Why I Hate BlogWorld LA

Posted By Laughing_Wolf • [November 05, 2011]

I've just got to come out and say it.  Yes, I hate BlogWorld LA.  Here's why:

•  Hundreds of experts speaking.  You always tell people you come to events like this to learn, but...  It is a bit intimidating to be hit with new concepts, tech and research issues that you didn't even know existed (but should have), and some synergystic concepts within the first couple of hours. Then, to have someone explain a complex problem and give you a quick way to deal with it, well, enough of those "Doh!" moments start to hurt.

•  Speakers that actually mingle and engage with attendees.  Let's face it, at most conferences the big-name speakers (and quite a few of the small) hide out in the green room or speaker's lounge and away from the riff raff they are there to address.  Having them come out, talk, engage, well, it's just not right. 

•  An exhibit hall with a lounge attached, and power at the tables in the lounge.  Exhibit halls are meant for pushing people through, not for having them mosey, sit, talk, and spend time in.  This truly is against the natural order of things. 

•  Reasonable space.  Conferences should either be crammed into a small area so you can hear multiple presentations at once, or in a too-large space so you bounce round like a pea in an empty C5 and need shuttles to get from one session to the next.  Having good space, reasonably spaced-apart facilities, and room to grow, well, it's disorienting.  I would suggest to the BWE staff that getting Segway as a sponsor might not be a bad idea at the current rate of growth, however. 

•  Business Hours.  Okay, so a good conference or trade show should be a 12 hour day.  Do you have to make it 15-17?  You have pre-opening networking, keynotes, all-day sessions, working dinners, and then evening/night networking events.  When you add in the informal networking events that happen after (and because of) the "official" networking events, it is a 15-17 hour day at best, and I suspect some just gave up on the idea of sleeping.  Not fair. 

•  Troop support.  Not the flashy showy kind, but the real thing that permeates all levels of an organization.  From programming, support of the military track, to many other ways of showing support and care -- don't they realize that we aren't used to that and are much more used to dealing with hostile crowds and words, even if this isn't Berkeley? 

•  No cloning and memory re-integration.  Okay, this is and has been for some time my biggest beef with BWE.  If you are going to have this many good speakers (200?+?) and panels, the least you can do is have a cloning booth along with a re-integration facility so you can get to all of them.  To not do so is just taunting and mocking. 

Yeah, we are having a horrid time out here.  Marcus, Rachel, Mandy, Kristina, and a number of veterans are also upholding tradition and closing down, er, making the most of all events.  Think the motto may well be sleep, what's sleep?  Those of you who are missing this, you've missed a good one. 

LW

Dust Off, On the Way!

Posted By Blackfive • [November 05, 2011]

Two Army UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters from Task Force Falcon lift off on Sept. 30, 2011.  Photo by Tech. Sgt. Matt Hecht of the 177th Fighter Wing, NJ Air National Guard.

 

Eagle Lightning

Posted By Blackfive • [November 04, 2011]

A U.S. Air Force F-15E Strike Eagle is illuminated by a lightning storm near Bagram Air Field, Afghanistan, Oct. 6, 2011.  Photo by Tech. Sgt. Matt Hecht.

Security - Eighty Deuce Style

Posted By Blackfive • [November 03, 2011]

Spc. Josh Schroeder, gunner, Regional Command (South) protective service detail, 82nd Airborne Division, looks down into his mine resistant ambush protected vehicle from his position in the turret during a mission Nov. 2. Schroeder and his team routinely escort the leadership of RC(S) to various locations within the region for meetings with Afghan leaders, securing the routes they travel on and the locations of the meetings.  Photo by SPC Amanda Hills.

 

Staff Sgt. Joshua W. Ginn and Sgt. Alexander C. Strickland, medics, Regional Command (South) protective service detail, 82nd Airborne Division, hand out extra snacks from their meals to Afghan children through the gates of the governor's palace during a mission Nov. 2. The medics and their teams routinely escort the leadership of RC(S) to various locations within the region for meetings with Afghan leaders, securing the routes they travel on and the locations of the meetings. During these missions, the team has frequent interactions with Afghan military, police and civilians, particularly children.

Medal of Honor Stolen from MOH Awardee's Widow

Posted By Blackfive • [November 03, 2011]

There is a special place in hell for the individual who stole THE medal ("Welcome to Hell, here's your pineapple!"). And I hope whomever catches them is a vet...

[Thanks to Alexander O. for the tip.]

Update: There appears to be an issue viewing the video. Go here to the news site to view it and read the article.

Update 2: Go here to view links to Rocko's obituary and MOH Citation.

Israel about to denuke Iran?

Posted By Uncle Jimbo • [November 03, 2011]

Kinda looks that way.

Israel test-fired a missile from a military base on Wednesday, two days after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned of the "direct and heavy threat" posed by Iran's nuclear program.

The noon launch near Tel Aviv, which had not been announced in advance, coincided with a week-long surge of speculation in local media that Netanyahu was working to secure cabinet consensus for an attack on Israel's arch-foe.

This follows on the heels of some particularly unsubtle language used by Israeli PM Benyamin Neyanyahu.

A nuclear Iran would pose a terrible threat on the Middle East and on the entire world. And of course, it poses a great, direct threat on us too.”

Then, Netanyahu made news. “A security philosophy cannot rely on defense alone,” he insisted. “It must also include offensive capabilities, which is the very foundation of deterrence. We operate and will continue to operate intensely and determinately against those who threaten the security of the State of Israel and its citizens. Our policy is guided by two main principles: the first is ‘If someone comes to kill you, rise up and kill him first,’ and the second is ‘If anyone harms us, his blood is on his own hands.’”

This is all even more pertinent given the actions of our owners, the Chinese, in violating international agreements to trade in forbidden items with the Iranians as McQ pointed out. I find Netanyahu's unveiled threat to be quite refreshing given the usual nature of diplomacy as formalized lying in formal wear or the ever popular nibbling of petit fours and sipping of mint tea by the hotel pool. This was the equivalent of a shotgun blast from the front porch telling would-be thugs this ain't the house you want to be messing with. The fact that Israel has a history of following up warning shots with decapitating strikes makes this all the more believable.

We have been whistling past the graveyard regarding the prospect of a nuclear Iran for far too long now. The problem predates Obama, but his inaction and even worse his kow towing to the Mullahs has emboldened them. The Chinese have obviously decided that a more powerful Iran is not a problem for them and with the Russians have ensured that the useless UN remains just that. So who does that leave to ensure that the playground bully doesn't arm himself with a .45? That's right, the folks who actually stand to see a city or two turned into parking lots- the Israelis.

The public statements by Netanyahu are obviously aimed at both the Iranians and the "international community" as a last chance to avoid the logical and likely action to come. Iran has picked this fight and I think soon it may learn something others in the area have, Israel doesn't play.

China ignores sanctions to trade with Iran

Posted By McQ • [November 03, 2011]

For years I’ve heard people say that China isn’t an expansionist military threat on the par of, say, the old Soviet Union.  And for the most part, I believe that.  I do believe they’re a regional expansionist military threat and I also believe they’re building their military with unprecedented spending to fulfill that role.  That’s fairly obvious in their dealings with other Asian countries within the China sea area.

But are they an international threat to peace?

In some ways, absolutely.  For instance, their relationship with Iran threatens to make the unstable Middle East even more unstable.  And they’re blatantly disregarding UN sanction and breaking promises to the US about weaponry they are exporting:

China is continuing to provide advanced missiles and other conventional arms to Iran and may be doing so in violation of U.N. sanctions against the Tehran regime, according to a draft report by the congressional U.S.-China Commission.

“China continues to provide Iran with what could be considered advanced conventional weapons,” the report of the U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission says.

According to the report, which will be made public Nov. 16, China sold $312 million worth of arms to Iran, second only to Russia, after Congress passed the Iran Freedom Support Act in 2006 that allows the U.S. government to sanction foreign companies that provide advanced arms to Iran.

So, essentially China is calling the US bluff and ignoring the UN.  And it is actively trading with a self- declared enemy of the US (and a country which has killed Americans in both Iraq and Afghanistan). 

Speaking of the US, China has even gone further:

Most of the weapons transfers involved sales of Chinese anti-ship cruise missiles, including C-802 missiles that China promised the United States in 1997 would not be exported to Iran.

China also built an entire missile plant in Iran last year to produce the Nasr-1 anti-ship cruise missile.

While the article goes on to say that technically the sale isn’t a violation of the Iran, North Korea and Syria Nonproliferation Act of 2006 because the payload and range are below the specified minimums, what it doesn’t say is the value of the advanced technology such a sale brings a country like Iran.  Obviously what they learn from the C-802 will be incorporated in their own types of missiles.

The report in which these findings were contained makes a valid conclusion based on them:

The report concludes: “Despite Beijing’s stated claim to be acting as a responsible major power, China continues to place its national interests ahead of regional stability by providing economic and diplomatic support to countries that undermine international security.”

Of course China waves it all away.  I mean, what are we going to do about it?

Chinese Embassy spokesman Wang Baodong denied China violated U.N. sanctions.

“When it comes to the issue of nonproliferation, China has been strictly adhering to the relevant U.N. resolutions and faithfully carries out its international obligations while strictly implementing its relevant domestic policies and regulations in the field.”

He said the commission “should cast off its Cold War mentality, respect the facts and stop making unwarranted allegations against China.”

Of course what sales like the ones China has been making to Iran do indeed undermine international security, or, at least Middle East regional security.  Iran now brags about missiles it has that can hit its avowed enemy, Israel, and most of the world believes they’re pursuing nuclear weapons.  These sorts of sales only aggravate that situation.

Israel has to take them seriously and has:

Israel's test launch of a ballistic missile at Palmachim Air Force Base on Wednesday, in an apparent show of military strength, has ensured the threat of Iran's nuclear capabilities remains firmly on the public agenda.

International sources quoted in the Israeli media said the test appeared to have been conducted with a ''surface-to-surface'' missile known as the Jericho 3, which has a range of between 3000 and 7000 kilometres and is capable of carrying a nuclear warhead.

Of course Israel has never publically admitted it has nuclear weapons (but most believe they do) and until this launch never publicly admitted it had a missile with this range.  It was indeed a show of force to make it clear to the Iranians that they had best mind their p's and q’s.  But it certainly indicates in increase in tensions and a decrease in stability in a region already dangerously unstable.

So we have China ignoring or circumventing international sanctions to trade critical weaponry with a rogue nation with military and regional aspirations and essentially telling the rest of the world to bug off.

The question is “why?”

Is it because it perceives weakness in the US?   Europe?  The UN?   All three?  China has weathered the recession in relatively good shape.  It’s economy is still doing well.  It has been the recipient of a wealth transfer through trade that has enabled it to spend much more freely on its military and it seems to be recognizing a growing vacuum in the world power balance as the US is perceived to be withdrawing some from its position of dominance.

Is China just interested in a regional role, or does Iran signal that China hopes to expand into much more of an international power player?  China watchers who’ve been claiming that it is only regional power which interests the country may have to recalibrate their thinking.   It seems, at least to me, that China sees a much broader role for itself (and its self-interest) in the world and may be beginning to make moves internationally to fulfill that role. 

Of course time will tell, but Iran (and some of its activities in Africa and the China sea)  seems to be a good indicator of a larger desired international role for China  than that which was previously assumed for the country.

~McQ

Twitter: @McQandO

Wet Work is Better

Posted By Grim • [November 02, 2011]

Strategy Page reports on what they claim is a resurgence of Russian assassination.

[I]n the last decade, the Russian "wet work" (assassination) teams are back. This is considered an intelligence operation, as it is often used to eliminate those supplying foreigners with damaging information about Russia.

How many people have been targeted by the SVR (foreign intelligence successor to the KGB) and GRU (military intelligence) SVR death squads are unknown. It is believed to be at least a dozen in the last decade. The most common targets have been members of Chechen terrorist organizations. Six of these Chechens have been killed in Turkey in the last four years. All were killed with a pistol used mainly by the Russian special operations troops.... Other hits were only suspected, because the target was taken out in such a way that it could have been an accident.

Russia denies any involvement with any of this, and they always have. 

I'd like to point out that this is better than what we are doing, with our drone-and-airstrikes program of targeted killing, in at least three ways.

1)  It is the mark of a more competent intelligence service.  To infiltrate an enemy safe area and kill a man with a pistol -- or in a manner that looks like an accident -- is the mark of a highly competent clandestine service.  How many members of the Haqqani network could we kill this way, if we wanted to do it?  Could we walk a man into their compound, pop them, and walk him out again before the body was found?  Arrange an accident?  Refuse to comment on the operation to the press?  Keep the documents from leaking?

2)  It is more discriminating.  A knife is an excellent weapon for this kind of war; a silenced pistol is a good weapon.  A rifle can be a good weapon, in the hands of an expert.  You get the man you want, and you don't kill women, children, or those who are accidentally near.  I know full well how deep the protections are that we put around our operations to try to limit collateral damage especially of women and children, and I admire the work of the men and women who do it:  but as a simple practical fact, aerial bombing kills more innocent people than Russian-type wet work.  This is true in spite of the tremendous protections we have instituted, and the very best efforts of our people to ensure that such innocent deaths are as close to zero as they can possibly be.

3)  It cuts down on political consequences.  Our drone strikes in Pakistan have given that part of the political factions who oppose us a politically dynamite issue.  They have put what supporters we have on the line.  Combined with the bin Laden raid -- which would not have been the straw that broke the camel's back if it wasn't for the drumbeat of the drone strikes -- they have disrupted military-to-military cooperation between the PAKMIL and our forces, which decreases our insight into how things stand on the Pakistani side of the border, decreases pressure on our enemies, and cuts down on the ties that allow us to bring effective military intelligence analysis to bear on the problems we face there.  

What do we get out of this?  We get to say that we oppose assassination -- though not "targeted killing."

A wise man recognizes a good idea no matter who brings it to the table.  If we're going to wage war through the targeted killing of individuals, we ought to engage in 'wet work' instead.

Ask An Infantryman- Too Young For Me?

Posted By Mr Wolf • [November 02, 2011]

Infantryman-

I met this really cute guy last year, and we hit it off right away.  It seemed to be love at first sight; he was rich, I am cute, and we had a lot in common.  We met, sparks flew; he said he loved me, and I believed him.  He promised to take care of me 'for the rest of my life'.  Feeling swept up in the moment, we made love.  He confessed it was his first time; that I would be his first, forever.  That made my heart go even further for him.  I couldn't believe my luck...  Even tho he was much younger than me, I could tell- this could be the one.  Finally, the one...

Being it was his first time, it was over all too soon.  We finished, and left the men's room.  He went back on stage, and I went back home and to my room.

Now, I've carried his child and borne him a son, yet he won't return my calls or even acknowledge my existence.  Tell me Infantryman, whatever should I do?  How can I convince him I'm the one for him, and this is our child together?"

Sign me,

Men's Room Enjoyment

 

Dear MRE-

You're effed.  Literally.  Stone up- find a real man.  Follow the uniform- he will never lead you astray like that, and will stand up for what's right.  Here, you found but a boy; not a man you SHOULD have.  Hear that knocking?  Should be the cops coming for you, you molester, you.  You need help, but not the kind I'D send for you. 

For all you real ladies out there, check this out if you are seeking love.  A real love:

Bringing Home the Troops: 7 Reasons to Date a Military Man

Military relationships are challenging, but here are 7 good reasons to date a military man.

1. Conviction
Nothing says sexy more than someone who is putting his life on the line to protect your freedoms and rights. Joining the military is a choice; by serving his country, you know he has strong ideals and is willing to fight for them.  And he'll stand by them. 

2. He is in great physical shape
Let's not pretend that the fact he's probably in the best shape of his life doesn't turn you on. The rigorous training he is committed to is part of his daily routine, and you get to reap the benefits of his occupation's strict physical and dietary habits. We'll salute to that.  Especially if he's in Special Forces.  My God man, how can you top that one?

3. Potential for love letters
Because your relationship will probably be long-distance at certain points and for long periods of time, communication becomes essential. This means lots of emails, chats, phone conversations, and snail mail. The possibility of epic literary confessions of love is immense.  While Dear John letters are also likely, the scent of his letters, and the anticipation of them becomes a burning desire...

4. Independence and co-dependence
Because he is often in unfamiliar environments, you know that he can take care of himself. He is trained to survive hostile circumstances and protect his fellow soldiers, so he knows what it takes to work as a team. He knows how to work together for a common goal, but he can also assess a difficult situation and figure out a solution on his own. This can translate well for relationships. After all, love can be a battlefield, too.

5. He takes directions well
The military is all about structure, order and rules. If he can survive taking commands from his superiors, you know that he won't mind too much when you ask him to help you with the dishes every once in a while—or when you start ordering him around in the bedroom.  Just don't expect him to ASK for directions...

6. He can keep his room neat
Due to the discipline practiced in the barracks, you can count on him to pick up after himself and keep his personal affects in order. You can thank his drill sergeant for that one.  And you can believe his sock drawer will be neater than your bra drawer...

7. The uniform
It's not just because the tailored cut of a uniform perfectly accentuates his physical assets. A uniform represents discipline, strength, courage, and fellowship—all traits that make for great partners. We are often attracted to men in uniform because of the message it sends to us: this is a person in a position of authority who can provide us with safety and whose job is to protect us from the dangers of the world.

Heroes and Horses 2012

Posted By Blackfive • [November 02, 2011]

The video above was filmed during this trip that I reported on.

Below is the very first class photo from this summer. Attending are Navy SEALs, Marines, Paratroopers and Infantrymen. Some have Silver Stars. Some have Purple Hearts. All are heroes.

The 2011 first class of combat veterans.  All enlisted.  All heroes.

So, this summer we've got several trips planned for combat vets to head out to southwest Montana and spend a week.  You can go here to the official web site for more information or go here at Soldiers' Angels where you can help by donating and for corporate sponsorships, please visit this page.

The bottom-line: 

Heroes & Horses is open to any recent American combat veteran who loves and could benefit from the breathtaking beauty and unique demands of Montana's real ranch country and who craves the sense of accomplishment gained by mastering true horsemanship and skills in the challenging backcountry of America's majestic Rocky Mountains.  A seven-day working horse ranch experience is available for a wide-range of gutsy veterans at the Mantle Ranch, offering an opportunity to learn--through intensive instruction and interaction with fellow combat veterans--how to ride, pack, and orchestrate a mountain trip, as well as a variety of related equine and back-country activities on one of the most spectacular working horse ranches in the West.

Here is the initial program so you get an idea of what to expect.

Nothing beats a warm fire with your new comrades after a long day's ride.

In future years, we're going to expand to spouses and other groups, but for now, we'll have three separate veteran groups go through the training and trip up into the Rocky Mountains.  If you know of anyone who would be interested, have them contact us at this email horses@soldiersangels.org .  Or send me an email through B5.

Just remember, "Sit Deep".

Me on Goblin (or aka "that sonofabitch!")

Teaser...

Posted By Blackfive • [November 02, 2011]

Fun project coming soon from Soldiers' Angels and HireHeroes...this is just a sneak preview.

You're a grand old (al Qaeda) flag

Posted By Uncle Jimbo • [November 02, 2011]

I think that it was just lovely the way Qadaffi met his end in a sharp pointed way. He was a mass-murdering, terrorist, lunatic scumbag and deserved even worse than he got. But before we go handing out more Nobel Peace Prizes for this, let's look at just who we were supporting and who now will likely replace him.....that's right our good friends and global do-gooders al Qaeda. Here is a pic that the NY Times used to illustrate a story while somehow managing to miss the fact that the flags are not for the Islamic peace and kindness party, but for those pillars of freedom and democracy best known for suicide bombings, slitting throats and honor killings of women they rape. Well when they can't find a goat. From NRO.

Now I am sure it is way too much work for the NYT or any others to recall that the region of Libya responsible for Qadaffi's hemorrhoid removal also provided the most imported foreign jihadis to Iraq. Nope they are too busy lionizing that intrepid foreign policy genius Barack of Arabia to remember that we supported a bunch of folks with American blood dripping from their beards.

But hey, he got bin Laden right? How do I know that will show up in a campaign commercial? Oh that's right because professional weasels David(s) Axelrod and Plouffe have already trotted it out.

 Change is restoring our place in the world and taking the fight to al Qaeda. You know eliminating Osama Bin Laden and so many of the terrorists.

Obama 2012- Yeah I destroyed our economy, but I will shoot a Muslim in the eye

Catchy, eh?

(Alleged) Jackwagons

Posted By Blackfive • [November 02, 2011]

First, a militia is taken down for plotting homegrown terrorism based on an online novel...

Second, an MP, yes an Military Policeman, was arrested on suspicion of espionage.  Charges pending.  Anyone want to guess who he was spying for (OWS, anyone?  Anyone?).

 

 

The Colors of Committment - Jospeh Collins

Posted By Blackfive • [November 01, 2011]

 

Joseph Collins has experience in the Marines, the Army and as a police officer. He's served tours of duty in Bosnia and Iraq, and is now an instructor at the International School of Tactical Medicine. He is highly respected in all of these fields and has faced death on numerous occasions - but there is more to this rough and tumble cop than meets the eye.

Soldiers' Angels, Angel Artist of the Month: Suzie Brown

Posted By Blackfive • [November 01, 2011]

Go to http://suziebrown.bandcamp.com, buy an awesome album for whatever price you deem appropriate and all of the money in the month of November 2011 goes to http://soldiersangels.org to help our deployed, returning, and wounded troops.

We're blown away by such a generous offer from Ms. Brown. Please check her out!