The Fog Of War

The discussion that has arisen surrounding the events of Osama Bin Laden’s death are rather interesting.

The White House released statements to cover the events without anticipating that the initial reports would NOT be accurate or that certain segments of their core political base would NOT be happy with an assassination mission; even against Osama Bin Laden.

I am surprised that a lot of professional commentators don’t understand this.

Had the White House kept details minimal until a complete after action report was prepared, there would not be the rampant speculation now about the contradictions on the details and chain of events.

For example, the Pakistanis are loudly proclaiming that no weapons were found in the Bin Laden compound.

Well, I suspect the Navy Seals took all weapons they found with them, in addition to the other obvious intelligence items (papers, computers, thumb drives, etc.)

The reason for taking weapons is because they are serialized and it is possible to trace them back to origin, providing information on who paid for and provided them to Bin Laden.

If Bin Laden was in possession of weapons purchased or manufactured by the Pakistani government, this would be even more proof of their involvement with him.

To illustrate, when Ronald Reagan first authorized an airstrike on Libya after terror attacks against Americans in Europe, it was the serial numbers on un-exploded grenades that provided a clear link back to the Libyan government.

Whether Bin Laden was taken alive and then shot or shot while attempting to resist is not relevant in my mind.

As far as I am concerned, they got him,  it was a job well done and I can wait for the book to get all the other details.

To All Those Who Believe Bin Laden Isn't Dead,,,,

To all those fools who believe Bin Laden wasn't really killed this week, I feel pity for them having short memories and apparently no faith in any of their fellow countrymen or our government

For me, before September 11th 2001 my Son sold cars for living.

No one I knew had ever been killed when an airplane flew into a building and no kids who grew up in our neighborhood had been awarded the Medal of Honor, posthumously while fighting in a miserable desert hell known as Afghanistan.

Since September 11th 2001 all that has changed.

I seldom agree with President Obama, but on this one his decision was right, the choices he made were good and Osama Bin Laden is shark-food in the Arabian Sea.

Good bye, good riddance, rule 5.56 carries the day and a big Thank You to our special operations forces.

An open letter to Senator John McCain

Dear Senator McCain,

How are you able to securely travel to Libya and meet with the insurgents there?

Does your travel and subsequent meetings mean that American ground forces were available to ensure your safety or does it mean they will soon be deployed in Libya?

In fact, what is the exact purpose or goals of your trip there?

Did President Obama approve of your mission and if so, what does he expect for results from your trip?

In addition to combat air patrols by manned American aircraft, recent news reports indicate that unmanned American drone aircraft will soon be used over Libya.

Are these to be operated and supported by Americans based in Libya, as is done in Afghanistan and Pakistan?

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton announced that the United States would be providing $25 million dollars in aid to the Libyan rebels, but the aid would be limited to non-lethal items.

Does this $25 million amount include these drones or their supporting equipment and / or staff?

Many people, including myself, do not think that another open-ended involvement in an ongoing Muslim civil war helps long term strategic US goals in the Middle East.

Can you please explain clearly why we are there and what finite military goals have been assigned to our fighting forces?

As an American citizen who voted for you in the last Presidential election, I find your travel to Libya to be most troubling and at this point, I have to conclude that had you been elected, your foreign policy would be as incomprehensible as the current resident of 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue.

Sincerely,

Jim K.

The Kids in the Desert

I can pretty much pinpoint it; that is the time when I first knew I was getting old. It wasn’t a birthday or anniversary. No, it was when I realized I was going to be sending my Son off to a shooting war in Afghanistan.

I remember thinking it would have been easier to go myself; in fact, it would have been preferable. But no, I had transitioned from being one of those called on to protect to be one of those who are protected; a sure sign of age catching up.

While my Son is back home, other’s people kids are there now, working hard to protect us and keep the bad guys at bay.

So, while I know they are men and women, not really kids, I can’t help but think of them that way as I think about all of them still over there and in particular the few that I know personally.

Those kids live, work and fight in a climate that is alternately hot and cold. It can also be perpetually dirty with a sand dust that is fine like talcum powder that gets on everything.

When my Son was there, conditions were really primitive as we had just bombed them and hadn’t moved in to rebuild yet. I am told by others now that things are better (facility wise) for our people there.

But it remains a different kind of war, in an ancient desolate country. Due to the miracles of modern data networks and high-speed computers, I sit here and chat real-time with a youngster who I helped spark an interest in computers when I first met him over six years ago, when his Mother brought him to work with her.

His name is David and he tells me he is doing well, but there is a lot of work with 11 hour shifts and little time for sleep or chow. He also tells me I would be proud of him as he is a Network Administrator for his entire Marine Company. He tells me the name of his location and I know it is a dangerous place. He sends me a smile face when I comment about it being “The Wild West.”

My eyes mist up (another sign of age) and I type back, “Yes, I am very proud of you.’

He gives me an “Oorah” and says goodnight as he clicks off.

Yes, I may be getting old and thanks to some very brave kids in the desert, I will get the opportunity to get a little bit older; we all will.

 “Oorah” and may God bless all our fighting forces in harms way.

Libya friends and foes

There is an old axiom “My enemy’s enemy is my friend.”

Since September 11^th 2001, America’s armed forces have been at war with Al Qaeda.

Wherever we find them, we try to kill or capture them.

Except in Libya, where it appears they are going to benefit from our intervention.

Al Qaeda seems to think of this as a benefit, which is not good for long term strategic American interests.

Fasten your seat belts, it is going to be a bumpy ride with Libya.

The O'Reilly Spin

It’s not that I don’t appreciate hearing other opinions and trying to understand the perspective that produces them, but for the life of me I don’t understand Bill O’Reilly’s take on Libya. 

Mr. O’Reilly seems to consider military action against Colonel Gaddafi as an American “moral imperative” consistent with the responsibilities of an ordinary honest citizen who finds himself with the power to stop an individual’s murder and a duty to act so.

Well, it’s a perspective, but it is entirely without merit and irrelevant when it comes to foreign affairs. Even if we leave aside the issues of Congressional approval, command structure and cost, other troubling concerns remain over our current involvement in Libya and its eventual outcome.

Colonel Gaddafi has American blood on his hands from actions he commissioned years ago. Ronald Reagan tried to kill him and almost succeeded; too bad.

But the situation NOW in Libya is not one of a choice between good and bad guys. In fact, it may be a choice only between bad guys.

Rolling Stone magazine reported that "America is now at war to protect a Libyan province that's been an epicenter of anti-American jihad"

These are not people I am willing to sign up to send our young men and women to save and saving them might actually work against our interests in the long term.

So then we go back to Colonel Gaddafi’s bad deeds in the past and the assertion that the world would be better without him.

That makes a lot of sense. I remember the Lockerbie bombing and Colonel Gaddafi should be held accountable.

But here again, what actions are we taking?

We aren’t trying to kill Colonel Gaddafi outright. No, we are enforcing a no-fly zone and apparently a no-drive zone against his army.

Our military intervention came at precisely the moment when Colonel Gaddafi was on the verge of eliminating his opposition.

So now what?

Is stalemate or continued fighting with a massacre of Gaddafi’s people at the end an acceptable outcome?

The logical path we are on now ends with ground troops, occupation and someone hunting Gaddafi down and killing or capturing him, despite what the Obama Administration keeps claiming.

Remember how long it took our people to get Saddam Hussein in Iraq?

Mr. O’Reilly has been rolling out Edmund Burke’s quote to strengthen his logic.

Perhaps Mr. O’Reilly should consider other quotes from history

“Every attempt to make war easy and safe will result in humiliation and disaster” – William Tecumseh Sherman

Amateur hour in Washington DC,,,,

Amateur hour in Washington DC, they don't know who they are helping, they don't have an overall goal AND they don't know who will replace him,,,add to that there was no Congressional approval or review,,,

Check out Jihadwatch's review of an article that appeared in Rolling Stone magazine,,,,

America-is-now-at-war-to-protect-a-libyan-province-thats-been-an-epicenter-of-anti-american-jihad.html

DHS and the sex trade

This is an interesting look at how the DHS is doing something right. Glad to see that the web hosting provider took their role seriously also.

DHS Undercover sting web site gets derailed

Welcome

This is a spot for me to post links and comments to news articles that really torque me up.  I also intend to put other topics here as they catch my eye.