The Russian Threat To Georgia And Danger Of External Forces

A bomb blast in South Ossetia outside Russian military headquarters threatens to destabilize the region yet again. The Russian and South Ossetian authorities claim a car was confiscated in Georgian territory and then driven to the Russian headquarters by Russian forces, where it exploded.

First, let’s get out of the way the fact that if the car was indeed packed with explosives, an act of terrorism was planned by someone. Secondly, let’s get it out of the way that if the Russians confiscated the vehicle and drove it to their headquarters where it exploded they are incredibly incompetent. Thirdly, we have to ask why Russians confiscated a Georgian vehicle in the first place? Fourth, we have to ask why those Georgians (if they were in fact Georgians at all were in South Ossetia given the current situation? And then, we have to ask how they would have gotten past Russian and South Ossetian forces in the first place through the buffer zone and into South Ossetia where the car was allegedly confiscated?

It is hard to conceive that a car bomb would have gotten past a military checkpoint of any kind, even when manned by average front line soldiers. If it did, it displays gross incompetence and highlights vulnerabilities and points out weaknesses in the Russian military. It is also hard to conceive that any Georgians would have made it through such check-points without any explosives and found sympathizers and supplies to then arm the vehicle with explosives while in South Ossetia.

The Danger Involved

Now, the danger is that Russia will use this as an excuse to engage in further military action aimed at overthrowing the Georgian government or to weasel out of its cease-fire agreement and find an excuse to occupy Georgian territory longer or to reoccupy Georgian territory or to invade Georgia again. Why the car exploded and the circumstances around it need to be investigated by as many international agencies as possible, and they need to demand involvement RIGHT NOW, before time and political maneuvering allow this to become something it is not.

The underlying danger that is obvious, however, is a potential danger. And it is a danger more significant than most, and perhaps even more dangerous than Iran’s seeking nuclear weapons. What danger is that?

That Al Qaeda, another terrorist organization, some rogue state government or government agency—or perhaps Abkhazian or South Ossetian seperatists—will be able to easily exploit the tension of the region and the polar political alignment of the sides involved to create discord, panic and escalate tensions to the point of renewed and possibly wider-spread conflict in the Caucasus region. Any organization that would benefit from the resultant force on force and ideological clash between Russia and the West would see the opportunity of attacking Russian forces in South Ossetia or Abkhazai as very usable for their own ends.

Analysis: Who Would Benefit From Renewed Conflict In Georgia Or With Russia?

There is an incredibly long list of just whom might benefit from a renewed conflict, and the ways in which they might benefit may be incredibly obscured.

• Russia would benefit by posing a greater threat to the region, which would make dealing with Russia more favorably of greater importance to nations in the region—thus weakening Western influence and the perception of Western interests in or ability to protect the region. It would give Russia a stepping stone to other nations in the region, greater influence in the Black Sea region and the Middle East. It also puts them one step closer to being able to seize Armenia and Azerbaijan, and once again pursuing what has been a long-standing Russian military and geo-political goal: direct access to the oil fields of the Middle East and more warm water ports. Given Russian and Iranian cooperation, this poses a very serious and somewhat understated danger to the Middle East and the global balance of power because it is in the interests of both Russia and Iran to partner together against Western in general and US influence in particular. Seizing Georgia would also put Russia on the doorstep of Turkey which has been flirting with Russia much to the chagrin of the US, EU, and NATO. A nightmare scenario that follows from a Russian occupied and controlled Georgia is Turkey deciding to stamp out all Kurdish resistance in the Kurdish regions of their country by force, and not feeling the need to be restrained by Western/NATO influence because the Russians will offer support, arms, and perhaps be willing to send troops to help stamp out the threat of “terrorists” which the West itself has labeled the Kurdish separatist groups in order to win the favor of a Turkish government that has been seeking entrance into NATO and the EU. This would inflame Kurds everywhere, especially in Iraq, and any action by Iraqi Kurds would destabilize Iraq and possibly give both Turkey and Iraq cause to invade it in the future—again, under the auspices of eliminating a terrorist threat. This scenario is not at all improbable, given the Russian propensity recently to occupy and not relinquish territory as it rides a wave of national military, political and economic resurgence.
• South Ossetia would benefit by having a weakened Georgia on its border or seeing the Georgian government overthrown by invading Russians and the subsequent occupation of Georgia by the Russians. They would also benefit economically by a weakened Georgia. They would also be able to inflict pain and suffering on the Georgians whom they have had long-standing differences—basically, getting some payback.
• Abkhazia would benefit the same way South Ossetia would.
• Al Qaeda would benefit greatly from such a climate of East/West conflict which would relieve pressures being exerted on their organization, create a climate where the movement of illicit arms, drugs and other contraband would be increased, easier and welcome in the region of conflict and surrounding areas. This would help boost both funding and recruitment for the organization in addition to providing some relief, and possibly allow them to form alliances with some governments who would also benefit from the US having to redirect military, economic or intelligence resources to deal with a crisis in the Caucasus region and the danger such conflict would pose to European security and stability in the Middle East where it has invested billions of dollars and the lives of soldiers.
• The Taliban and their allies seeking to distract the US and coalition forces and resources (including intelligence assets from focusing on prosecuting the attack in Afghanistan and Pakistan’s tribal regions.
• Any terrorist organization seeking to relieve pressure on it from Western forces prosecuting the so-called Global War on Terror.
• Any countries at ideological, military, economic or political odds with the USA, the EU, NATO, Russia or Georgia might welcome the opportunities that any other beneficiary might find or see in reigniting the conflict, be it arms trafficking, alliance, political or economic destabilization or otherwise. This would include countries such as Iran, Pakistan, Venezuela, Bolivia, China, Myanmar, Cuba as well as various nations throughout the Middle East, Asia and Africa.
• Allies of the USA, NATO, EU or Georgia that seek to apply greater attention by those entities on the region of the Caucasus in order to put Russian expansion in check before it spreads any more than it already has. This could include separatists within Russia (such as in Chechnya or the Kabardino-Balkar Republic) and others that might see US/EU/NATO forces in the region as a counter-weight to threats they themselves face. For example, Israel would benefit greatly from halting Russian expansion and increased Western military engagement in the Caucasus region as that would create a threat to Iran, Syria, terrorist organizations that would benefit from Russian expansionism (and the conflicts that would result), and from the prospect of Turkey becoming increasingly friendly with Russia—who supplies most of the arms that many enemies of Israel and the West use, including Hezbollah, Hamas, Islamic Jihad and various insurgencies and revolutionary groups around the globe. That means that the West is less likely to be able to afford (either economically or politically) to help keep Israel’s enemies in check if Russian expansionism is allowed to grow. Interestingly enough, in this same category fall many European nations worried about their security in the face of a growing Russian threat. They know it is easier and would be more beneficial to have US/EU/NATO stronger and fortifying itself against a Russian threat now than it would be to do nothing and hope that the US/EU/NATO have the spine and wherewithal to engage Russia in open war on European soil. Europe has no desire to see a war of that magnitude in Europe proper again, and as America finds itself in decline economically, politically, and militarily…it is a very real threat/prospect.
• Rogue governmental agencies that have their own agendas, ranging from unilateral prosecution of agency or individual objectives to paying back owed markers or simply trying to increase their own relevance or budget. This could include agencies such as the CIA, NSA and other less known agencies here in the USA as well as British MI-5, Israeli Mossad, Russian FSB and various intelligence agencies of any nation mentioned anywhere in this list of those whom might benefit, including the nations of Syria, Turkey, Iran, Venezuela, Cuba and so on. This could even include agencies who are looking for conflict in the Caucasus region to provide them with increased justification for increased involvement in existing or looming conflicts that have related issues at stake. One instance might be the growing tension between Pakistan and both India and Afghanistan.
• Corporations and individuals with their own agendas, aimed at increasing their wealth, influence or prestige and/or benefiting from conflict between Russia and Western forces. This includes PMC’s, companies that provide defense related services, oil companies, shipping companies, infrastructure related companies that would be needed in the wake of conflict, and the list goes on and on.

In the end, while it might seem a small and trivial thing, this vehicle exploding and which killed between six and nine Russian soldiers (depends on which story you read), it cannot be viewed lightly. It highlights a potential threat of great implication in the geopolitics of the Eurasian region.

Russia’s recent rhetoric accusing Ukraine of aiding Georgia in its conflict with Russia and calling it a “crime” ought to be sending off alarm bells throughout Europe and the rest of the world. Russians have to be sitting smug right now because they are playing the word and blame game so well—while the West is tongue-tied and showing absolutely no real urgency at all in defending Europe or shoring up its defenses. The lack of NATO and US troops being sent to the region, the lack of immediately bringing Ukraine and Georgia (or, more importantly, not going to Georgia’s aid after it has been a faithful ally of the USA) into NATO’s fold have exposed the vulnerable underbelly of the West.

Look for trouble in Belarus soon, as it gets ready to attempt a transition from being Europe’s last dictatorship into a democratic nation. I predict trouble and unrest, which will be followed by a display of Russian concern and rhetoric laying the groundwork for future justification. What do I mean by future justification? The very thing this explosion is giving Russia so conveniently for future aggression.

The Russian bear, from where it sits, has little to fear and sees all sorts of small game that it can kill with one swat of its paw everywhere it looks. Unfortunately for the West, the Russian bear is human, and we all know what dangers lie behind the ego.

Russians Seize US Military Vehicles In Georgia

Russian soldiers seized American military Humvees and took some 20 Georgian soldiers prisoner, seizing the soldiers and vehicles in a key Georgian port. The vehicles were awaiting shipment back to the USA after being used in military exercises by Georgian forces before the recent fighting broke out, apparently.

How will the Bush administration address this issue? The response so far has bordered on cowardice already, and now Russia is seizing US military equipment on the home turf of an ally who has been more supportive of our efforts in the War on Terror than many NATO and EU members. This sort of outrage needs a strong response, stronger than just empty rhetoric and halting joint military exercises.

This is the same as violating an American embassy when you get right down to it. It is a blatant and provocative act, and we should return the favor. Oh wait….we don’t really have anyone in Georgia to help our allies or ourselves.

We need to demand the immediate release of our vehicles and implement punitive measures. Perhaps the EU, NATO and USA need to implement immediate sanctions against all Russian fuel exports and other goods? Let them find their market for their oil wealth suddenly shrunken and feel some economic pain. That will put a strain on their military spending and resurgent desire for military conquest.

NATO should also immediately grant membership to Belarus, Ukraine and Moldava if they want it, and then Georgia immediately after Russian withdrawal from Georgia proper. Then, NATO peacekeepers need to be sent into Georgia and the other two nations and draw a clear line, letting Russia know that Europe isn’t going to tolerate any more Russian conquest. The ONLY smart response to Russian aggression is a unified Europe. The only honorable response (though perhaps less than ideal) by the USA is to send troops and weapons systems to defend the territorial integrity of our Georgian allies and NATO allies. The eastern borders of NATO need to be strengthened.

Part of the reasons this has happened is because of the huge draw-down of our forces begun under President Clinton and the myopic and inept handling of foreign policy buy the miserably incapable Bush-Cheney administration. The whom have for the past two decades tried to steer the US military down the line of thinking that huge wars with major powers were not likely for the US and our NATO allies in Europe are finally being revealed for what they are and were–incredibly short-sighted thinkers.

America has a very real need for a greater number of certain weapons systems and more combat divisions. Relying solely on air and sea power and some light and fast pipe dream for future combat to all be against poorly armed peasants armed with shoddy weapons and sandals is ridiculous. The whole Rumsfeld/Clinton mentality is as ridiculous as the President we have leading our nation. McCain and Obama both seem woefully inadequate to deal with the problems of the world, and I have to say that Jack Cafferty raises some good points about McCain and the next President that will lead us.

I don’t think we have a good candidate in the running at all. Not one smart enough or experienced enough or strong enough to deal with the world we are facing. Our system of democracy is a sham and broken, and money and the special interest groups and corporations determine who leads us–not any merits of leadership. At this juncture in history, the next four years will be critical to the future of America and Europe. I have no confidence in McCain or Obama to be able to lead effectively. Both are content to give away America to illegal aliens while our soldiers are dying in the Middle East to protect those who hate Western civilization…while Russia is savagely mauling democracy like, well…a Russian bear.

If we’re lucky, Russia’s leaders are cocky but not bold. It’s one thing to push Georgia around, another to attempt to do so with Ukraine or Belarus. If Russia is ever going to consider actual expansionist policies, invading Ukraine and Belarus right now would be an opportunity that would be hard to pass up with the West and Europe basically doing nothing but talking and fretting, tied down in the Middle East.

A resurgent Russia is not something coming out of left field. There were many analysts who warned against just this very thing even as the USSR disintegrated. The Pentagon might want to rehire some of them to start replacing the analysts who aren’t doing a very good job for them right now.

Speaking of the Middle East and Eurasia…

There’s a very real threat to the region of Eurasa/central Asia that comes from Sino-Russian cooperation. Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, and Turkmenistan ought to be very worried right about now. Russia has been going on for some time about the need to fight Islamic terrorists and separatists. The West should not drag its feet just now, not when you consider some what-if scenarios. We can only hope someone at the Pentagon isn’t so blind as to not consider something such as a joint war of convenience by Russia and China based on such a pretext and leads to the splitting of Kazakhstan and/or neighboring countries.

The destabilizing influence that would have on Iraq and Afghanistan, not to mention Pakistan and India would be considerable. We should beware the potential aims of a Russia geared at domination of the Black and Caspian seas. Two other vulnerabilities exist in the form of the region of Albania, Macedonia and Greece, where Russian meddling could easily cause violence and discord. Turkey’s strategic importance is growing as a result of Russia’s invasion of Georgia (not that it hasn’t ever been strategically important, just that at this moment, it comes sharply into focus as to why it always has been for those who haven’t bothered to read their history), and stoking fires in the vicinity of Greece and Turkey might give Russian leadership a pretext for more Black Sea shenanigans.

Speaking of shenanigans…I wonder what the Irish think of this right now, and if they feel as comfortable as they do in Belarus and the Ukraine?

Strangest of all, though, is the thought that the Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili may actually be working in a covert manner with Russian leadership to set the stage for a second attack aimed at prying Georgia away from democracy and taking it back under Russian control. Russia already has 5000 troops in Armenia, and with the recent invasion of Georgia, the entire Caucasus region is filled to brimming with Russian troops and equipment.

And Turkey is expressing solidarity with Russia, which on the surface doesn’t make much sense when you consider Turkey has a region ready to break away.

Now we will see what nations have backbone and which nations are cowards and economic hostages. The WTO and the G8 are under the microscope here, as are the EU, NATO and the USA. Their responses and the weight of any response will either encourage or discourage more of the same, not only from Russia, but from other nations that might perceive weaknesses in Western resolve. We cannot afford that when Africa is considerably unstable, there are tensions in southeast Asia in multiple locales and the influence of Russian, Chinese, and Iranian governments and Middle Eastern terrorist organizations are on the rise in Latin America.

Whatever Russian intentions may be, it is unlikely they bode well for the West, the Caucasus region and the Middle East. How the West responds will determine how much harder it will be to fight the coming wars we that are almost inevitable, given history and politics and such things as global food shortages, a population explosion this century of unprecedented proportions and displacement of large populations as sea levels rise throughout the rest of the century.

Democrats Seek To Torpedo Bill That Would Increase Veterans Educational Benefits

Congressional Democrats are looking for ways to kill a bill aimed at increasing educational benefits for veterans and ensuring that enlistees are getting the benefits they are promised. The $2 billion bill, Sen. Jim Webb’s Post-9/11 Veterans Educational Assistance Act, is meant to do the right thing for those serving their country, but Democrats are seeking to turn it into a weapon to use against the Bush administration by getting it vetoed.

President Bush has already said he will veto the bill if there are any attachments or amendments to it. Now, let’s look at why that is important…

The bill was created because educational benefits are one of the biggest enlistment incentives for prospective enlistees, and also because educational benefits are not keeping up with the cost of a college education. Congress is trying to do right by those protecting our nation—or rather, some in Congress are. The Democrats, however, see an opening—a way to wound the war machine they believe the current administration to be.

You see, if Democrats attach something to the bill, and the President vetoes it, it looks like the President is against increasing educational benefits for veterans he is sending off to war. It will also mean enlistment/recruiting efforts will suffer and many potential enlistees will think twice when they see that the military is not going to provide benefits that keep pace with costs of an education in America. You can’t hardly afford even a community college education on the current benefits.

Now, if this bill is to benefit our veterans, why can’t Democrats just leave it alone and allow those men and women to get what they have earned and more than deserve—more importantly, what they were promised? Because this is a chance to hurt enlistment, make the military and the administration look bad, a way to impact troop strength over the long term which will pressure the administration and the Department of Defense to wrap up the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan quickly. It could conceivably lead to premature withdrawal of troops as the military leadership begins to view the administration and Congress as non-supportive, leading to recommendations for disengagement from top generals—and which Congress and any administration would find hard to ignore.

Left alone, the bill will pass and provide the resources to ensure our veterans receive the benefits they signed up for and that they have earned. Left alone, it means more veterans are likely to complete a college or vocational education and find a new career after their military service is completed. Left alone, it means soldiers can plan for the next phase of their lives and try to get ahead in life, moving on as citizens with faith in the government, the military they served in, and their countrymen. It means a more brightly lighted path back to normalcy after enduring and surviving the war their countrymen determined they should fight.

So why the hell won’t Democrats leave the bill alone and do what is right?

Because the moonbat Democrats don’t want veterans moving on, or better educated. They might vote more Democrats out of jobs for one. Secondly, if veterans are upset and disenfranchised—and stories about it are making the rounds in the media for years to come—it hurts military recruitment.

It seems Democrats don’t want to honor soldiers. It appears that they just want to live as cheaply as possible behind the wall of safety those soldiers provide, while giving the country those soldiers fought for away—to those foreign invaders called illegal aliens. Come to think of it, at least one Republican running for President wants to do the same thing.

NATO Fears Over Dutch Film About Islam?

Dutch MP Geert Wilders will soon be releasing a film about Islam that has NATO worrying about repercussions. You may recall that Net access was blocked in Pakistan recently because of a video with Mr. Wilders appearing on YouTube talking about the film?

Currently, NATO is concerned about how the upcoming release of the film will impact relations with Islamic nations. The Dutch government has also issued a heightened terrorism alert in anticipation of peaceful Islamic reaction. In Afghanistan, protesters are already calling for the government to expel Dutch and Danish troops and cut ties with those countries.

I for one am glad to see Mr. Wilders going forward with his plans. These days, Islamists use terror and intimidation of all sorts to silence any criticism of Islam or Islamic nations or anything related to their culture. It’s nice to see that Western democracies haven’t lost their spine altogether and that freedom of speech is still possible in places. Who would have thought you needed to be brave to be a cartoonist, after all?

Sadly, here in America, it is getting more difficult to criticize our own government or Islam. Laws passed under the guise of ‘hate crime’ and ‘domestic terror’ legislation are making it increasingly likely that being critical of the establishment in general and of those nations which our government considers allies—or critical to some political goal.

Really, all those anti-war protesters who want US troops to come home have to do is start posting cartoons of Muhammad daily. Soon, the furor will be such that all foreign troops will leave the Middle East. What a tragic pity that the solution is so easy and simple, yet the anti-war protesters would hypocritically rather let wars continue to be fought than offend the Islamic masses.

War is bad, terrible and killing should stop, the anti-war protesters cry! Unless, of course it would offend someone and upset them because it offended their peaceful belief in stoning and beheading. For the anti-war establishment, it’s much more acceptable to let a war continue and not offend people than it is to hurt someone’s feelings and save lives. As I’ve mentioned before, you never see anti-war protesters doing anything proactive between wars. These creatures only come out when it is convenient and they need to feel good about themselves.

Real peace activists don’t wait for the wars to begin to take action.

Sorry for the side trip, but back to the upcoming film release by Mr. Wilders. I wish him a safe life. The world needs more people willing to stand up to bullies—no matter what ideology they hide behind, and no matter what spineless governments are in bed with them.

The world is well aware of the brutality perpetrated by virtually every religion out there, and yet it is somehow a bad thing to point it out about Islam. Why is this? As the modern world well knows, you don’t want to upset those selling you the oil you need to grease the wheels of civilization.

But really, what’s the point of being civilized and having a government if you’re going to allow barbarians from far away lands to dictate what you can and can’t do in your own country?

I receive a lot of spam, both in WordPress comments and in email (though Akismet is improving and catching more of it). Just today, someone proudly proclaiming his Middle Eastern name tried filling my email with spam. It of course all just went to the junk folder and I had a good laugh at it. Most of the spam I get these days originates from IP addresses in the Middle East…more gifts from those peace-loving sorts I suppose. It’s hilarious how most of it is porn related spam. I guess there are a lot of Muslim men out there that really regret making their women cover up or something.

For those who think I only pick on Islam, you’re wrong.

As soon as I hear of Christians or Buddhists walking into Muslim communities and blowing themselves up I’ll take them to task just the same. As soon as I see or hear priests in the Vatican or the Native American Church calling for the extermination of a nation and its people, I’ll take them to task. As soon as native people living in the jungle along the Amazon start roadside bombings I will take them to task as well. As soon as I hear Taoists, Wiccans and members of The Hip Hop Church are stoning and beheading people, I’ll take them to task. As soon as I hear Jews and Atheists refusing to allow women to attend school, I’ll take them to task. As soon as Scientologists…wait…everyone already knows they’re creepy and strange, right?

In the mean time, since Hamas is still praising things like gunmen walking into schools and shooting civilians, it is no wonder that humanitarian conditions in Gaza are at a 40 year low.

Maybe if they had spent more time building a society than they spent building bombs and tunnels over the past 40 years, the Palestinians would have had a thriving nation by now? But why do all that hard work when you can riot, burn flags and cars, get angry at everyone in the world except your countrymen and your own leaders, and scream for heads over a cartoon, right?

Or, optionally, you can spend your time withdrawing from book fairs, accusing Israel of crimes against humanity…all the while hypocritically ignoring genocide in Darfur by Sudan’s peaceful Islamic government, right?

Barack Hussein Obama Making Grave Foreign Policy Mistake

Portraying himself as a candidate for change, Obama needs to toss former national security adviser Tony Lake aside like a hot potato in the post- 9/11 world. There isn’t any rational American who will feel the least bit safe with a former Bill Clinton adviser hanging about the Obama camp—especially when it was one that was around during Clinton’s failure to act decisively and prudently as President, which brought us 9/11.

Obama has much bigger concerns than Oprah…

Dragon Skin Armor On eBay, Army Investigation Ramping Up

The Army denies that some of the Dragon Skin armor it was sent for testing (and that it claimed failed) ended up on eBay for sale. Of course, in typical military fashion, ridiculous shit happens. Especially in the arena of procurement.

Someone’s about to find their ass in a sling.

Murray Neal, CEO of Pinnacle Armor, is rightfully pointing out that something smells fishy at the Pentagon. I watched video demonstrations of their body armor and was quite impressed. I would rather be wearing Dragon Skin than probably any alternative—including the current Army issue.

It can withstand some intense blasts and retain its integrity for crying out loud. For those readers unsure of what that means, it means that if you are going to dive on a grenade and take one for the bros, Dragon Skin is what you hope to be wearing in that unfortunate scenario.

No data for test results and vests ending up on eBay? Reminds me of the incredibly expensive advertising textbook I bought in the campus bookstore for a class once—upon closer examination, a free instructor’s sample.

The Army wouldn’t by any chance be scratching backs or pinching pennies at the expense of soldier’s lives, would it?

But stuff like that doesn’t happen, does it?

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See what makes Dragon Skin so amazing…

And news of the Army’s rejection…

Why The Benazir Bhutto Assassination?

Just when things had looked to be taking a turn for the better throughout the entire Middle East and region of the Indian sub-continent, something had to happen to ruin it all. That is, of course, precisely why it happened.

It was sad news this morning to hear of the assassination of Pakistan’s former Prime Minister. She stood a good chance of taking Musharraf’s place. At the absolute worst, some sort of power-sharing co-governance between the two as Prime Minister and President seemed likely. This changes everything—which it was meant to do.

She knew of the risks, and bravely did what she felt was her duty. The big question is out there, hanging…waiting for an answer: to whom do we credit this assassination?

Another Fallen Currahee: RIP, Jeff Calero

I received this from the 506th Airborne Infantry Regiment Association (Airmobile - Air Assault) a couple nights ago but am just now getting around to recent emails. While I do not recall knowing him personally, he was a fellow Currahee who served in Korea north of the Imjin River. I left there late in ‘95…I’m not sure if he was in the battalion yet or not, but it was his first assignment.

I thought I would repost this for those of my fellow Currahee warriors and any others who may have known him.

Rest in peace, Jeff Calero.

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RELEASE NUMBER: 071030-04
DATE POSTED: OCTOBER 30, 2007

PRESS RELEASE: Special Forces Soldier killed in Afghanistan
U.S. Army Special Operations Command Public Affairs Office

FORT BRAGG, N.C. (USASOC News Service, Oct. 30, 2007) — An Army Special Forces Soldier was killed Oct. 29 as a result of an improvised explosive device strike while conducting a combat patrol in the southern Afghan city of Kajaki.

MAJ Jeffrey R. Calero, 34, was fatally wounded when he encountered an IED in the course of conducting a dismounted route clearance of a “choke point” during a combat reconnaissance patrol and resupply convoy. He was a Special Forces Operational Detachment-Alpha detachment commander assigned to, ODA-2132, Company C, 1st Battalion, 20th Special Forces Group (Airborne) out of Springfield, Mass.

Calero, a native of Puerto Rico, earned his commission as an infantry officer after graduating from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy, N.Y. in 1995. He served six years on active duty before joining the U.S. Army National Guard. His first assignment was with the 2nd Infantry Division in the Republic of Korea as a rifle platoon leader and executive officer for 1st Bn., 506th Infantry Regiment. He also served as a rifle platoon leader and headquarters and headquarters company executive officer at 4th Ranger Training Battalion, Fort Benning, Georgia. Calero left active duty in the 2001 and joined Co. C, 1st Bn., 20th SFG (A).

Calero is survived by his father and mother, Raymond and Roselle Calero both of Queens, N.Y.; brother, Dennis Calero; sister, Irene and sister, Joyce Crespo and three nieces, Amelia, Lauren and Claire.

CIA Report Blames Everyone But Whom It Should: Bill Clinton

The CIA finally released an internal investigation report relating to failures that led up to the attacks of 9/11 and poor follow-up in the years since. Blame is cast everywhere: former Directors, Deputy Directors, Counterterrorism Chiefs, and even President Bush and the NSA catch flack.

The person most responsible, former President Bill Clinton, gets a free pass…

Concern In Afghanistan Over Lawlessness And Taliban Resurgence

The UN Secretary General, Ban Ki-Moon, was in Afghanistan to meet with President Hamid Karzai to discuss ways to improve the security situation there. The Taliban has been making a comeback, and anti-western sentiment continues to grow as more innocent civilians are killed and wounded in raids on suspected Taliban.

The country is worried that Karzai is doing nothing to bring law and order that he promised, and who can blame them? Nothing seems to be changing…

Here’s Your Religion Of Peace

You know, I’ve cut Islam and related sects a lot of slack for those who are not radicals. No more. It is not even worth the bother, because they are a minority in the extreme. The evidence has always been that Islam is a religion of violence (and the Yazidi are little better).

I am tired of making excuses for those few who claim to be peaceful but never bother to take up arms against their fellow Muslims/Yazidi/whatever radical religion to force them to comply with civilized law. You want to be considered civilized, then you have to act civilized—and that means enforcing civilized law even if by force, and even if you must use said force against those of your own family, faith, race, etc.

More importantly, you don’t stone women to death because you don’t get your way.

Here, take a look at a peaceful religion in all its peaceful glory: a stoning of a young woman while dozens of men stand around and film it on their cellphones.

Situational Analysis: British Weakness Radicalizing Iran

The standoff between the British government and Iran over the captured sailors is showing early signs of a bad development. Support for the Iranian government is growing among the people of Iran over the issue, and they increasingly see the confrontation as a positive development.

What implications will this have in the Global ‘What The Hell?’ On Terror and for British prestige and power? It is simple, really…

Dissident Iranians And A Simplistic Lack Of Spine

I happened across an article in which it is mentioned that there are a lot of young Iranians that don’t support Ahmadinejad, but would rally around the regime if attacked.

What’s really news about that?

One young person interviewed says Americans see things black and white, that our view of Iran is too simple:

“It’s a very black-and-white, a very simplistic view,”

— Shahryar Eivazzadeh
(Source: Yahoo! News via Associated Press)

Guess what Shahryar? It is a very simplistic issue. You either support your government or you don’t.

If you do, you are in the same boat as your racist, ridiculous and radical terrorist sponsoring president.

Senator Hillary Clinton: She Knows Best, We Should Trust Her

Senator Hillary Clinton has announced she will introduce legislation aimed at capping troop levels in Iraq at January 1st levels. She apparently knows exactly how to fight a war and what levels of troops will be required to win. Really?

That’s amazing for someone married to a draft dodger who left American troops hanging out to dry in Somalia. She says we need more troops in Afghanistan, so she acknowledges the need to take the fight to terrorists.

She just doesn’t want her constituents to call her all the time complaining about their loved ones dying. That might hurt her political aspirations…