FoxNews reports that Israel's Trophy double-radar anti-RPG system will soon be installed on US Army armored vehicles in Iraq on a trial basis.
The report details the system that "works like a futuristic force field," and which other sources say has already been installed in Israeli Merkava 4 tanks as a pilot project. Trophy, which looks "no more menacing than an automatic tennis ball launcher," one analyst said, is designed to be mounted on a fighting vehicle while it provides it a virtual bubble of protection.
Trophy uses one radar to detect the launching of an RPG (rocket-propelled grenade) or the like at it. Another radar then tracks the incoming missile and detects when it is in range. At that point, Trophy employs a counter-measure, whose details are still secret, to directly hit and neutralize the head of the threat, thus detonating it before it makes contact with the targeted tank or vehicle.
The now-powerless RPG might still hit its target, but with no more force than any other metal object, and would certainly not be able to penetrate.
John Pike, director of the GlobalSecurity.org website, says, "The future of the the United States Army is riding on the proposition that something like this can work."
The report emphasizes that Trophy does not work against IED's (improvised explosive devices, otherwise known as roadside bombs) or land mines, but is rather designed to eliminate the explosive capability of threats flying at a vehicle. It can also be outfitted for helicopeters, but not on ships.
Only IED's have killed more American soldiers in Iraq than have RPG's.
#5
Things change in 3 years, ed. Like, maybe, somebody finally figured out that preserving lives (not to mention expensive equipment) is more important than NIH.
#6
Wrong defense for the current battlefield. It might be useful against ATGMs but slat armor already works better against RPGs and is cheap and reliable. In addition, slat armor won't kill nearby foot infantry. Trophy may be useful on another battlefield, say Lebanon.
Where an active defense could be useful is on Humvees where slat armor is too heavy. Unfortunately, Trophy is too heavy and too power hungry for the Humvee's systems.
Posted by: ed ||
06/24/2010 17:50 Comments ||
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#7
The US is obsoleting Humvees for better protected vehicles so my last point will soon be moot.
Posted by: ed ||
06/24/2010 17:54 Comments ||
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#8
#7 The US is obsoleting Humvees for better protected vehicles so my last point will soon be moot. Posted by ed
And to combat our new fleet of vehicles the bad guys are upsizing their Improvised Explosive Devices (IED) with Home Made Explosives (HME). Sadly, little can survive 90kgs of AN/FO.
We do something - They do something. And so it goes.
#9
IEDs are another problem and Trophy won't solve that. That requires another set of solutions like increased surveillance and better ground penetrating radar. By forcing the enemy to go to larger IEDs, it increases both the time and effort required emplace it (counter ambush) and the odds for its detection.
Posted by: ed ||
06/24/2010 18:54 Comments ||
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23 June, 2010 04:06:00 (date and time is important)
Despite increased security, gunmen greet US special envoy to Afghanistan and Pakistan, Richard Holbrooke, with gunfire and mortars, in Afghanistan.
Afghan officials said on Tuesday that militants had tried to target Holbrooke's helicopter, a V22 Osprey, when it tried to land. Huh? Osprey, helicopter? Yea, I get it. And this reporter is covering the military?
He was on his way to visit US troops and the governor of Helmand province in Marjah.
Holbrooke is touring the country with US General Stanley McChrystal and US Ambassador to Afghanistan Karl Eikenberry ahead of a large-scale offensive with as many as 150,000 US troops occupying the country. Everyone in the entire world knows McChrystal was heading to Washington on Tuesday, except this reporter. Go figure that.
Officials said in a separate incident that three Taliban bombers were hiding in a shop near the place where Holbrooke was slated to meet with Afghan officials. They said the bombers were killed when their explosives detonated prematurely.
No other causalities have been reported.
The Taliban have not commented on the incident.
Dumb report picks up phone, "Hey Taliban. Ya'll just shot down Holbrooke's helicopter. Would you comment on that, please?" I think this is the one and only time I'll post anything from this site!
#1
Taliban Attack During Ambassador Holbrooke's Marja Visit June 21, 2010
Taliban gunmen tried to shoot down Holbrooke's V22 Osprey as it approached for a landing, triggering a gunbattle with the insurgents that lasted for about 10 minutes. And a trio of suicide bombers detonated themselves during an attack on the U.S. base as Holbrooke was leaving.
Posted by: ed ||
06/24/2010 15:04 Comments ||
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Ostlund since has been promoted to colonel and is the deputy commander of the 75th Ranger Regiment.
Last time I had experience, when one is under a investigation and appeal process, one's records were 'flag' and not subject to positive personnel or administrative action till resolved.
#3
when one is under a investigation and appeal process, one's records were 'flag' and not subject to positive personnel or administrative action till resolved.
Gorb, next time please double check that you've included the article's URL in the Source box before submitting. Generally the moderators will just delete any article without a source URL, no matter how important.
Link moved to proper location. Folks, the mods don't have time to do this on every post. Regulars in particular know this. AoS.
President Obama's decision to replace Gen. Stanley McChrystal with Gen. David Petraeus is "a masterstroke," says analyst Fareed Zakaria.
Oh, that's so true in ways Fareed doesn't understand ...
The president announced Wednesday that he had accepted McChrystal's resignation after the publication of a Rolling Stone article that contained disparaging remarks by the general and his staff about officials in the Obama administration. Obama chose Petraeus, the head of the U.S. Central Command, to replace McChrystal.
Wonder if Hillary is still willing to suspend her disbelief? Wonder if the Looney Left still thinks the good General is a traitor who is lying and massaging the data? Wonder if Bambi can look the man in the eye?
also, it is a meme that the remaining Obama worshippers are pushing hard; for example, see this in the daily beast
Posted by: lord garth ||
06/24/2010 7:23 Comments ||
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#2
Petreaus won't be able to get much more done than McCrystal. He'll have even less support from Washington (if that's possible - seems McCrystal may have gone to Rolling Stone as the only way he could communicate with Obama.) With him in charge it won't be Obama's fault when we lose. And now Afghanistan is Petreaus' tar baby, which effectively removes him as a future political opponent.
#5
Sorry, TW. Sorry, Steve. I don't know what happened. Sounds like I screwed everything up. I know not to do it, but sometimes it happens. I don't do it out of desire or laziness. Instead, I have decided to blame it on my ADHD. :-)
#7
I don't think Obammy is savvy enough to play James K. Polk and try to make Petraeus his modern-day Winfield Scott. (If the expedition of 1847 is a success Polk takes credit, if not, Scott gets the blame)
Still, this whole thing is bizarre. I bet Bambi likes the distraction from BP, as another blogger so aptly pointed out.
I would lmao if in the near-future Petraeus resigns due to lack of WH support on douchebagistan...that, and the economy would prolly end bambi.
#8
I'd be more confident if I saw *any* prospect of a "Scott Expedition" in the Afghan theatre, Broadhead. There just aren't any good angles to attack in Afghanistan, let alone leverage to pry open those angles. We suck at tribal diplomacy, and all the direct actions I can think of are variants on piling corpses deeper and higher.
Implementing an opium market would probably be the only "Scott Expedition" worth the risk.
Posted by: Mitch H. ||
06/24/2010 11:19 Comments ||
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#9
Another take on Obama's "master stroke": Obamas 2012 Power Play Barack Obama, who has in recent days turned haplessness into an art form, played a masterstroke today, making perhaps the canniest, wiliest, even wisest decision of his generally rudderless presidency. I refer, of course, to his appointment of David Petraeus to the Afghan war command, in place of the Rolling-Stoned Stanley McChrystal. In doing so, Obama has, at a stroke, taken Petraeus out of the 2012 presidential race.
I thought Petraeus was smarter than to be sucked in by Obama's tar baby.
Via InstaPundit.
Posted by: ed ||
06/24/2010 13:15 Comments ||
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#10
Good, we need some fresh meat to run for Pres in 2012.
SEOUL, June 23 (Yonhap) -- Prosecutors demanded 15-year jail terms Wednesday for two North Korean spies accused of attempting to assassinate a high-ranking North Korean defector who has been criticizing his home country and its top leader.
The two defendants, known only as Kim, 36, and Tong, 34, were arrested in April on charges of plotting to kill Hwang Jang-yop, former secretary of the North's ruling Workers' Party and chairman of the Supreme People's Assembly. They arrived in Seoul last December disguised as defectors on orders by the North's reconnaissance unit in charge of espionage operations against South Korea to find and kill Hwang.
The defendants testified earlier that they were told the defector should not be allowed to die a natural death.
During the heavily guarded trial at the Seoul Central District Court, prosecutors said Hwang's assassination would have been a "humiliation" for the South, a show of a weakness in its system, because the defector has been a "symbol of the superiority of South Korea's free democracy over North Korea's socialism.
Hwang, 88, defected to South Korea in 1997 and has received repeated death threats for criticizing his former boss, Kim Jong-il. The location of his residence is not publicly known, and South Korean police keep him under round-the-clock surveillance.
Prosecutors said the demanded sentence was not a punishment of the defendants but "a warning to the planned crime and the North's spy agency."
In giving a final statement, Kim said he "has the mind to want a hard-working life under the South Korean system." Tong did not have anything to say.
Posted by: Steve White ||
06/24/2010 00:00 ||
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They should add a tantalizing bit, by implying that if North Korea collapses, resulting in a peaceful reunification of Korea, then their sentences will likely be reviewed. So at least they have something they can look forward to: the fall of North Korea.
#2
ION WMF > POTUS OBAMA MAY SELL US B-2 SECRETS FOR US$50.oBILYUHN TO CHINA IN ORDER TO REDUCE US DEBT OBLIGATIONS. OBAMA ADMIN. VIEWS THE B-2 "SPIRIT" STEALTH BOMBER AS "STRATEGICALLY OBSOLETE" AGZ US GMD-TMD.
IOW, the B-2 has no Mission(s) that can't be done by the B-1 or B-52, + now GLOBAL PROMPT STRIKE.
* SAME > US NERVOUS: THE POTENTIAL IMPACT OF CHINA'S INDIGENOUS, LR "B-2" STYLE STRATEGIC-STRIKE STEALTH BOMBER AGZ THE US MILITARY BASE ON GUAM.
* SAME > US: CHINA IS "CHANGING ITS MODERATE FACE" AGZ THE US-JAPAN SECURITY TREATY. THE US VIEWS AND TREATS RISING CHINA AS SIMPLY ANOTHER "JAPAN", WHEREAS CHINA INTENDS TO CHANGE OR RE-DISTRIBUTE GLOBAL ORDER AGZ US POWER.
* SAME > US FREQUENT REGIONAL PROVOCATIONS AGZ CHINA MAKES CHINA SEE ANGRY RED: THE SWATHE OF THE "USS GEORGE WASHINGTON/US NUCLEAR SUPERCARRIER" YELLOW SEA CONTROVERSY + THREAT TO CHINA RUNS ACROSS THE TAIWAN STRAIT + SOUTH CHINA SEAS [ Malaccas + Indian Ocean].
* SAME > "ASAHI SHIMBUN" JAPANESE MEDIA: CHINA IS TRYING TO INVALIDATE OR RENDER IRRELEVANT/
HARMLESS AGZ CHINA THE US-JAPAN NUCLEAR SECURITY TREATY BY TRYING TO DEV OR IMPROVE ITS NUCLEAR WEAPONS. THE DANGERS TO WARTIME US CARRIER OPERATIONS BY THE THREAT BY DF-21 ANTI-CARRIER BMS + OTHER PLA NUCLEAR MISSLE, BOMBER BARRAGE.
* SAME > CHINA + DPRK CAUGHT IN THE MANy-FACETED TRAP OF US REGIONAL IMPERIALISM: WHOLE OF EAST/MAINLAND ASIA ON THE EVE OF WITNESSING [suffering?] DRAMATIC CHANGES TO THE OLD ORDER.
Spain's upper house of parliament has called on the government to introduce a ban on wearing the Muslim full-body veil in public, but the governing Socialists have dismissed the move as political point-scoring.
Posted by: Fred ||
06/24/2010 00:00 ||
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The "ministress of feminism" (real name ministress of equality) opposed the call alleging the burkha had tfo be "respected". Racist and hypocryt bitch.
[Ma'an] Two Belgian lawyers working on behalf of Palestinian filed suit against 14 Israeli leaders on allegations of war crimes committed during Operation Cast Lead, news agencies reported.
The respondents include Israeli opposition chairwoman Tzipi Livni for her role as foreign minister during the Gaza offensive between December 2008 and January 2009, former Israeli premier Ehud Olmert, Deputy Defense Minister Matan Vilnai, and other Israeli army officials and Israel's intelligence services, Israeli news site Yedioth Ahronoth wrote.
Much of the 70-page complaint is based on the Goldstone report, Agence France-Presse reported. Claimants include a Palestinian-Belgian national and 13 Gaza Strip residents.
The claim includes an attack on a mosque near the Jabaliya refugee camp during which 16 civilians, including children, were killed. The plaintiffs were either wounded or lost a relative in the attack, the news site wrote.
Lawyers reported estimated that Belgium's attorney general will evaluate the case to determine whether it provides just cause to open a case against the senior Israeli officials "already by the end of August."
Georges-Henri Beauthier and Alexis Deswaef, the two lawyers representing the claimants, said the current charges would be brought against the Israeli leaders using the principle of universal jurisdiction, Israeli daily Haaretz reported.
The claims follow the filing suit by French activists against Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak over the Israeli army's conduct during its raid of the Freedom Flotilla which saw nine passengers killed by Israeli commandos in international waters on 31 May. The move forced Barak to cancel a Paris visit.
An arrest warrant was issued against Livni in the UK in December 2009 after British lawyers filed suit against the official on behalf of Palestinian respondents for her role in Operation Cast Lead.
Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu criticized the UN and other international institutions for condemning Israel's acts on Wednesday, as he addressed the Knesset.
"They want to strip us of the natural right to defend ourselves. When we defend ourselves against rocket attack, we are accused of war crimes. We cannot board sea vessels when our soldiers are being attacked and fired upon, because that is a war crime," Haaretz quoted him as saying.
Posted by: Fred ||
06/24/2010 00:00 ||
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#3
Parabellum,
You dont understand the Belgians.
They think that because they can make good chocolates they can sue the hell out of anyone they want to anywhere on earth.
The only problem is that they practice this against Israel as a convenient target - I havent seen any similar stuff thrown against the Russians in Chechnia or against Chinese politicians for making people dissapear in the middle of the night.
I think this would end in a similar way to the previous lawsuits filed by the Euro-Eunuches previously.
Posted by: Elder of Zion ||
06/24/2010 9:10 Comments ||
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#4
I always thought that the concept of 'universal jurisdiction' for human rights violations was humorous when applied by a country that once owned the Congo.
Let them try the ghost of King Leopold first ...
Posted by: Steve White ||
06/24/2010 9:35 Comments ||
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#5
That's just what I was thinking...
http://x75.xanga.com/c2af91fb04c35265555836/o211778535.jpg
The skin is severed hands, the hair is skulls.
[Iran Press TV Latest] Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan says some European countries are not doing enough to support Turkey's campaign against the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK).
"Some European countries have not given the necessary support to Turkey in its struggle against terrorism for a long time," Erdogan said at a meeting of the Southeast European Cooperation Process (SEECP) in Istanbul on Wednesday.
"Despite all the pain we have been through and the bloody attacks on civilians and security forces, today, there are countries which have not cut financial support to the terrorist organization, which have turned a blind eye to its activities and its propaganda, and which have not extradited any criminals to Turkey," dpa quoted Erdogan as saying.
"Most of our European friends declared the PKK to be a terrorist organization. That is good, but declaring the PKK to be a terrorist organization does not put an end to the matter. How many terrorists have you extradited to us of those you have detained?" he added.
"The terrorist organization is as harmful to Turkey and its innocent civilians and security forces as it is to the Balkan states and the European states," the Anatolia news agency quoted Erdogan as saying.
"It is not just a terrorist organization but it is also an organized crime organization, and it targets the youth in European and Balkan states through drug trafficking," he stated.
The PKK, listed as a terrorist group by Turkey and much of the international community, took up arms in 1984, sparking a conflict that has claimed some 45,000 lives.
Over 40 Turkish soldiers have been killed in PKK attacks over the past few months.
Posted by: Fred ||
06/24/2010 00:00 ||
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TODAY'S ZAMAN > BDP'S URAS: PKK SHOULD BURY ITS ARMS [underground], + give up violent armed struggle in favor of an UNIFIED KURDISH GOVT + COMMON AGENDA???
#4
Europe is busy worrying about terrorism from another source. I wonder what Erdogan calls it.
Posted by: lord garth ||
06/24/2010 14:15 Comments ||
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#5
I don't imagine Europe is much interested in Prime Minister Erdogan's desires these days. I'm certainly not, except as to ascertaining what they are.
Pentagon leaders, the military services and defense contractors must work together to cut bureaucratic bloat and unnecessary programs, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff said Thursday.
Adm. Mike Mullen also renewed his warning that the nation's debt is the biggest threat to U.S. national security.
I was shown the figures the other day by the comptroller of the Pentagon that said that the interest on our debt is $571 billion in 2012,' Mullen said at a breakfast hosted by The Hill. That is, noticeably, about the size of the defense budget. It is not sustainable.'
Defense Secretary Robert Gates has initiated an effort to free up $100 billion over the next five years to maintain current fighting forces and to modernize weapons systems.
I forsee a lot of discussion. Well, well, well -- where have we seen this before? The indiscreet U.S. commander whose tongue digs his own grave. The stunning resignation submitted within hours of the magazine's online posting of the story. And General David Petraeus -- yet again -- as the go-to choice as America's turnaround specialist. Amidst all the nonstop chatter from pundits, politicians, and former ambassadors, allow me to distance myself from the familiar situation I was in with Admiral William Fallon and sift through the tea leaves to look ahead at Petraeus's new gig. Because there are magazine stories, and then there is war. And because -- who knows? -- Afghanistan may be a lot better off, and Obama may have picked his replacement in more ways than one. There's a bit of foreshadowing in that statement! 1. There won't be a policy shift.
Unlike the Fallon saga, this time it was the president who spoke on camera and the general who was restricted to a press statement. That's because this time the Pentagon-White House flap was an issue of perception (Obama: "undermining civilian authority") -- not any fundamental differences on how to fight the war at hand.
2. But the Pentagon now holds the keys to the castle.
Obama may have put his foot down, but he's making a serious gamble in anointing Petraeus, much like Bush did after Fallon's resignation. The president needed to make McChrystal's sacking seem like an upgrade in gravitas, which it is when the upgrade is to the boss of Central Command. Just don't forget that Petraeus is the only general capable of making Afghanistan his war, and not Obama's.
3. Petraeus is truly untouchable.
Understand this, too: Whatever the general wants, the general will get. After firing his Afghanistan commander twice in just thirteen months, Obama has no choice. Petraeus now outranks every administration player on Afghanistan. Save Obama -- officially, at least.
4. Friends of Dave just became a lot more important.
Frankly, the new sheriff's strong personal relationships with the Pakistani military and security forces will matter a helluva lot more than which of McChrystal's lieutenants he keeps on or gets rid of. Hamid Karzai made his bid to keep McChrystal onboard, and was clearly ignored -- as he should be -- so now Obama's Af-Pak strategy will place the most eggs in Islamabad's basket.
5. The administration's review of Af-Pak begins now.
Originally scheduled for public release in December, any White House-led effort at a war report will inevitably take its cues from General Petraeus's own review of the situation as he assumes command in the coming weeks and months. Expect to hear the general outline at Petraeus's confirmation hearing next week, along with previews of the GOP's national-security campaign slogans for November.
6. Obama's 2012 campaign could be all about war.
If Petraeus says the strategy needs more time, then Obama's running for re-election as a wartime president. Period. There's just no intelligent way that Obama can overrule Petraeus on this one without wounding himself politically. McChrystal had been signaling that Obama's summer 2011 deadline to begin withdrawing combat troops was too optimistic. Expect Petraeus to press that case -- however subtly -- from day one.
7. Two jobs? One job? Same thing.
No matter what anyone says in the confirmation hearings, it won't matter if Petraeus steps down from CENTCOM or becomes The General with Two Hats. Nobody who would step in at CENTCOM could overshadow Petraeus, so that kind of a choice is unimportant in many respects. But given the general's recent health issues, it's hard to believe a replacement won't be picked. I'm betting on General James Mattis, whom I profiled in detail a couple years ago.
8. The counterinsurgency lives on.
"King David" has no peers when it comes to counterinsurgency credentials, having overseen the creation of the Army-Marine Corps's seminal field manual and commanded its first successful application in Iraq. If anything, Obama has now doubled-down on the COIN path in Af-Pak, so the COINdistas haven't taken any sort of hit.
9. The "Draft Dave" presidential run could live on, too.
Can Petraeus pull off his second COIN miracle? If he does, and if it's perceived as such prior to the GOP convention in the summer of 2012, then I guarantee you there will be a groundswell of delegate support to make him the Republican candidate -- assuming he gets out of uniform in time.
10. There is one big winner from this hoopla. This is scary.
And her name is Elena Kagan, whose confirmation hearings also happen to begin next week. Hmmmm.... Could this all be orchestrated by The One, as a distraction?
Posted by: Bobby ||
06/24/2010 07:49 ||
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Hmmmm.... Could this all be orchestrated by The One, as a distraction?
Bobby you give him too much credit for having things together.
11. Petraeus won't be blindsided by Rolling Stone or the rest of the press.
12. Petraeus will not likely allow a "cult of personality" to develop in his staff.
13. Petraeus will not likely allow wagging tongues in his staff to become public.
All that said, both McChrystal and Petraeus seem to be excellent and very competent generals--Far better than their civilian counterparts and boss.
#2
14. Petraeus gets his personal revenge on MoveOn.
Posted by: Steve White ||
06/24/2010 9:41 Comments ||
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Obama's 2012 campaign could only be about war, which gives him reason to do a "Pete Rose" and push players and timelines around to position a war exactly where it would do him the most good for reelection. And reelection only. It may be that going to war with Iran will happen at a fortuitous time for his reelection chances, but I don't want the connection to be necessary, because Iran could manipulate it from their end.
And Petraeus will be out of the running for 2012, too. If he is even interested.
Seems to me that Obama is entrusting Petraeus with his political life more than he need to. There must be some other forces at work here. AFAICT, he has run out of reliable options as generals go. I'm sure there are good generals out there who could do the job, but none have Petraeus' credentials. Yet.
Not likely. The war's simply too distant from most (non-Rantburger) Americans' consciousness to matter to the electoral outcomes.
There's really one and only one issue. It's about the unemployment etc.
If Obama had been able to get unemployment down to 8% as he promised, AND if the rate were still falling, then he and his party would be riding high. When the real unemployment rate is close to 20%, there's no other issue or policy plank that can save him.
#5
The war I was referring to is war with Iran or maybe Pakistan. Something "new" and exciting to the unaware.
And I think we are going to be stagnant for many years to come seeing as how Hussein's spending will claim every bit of money this country will make for the next 20 years. If we start dealing with it right away, of course. So I am guessing that inflation and unemployment will be a problem for him, with war as the only cover he could come up with.
#6
Besides, war and the threat of war is always part of the runup to full-blown socialism. It gives the economy something to do until it is too late for the population to turn the ship around when they finally do figure it out.
#7
I'm surprised Petraeus agreed to accept the command after the atrocious way Obama's proxies treated him. He could have gone out on a historical high note instead of being being blackened by Obama's "Necessary War" tar baby.
Posted by: ed ||
06/24/2010 11:51 Comments ||
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#8
I heard (maybe Limbaugh or Boortz) McChrystal was a left wing liberal; extreme environmentalist, voted for Hussein, took Fox TV away from soldiers.
#9
#8 I heard (maybe Limbaugh or Boortz) McChrystal was a left wing liberal; extreme Environmentalist, voted for Hussein, took Fox TV away from soldiers. Posted by JohnQC
General McChrystal has obviously been cured of his leftest leanings.... if he had any, as have thankfully, many of his fellow Americans. General Petraeus is a Obama 'place holder' and stabilization agent. He'll be handing off the baton to a vetted Obama pick withing 90 days or less. I still think it will be General West who currently commands AFRICOM. We'll see what happens.
Gen. Stanley McChrystal knew he lacked White House support when he walked into an Oval Office meeting Wednesday with President Barack Obama, a source close to McChrystal told CNN. Shades of the Henry Louis Gates incident all over again.
According to the source, McChrystal briefly explained the magazine article at the center of the controversy and took responsibility, then offered his resignation. Obama accepted the resignation, the source said. If it was truly done in that order, it was only for show.
The president "had no intention of keeping him," and McChrystal knew that going into the meeting, according to the source.
In addition, the source said McChrystal will not return to Afghanistan. His team will go back to pack up on his behalf.
#2
What, like William Loring & the ex-Confederate officer corps in Egypt?
Posted by: Mitch H. ||
06/24/2010 11:12 Comments ||
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#3
Don't bother cleaning out your desk. The security staff will mail your belongings to you.
Yesterday I read a lot of speculation that McChrystal in some Machiavellian anti-Obama plot fell on his sword. More like an Animal House mixed with a Homer Simpson Doh moment.
Gotta wonder what compelled McChrystal and his frat boyz to open up to an enemy camp reporter. These men are our guard dogs entrusted with the life and death of our nation. They are not some 16 year old rock-n-roll wannabe or even the typical 30-something Bohemian douche bag pretending to be a 16 year old rock-n-roll wannabe Rolling Stone subscriber.
Posted by: ed ||
06/24/2010 14:52 Comments ||
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#4
How about Claire Chennault with Chiang Kai Shek? Could be interesting.
#5
Gotta wonder what compelled McChrystal and his frat boyz to open up to an enemy camp reporter.
The reason is simple: he wanted to get out of dodge. He figured (correctly I might add) that Obama's outsized ego would not withstand criticism and he took aim at Bammo's ego. It worked, didn't it?
#6
I have to disagree. It was a huge F up. He could have either retired quietly or resigned in protest. Either way he had a lucrative book deal in the bag, speaking engagements and a reputation mostly intact. Now, McChrystal is a pariah to all the power brokers.
Instead this antic generated sympathy for Obama because those men with guns were mean to Obama.
Posted by: ed ||
06/24/2010 16:07 Comments ||
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#7
"Now, McChrystal is a pariah to all the power brokers... Instead this antic generated sympathy for Obama because those men with guns were mean to Obama."
Let's split the difference. To me, this could go one of several ways. Some harbor private contempt for Obama, and were cheering for McChrystal when he sounded off. He most certainly can write a lucrative book. Heck, I can hardly wait to get my copy. And the flip side of your assertion is that Obama is starting to look like a spoiled King who drives off his lead men. McChrystal, that Peter Orgyz guy, Rahm...and so forth.
Afghanistan Commander's Assessment by Stanley McChrystal (Kindle Edition - Sept. 21, 2009) - Kindle Book
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The Obama administration formally asked Congress on Tuesday for $600 million in emergency funds to hire another 1,000 Border Patrol agents, acquire two drones and enhance security along the Southwest border.
The money would also pay for an additional 160 Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents and extra Border Patrol canine teams, according to a senior White House official who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak publicly.
In a letter to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D- San Francisco), President Obama said his request "responds to urgent and essential needs" and asked that it be considered an emergency.
"These amendments would support efforts to secure the Southwest border and enhance federal border protection, law enforcement and counter-narcotics activities," Obama wrote.
The president's request also would provide money for extra FBI task forces, Drug Enforcement Administration agents, prosecutors and immigration judges. The 1,000 extra Border Patrol agents would amount to a 5% staffing increase. The patrol has doubled in size since 2004, to 20,000.
Some of the money would go to help Mexican authorities, such as with ballistic and DNA analysis, the White House official said. Border states are concerned that violence from Mexico's drug war will spill into the United States.
Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer, who met with Obama last month after signing a law making it a state crime to be in the country illegally, has called her state "the gateway to America for drug trafficking, extortion, kidnapping and crime." She has blamed the federal government for failing to secure the border and has lobbied for stepped-up law enforcement resources and unmanned aircraft.
Posted by: Fred ||
06/24/2010 00:00 ||
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Meanwhile on the border: Nogales AZ police at disadvantage in fighting drug smugglers
To keep up with drug smugglers, Captain Zuniga says officers need a faster and higher caliber rifle that can penetrate their top notch bullet proof vests. Still, their disadvantage doesn't end there. The department's two-way radio system often experiences dead-spots. And because its not incripted, drug smugglers can and do tune in to identify officers and to track their positions. Nogales police says they are currently applying for a $3 million grant. If granted, the money would be used to build a new police station. The police station also plans to apply for grant money to buy new police equipment.
Nogales police say more budget cuts are expected. They say border crime has scared away shoppers and less tax revenues means less money for police.
#2
This is thoroughly infuriating. Obama launches a lawsuit against Arizona, which sits on the front-line of this potential "border war" and has the greater potential to protect U.S. citizens once SB 1070 is implemented, and then turn around and ask those citizens (through their elected representatives) to throw their hard-earned money at a FAILED federal government policy for border security. 600 million? I smell a rat here, beyond the usual fraud, waste, and abuse. Extra prosecutors and immigration judges? Really? Oh, some of the money will go to Mexico for (trying not to laugh) DNA analysis and ballistics? What good will DNA evidence do them when the bad guys never go to trial (as if their justice system is worth a nickel) and ballistics... what's that gonna prove? That the bullets are traced right back to a gun shop in Virginia or right back to la policia en Sinaloa. God damn, can somebody please tell me where James Polk has been re-incarnated so we can get that someone in the White House RIGHT AWAY!!
Posted by: Following the Leader ||
06/24/2010 11:36 Comments ||
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#3
600,000 per job extorted from employers and employees?
#6
watch the hands, not the mouth. These agents will be stationed in Idaho or Virginia or issued totally handcuffing ROE. He has no interest in securing the border, and once re-elected, neither does Juan McCain
Posted by: Frank G ||
06/24/2010 18:10 Comments ||
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Pakistan will receive the first four of 18 upgraded F-16s from the US this week and the multi-role combat jets will give its air force the capability to conduct night operations and use precision-guided munitions.
The four Block 52 F-16s are due to arrive at Shahbaz airbase in Jacobabad on Saturday, official sources were quoted as saying by the Dawn newspaper.
The delivery of all 18 jets ordered by Pakistan from the US will be completed by the end of this year, the sources said.
The jets will enhance Pakistan Air Force's capabilities for the ongoing war against terror, the sources were quoted as saying.
Pakistan is also conducting negotiations with the US for purchasing another 14 new F-16s, the sources said.
The Block 52 F-16s are more advanced than the F-16 A/B jets in the PAF's existing fleet.
The PAF is in the process of conducting a mid-life upgrade of its fleet of 30-year-old F-16s.
Four of the 45 old F-16s are currently being upgraded and they will be ready in a couple of months, the sources said.
Ahead of the delivery of the Block 52 F-16s, eight Pakistani pilots underwent training in the US.
The training included a course to make the transition from the F-16 A/B to the F-16 Block C/D aircraft, flight lead upgrade training and instructor pilot certification so that they eight pilots could train others to fly the new jets.
Posted by: chris ||
06/24/2010 15:53 Comments ||
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#2
Paid by the US taxpayer and what do US get in return?Jihadi terrorism!
Posted by: Paul D ||
06/24/2010 16:38 Comments ||
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#3
I expect there's an "extra" kill switch installed
Posted by: Frank G ||
06/24/2010 18:16 Comments ||
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#4
why are we still giving them anything?
Because the US and NATO have a supply route through Pakistan to Afghanistan?
Paid by the US taxpayer and what do US get in return? Jihadi terrorism!
Partially - see the first answer. Read until it sinks in.
As for support to the Taliban/jihadi terrorism/carrying out Pakistani national interests by unconventional means - I suspect that the situation would be much, much worse were the 'screw you Pak-boy' foreign policy applied.
Baksheesh is an unfortunate, but long standing, process in foreign policy.
A PAKISTANI court has sentenced five Americans to 10 years each in jail after finding them guilty of terror charges, the government prosecutor told AFP.
"Each of them have been sentenced to 10 years in jail on terrorism charges," Nadeem Akram Cheema said as he left the court following the verdict.
"The judge also fined them. I will let you know other details," he said.
Aged 19 to 25, the Americans have been on trial since March at a closed anti-terrorism court behind prison walls in the eastern city of Sargodha, where they were arrested in December on charges of plotting a terror attack.
Seven charges were filed against Umar Farooq, Waqar Hussain, Rami Zamzam, Ahmad Abdullah Mini and Amman Hassan Yammer.
[Dawn] Interior Minister Rehman Malik has disclosed that the government has come to know where and when the conspiracy to assassinate Benazir Bhutto was hatched.
Talking to media representatives here at the Parliament House on Tuesday, Rehman Malik said the government had asked the United Nations to provide evidence of several points that it mentioned in its report so that the final challan of the case could be filed.
Replying to a question about a Foreign Office letter to the UN, Malik said the government had asked the UN to probe and collect evidence in the assassination of Benazir Bhutto.
"We have asked for evidences from the UN which were collected by its investigative team and presented in the report," he remarked.
He said that the government was also investigating the case and an initial challan had already been filed while the final one would be filed soon.
All those involved in Benazir's assassination would be brought to justice, Malik reiterated.
Posted by: Fred ||
06/24/2010 00:00 ||
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ARBIL / Aswat al-Iraq: Conditions on the border regions of Kurdistan are stable due to the diplomatic efforts in the past few days, spokesman of the Peshmerga ministry said on Wednesday.
Presidential statements from Kurdistan region and the Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki's statements as well as the protests of the Iraqi people pushed the diplomatic efforts to solve the issue of the Iranian shelling of border regions in Kurdistan,' Jabar Yawer told Aswat al-Iraq news agency.
Regarding military deployments on the border between Iran and Turkey, the spokesman said we have nothing to do with such deployments. Its an internal Turkish affair.'
The Iranian artillery have been shelling some border areas of Iraq under the pretext of attacking outposts of the anti-Iran militias PJAK, killing a Kurdish girl, wounding others and driving dozens of families out of their border villages.
PJAK is a member of the Kurdistan Democratic Confederation (Koma Civakên Kurdistan or KCK), which is an alliance of outlawed Kurdish groups and divisions lead by an elected Executive Council.
Posted by: Steve White ||
06/24/2010 00:00 ||
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With new international missions underway to deliver aid to Gaza, Israel says it will seek ways to block Iranian and Lebanese aid shipments to the besieged strip, referring to them as 'flow of arms.'
"We have the right to inspect and prevent the flow of arms into Gaza," Israel's Ynet news website quoted Israeli Chief of Staff Gabi Ashkenazi as saying on Tuesday.
"We can't let Gaza become an Iranian port," he added.
The remarks come as Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Ramin Mehmanparast announced plans to send two Iranian aid ships carrying humanitarian relief and medical supplies to the Gaza Strip.
Mehmanparast also said arrangements were being negotiated with the Egyptian government to facilitate the delivery of the shipments to the impoverished people of Gaza.
"We consider Egyptian efforts in opening an aid-delivery route a correct approach," the Iranian spokesman said, adding that such measures that will help the delivery of aid supplies would be "appreciated by nations."
Earlier on Monday, Iran's Red Crescent said two shipments of relief goods and relief workers were due be sent for a 14-day journey to the coastal region by the end of the week.
The Iranian ships will follow a Lebanese aid vessel, the Julia, which is scheduled to set sail for Gaza through Cyprus. With Lebanon and Israel technically still at war, the ship cannot directly sail for the Gaza Strip.
Ashkenazi went on to warn against Lebanon's aid mission, saying that "If a flotilla comes from Lebanon we will deal with it. If they are peaceful we will deal with it peacefully, if not we will deal with it as we need to."
The pro-Palestinian campaign by Iran and Lebanon comes after Israeli commandos stormed the Gaza Freedom Flotilla aid convoy on May 31, killing at least 9 civilian activists and injuring dozens of others in international waters.
Posted by: Fred ||
06/24/2010 00:00 ||
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#1
ISRAELI NAVY > repor is prepping + training for potential SUICIDE ATTACKS AT SEA [worst-case], as per the IRAN-LED GAZA AID FLOTILLAS.
"CHINA/KIMMIE-VS-USS-GEORGE-WASHINGTON [US CVN-CBG]" in the YELLOW SEA = GAZA???
#2
due be sent for a 14-day journey to the coastal region by the end of the week.
The Iranian ships will follow a Lebanese aid vessel,
So mid July will prove very interesting.
I can't wait!
Posted by: Bacon in the Mosque horror ||
06/24/2010 7:43 Comments ||
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#3
If there was ever a possible confrontation that could start a war , this could well be it . Theres a limit to posturing , even the Iranians know this ... i think :P
Posted by: Oscar ||
06/24/2010 8:38 Comments ||
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Not long ago, Abdullah Sunata was a poster child for Indonesia's efforts to persuade jailed terrorists to give up their violent ways. He was given furloughs to attend lawn parties and police helped pay for mounting hospital bills when his wife gave birth.
But immediately after his release on good behavior one year ago, Sunata allegedly returned to his old ways, catapulting to the top of the country's most-wanted list. He was arrested Wednesday for suspected involvement in a plot to carry out a Mumbai-style attack in the capital, Jakarta, and several high-profile assassinations, including one on President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono.
Posted by: ed ||
06/24/2010 15:27 ||
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[Asharq al-Aswat] The trial of a Saudi national accused of providing financial support to a terrorist group that carried out twin suicide bomb attacks on luxury hotels in Jakarta last year, resulting in a death toll of seven, is set to resume in the Indonesian capital.
Asharq Al-Awsat learnt that Saudi national Ali Abdullah al-Khelaiw, aged 54, is facing criminal charges due to his relationship with one of the terrorists involved in the suicide attack on Jakarta last year, and that the Indonesian authorities believe he is responsible for financing this attack.
South Jakarta district court prosecutor Iwan Setiawan called for al-Khelaiw to be imprisoned for a period of no less than 9 years, saying that the Saudi defendant had "assisted in providing funds to terrorists and misused immigration documents." Al-Khelaiw denies the charges laid against him, saying that he travelled to Indonesia in order to set up a computer business, and that the money in question was lent by him to an Indonesian business partner for the purpose of setting up an internet café in Jakarta.
Saudi Ambassador to Indonesia Abdulrahman al-Khayat spoke to Asharq Al-Awsat via telephone, revealing that the Saudi embassy in Jakarta had provided al-Khelaiw with legal representation, and that an appeal against the charges laid against him is set to be made citing lack of evidence.
Al-Khayat also expressed his hopes that this issue would be resolved before al-Khelaiw's trail is over, and before the Indonesian authorities can sentence him to a prison sentence.
Al-Khelaiw has been charged with providing " assistance and facilities to the terrorists by way of giving or lending money, things, or other wealth " to a terrorist group led by Noordin Mohammed Top who was killed by Indonesian police in a raid on a terrorist hideout in central Java September 2009, two months after the 17 July 2009 Jakarta bombings.
Al-Khelaiw denies having any knowledge of the attacks that were carried out on the JW Marriott and Ritz Carlton hotels in Jakarta, although the prosecution claims that he provided 54 million rupiah (equivalent to $5,994) to a person named Iwan Herdiansyah, a friend of Syaifuddin Jaelani, who took part in the Jakarta bombings and was killed by Indonesian police on the day of the attacks. Al-Khelaiw admits to meeting Jaelani, although he said that he did not provide him with any money, or have any prior knowledge about the terrorist plot.
The Indonesia security forces say that Ali al-Khelaiw's failure to comply with the Indonesian laws of residence, as well as his disregard of the laws surrounding investment in Indonesia, as being weak points in the Saudi national's case.
Asharq Al-Awsat also learnt that a meeting took place last week between the Indonesian Justice Minister and the Saudi ambassador to Jakarta, and that the Saudi ambassador failed to secure any promises that the charges against al-Khelaiw would be dropped.
Posted by: Fred ||
06/24/2010 00:00 ||
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Top|| File under: al-Qaeda
The Iranian president has warned the Zionist regime of Israel against any potential military action against Iran, saying Tel Aviv is not capable of doing so.
"The Zionist regime is too weak to launch aggression against Iran. They long to deal a blow to Iran, but wouldn't dare even think about it", Mahmoud Ahmadinejad was quoted by IRNA as saying in an interview with Turkey's ATV network.
"They all know that playing with Iran is like playing with a lion", added President Ahmadinejad.
Elsewhere in his remarks, the president underlined the Israeli attack on the Gaza-bound aid flotilla was the most despicable act the Zionist regime could have done.
"Today, world nations are all ears to hear what freedom-seeking peoples are saying", President Ahmadinejad further said.
"Fortunately, freedom-seeking and justice-seeking nations reacted to the Zionist regime's brutal actions, and we hope protests to the occupying regime will continue", added the president.
He underlined the Gaza siege should be lifted as soon as possible.
President Ahmadinejad then said the enemy's infiltration into the region and other parts of the world has made complete unity among nations hard to achieve.
In another part of his interview with the Turkish network, President Ahmadinejad described the Tehran Declaration as a historic one, adding today it has turned into a yardstick against which to measure world countries' compliance with the law.
"If Western countries opt to follow the same course they have already taken, a nuclear fuel swap will be pointless", highlighted President Ahmadinejad.
He said Tehran will continue to work towards dialog and peaceful relations.
Posted by: Fred ||
06/24/2010 00:00 ||
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#2
"If Western countries opt to follow the same course they have already taken, a nuclear fuel swap will be pointless", highlighted President Ahmadinejad."
Well how about a swap of some nuclear warheads with the zionists ??
Posted by: Elder of Zion ||
06/24/2010 9:00 Comments ||
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#3
Propaganda for the homefront and muslims. I can't imagine anyone else buying this swill.
Israel could hurt Iran really badly in a first strike. I doubt they could maintain an extended war because of a lack of delivery systems and logistics.
A multi-volume chronology and reference guide set detailing three years of the Mexican Drug War between 2010 and 2012.
Rantburg.com and borderlandbeat.com correspondent and author Chris Covert presents his first non-fiction work detailing
the drug and gang related violence in Mexico.
Chris gives us Mexican press dispatches of drug and gang war violence
over three years, presented in a multi volume set intended to chronicle the death, violence and mayhem which has
dominated Mexico for six years.
Rantburg was assembled from recycled algorithms in the United States of America. No
trees were destroyed in the production of this weblog. We did hurt some, though. Sorry.
FoxNews reports that Israel's Trophy double-radar anti-RPG system will soon be installed on US Army armored vehicles in Iraq on a trial basis.
Well, well, well -- where have we seen this before? The indiscreet U.S. commander whose tongue digs his own grave. The stunning resignation submitted within hours of the magazine's online posting of the story. And General David Petraeus -- yet again -- as the go-to choice as America's turnaround specialist. Amidst all the nonstop chatter from pundits, politicians, and former ambassadors, allow me to distance myself from the familiar situation I was in with Admiral William Fallon and sift through the tea leaves to look ahead at Petraeus's new gig. Because there are magazine stories, and then there is war. And because -- who knows? -- Afghanistan may be a lot better off, and Obama may have picked his replacement in more ways than one. 
Gen. Stanley McChrystal knew he lacked White House support when he walked into an Oval Office meeting Wednesday with President Barack Obama, a source close to McChrystal told CNN.
