col. Bob Braithwaite, Gen. McCarthy's chief of staff, this review uncovered that:... some individuals, particularly those activated and deployed in support of GWOT [Global War On Terrorism], may not have been given proper consideration for promotion due to administrative oversight. The unintended consequences of a new policy intended to increase promotion opportunity for our IRR Marines unfortunately resulted in some administrative confusion that appears to have temporarily penalized some of those Marines. We are taking proactive measures now to rectify those issues and will take care of our Marines.
:WorldNetDaily: Another open letter to Gen. John Sattler, USMC

Hamas vs. America - (article by Daniel Pipes) thugs called "business professionals" by white house drone

From the give me a break dept Daniel Pipe, thug fighter and outstanding analysts, issued a warning against the White House attempts to allowing Hamas to join the democracy table

"....an astonishing statement in which the White House spokesman referred to Hamas members as "business professionals." The Bush administration's push for quick democracy in the Middle East has an increasingly clear implication: if Islamist organizations such as Hamas are to be likely electoral winners, Western powers should stop classifying them as terrorists and instead come to terms with them.This conclusion follows from such efforts as those led by Alastair Crooke and his Conflicts Forum; the European Union's exploration of opening a dialogue with the Islamists; and an astonishing statement in which the White House spokesman referred to Hamas members as "business professionals."Hamas vs. America - article by Daniel Pipes

The Los Angeles Billboard Project: dhimmitude, Eurabia, and Bat Ye'or

"A knowledgeable and generous benefactor has enabled Jihad Watch to place a billboard in Los Angeles, and has asked that it feature three words unfamiliar to most Americans: dhimmitude, Eurabia, and Bat Ye'or. Here is the meaning of these mysterious words:

The Los Angeles Billboard Project: "dhimmitude, Eurabia, and Bat Ye'or"

Thug dude letter to Zarqawi complains about low morale .... feelings about abandonment CNN.com

The letter -- which never refers to al-Zarqawi by name -- is written to Sheik Abu Ahmad, a name not known to be used by the militant leader or his followers. But supporters often call al-Zarqawi the Sheik or Sheik Abu Musab in letters and on Web sites.

"What has happened to myself and my brothers is an unforgivable crime, but God will punish the oppressor," the letter reads. "I swear by God that you will be asked about what happened to us because you have not asked about the situation of the migrants. Morale is down and there is fatigue among mujahedeen ranks.

"There is discrimination by some of the brethren emirs. God would not accept such actions, and a simple mistake delays victory, so what about big mistakes and gross guilts? Many underestimate them and are lenient toward them."

The letter is dated April 27, the military said.

The author of the letter also "admonishes 'the Sheik' for abandoning his followers" after last year's U.S. siege on Falluja, west of Baghdad.
CNN.com - U.S.:�Possible letter to al-Zarqawi cites low morale - May 3, 2005

Play book of the Urban Guerrilla via Donald Sensing

I found the Playbook of the Urban here guerrilla which Donald Sensing
thinks the thugs in Irag may be using as a guide. Its worth reading...about 48 pages long...everything the thuggies think is worth reading goes double for you as you get inside Ali the thug-dude's ooda.

Minimanual of the Urban Guerrilla

by Carlos Marighella

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Contents:

A DEFINITION OF THE URBAN GUERRILLA
PERSONAL QUALITIES OF THE URBAN GUERRILLA
HOW THE URBAN GUERRILLA LIVES
TECHNICAL PREPARATION OF THE URBAN GUERRILLA
THE URBAN GUERRILLA'S WEAPONS
THE SHOT; THE URBAN GUERRILLA'S REASON FOR EXISTENCE
THE FIRING GROUP
THE LOGISTICS OF THE URBAN GUERRILLA
CHARACTERISTICS OF THE URBAN GUERRILLA'S TACTICS
THE INITIAL ADVANTAGES OF THE URBAN GUERRILLA
SURPRISE
KNOWLEDGE OF THE TERRAIN
MOBILITY AND SPEED
INFORMATION
DECISIVENESS
OBJECTIVES OF THE GUERRILLA'S ACTIONS
ON THE TYPES AND NATURE OF MISSIONS FOR THE URBAN GUERRILLA
ASSAULTS
THE BANK ASSAULT AS POPULAR MISSION
RAIDS AND PENETRATIONS
OCCUPATIONS
AMBUSH
STREET TACTICS
STRIKES AND WORK INTERRUPTIONS
DESERTIONS, DIVERSIONS, SEIZURES, EXPROPRIATION OF AMMUNITION AND EXPLOSIVES
LIBERATION OF PRISONERS
EXECUTIONS
KIDNAPPING
SABOTAGE
TERRORISM
ARMED PROPAGANDA
THE WAR OF NERVES
HOW TO CARRY OUT THE ACTION
SOME OBSERVATIONS ON TACTICS
RESCUE OF THE WOUNDED
GUERRILLA SECURITY
THE SEVEN SINS OF THE URBAN GUERRILLA
POPULAR SUPPORT

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Chapter 1 | Marxist Writers Archive

KNOWLEDGE OF THE TERRAIN

The urban guerrilla's best ally is the terrain, and because this is so he must know it like the palm of his hand. To have the terrain as an ally means to know how to use with intelligence its unevenness, its high and low points, its turns, its irregularities, its fixed and secret passages, its abandoned areas, its thickets, etc., taking maximum advantage of all of this for the success of armed actions, escapes, retreats, covers, and hiding places. Impasses and narrow spots, gorges, streets under repair, police checkpoints, military zones and closed-off streets, the entrances and exits to tunnels and those that the enemy can close off, corners controlled or watched by the police, traffic lights and signals; all this must be thoroughly known and studied in order to avoid fatal errors.

Our problem is to get through and to know where and how to hide, leaving the enemy bewildered in areas he doesn't know. Being familiar with the avenues, streets, alleys, ins and outs, the corners of the urban centers, its paths and shortcuts, its empty lots, its underground passages, its pipes and sewer systems, the urban guerrilla safely crosses through the irregular and difficult terrain unfamiliar to the police, where the police can be surprised in a fatal ambush or trap at any moment.

Because he knows the terrain, the urban guerrilla can pass through it on foot, on bicycle, in a car, jeep or small truck, and never be trapped. Acting in small groups with only a few people, the guerrillas can rendezvous at a time and place determined beforehand, following up the initial attack with new guerrilla operations, or evading the police cordon and disorienting the enemy with their unexpected audacity.

It is an impossible problem for the police, in the labrynthian terrain of the urban guerrilla, to catch someone they cannot see, to repress someone they cannot catch, and to close in on someone they cannot find.

Our experience is that the ideal guerrilla is one who operates in his own city and thoroughly knows its streets, its neighborhoods, its transit problems, and its other peculiarities. The guerrilla outsider, who comes to a city whose streets are unfamiliar to him, is a weak spot, and if he is assigned certain operations, he can endanger them. To avoid grave mistakes, it is necessary for him to get to know the layout of the streets.

AMBUSH

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Ambushes are attacks, typified by surprise, when the enemy is trapped on the road or when he makes a police net surrounding a house or estate. A false alarm can bring the enemy to the spot, where he falls into a trap.

The principle object of the ambush is to capture enemy weapons and to punish him with death. Ambushes to halt passenger trains are for propaganda purposes, and, when they are troop trains, the object is to annihilate the enemy and seize his weapons. The urban guerrilla sniper is the kind of fighter specially suited for ambush, because he can hide easily in the irregularities of the terrain, on the roofs and the tops of buildings and apartments under construction. From windows and dark places, he can take careful aim at his chosen target.

Ambush has devestating effects on the enemy, leaving him unnerved, insecure and fearful.

Minimanual of the Urban Guerrilla

Bravo One-Five 5th Marine Regiment Pfc. Bryan J. Nagel - DefendAmerica News

U.S. Marine Corps
Pfc. Bryan J. Nagel
Marine Stops Enemy Attack, Saves Comrades

By Marine Corps Cpl. Tom Sloan
2nd Marine Division
AR RAMADI, Iraq, April 28, 2005 ? Insurgents launched an attack against one of 1st Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment?s observation posts in the city here the evening of April 20 but they didn?t count on one Marine: Pfc. Bryan J. Nagel.

While receiving sporadic enemy fire, the native of Jamestown, N. D., stood his ground and took out a suicide truck bomb and fought off an insurgent attack, preventing major property damage and casualties to the Marines and civilians in the area.

The 20-year-old squad automatic weapon gunner with 2nd Squad, 2nd Platoon, Company B, was responsible for thwarting the attack and preventing a potential disaster that day, according to his company first sergeant, 1st Sgt. Scott A. Van De Ven.

?His quick thinking and actions under fire clearly foiled the enemy?s plans,? said the 36-year-old from Grayling, Mich. ?Nagel?s initiative destroyed the enemy vehicle before it reached the Marines? position.?

Nagel was manning an observation post in downtown Ramadi and being fired at by insurgents when a mid-sized passenger car detonated near his position injuring two Marines.

?I was getting shot at so I started returning fire,? said Nagel, who disregarded his own safety and moved above the protection of the position?s bulletproof glass to engage the enemy. ?Then the first SVBIED (suicide vehicle-borne improvised explosive device) hit.?

The blast breached the observation post?s main entrance.

?There was smoke everywhere,? recalled the 2003 Jamestown High School graduate. ?I was reloading when, through a patch of the smoke, I saw the second vehicle coming our way. I knew what I had to do.?

Nagel employed his weapon with precision, hitting the yellow sewage tanker truck?s windshield and killing the driver.

U.S. Marine Corps Pfc. Bryan J. Nagel, a squad automatic weapon gunner with 2nd Squad, 2nd Platoon, Company B, 1st Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, is responsible for saving the lives of his fellow Marines during an attack by insurgents on an observation post in Ar Ramadi, Iraq, April 20, 2005. U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Tom Sloan
"I shot about sixty or seventy rounds at him,? said Nagel.
?I never thought I would have to make a decision like that.?

Other Marines were alerted by Nagel?s fire and engaged the vehicle as well.

?The truck swerved to one side of the road and detonated,? he said. ?It all happened so fast.?

No one was injured by the second blast; but it left a large crater in the main street.

According to Van De Ven, Nagel?s heroic actions are a testament to his character.

?He?s hard working, polite and is someone who cares for his fellow Marines,? he said.

Though, Nagel?s command is recommending him for an award for his courage under fire, he is just happy his comrades are OK.

?I?m overwhelmed knowing that I saved the lives of my Marines.?

http://www.defendamerica.mil/profiles/apr2005/pr042605b.html



U.S. Marine Corps Pfc. Bryan J. Nagel - DefendAmerica News

So long, goodbye and get lost via:The Washington Times: AP

Syrian troops left Lebanon after strong international pressure was applied following the assassination of former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri. Hariri was killed for having fat ankles which kept him from clicking his heels and being a yes man to, as yet, unnamed thugmasters.

The Washington Times: AP: "RAYAK, Lebanon (AP) -- Syria ended its 29-year military presence in Lebanon on Tuesday with a farewell ceremony near their shared border, with a Syrian commander telling Lebanese troops: 'Brothers in arms, so long.' The soldiers responded, 'So long.'"

Zarqawi's "very big hard drive captured. Major thug still on run

Another close call for Jordanian thugmeister Abu Musab Al-Zarqawi who had to run without his hard drive filled with friends and enablers data.

ABC News: Official: Zarqawi Eludes Capture; Computer Discovered

Nightmares of Ariel Sharon via Winds of War

Sharon has not been able to sleep recently due to nightmares that begin with the U.S. Marines withdraw from Iraq....


WASHINGTON [MENL] -- Israel has relayed its concern to the United States of the rising prospect of a Middle East war in 2006.

U.S. officials said Israel has determined that the expected U.S. withdrawal from Iraq in 2006 would raise tensions in the region that could lead to a Middle East war. The officials said the Israeli assessment asserted that Iran would either lead or play a major role in any future war against the Jewish state.

"It is the biggest nightmare of [Prime Minister] Ariel Sharon," a U.S. official said. "He has relayed repeated messages to the administration that Iran and its Arab allies were preparing for war."

Officials said Sharon has raised this issue with President George Bush, Vice President Richard Cheney and leaders of the U.S. intelligence community. They said Sharon and Defense Minister Shaul Mofaz have assessed that an Iran emboldened with nuclear weapons and intermediate-range missiles was seeking to form a coalition against Israel for a war that could take place after a U.S. withdrawal from Iraq.





Middle East Newsline -

Thugs (constantly) improve road bombs in Iraq -via: The Washington Times: Nation/Politics - April 25, 2005

Rowan Scarborough, in today's WashTimes, has read some secret military docs that state (big surprise) that thugs can think and apply lessons learned analysis to their road side bomb experiments. Big Whoop. Thank you Mr. Sherlock Holmes. Thugs can actually think and say: "Ali Dude, that last bomb you made was a bust, man. We think it was jammed by the American Marines radio signal. Why don't you make the next one with direct wire ignition."

: " 'Enemy sophistication continually improves,' said a recent U.S. military briefing to commanders. 'The enemy is adapting all the time.'
"The document said that after the U.S. had success with jamming radio signals between the bomber and the improvised explosive devices (IEDs), insurgents quickly reverted to direct-wire ignition that cannot be jammed. " WoW! Isn't that amazing. The documents, which are distributed to U.S. commanders as updates on Pentagon efforts to defeat IEDs, show, for example, that insurgents last summer began burying the bombs under roads and then paving over the holes. The enemy also has used dead animals as hiding places, and has put smaller ordnance inside white bags placed on the roadside."

Clever

The paved-over bomb "can be spotted by the stain that usually remains on the road," said one briefing paper, a copy of which was obtained by The Washington Times.
These crude, remotely detonated bombs have emerged has the insurgency's top weapon against American and coalition troops in Iraq. As intelligence reports indicate,
it is getting more difficult for Saddam Hussein's loyalists to recruit Iraqi attackers, so the IEDs are gaining importance as a weapon to kill troops and civilians.

The Pentagon has attempted to stay ahead of the game by creating an Army-led task force that issues confidential reports, such as the ones obtained by The Times. Thugs are " using door bells and car alarm systems," one confidential briefing stated. "If you stop someone with a bunch of door bells or phones or toy cars, you probably have a bomber."

The explosive is typically an artillery shell, thousands of which existed in arms caches throughout the militarized country.

In some cases, the jammers work. But the insurgents have adapted by using the hard-to-jam signals from cordless phones or cell phones, or simply stringing a wire from the remote control to the bomb's battery.
"I hate to say this, but the Defense Department is not where it should be in defeating these things," said a Defense source who is working on solutions to the problem.

The confidential documents show American patrols have found multiple telephone wires leading to houses that did not have telephones. On inspection, soldiers determined the wires led to past IED detonations.

The lesson: Inspect homes that have multiple telephone wires.

Greenwood Commonwealth - News - A small world for four Marines in Operation Iraqi Freedom

Greenwood Commonwealth - News - 04/24/2005 - It's a small world for four Marines serving in Operation Iraqi Freedom: "So what are the odds of four members from Greenwood, Mississippi ending up in the same unit deployed to the rural deserts of western Iraq? All four of these Marines grew up no more than 10 minutes away from each other. They have the same friends, went to the same schools and share the same Mississippi culture. ll four of these Marines grew up no more than 10 minutes away from each other. They have the same friends, went to the same schools and share the same Mississippi culture. "My mom, Sheri Smith, a former Greenwood High School teacher, taught Ware Spanish in high school, and we found that out after only talking five minutes," Smith explained.

Yet they didn't meet each other until after they joined the Corps and ended up in the same battalion together supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom here.

All four agree that it's unusual that they are all here in this fight together.

"We all wanted to do something different than everybody else and it's kind of funny how we're in the same place in Iraq," they all agreed, as Ware summed it up. "You never know who you will run into in life. It's a small world and the four of us are proof of it."
Yet they didn't meet each other until after they joined the Corps and ended up in the same battalion together supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom here.

The Hindu News Update Service: "Egyptian cops nab 28 members of largest Islamic group

Cairo, April 24. (AP):Egyptian authorities arrested 28 members of Egypt's outlawed Muslim Brotherhood, the country's largest Islamist organization, before dawn Saturday in northern Egypt, police and Brotherhood members said.

The arrests followed a 15,000-strong protest in the Nile Delta city of Tanta, where 23 of the arrests were made late Friday and early Saturday, according to Ali Abdel Fattah, a senior member of the Brotherhood. He said 5 others in nearby Menoufia province.

Police confirmed the arrests, and the number of protesters, but did not link the demonstration - believed to be the largest of late by Brotherhood supporters - with the detentions or give any other reason for the crackdown."

Operation Kaya Green Marines with 6th Fleet in beach head assault with IDF

U.S. Marines practiced their " extraction operations to evacuate US personnel and conduct such exercises periodically in Israel."
"These are highly specialized operations that require constant training," said a source familiar with the maneuvers."
Hundreds of US Marines riding hovercrafts stormed ashore the beaches of Nitzanim Wednesday as part of joint maneuvers being quietly held between the US and Israeli militaries.

"

Billings, Montana welcomes home their 40 Marine heroes with Parade and Barbecue

There is absolutely nothing like coming home and even better coming home to a community that appreciates what you have done. Billings, Montana, in the heartland of America, made sure that all their reservists knew their efforts in defense of their country were acknowledged and appreciated.
Marines welcomed home - billingsgazette.com: "The homecoming parade was organized to welcome home members of Bravo Company, 4th Reconnaissance Battalion, 4th Marine Division from Iraq. The Marines were stationed for 10 months at Camp Fallujah, south of the Iraqi city that was a hotbed of insurgency.
The Marines, delivered downtown in camouflage-colored trucks, walked along in a loose formation, behind a Marine color guard. The parade started at the corner of North 25th Street and Third Avenue North.
Several Billings Police and Yellowstone County patrol cars escorted the reservists, lights flashing and sirens blaring. Skyview High musicians, standing on a flatbed truck, came behind the reservists, playing assorted tunes, and a Billings fire truck brought up the rear.
Bystanders clapped and cheered, waved small American flags and held up signs as the Marines passed by. Smiles broke out on the faces of the soldiers who seemed surprised by the enthusiastic crowd.
Ruby Aycock brought a sign to welcome her son, Cpl. Robby Aycock. It read 'Welcome Home Daddy Son Husband Brother Nephew.'
The sign also contained a photo of her son and a picture of his twin infants, Davin and Meric, born while he was away.
'I'm just so glad to have him home,' she said. 'I'm glad he's safe and all the others came home without too much injury.'
About 35 students from Hunter Jones' eighth-grade history classes held a blue-and-red sign that read 'Welcome Home.' The Will James Middle School students sent weekly letters and regular packages to the Marine Reservists during their tenure in Iraq, Jones said.
Occasionally the troops broke rank to shake hands or hug a parade watcher. Then they got back in line and kept walking until they finished the short parade route, about 20 minutes later.
After the parade, the reservists planned to go to the Billings Armed Forces Reserve Center with family and friends for a barbecue.
Maribeth Daines of Billings came to the parade with her three children and one of their friends to thank the Marines.
'I just feel like I really wanted to welcome them home,' she said, holding an umbrella decorated with an American flag. 'I appreciate what they've done for us all.'

Delta Co. Four LAR has Four Marines from same High School

The five buddies are Patsos, Baffa, Dinger, Chris Bowers and Corey Matus.
Patsos and Baffa are lance corporals; the other three are privates first class.
Matus is the only active-duty Marine, and he's currently stationed at Fort Sill, Okla.
The other four are reservists, in the same company, unit and duty station. They're with Delta Company of the 4th Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion, based at Camp Upshur on Quantico Marine Corps Base.
They're using their military benefits to attend Germanna Community College. All four also have part-time jobs.
Patsos and Baffa were the first to leave for boot camp, a few weeks after high school graduation.
The two look alike, and their platoon leaders couldn't always tell them apart. Sometimes, one would speak to Patsos or Baffa and ask about his "twin sister."
They're both Italian, about the same height, with the same dark eyes, hair and skin tone.
"And they're both ugly," quipped Bowers.
That's part of being in this private platoon, too--taking constant abuse.
But when the two returned from boot camp, their friends noticed a change. They saw a difference in how they carried themselves and talked with others, as well as their attitude and discipline.
The three others went to the local recruiting office as well, even though Dinger swore he'd never join the Marines. He'd watched their ads on TV when he was younger and vowed he wanted no part of the Corps.
But Dinger discovered it wasn't as "horrific" as everyone who's ever watched "Full Metal Jacket" might think. He also came back from boot camp a new man.
"When he left, he was 6-foot tall," Patsos said. "Now he's 6-4. You just hold yourself higher after you've been through this."
'Always the five of us'
All five had other friends in high school, in addition to the core group. Bowers even played on the state-championship soccer team and had plenty of buddies who were jocks.
Each tried to bring some of their other friends into "the group," as they like to call themselves.
"But at the end of the day, it's always the five of us," Baffa said.
It's tough on them, being apart from Matus. They worry he'll get shipped to California next, and they won't see him between assignments.
"It's hard, because you're so tight," Bowers said.
"But I talk to him almost every day," Baffa added.
The group has been even closer since finishing their 13 weeks of boot camp. Each understands what the others have been through and talks at length about the "essence" of being a Marine, Baffa said.
The men also spend a lot of time on another favorite pastime: fishing. They'll be out on the Rappahannock River until the wee hours of the morning, talking about what will happen if they get deployed or how they'd like to live, next to each other, and raise their children together.
"There's nothing that can break us up. Absolutely nothing," Baffa said.Fredericksburg.com - Longtime friends are now all Marines

Combating Terrorism Center

West Point has logged on with a new blog called Cambating Terrorism Center. The idea is to bring the leading lights together to stay ahead of the thugs with the latest policy analysis and advice to the top leaders on thug threats.

Combating Terrorism Center

Gazette opinion: Welcome home, Bravo Company - billingsgazette.com

Forty Marines of Bravo Company, 4th Reconnaissance Battalion, 4th Marine Division returned home to Billings, Montana and a grateful community thankful for their courage and valor.
Gazette opinion: Welcome home, Bravo Company - billingsgazette.com: "

The Billings community welcomes these fathers, sons and brothers home. Two of the Marines are seeing their newborn babies for the first time.

Thank you, Bravo Company. for representing Montana and serving our country. May your reunion with loved ones be joyful.

We encourage everyone in Billings to show respect and appreciation for the Marines by heading downtown this afternoon for a homecoming parade. Let's make sure that Bravo Company knows Billings is proud of them. "

Marines Butler , Young and Fink fought off two kamikazi thug car bomb attacks on Camp Ramadi USATODAY.com -

Thugs tried to bluff their way into Camp Ramadi using a fire engine loaded with HE but they ran Marine Cpl. Butler who blew a hole into the three inch thick bullet proof windshield forcing the vehicle to veer off and explode. "Butler — that day, that Marine — that's the critical error the insurgents made," Capt. Frank Diorio says. "They thought they could keep the Marines' heads down. But he gets back up."

Butler, 21 and an Altoona, Pa., native, fired through the windshield of the first suicide bomber as he rammed a white dump truck through a barrier of abandoned vehicles the Marines had improvised. Barreling toward the camp's wall, the truck veered off at the last moment under volleys of Butler's gunfire.

"I shot 20 or 30 rounds before he detonated," he says.

Knocked down by that blast, with bricks and sandbags collapsing on top of him, Butler struggled to his feet only to hear a large diesel engine roar amid the clatter of gunfire. It was a red fire engine, carrying a second suicide bomber and passenger. Butler says both were wearing black turbans and robes, often worn by religious martyrs.

Amid the chaos of that first bomb blast, supported by gunfire from an estimated 30 dismounted insurgents, the fire engine passed largely undetected on a small road that leads from town directly past the camp wall, according a Marine report.

"I couldn't see him at first because of the smoke. It was extremely thick from the first explosion," Butler says. When the fire engine cleared the smoke, it was much closer than the dump truck had been.

As the driver accelerated past the "Welcome to Iraq" sign inside the camp's perimeter, Butler says he fired 100 rounds into the vehicle. The Marines later discovered the vehicle was equipped with 3-inch, blast-proof glass and the passengers were wearing Kevlar vests under their robes.

Pfc. Charles Young, 21, also of Altoona, Pa., hit the fire engine with a grenade launcher, slowing its progress and giving Butler time to recover. Without breaching the camp wall, the driver detonated the fire engine, sending debris flying up to 400 yards and knocking Marines from their bunks several hundred yards away. Butler, less than 50 yards away, again was knocked down by the blast, which partially destroyed the tower in which he was perched. After he crawled for cover, a third suicide bomber detonated outside the camp. That blast caused no damage or injuries. Sporadic fighting continued for several hours.

Meanwhile, Cpl. Anthony Fink of Columbus, Ohio, 21, fired a grenade launcher that the Marine unit says killed 11 insurgents. The Marines' "React Squad" swiftly deployed against the remaining insurgents.

"We were able to get the momentum back," Diorio says. He also says that Husaybah townspeople later reported 21 insurgents dead and 15 wounded. No Marines were seriously hurt.

USATODAY.com - Pa. native thwarts car-bomb attack

Lessons Learned: GROZNY

Foreign Military Studies Office Publications - CHANGING RUSSIAN URBAN TACTICS: THE AFTERMATH OF THE BATTLE FOR GROZNY: " City fighting in Grozny required much larger stocks of hand grenades, smoke grenades, demolition charges and disposable, one-shot anti-tank grenade launchers (similar to the U.S. LAW) than expected. Each infantry soldier needed a rope with a grappling hook for entering buildings. Light-weight ladders were also very valuable for assaulting infantry. Trained snipers were essential, but were in short supply.

Tank-mounted and dismounted searchlights were very useful for night assault in the city. Searchlights (as well as pyrotechnics) temporarily blinded enemy night-vision equipment and dazzled enemy gunners. They produced a psychological attack against the enemy, while helping prevent fratricide in the assault.

Artillery.

The Russians learned that conventional artillery fires are used during the approach to the city and while capturing the city outskirts. Then, the Russians deploy the bulk of their self-propelled artillery in direct-fire support of tanks and infantry. Since massed artillery fires create rubble in the very areas through which a force wants to advance, direct-fire is preferable. Direct fire can be conducted by guns, howitzers, multiple rocket launchers and the 82mm Vasilek automatic mortar. When Russian forces arrived at Grozny, they had few fire support coordinators and forward air controllers. Motorized rifle officers were not skilled in adjusting indirect artillery fire, but could readily aim and adjust direct fire.

Air power.

The Russians used a lot of fixed-wing aircraft, but they were of limited tactical value in Grozny. They were used to provide support while artillery was moved into range. Since they could not be precisely targeted, attack fighter bombers concentrated on large 'free-fire' zones. Fixed-wing aircraft proved of more value in attacking targets outside the city. Helicopter gunships were of much more value, but had to fly to and from the engagement area using the shelter of captured buildings."

Lessons Learned: Ambush by 152 daisy-chain artillery rounds

Lessons Learned: A Company Commander's Thoughts on Iraq: "The ambush was initiated by seven 152mm artillery rounds hidden in the weeds on the shoulder of the roadway that paralleled the canal. They were daisy-chained together. The lead tank absorbed the bulk of the blast, shrapnel cutting through the main gun tube in several locations. The blast created a debris field of dust and asphalt, denser than any smoke screen I have ever seen. The truck in front of me stalled in the debris field. To my rear, one of my mortar tracks engulfed the narrow roadway. Then the small-arms fire started. We could not go forward or backward. We were in the kill zone, unable to move. Tracers flew over, under, in front of, and behind my truck. Every soldier in my truck returned fire. My supply clerk and .50-cal gunner laid down blistering fire, as the rest of us fired our M16s out the windows; aiming at the muzzle flashes from both sides of the road.

There is a time when training takes over your actions, and this was one of those times, which is why it is so important to train to standard all the time. I counted six separate muzzle flashes from the left side of the road, and four separate muzzle flashes from the right side of the road. With my magazine empty, I grabbed a fresh one and seated it firmly. An RPG flew over top. I shot at muzzle flashes until they stopped blinking. Then, as abruptly as it started, it stopped. The firefight lasted about 45 seconds: it was the longest 45 seconds of my life.

Grabbing the hand mike while yelling for a crew report, I learned that our S3 was wounded. I fed reports to the tactical operations center (TOC) while our team split into two separate columns. The wheels and the personnel carriers raced to the brigade aid station, and the tanks turned around at our rally point and moved in to secure the ambush site. Easy 14 and 16 responded to the ambush site with 14 rockets, once we were clear. I believe it was their rocket run that settled the hash of the NCFs for the remainder of the night.

The tank commander on B22 knew something was wrong. His tank lost turret power, so he lost the thermal imagery and the commander's independent thermal viewer. Still, he did not hesitate to move back in and secure the ambush site. He requested artillery illumination to aid observation. I will never forget his words over the net when he was told his request was denied: 'Illumination denied. I've lost turret power; I have my nods and my .50. Hooah. I will stay until relieved. White 2 out.'

Our battalion quick reaction force relieved the crew on B22 a couple of hours later. The rest of the patrol drove back to our forward operating base. The B Company commander and I reported to the battalion TOC and debriefed the battle captain and the battlefield information center. I volunteered to take the battalion XO out to the ambush site at first light. We were fortunate to only suffer one casualty, as the following day we learned several things about the techniques used by our enemies.

We discovered only four of the seven daisy-chained artillery rounds detonated. God was with me - my truck was beside one of the rounds that did not explode. My scout platoon found detonation wire and traced it back along a wall between two fields, out of sight from the road. We found a stake and a screwdriver. The device was most likely fired by a car battery, and the screwdriver was used to complete the circuit. From the position of the individual who initiated the blast, he must have been in communication with a cohort who had direct observation of the roadway, because he was unable to observe the roadway from his position.

On the left side of the road, the NCFs used a cinderblock wall for cover, and the canal as an obstacle. From the right side of the road, they used climbing rigs (used for harvesting dates) to shimmy up palm trees and engage us with direct fire, using a wire fence and depression as an obstacle. Once return fire became too hot, they dropped from the trees and fled through the groves, which have a floor 8 to 10 feet lower than the roadbed. Our rounds passed harmlessly over their heads.

We discovered a small cache of hand grenades, RPG projectiles, and explosive materials. We pieced together the daisy-chained artillery rounds that initiated the ambush and the RPG launch that signaled break contact. We questioned the local populace and found them all to be very upset by the massive amounts of fire power displayed a few hours earlier, but claimed ignorance as to who planted the improvised explosive device (IED) and who was responsible for the ambush.

We learned a few days later that, shortly after we departed the area, a funeral was held. We were unable to determine how many had 'died' the day or evening prior, or from what cause. A funeral may be for one or many. The local populace tends to keep to themselves; as during the Baath party rule, it was better to be ignorant of what your neighbor was doing for reasons of self-preservation."

Lessons Learned: A Company Commander's Thoughts on Iraq

Lessons Learned: A Company Commander's Thoughts on Iraq: "'Train your soldiers - all of them, even the cooks, clerks, and command drivers, on dismounted operations. Teach dismounted patrol, ambush, and counter-ambush techniques. Tankers, scouts, mortarmen, you will need to do this. Teach everyone how to react to ambushes - mounted and dismounted. You cannot take your tanks and personnel carriers everywhere.'

'Teach your soldiers how to clear houses. Set inner and outer cordons, and designate search teams to enter houses. Develop your techniques before you go to Iraq. Beat up your boss so you can train with tactical human intelligence teams and tactical psychological operations teams before you deploy.

'Train your first sergeants how to process detainees. Have military police and military intelligence soldiers teach you how to do the paperwork correctly to include witness statements. If the paperwork is incomplete. really bad people end up getting released.'

This Document is in the public domain and may be reproduced in whole or in part."

Iraqi Street maps now on GPS units: First LAR

Homeland Security Technology, Inc. Delivers GPS Units to U.S. Marine Corps: "'1st LAR is the first unit to receive these GPS models equipped with Iraq street maps for use in armored vehicles,' commented CEO Jeffrey Powers. 'This model based on the Garmin GPSMAP 276C is specialty loaded with the Military Grid Reference System (MGRS) allowing the Marines to read military grid coordinates and military maps on the screen. Supplied with the GPS models are external antennas to facilitate installation in armored vehicles or Hummvees.' 1st LAR will be testing these units for a period of thirty days. 'We hope to follow this delivery with a major order allowing the Marines to place the units in every armored reconnaissance vehicle,' Powers added."

VIA:Argghhh! Anatomy of an Ambush

Argghhh! has more details on the how and why 6 Army enlisted men, 1 female Sgt. were able to destroy utterly a fully armed thug ambush team (3 Army guys were immediately WIA at the first fire).
" Recognize what you are seeing here. The "good guys" are getting hit. But cohesion remains. People do their jobs. They help each other - but never lose sight of the mission. "Duty First, People Always" is a hackneyed phrase to many people... but what do you think about it now? The casualties they are taking could well have justifed a withdrawal. But they didn't? Why? I can't answer definitively without interviewing the troops - but I'll offer these hypotheses.

1. Body armor. People are hit, and wounded, but not taken completely out of the fight.

2. Combat lifesaving training. People know how to treat the wounded, and do so. That gives *everybody* confidence and a willingness to stick it out. It also returns troops to the fight... which isn't happening on the other side. Though - it's not as universal as you'd think, as is mentioned at the end. The bad guys are just getting ground down (their dead-to-wounded ratio supports that point) - and ground down by a smaller group than they are who just won't quit fighting... and the squads doing this fighting are *not* enjoying the traditional advantages of the defender. At best, this is a meeting engagement. At worst, it is an in-stride assault on a defended position by an inferior force. It doesn't get any harder than that guys.

3. Training. From training comes confidence. You'll see that mentioned later, too.

4. Leadership. Cool, and calm under fire. Leadership that directs. Controls. Leads. And we're not talking senior leaders. We're talking Staff Sergeant and Sergeant. The crucial link in any Army.

5. Trust & Confidence. Confidence that they can handle this fight - and turst that other people are busting their ass to get there and help out.

6. Discipline, discipline, discipline. Those of you who were in the Army during long periods of no-combat peace - remember how people bitched about load plans, and uniformity? Read on.

Meanwhile, the two treating the three wounded on the ground at the rear vehicle come under sniper fire from the lone house. Each of them, remember one is a medic, pull out AT-4 rocket launchers from the HMMWV and nearly-simultaneously fire the rockets into the house to neutralize the shooter. The two sergeants work their way up the trenchline, throwing grenades, firing grenades from the launcher, and firing their M4s. The sergeant runs low on ammo and runs back to a vehicle to reload. She moves to her squad leader's vehicle, and because this squad is led so well, she knows exactly where to reach her arm blindly into a different vehicle to find ammo-because each vehicle is packed exactly the same, with discipline. As she turns to move back to the trenchline, Gunner in two sees an AIF jump from behind one of the cars and start firing on the Sergeant. He pulls his 9mm, because the .50 cal is pointed in the other direction, and shoots five rounds wounding him. The sergeant moves back to the trenchline under fire from the back of the field, with fresh mags, two more grenades, and three more M203 rounds. The Mk 19 gunner suppresses the rear of the field. Now, rejoined with the squad leader, the two sergeants continue clearing the enemy from the trenchline, until they see no more movement. A lone man with an RPG launcher on his shoulder steps from behind a tree and prepares to fire on the three Hummers and is killed with a single aimed SAW shot thru the head by the previously knocked out gunner on platform two, who now has a SAW out to supplement the .50 cal in the mount. The team leader sergeant, she claims four killed by aimed M4 shots. The Squad Leader, he threw four grenades taking out at least two baddies, and attributes one other to her aimed M203 fire.

Note this:"The Medic who fired the AT-4, said he remembered how from the week before when his squad leader forced him to train on it, though he didn't think as a medic he would ever use one. He said he chose to use it in that moment to protect the three wounded on the ground in front of him, once they came under fire from the building." There is much more at Arg site. Check it out.
Argghhh! The Home Of Two Of Jonah's Military Guys..

VIA:BLACKFIVE: After Action Report - 10 Kentucky Reservists Break Ambush

BlackFive has the complete after action report on the 10 Reservists from Kentucky who took on somewhere between 40 or 50 thugs on a roadside truck convoy ambush. BF also has a film link with sound so you can hear and see the firefight until the first humvee arrives and I guess the cameraman beat feet. Sgt. Leigh Ann Hester was credited with the first kill of the thuggie ambush team. This item was of particular interest:"The sergeant runs low on ammo and runs back to a vehicle to reload. She moves to her squad leader's vehicle, and because this squad is led so well, she knows exactly where to reach her arm blindly into a different vehicle to find ammo-because each vehicle is packed exactly the same, with discipline...Those seven Americans (with the three wounded) killed in total 24 heavily armed enemy, wounded 6 (two later died), and captured one unwounded, who feigned injury to escape the fight.(must be the cameraman) They seized 22 AK-47s, 6x RPG launchers w/ 16 rockets, 13x RPK machineguns, 3x PKM machineguns, 40 hand grenades, 123 fully loaded 30-rd AK magazines, 52 empty mags, and 10 belts of 2500 rds of PK ammo. Read the rest at BlackFive.
BLACKFIVE: After Action Report - Raven 42 Ambushed!: "AFTER ACTION REPORT: Raven 42 action in Salman Pak
"

Thugs Plan for TWD Total World Domination w/a little Help from the French ( cheese eating surrender monkeys

Bat Ye'or 's new book, (required reading for warriors),Eurabia: The Euro-Arab Axis describes in devastating precise detail the three pronged war you will be fighting against :military, economic and cultural. American Thinker has a great interveiw with the author in which she outlines exactly how the war against America did not end with the death of Hitler but was continued, as a back burner, until 1967 when Isreal swept the battlefield. Read the interview here:
The American Thinker

In Fallujah, a thuggee complains about U.S. Marines Via: Inside the Ring -- The Washington Times

Some Marine units moved through Fallujah in November with Arabic translators. The infantrymen wanted to be able to eavesdrop on the terrorists' radio net.
A Marine told us that, roughly translated, one terrorist was heard to say: "We are fighting. But the Marines keep coming. We are shooting, but the Marines won't stop."
Inside the Ring -- The Washington Times

Brit's capture thug at Heathrow Airport VIA:Cynical Nation

12:48 PM
This hasn't hit the news yet, but my brother-in-law is sitting on a plane in Heathrow Airport as we speak, and there is apparently some action going on. It seems his plane was stormed by agents with machine guns, who seized a Middle Eastern passenger from my brother-in-law's row and removed him from the plane.

This is happening as I type this. The wonders of modern technology. More to follow,Cynical Nation

Armoured Wild Pigs Success Marker

The American Enterprise: In the Middle East, a New World: "'It's strange for me to say it, but this process of change has started because of the American invasion of Iraq. I was cynical about Iraq. But when I saw the Iraqi people voting, 8 million of them, it was the start of a new Arab world. The Syrian people, the Egyptian people, all say that something is changing. The Berlin Wall has fallen. We can see it.'

-Lebanese politician Walid Jumblatt, in the Washington Post"

Marine Reservists from Charlie Co. One/ Twenty Three Get Unexpected Welcome by Generals, Colonels,Sgt.Majors

VIA:Austin Bay Blog
Austin Bay, retired Marine Reservist, author and newspaper columnist, was attending a III Corps conference in Corpus Christi when the meeting was interrupted by

"a young officer walked into the hotel ballroom and announced that a US Marine Reserve company was returning to its home base in Corpus after a seven month-tour in Iraq." I’m not sure that anybody actually said “Let’s go,” but BG Troy and LTG Tom Metz (III Corps commander) and the rest of the senior staff (brigadiers, colonels, lieutenant-colonels, sergeant-majors, and master sergeants) instantly emptied the seminar room. To appropriate a colloquial phrase: we beat feet.

Traffic cops and a slew of passersby lined the sidewalk. A Coast Guard helicopter buzzed in from Corpus Christi Bay then banked .

We joined the crowd on the corner of Water Street and Peoples. We may have waited three minutes, at the most. Here came the convoy— a police escort followed by two buses filled with young Marines. We cheered, saluted and clapped as the company rolled by. (I feel certain the company belongs to the 1/23rd Marines. The 1/23rd is a Marine reserve battalion just back from Iraq—and I have friends in Central Texas whose sons serve in that unit. If I’ve got the Corpus Christi unit misidentified, post a comment or drop me an email and I’ll correct it.)

Most of us old codgers wore short-sleeves and slacks, so it’s a fair bet the Marine reservists didn’t know their former Corps commander and his senior staff were cheering with the home crowd. (Probable wisecrack if someone informed a lance corporal: “Hey, sarge—are those the guys responsible for all the dumb orders you didn’t like?”)

Actually, the Marines were smiling and waving—the one memorable face I saw framed in the bus window as it shot past was that of a delighted but obviously tired young man.

Jet lag or Iraq lag? Or lag from a week at the 29 Palms Marine base? Doesn’t really matter now– welcome home.

Thugmaster's Grand Strategy to defeat America via:TigerHawk

Michael Doran, Princeton University history professor, recently gave standing room only lectures on the thuggies strategy for success in taking over the world by defeating American forces. Doran was denied tenure because his politics are to the right and in support of Bush. Tigerhawk attended the lectures and you need to expand your military education by reading, thinking and digesting these ideas .
TigerHawk

500 Marines from the 3rd Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion return home from Iraq. via:San Bernardino County Sun

The battalion is returning to the Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center here after seven months of duty and not one visit, which left them to spend most of the major holidays, and a few minor ones, in an unfamiliar place plagued by wartime conditions.
San Bernardino County Sun - News:

When 4 Star Marine Generals Blog: This is what they say...on Posting to his Command and Control Blog

Via: Sgt Stryker


“The metric is what the person has to contribute, not the person’s rank, age, or level of experience. If they have the answer, I want the answer. When I post a question on my blog, I expect the person with the answer to post back. I do not expect the person with the answer to run it through you, your OIC, the branch chief, the exec, the Division Chief and then get the garbled answer back before he or she posts it for me. The Napoleonic Code and Netcentric Collaboration cannot exist in the same space and time. It’s YOUR job to make sure I get my answers and then if they get it wrong or they could have got it righter, then you guide them toward a better way…but do not get in their way.”

JAMES E. CARTWRIGHT
General, USMC
Commander, USSTRATCOM

Awesome.

Osama bin Laden :Number One Thugmaster gets a two year free do-not-go-to-jail pass by our very own American Ambassador to Pakistan

"Ambassador Nancy Powell, America's representative in Pakistan refused to allow the distribution in Pakistan of wanted posters, matchbooks, and other items advertising America's $25 million reward for information leading to the capture of Mr. bin Laden and other Al Qaeda leaders.according to Richard Miniter writing in the New York Sun, today. Ms. Powell, now serving at the State Department's Foggy Bottom headquarters in Washington D.C., declined to comment directly."
How a Lone Diplomat Compromised the Hunt for Bin Laden

“Don’t take ‘no’ for an answer,”

Maj. Mark Menotti, assistant head of the enlisted retention branch at Quantico says if you don't like the the reenlistment options you are offered don't sign up and send your concerns up the chain of command." “Don’'t take ‘no’ for an answer,"” Menotti said. “"We'’re willing to work for them in order to work something out"
.” Qualified Marines looking to reenlist don't need to play Texas hold them as the Corps needs Grunts to add muscle to the tip of the spear. The new re-enlistment options to grunts, intell, comm and War Pigs are of the restructuring plan by the Force Structure Review to kick thuggie butt according to the Marine Times, today. An additonal 7.5 million buckaroos have been added to the herd just to make sure your enlistment bonus package is exactly what your wife wants. Check it out before you walk. Some grunts might get as much as 35,000 yankee dollars, the article in the Marine Times stated, although the article was careful not to over play its hand by saying exactly which "retention-challenged infantry specialties" were the ringers. During the previous ice age when Delta-Mike was available for a re-enlistment bonus only computer nerds were given the $35,000 carrot! Today it's grunts!

Marine Corps Times - News - This Week's Marine Corps Times

The Good News is We are winning, American Media Clueless Iraqis Kicking Butt

Middle eastern intell reports thuggies are taking each other out as their plans to take over Iraq are falling apart, according to the Guardian Unlimited | Special reports | Iraqi resistance begins to crack after elections
a Brit newspaper.
This is non-news to our American media dinosaurs still obsessed with defeating Dubya by refusing to write about any success in the war against thuggies. From the Aussies
we learn that the thuggies are killing each off as they begin to disagree on plans that will succeed against successful Iraqi dawn raids that scoop up hundreds of thuggies. Next week the Shi'ite holy city of Kerbala will host the mourning ceremony of Arbain, an obivious target for thugs. This morning, Iraqi police busted 131 thugs and captured 3 tons of TNT. Last week Iraqi commando raided a training camp for thugs and killed 85. This good news is on top Iraqi citizens themselves busting thuggie chops after 8 of them bad boys showed up at their shops with AK's determined to demonstrate the lessons of thuggie power. Six thugs were killed and the rest escaped.

Ten Kentucky reservists take on a 34 thuggie ambush and kick tuckus up the Kudzoo River

VIA the Times Leader Online
The high price of setting an ambush for fat and loaded 18 wheelers was paid by 35 thuggies who thought they were going for easy pickings off a supposedly defenseless convoy of truckers high balling down an a dusty road in Iraq, today. The thuggies, who are now settling accounts with their maker, sprang the ambush with light arms and RPG fire unaware the convoy was being shadowed from the rear by ten Kentucky reservists in three armored Humvees. The Kentucky back up threw themselves in between the thuggies and the convoy allowing the convoy escape the kill zone. The reservist then found the thug's escape route closed it and after a 45 minute fire fight killed 27, wounded 6 and captured 1. None were allowed to escaped.

Also ..."seized a large weapons cache, confiscating 22 AK-47 light machine guns, 13 RPKs (Russian-made light machine guns), 123 full AK-47 ammunition magazines, 52 empty AK-47 magazines, one full AK-47 ammunition drum, about 200 loose AK-47 rounds, 2,500 belted ammunition rounds and 40 hand grenades."

The Times Leader Online - Princeton, Kentucky

Time to Saddle Up the War Pigs?

The graybeards at Ankara, Turkey are considering granting a request by the US to use the Incirlik air base in southern Turkey as a base of operations for missions in Iraq and Afghanistan according to Defense News

Inquiring minds want to know Por Qua? When the Turkeys would not let the 4th ID thru at a critical time in the war how come now they wannabenice?
DefenseNews.com - Turkey To Let U.S. Use Base as Logistical Hub: Officials - 03/24/05 11:32

Thuggies want to Plead "Uncle"

Sunni Arab thuggies are looking for a manly way to say they give up w/out having to say they are sorry according FT.Com In exchange for the keys to the democratic nation of arab citizens the thuggies want assurances their noodnicks won't be cut off at the check point.

"Sharif Ali Bin al-Hussein, who heads Iraq's main monarchist movement and is in contact with guerrilla leaders, said many insurgents including former officials of the ruling Ba'ath party, army officers, and Islamists have been searching for a way to end their campaign against US troops and Iraqi government forces since the January 30 election.

“Firstly, they want to ensure their own security,” says Sharif Ali, who last week hosted a pan-Sunni conference attended by tribal sheikhs and other local leaders speaking on behalf of the insurgents.

Insurgent leaders fear coming out into the open to talk for fear of being targeted by US military or Iraqi security forces' raids, he said."

Come on in, thuggies, the water is fine! I think I can safely reassure all thuggies their nuggies are safe from harm on the part of US forces, I mean, the idea of harming a thuggie after he has decided to become a democrat is counterproductive, isn't it, and who wants to discourage all the undecided thuggies hiding out in back of the cave.

Thugmaster's Plan to Take Over the US of A VIA: The Jamestown Foundation

The Center of Islamic Studies and Research (AKA al-qaeda) has a new book out on how to cage the American Eagle and send all your War Pigs to the Happy Pig Home for the retired. Its a beaut. Appropriately titled "The Management of Barbarism". Keep up with your war education. Apparently, the thuggies " don't believe this big dog will fight when you rattle his cage or put a boot up your ass...it's the American way."

"By "Management of Barbarism" the author refers to the period just after the collapse of a superpower, the period of "savage chaos". It appears pointedly to be a method of not repeating the experience of Afghanistan prior to the rule of the Taliban, and of improving controls over the periods experienced, for instance, in Somalia after the fall of Siad Barre.

Contents

After ample prolegomena on Middle East history and the causes of the rise and fall of superpowers, the book substantially falls into five broad themes:

1) Definition of ‘Management of Barbarism'
2) The Path of Empowerment
3) The Most Important Principles and Policies
4) The Most Pressing Difficulties and Obstacles
5) Conclusion – demonstrating jihad as the ideal solution

Jihadi strategy

The ‘Path of Empowerment' theme constitutes the strategy of the mujahideen. In this the author further sub-divides into three distinct phases:

1) The Disruption and Exhaustion phase
2) The Management of Barbarism phase
3) The Empowerment phase

In the first "Disruption and Exhaustion" phase, the mujahideen are to a) exhaust the enemy's forces by stretching them through dispersal of targets and b) "attract the youth through exemplary targeting such as occurred at Bali, Al-Muhayya and Djerba."

At the "Management of Barbarism phase", the mujahideen are to "establish internal security, ensure food and medical supplies, defend the zone from external attack, establish Shari'ah justice, an armed force, an intelligence service, provide economic sufficiency, defend against [public] hypocrisy and deviant opinions and ensure obedience, and the establishment of alliances with neighboring elements that are yet to give total conformity to the Management, and improve management structures."

The "Empowerment" phase is an extension of the above. The policy is to continue Disruption and Exhaustion activities, at the same time establishing logistic links with the various Management zones. A conspicuous example of this phase is the series of events leading up to the September 11 attacks on the United States, which "destroyed the peoples' awe of America and of the lesser ranking Apostate armies." The fall of Afghanistan, the author explains, was either planned to happen, or was due to happen even without the September 11 events, and had as the result the multiplication of jihadi groups bent on revenge.

As for future targeting, this should be variegated "in all parts of the Islamic world and beyond it. For instance, in striking at tourist resorts frequented by Crusaders, all tourist resorts will have to be secured," with all the dispersal of energy and costs this involves. The same goes for Crusader banks in Turkey employing interest, or petrol installations near Aden, which will subsequently oblige security hikes for refineries, pipelines and shipping. "If two apostate authors are simultaneously liquidated in two different countries, it will require the security for thousands of writers in the Islamic world."

An important feature of this phase is the attention to be given to media and propaganda strategy, both for winning support and recruitment, and for deterring opposition. The media strategy should ‘target in depth middle ranking officers in the armed forces [of Muslim nations] to push them to join the jihad.' It should ‘aim at every stage to justify operations to the populous legally and intellectually … given that, assuming that our long struggle will require half a million mujahideen, getting such a number from a nation of millions is easier than from the ranks of the Islamic movement.'

Jihadi Tactics

The third theme, "The Most Important Principles and Policies," gives details on tactics. After discussing the necessity of establishing a proper chain of command, in both the doctrinal and military fields, the author outlines important military principles ("striking with the heaviest force at the weakest point; a superior enemy is defeated by economic and military attrition"). He further suggests four major reference sources: "The Encyclopedia of Jihad (prepared by the mujahideen in Afghanistan); the al-Battar magazine; the writings of Abu Ubayd al-Qurashi in the al-Ansar magazine, along with other works on the al-Uswa website; general works on military science, particularly on guerrilla warfare, provided the student rectifies the errors in them respective to Islamic law."

In the sub-section "The Application of Vehemence" subtitled "The Policy of Paying the Price," Abu Bakr Naji warns against the dangers of anything other than maximum violence as a deterrent, or as a response, even if the response should take years. The response, the author states, "is best done by other groups and in other countries than those suffering the act of enmity … to give the enemy the sense of being surrounded and his interests exposed … and to confuse him." An example of this method would be, say, in response to the Egyptians' imprisonment of mujahideen, an attack by mujahideen upon an Egyptian embassy in the Arabian Peninsula or the Maghreb, or the kidnapping of Egyptian diplomats, who should be "liquidated horrifically" if the mujahideen's demands are not met.

Stress is then laid upon the need to understand how international politics work. In the sub-section "Understanding the Rules of the Political Game" Abu Bakr Naji highlights how mujahid groups that refused to soil their hands with profane political calculations paid the price. The difficulty of reconciling Islamic legal propriety with pragmatic military interest is resolved, in the author's eyes, by recourse to the example set by [the 14th century jurist] Ibn Qayyim, who set Prophetic precedent as a preference, but not an obligation.

An important feature of this game, Naji illustrates, is the manipulation of the international media, and ensuring that the message gets through to the target, in its widest sense, and not just to the minority elite. "We must therefore set up an association whose purpose is to ensure the communication of our demands to people, even if this should expose them to dangers akin to the perils of combat … such as the taking of a hostage. After raising the hullabaloo concerning him we demand that media correspondents publish our demands in full in return for his release … Our demand might be a statement of warning or justification for an operation." An effective response to government media's demonization of mujahid actions is to prepare the ground by first demonizing the target as something Islamically forbidden or serving the economic interests of the enemy. Naji then gives an imaginary scenario of an attempt to adjust oil prices in favor of the people where a deadline is issued and an oil engineer or manager or journalist is kidnapped to ensure that the demand is fully publicized."

Points of weakness

The fourth major theme in the work covers "The Most Pressing Difficulties and Obstacles" that will face the mujahideen. These are listed as the diminution in the numbers of believers as casualties in war, the lack of sufficiently trained administrators (and the relative social distance many of these have from the rank and file) and the problems caused by over-enthusiasm in the behavior of some. Naji also highlights the problems that will be faced with old loyalties to other Islamist groups impeding administration in the new Management phases, or the threat of schism.

Importance of the book

The Management of Barbarism is one of the few works of jihadi literature devoted specifically to strategy. Jihadi literature is rich in works of doctrine and exhortation on the one hand, and specific pamphlets on military technology on the other. Tactical studies tend toward providing doctrinal clearance for particular issues such as the killing of prisoners, the problem of civilian Muslim casualties or dealing with the infidel. Strategy is less well represented. Other than the papers by Yusuf al-Ayyiri on the Jihad method, the closest work to this is the Tuhfat al-Muwahhideen fi Bayan Tariq al-Tamkeen (Gift of the Monotheists on the Way to Empowerment) by the same author as this treatise, which indeed may be considered an extension of it.

The importance of this work lies in the mapping, in the eyes of a mujahid, of the stages of a strategic program towards empowerment. This process is construed with a broad enough perspective as to make of individual reverses — such as Afghanistan — of secondary importance. While Naji illustrates how, for the mujahid, matters of doctrinal propriety carry great weight, he also introduces realism to the subject in his defense of pragmatism over legal literalism in matters relating to dealings with the enemy and its politics. But perhaps the most interesting emphasis is the role of the media. As an admission of the failure of the Islamist groups to build massive support, ample space is given to methods of combating government and western media control of information delivery. The number of attacks and threats of attacks by mujahideen on media offices and individuals in Iraq, demonstrates that the value of this arm of the strategy is well understood, and indeed appears to be following the textbook.

The Jamestown Foundation

VIA:Democracy in Iraq--These two years

Democracy in Iraq: "t has been now two years since the United States, UK and other countries invaded our nation. It has been two years since Iraqis have had to live with daily violent attacks and rampant terrorism. It has been two years since our nation began being turned upside down. It has been two years since the road to democracy began.

It has been a very hard two years. So many people have died, so much has been destroyed, so many drops of tears and blood have been shed, so many have been robbed of loved ones, and so many words have been spoken about Iraq, it's future, and this war.

Two years...seems like yesterday that I was awoken by bombs going off in Baghdad, and the realisation that my life and that of my country was going to change. That very day I remember being scared that my house might be destroyed by a bomb, or that my relatives who were forcibly put into the Iraqi army might be killed.

Two years since Saddam came on TV, and pledged that Iraq would never fall. Little did he know, he surrendered like a rat in a whole only months later. Two years since my father had a heart.

Two years is about 730 days. In those days what have I seen. My eyes have seen more than I had ever hoped, more blood, more death and more pain, then I ever imagined or hoped I would have seen.

In those days I have seen the worst of humanity, the animal that lives in all humanity, the ability of humanity to destroy at will others, and rob the life given to others by God almight himself.

So you ask me, Husayn, was it worth it. What have you gotten? What has Iraq acheived? These are questions I get a lot.

To may outsiders, like those who protested last year, who will protest today. This was a fools errand, it brought nothing but death and destruction. I am sheltered in Iraq, but I know how the world feels, how people have come to either love or hate Bush, as though heis the emobdiement of this war. As though this war is part of Bush, they forget the over twenty million Iraqis, they forget the Middle Easterners, they forget the average person on the street, the average man with the average dream.

Ask him if it was worth it. Ask him what is different. Ask him if he would go through it again, go ahead ask him, ask me, many of you have.

Now I answer you, I answer you on behalf of myself, and my countrymen. I dont care what your news tells you, what your television and newspapers say, this is how we feel. Despite all that has happened. Despite all the hurt, the pain, blood, sweat and tears. These two years have given us hope we never had."

Why Do we Need More Grunts?

Robert Scales, former Army grunt, Silver Star (Hamburger Hill) and retired Major General, has interesting insight into why Marine Tanks are being replaced by riflemen:"Scales thinks that the United States faces "generations" of smaller wars in the Mideast. And to fight them, it needs 100,000 more Army combat troops, 30,000 more Marines and 20,000 more Special Forces, plus a modernization of their equipment, a reorganization of their units and a much better training regime for small-scale urban combat and intimate contact with foreign cultures."....."Scales says, soldiers need better training, both military and cultural. As demonstrated by the recent mistaken shooting of an Italian journalist at a Baghdad checkpoint, he said, "tactical decisions made by sergeants and lieutenants can have as much strategic importance as those made by generals and admirals."

Attacks Down--Thugs Are Moving On

The C.O. of the First Marine Expeditonary Force, Lt Gen John F. Sattler, says thuggie attacks are down and their influence is sucking wind in this interview with the NYT.
The New York Times > International > Middle East > Insurgency Is Fading Fast, Top Marine in Iraq Says

8th Tank Battalion is History--New War Armored Reconnaissance Company To Saddle -Up in its place

“We need more trigger pullers is the bottom line. We need more guys with rifles,” said Major Mike Muller, 8th Tank Battalion.
The marines of Bravo company at Mattydale(New York) will find themselves attached to a light armored reconnaissance unit, based in California. They will continue to be headquartered here in Central New York. "

Via:Marine Corps Times -"Slap some BACON on that biscuit and lets Roll. We're burning daylight." John Wayne.

The CMC's wish list includes 104 million for 48 new, never been dented Wild War Pigs, 20 million for ammo and enough gear to saddle up two new infantry battalions as part of the new "don't- fight-your-daddy's-last-war" genetic code force structure changes to kill the thug-puppets.
Marine Corps Times - News - This Week's Marine Corps Times: "a request for $104 million to purchase 48 Light Armored Vehicles in various configurations to outfit two new Reserve light armored reconnaissance companies. It also would spend more than $20 million for ammunition to equip two new active-duty infantry battalions to be established as part of planned force structure changes to shape the Corps for the ongoing war on terrorism."

VIA Assumption of Command---WHO?!! is going to run your CheckPoint!

Mustang 23, an Army reserve C.O., has some good advice that cuts the BS on checkpoint engagement:

Assumption of Command: "First and foremost it is our job here to protect and defend ourselves and our fellow soldiers. The Iraqi population knows to stay far away from us while we are on the road. Most of the time, we don't even have to wave them away, they get out of the way on their own. On the road they don't want any part of us.
If you were in my shoes, I ask you this question:
If you know that the good people of Iraq know better than to charge their vehicle up to American checkpoints or convoys, who is the only people who would speed their vehicle at us?
If I feel my troops or my life is endangered, I will act appropriately and I expect my troops to do the same."


Roger. Copy.

Ricker For Two LAR via Greenville Sun

Lance Cpl. Ricker Now In Iraq Photo Special to the Sun U.S. Marine Lance Cpl. Justin Ricker, right, a Greene County native, posed for the photo above with his brother, Joshua Ricker, after his graduation from United States Marine Corps “boot camp” at the Marine Corps Recruit Depot at Paris Island, S.C., in Dec. 20003. His unit went to Iraq last month. Source: The Greeneville Sun 03-09-2005

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VIA:Major K. Iraqi Police Rescue US Convoy

Major K,an Army blogger, posts on four IPs who, at the cost of their lives, went to the rescue of a US convoy whose drivers were too green to live and allowed the aggressive thug-puppet to insert his vehicle in between the rolling convoy trucks. The TP was a VBIED.

The other day, I was sitting in the conference room of our headquarters building during a meeting with the Executive Officer and the rest of the staff. When we heard a loud explosion that was strong enough and/or close enough to rattle our building. We all paused and looked at each other and remarked that “that one was pretty close.” We waited a moment to hear if there were going to be any more explosions or gunfire as this would indicate that an attack was underway as opposed to merely a large detonation of captured explosives by our EOD (Explosive Ordnance Disposal) team nearby or an IED just outside the FOB. If there were any additional noises like that, we would have to gear up and get ready to fight. As it was, there were no additional explosions or gunfire and we continued our meeting.

This is what had happened: A short distance from our FOB, A US convoy was driving down the road. As they headed to their destination a civilian vehicle pulled on from a side alley and attempted to get into the convoy. Apparently, the convoy gunners were too green or some how did not perceive the car to be a threat. They did not wave the car off, throw anything at him, cut him off, or shoot to try and stop him. A nearby IP (Iraqi Police) SUV witnessed the intruding vehicle and immediately intervened. It pulled up to the rear of the convoy and tried to force the intruding vehicle off the road. The IP’s had successfully put themselves between the vehicle and the US convoy. Unable to deter the vehicle from approaching the US convoy or make it pull over, the IP’s fired at the engine of the encroaching vehicle. At this point, the driver detonated the IED inside his vehicle. Yes, this was a classic VBIED.

This suicide bomber killed himself and the four IP’s in the vehicle holding him at bay. The device was so powerful that the bomber’s vehicle was literally obliterated. The engine block was thrown over 25 meters. The IP’s vehicle was nothing but a burned out shell. All four IP’s inside perished in the blast, but not a scratch was inflicted on the vehicles or personnel of the US convoy. Had it not been for the exceptional bravery, valor and situational awareness of these four Iraqi Patriots, that day would have been bloodier, and we probably would have had another communications blackout at the FOB.

Pundits and soldiers alike have talked a lot of trash about the ISF (Iraqi Security Forces). But if they are even half as good as these four were, the future of Iraq is very bright indeed. I hope they are decorated with the highest honors their country can bestow upon their fallen. Their actions were as heroic as it gets if you ask me.

Major K.

Exercising the War Pigs---16 rules

These are Bob Parson's Rules. Bob Parson? You saw the Super Bowl commercial of Nikki, the babeasaurous, whose bra halter strap breaks while testifying before the congressional committee. Yead, thats his company commerical for Go Daddy.com. Sells domain names. BobParson is a VN Marine Grunt. And a multimillionaire. Pay attention Number One. Of course, he didn't write them for especially War Pigs but they can fit just about everywhere. Anywhere where you are running nine hundred thousand dollar War Pigs, several hundred "employees" schedules, deadlines, goals, morale, supplies, maintenance, and getting your weekend goals accomplished inside the 48 hour window.

1. Get and stay out of your comfort zone. I believe that not much happens of any significance when we’re in our comfort zone. I hear people say, “But I’m concerned about security.” My response to that is simple: “Security is for cadavers.”

2. Never give up. Almost nothing works the first time it’s attempted. Just because what you’re doing does not seem to be working, doesn’t mean it won’t work. It just means that it might not work the way you’re doing it. If it was easy, everyone would be doing it, and you wouldn’t have an opportunity.

3. When you’re ready to quit, you’re closer than you think. There’s an old Chinese saying that I just love, and I believe it is so true. It goes like this: “The temptation to quit will be greatest just before you are about to succeed.”

4. With regard to whatever worries you, not only accept the worst thing that could happen, but make it a point to quantify what the worst thing could be. Very seldom will the worst consequence be anywhere near as bad as a cloud of “undefined consequences.” My father would tell me early on, when I was struggling and losing my shirt trying to get Parsons Technology going, “Well, Robert, if it doesn’t work, they can’t eat you.”

5. Focus on what you want to have happen. Remember that old saying, “As you think, so shall you be.”

6. Take things a day at a time. No matter how difficult your situation is, you can get through it if you don’t look too far into the future, and focus on the present moment. You can get through anything one day at a time.

7. Always be moving forward. Never stop investing. Never stop improving. Never stop doing something new. The moment you stop improving your organization, it starts to die. Make it your goal to be better each and every day, in some small way. Remember the Japanese concept of Kaizen. Small daily improvements eventually result in huge advantages.

8. Be quick to decide. Remember what the Union Civil War general, Tecumseh Sherman said: “A good plan violently executed today is far and away better than a perfect plan tomorrow.”

9. Measure everything of significance. I swear this is true. Anything that is measured and watched, improves.

10. Anything that is not managed will deteriorate. If you want to uncover problems you don’t know about, take a few moments and look closely at the areas you haven’t examined for a while. I guarantee you problems will be there.

11. Pay attention to your competitors, but pay more attention to what you’re doing. When you look at your competitors, remember that everything looks perfect at a distance. Even the planet Earth, if you get far enough into space, looks like a peaceful place.

12. Never let anybody push you around. In our society, with our laws and even playing field, you have just as much right to what you’re doing as anyone else, provided that what you’re doing is legal.

13. Never expect life to be fair. Life isn’t fair. You make your own breaks. You’ll be doing good if the only meaning fair has to you, is something that you pay when you get on a bus (i.e., fare).

14. Solve your own problems. You’ll find that by coming up with your own solutions, you’ll develop a competitive edge. Masura Ibuka, the co-founder of SONY, said it best: “You never succeed in technology, business, or anything by following the others.” There's also an old Asian saying that I remind myself of frequently. It goes like this: "A wise man keeps his own counsel."

15. Don’t take yourself too seriously. Lighten up. Often, at least half of what we accomplish is due to luck. None of us are in control as much as we like to think we are.

16. There’s always a reason to smile. Find it. After all, you’re really lucky just to be alive. Life is short. More and more, I agree with my little brother. He always reminds me: “We’re not here for a long time; we’re here for a good time.”

A special word of thanks.
I owe a special thanks to Brian Dunn. When I first wrote these rules down and was thinking about compiling them into a book -- that book, like most books I suppose, has been half-done for a while ; -- Brian read them and suggested a title. His suggestion was, “They Can’t Eat You.” I like Brian’s suggestion for two reasons: 1. It reminds me of my Dad. I sure miss him; and 2. It’s true. No matter how difficult things get, you're going to be OK. It's very important to realize that. Thanks, Brian.

Republishing my rules
Should you care to include all or part of this article (or any article in my weblog for that matter) in one of your publications you have my permission to do so provided that you credit me for the material, mention where itl was obtained and also my copyright. A suggested form might be "The above (or following) article (or rules for survival) is included with the permission of Bob Parsons (http://www.bobparsons.com) and is Copyright 2005 by Bob Parsons. All rights reserved."

Copyright © 2004 - 2005 Bob Parsons All rights reserved.
Posted by Bob Parsons in Hot Points

Bravo Company, 4th Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion embarked on a six-hour night convoy

Four LAR War Pigs had their monthly opportunity to get away from honey dew lists, messy diapers and exercise in the clean fresh country air, recently. VIA: dcmilitary .com

"On Feb. 25 Marines from Bravo Company, 4th Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion embarked on a six-hour night convoy from the Pfc. Raymond Flair Reserve Center to Camp Dawson to conduct their monthly Reserve training. The peaceful serenity of Camp Dawson's snow-covered West Virginia countryside was disturbed by a tactical procession of Light Armored Vehicles, 7-ton trucks and Humvees............."Overall, the weekend at Camp Dawson provided a good opportunity for Bravo Company to get away from Flair and back into the fold of employing their many formidable weapon systems and motivated Marines in the field--a mission that they have proven they are exceptionally capable of performing."

Bravo Company trains in 'any clime and place':

Marine Capt. Armando Espinoza, FAC First LAR Gets DFC

"Espinoza, a helicopter pilot who flew five combat missions into Baghdad in April 2003, evacuating 28 wounded Marines and an Iraqi family of seven, has been awarded the military’s fourth highest combat award. The captain already has two Iraq tours under his belt. Last year, he returned to Iraq as the forward air controller for 1st Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion. The “Red Dragons,” meanwhile, are wrapping up a second deployment to Iraq and are expected to return home later this month."
Marine Corps Times - News - More News

Sean Huze, Two LAR Writes War Pig Play

Alert Reader notes I missed Scott Peterson's story on the return of Charlie Co., First LAR. Too right, I did. I have goggle nets out to catch anything on War Pigs but sometimes I flat out go blind. But here's a make up: The play: "The Sand Storm: Stories from the Front," is a series of monologues by 10 Marine characters. The play is based on playwright Sean Huze's experience in the 2nd Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion, which fought pitched battles in Nasiriya, Kut, Baghdad and Tikrit, earning the nickname "Destroyers" from the Iraqis they fought.
The Sand Storm is being produced with backing from Operation Truth, an organization of veterans from the Iraq and Afghan wars. It will be performed March 18 through April 23 at the Elephant Asylum Theater in Santa Monica, Calif."


Play about Iraq war opening in California - (United Press International)