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Home » Op-Ed » Syria and Chemical Weapons

Syria and Chemical Weapons

by Isaiah Burkhart · March 20, 2013 · Posted In: Op-Ed
Syria and Chemical Weapons
There have been reports from multiple news agencies that chemical weapons have been used during the fighting in Syria. The allegations are coming from both sides–al Assad’s regime and the rebel forces. As of now there has been no confirmation that chemical weapons were actually used during the morning of the March 19th attack.

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  • The United States’ Slippery Slope to Syria

According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, medical sources have confirmed the death of 26 people by a rocket falling on the town of Khan al-Asal, 16 of the dead were regular soldiers, 10 were civilians.

Link to Reuters article

Claims state that there was chemical munitions within the rocket that was launched and that there was a strong chlorine smell coming from the impact area. Considering that the majority of deaths caused by the rocket attack were part of the Syrian regime, it is likely the attack came from rebel forces. With al-Qaeda’s presence via al-Nusra at the forefront of the fighting it is likely they were/are the source of the chemical weapons. If al-Nusra is the source of the attack they will surely be staking claim within the next couple of days.

This event could also be the start of a desperate attempt by al-Assad to stop the overthrow of his regime. If al-Assad did unleash what analysts believe are the largest chemical weapons stores in the world, consisting principally of sarin, mustard gas and cyanide, it could be the start of something bigger than we have seen in the last 7o years.

Washington is in an uproar and there are talks of a necessary intervention if there is truth at the center of the attack. It is well known that Syria has multiple chemical weapons manufacturing and storage facilities across the western side of the country. If an aerial strike were initiated on these chemical weapons sites, the risk of contamination would be too great a moral burden on the U.S.

Another concern is that if al-Nusra has access to chemical weapons in Syria, then it is reasonable to assume that al-Qaeda has access to chemical weapons to use when and where they please. What does this mean for the United States? Well, the DHS pucker factor just went from making coal to diamonds. If it is confirmed that chemical weapons were used during the rocket attack it will put the international community on edge and they will surely call for intervention by the U.S.

It appears as though the action of sending SOF into Syria to take hold and destroy the remaining chemical weapons may be on the National Security Counsels radar. The chemical weapons that remain in Syria do need to be destroyed, but there must be another solution to keep al-Nusra and al-Qaeda’s away from the possibility of producing an MCI on U.S. soil.

Do I have the solution? I wish that I did. It would be nice–for a change–if our least favorite Feinstein and the rest of the anti-gun fanatics would focus on a real problem. Maybe they can stop squabbling over their pay raises and come up with a solution that doesn’t involve the death of more U.S. soldiers.

There is nothing they can do now that will prevent the 70,000 dead and over 1 million displaced, but maybe while they are discussing chemical weapons, they can come up with another solution to Syria, other than arming the rebels… cough, cough…al-Nusra.

(Featured Image Courtesy: thelevantpost.com)

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About The Author

Isaiah Burkhart

I served in 3rd Battalion 75th Ranger Regiment from 2003-2008. Almost four years of the time spent in 3/75 was spent in the sniper section. I am a graduate of US Army Airborne School, US Army Ranger School, US Army Sniper School, Special Forces Sniper Course, and the US Marine Corps Summer Mountain Scout Sniper Course. I have competed in the US Army International Sniper Competition as well as the US Army Small Arms Championships on three separate occasions. I currently live in Corvallis, Oregon and hold a Bachelors of Science in Biology from Oregon State University.

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    The United States’ Slippery Slope to Syria

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Jokuvaan
Jokuvaan 5pts

I bet that the russians will try to prevent terrorists from getting their hands on chemical weapons.

JHR
JHR 5pts like.author.displayName 1 Like

@ArcticWarrior No Time to find our post. Here is a recent link to Turkey, that I mentioned. (posted yesterday)

http://www.middle-east-online.com/english/?id=57735

AUNITEDPEOPLE
AUNITEDPEOPLE 5pts like.author.displayName 1 Like

@JHR @ArcticWarrior  And so it continues... Not really clandestine if the NYT is reporting it. Good job guys!

JHR
JHR 5pts like.author.displayName 1 Like

@AUNITEDPEOPLE @JHR @ArcticWarrior Well, it was a good run for a while....

JHR
JHR 5pts like.author.displayName 1 Like

@Txazz Tried to reply to you about publicizing the videos below, but livefyre wasn't cooperating, so I'll post it here.....

Txazz, the beheading videos are a dime a dozen on various al-jazeer and other networks. One problem with U.S. and other countries going MSM with those snuff videos- "is THAT is EXACTLY what AQ and other terrorists want". They want national coverage, they want the attention and they use these videos to recruit. We would be aiding and abetting if we televised these regularly.

Txazz
Txazz 5pts

%s%sAppreciate your comments, J, and you are so right.  We expect to see them here at REP from time to time but, I don't send them to anyone.  I realize who knows what here at REP and listen and learn.

Retired U.S. Army Maj. Gen. Paul Vallely says he has confirmation . . .

Read more at %s


Txazz
Txazz 5pts

isn't that strange as it looked normal right after I posted earlier - looks like I'm cussin'  LOL LOL

Retired U.S. Army Maj. Gen. Paul Vallely says he has confirmation 

http://www.wnd.com/2013/03/guess-where-syrias-chemical-weapons-originate/

AUNITEDPEOPLE
AUNITEDPEOPLE 5pts like.author.displayName 1 Like

Today from Foreign Policy (03-21-13):

"Leaders of the Free Syrian Army (FSA) and their advocates in Washington claim to have identified the chemical agent used in what they say were two Scud-like missile attacks launched by the Syrian regime against civilians on March 19. The Syrian Support Group (SSG), the only American organization licensed by the U.S. government to send money directly to the FSA, issued a press release Wednesday claiming the gas that killed civilians in separate events near Damascus and Aleppo was Echothiophate, a chemical agent simulant(sic) found in insecticides.

Echothiophate is not technically a chemical weapon but causes similar effects in victims, including muscle, nerve, and respiratory damage resulting in death if not treated quickly."

Sounds like dancing around the issue to me...

Old PH2
Old PH2 5pts like.author.displayName like.author.displayName 2 Like

@AUNITEDPEOPLECNN has a report saying "no dice":

http://security.blogs.cnn.com/2013/03/21/preliminary-results-show-chemical-weapons-not-used-in-syria/

We have methods to verify the presence of Chemical agents without putting boots on the ground:

http://www.sri.com/research-development/remote-sensing


AUNITEDPEOPLE
AUNITEDPEOPLE 5pts like.author.displayName like.author.displayName 2 Like

@Old PH2 Well, not disputing that really, especially since the supposed agent used is not covered under the chemical weapons ban. Just reporting what I'm seeing, not drinking the kool-aid. 

Good to know that we have the means though, that's good intell, thanks!

It's a hard call as to what may happen if the 'rebels' get hold of the weapons, not that they have delivery systems, but if they do prevail, then they will have all of it. Hellish days we are in!

AUNITEDPEOPLE
AUNITEDPEOPLE 5pts like.author.displayName 1 Like

@Old PH2 Oh agreed, I trust your insight into this as I have no practical knowledge, just saying that if it was a low level toxin it could still be effective and harder to detect.

So what exactly was in that factory? ;-)

Old PH2
Old PH2 5pts like.author.displayName like.author.displayName like.author.displayName 3 Like

@AUNITEDPEOPLE @Old PH2  Years ago when we blew up one of Uncle Mo's baby formula factories I was privy to some of the report that was gathered by an overflight, if we could do it then.....

JHR
JHR 5pts like.author.displayName like.author.displayName like.author.displayName like.author.displayName 4 Like

@Motojunky27 Hi Moto:True, The U.S. has planted seeds of dissention in Countries with some pretty nasty dictators. However, the U.S. is not the force behind the destabilization of the middle east. The ME has done that part on their own. If we look at the original footprints prior to, during and after conflicts that cause instability in a Countries government-those footprints are made by terrorists. Some call the movement "The Jihad" and it will last 30 years and effect as many countries as possible (Jihadi agenda).We have chaos in nearly 60 Countries right now. Not all of the chaos is in the middle east. This is a global fight and a global situation. However, some argue that the Jihad will stop against America "If America drops support of Israel and a few other criteria". Since we have a foreign and domestic policy of a stern "no negotiating with terrorists"; this will not happen. Also, the U.S. would PREFER stability in the ME. That has been its primary goal all along. However, global terrorists have intervened and thwarted (very well I might ad) the negotiations theU.S. has led or has been a part of. Just my opinion.

ArcticWarrior
ArcticWarrior 5pts like.author.displayName like.author.displayName 2 Like

@JHR @Motojunky27

J this is how the

FSA Al Qaeda 'Jabhit Al Nasra'  roll. Take from it what you will. Its graphic and the Cartels do it faster and cleaner....http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=sajZmgNiU3w

JHR
JHR 5pts

@ArcticWarrior Tonights the night. I get to walk through the door first. Lets see what these Boyz are up to. Hafe a safe one.

JHR
JHR 5pts like.author.displayName 1 Like

@ArcticWarrior @JHR @Motojunky27 Only One Star on the Scull. I know they want many,many more (skull in the beginning of the vid). Yes, MX has a cleaner skill with the use of the machete or sometimes a samuuri like instrument.

Txazz
Txazz 5pts like.author.displayName like.author.displayName 2 Like

@ArcticWarrior @JHR @Motojunky27 Heads Up: this one is REALLY graphic - just sayin' if head cheese bothers you . . . .

Motojunky27
Motojunky27 5pts like.author.displayName 1 Like

@Txazz @ArcticWarrior @JHR @Motojunky27 yea, had an idea about where that one was going with the mention of cartels... a first for me (never went out of my way to look for this stuff) but it's the world we live in, and it doesn't pay to keep your head in the sand...

Txazz
Txazz 5pts like.author.displayName 1 Like

@ArcticWarrior @Txazz @JHR @Motojunky27Wouldn't hurt for the general public to view this type vid.  AQ is just 'word' to them without much meaning - even after 9/11.  Most Americans need to get their heads out of the sand.  Maybe just maybe they might change their thinking about our military as well as our LE on the borders.  At least they might consider who we are fighing in far and distant lands. 

JHR
JHR 5pts like.author.displayName 1 Like

@ArcticWarrior @Txazz @JHR @Motojunky27 Imagine standing still and watching these, up close and personal. This is war.

ArcticWarrior
ArcticWarrior 5pts like.author.displayName 1 Like

@Txazz @ArcticWarrior @JHR @Motojunky27 I 've seen so many beheading photos and vids  I guess Im numb to it, headcheese goes in the mouth - totally different experience

JHR
JHR 5pts like.author.displayName 1 Like

@Old PH2 Tried replying to your post to me below, will not work....

Hey PH, I totally responded to this and it went into cyberqueertron space (thats AF language BTW for it went to space). OK, I know what he has is classified, but I am guessing he has what I call

CBB&N's=Choking,Blood,Blistering & Nerve agents. You can mix, depending on your level of expertise. I won't go further on that one for obvious reasons. I think this guy(s) going for broke. He is going to use it all. From weak to strong and may use many different methods of dispersing. AW brought up previous attack tactics and schedules. They have been practicing. My guess is weather is good for their methodologies now. I am having trouble deciphering where AQ is at in this conflict right now. My guess, they will scarafice some and the lead commanders will pull back. They will be needed after the C Day.

Old PH2
Old PH2 5pts like.author.displayName like.author.displayName like.author.displayName like.author.displayName like.author.displayName 5 Like

@JHR@Old PH2 For those who may want more info:

From FM 8-10-7 Chptr 2 Chemical weapons:

http://www.globalsecurity.org/wmd/library/policy/army/fm/8-10-7/Ch2.htm#tab2_10

http://www.globalsecurity.org/wmd/library/policy/army/fm/8-10-7/Ch2.htm

Chemical Weapons delivery systems:

http://www.globalsecurity.org/wmd/intro/cw-deliver.htm

Hazard areas after possible Weapons use:

http://www.globalsecurity.org/wmd/library/policy/army/fm/3-7/Ch2.htm

Basic Chemical Weapons info for the Soldier, including DeCON info:

http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/library/policy/army/fm/21-75/Ch5.htm

JHR
JHR 5pts like.author.displayName 1 Like

@Old PH2 @JHR Thank YOU!!!! Am systematically reading!

Motojunky27
Motojunky27 5pts like.author.displayName like.author.displayName like.author.displayName like.author.displayName like.author.displayName 5 Like

I am honestly having trouble deducing the long term goals of our current foreign "policy".  It seems that the current administration's goal is to destabilize the Middle East.  Ok, theoretically, I get it.  The more unstable the area, the less likely nations in said area will have the ability to oppose US interests.  The destabilization of Syria leaves Iran all alone with no allies to turn to to withstand pressure from the West.  But in reality?  All we have seen from these destabilization efforts (Egypt, Lybia, now Syria) is the destruction of stable, secular countries who we have at one point or another supported (even potentially called "friend").  

What does this really gain us?  Other countries look to our ousting of Mubarak as a betrayal, thus decreasing the likelihood of willful cooperation with the US in the future; and in the wake of their destruction, conservative and radical movements take hold.  And to the best of my recollection nation states have not been the target of the "GWOT".  With our current interventionism all we are doing is empowering those who have been a thorn in US national interests/security for the past decade. We engender more hatred through our intervention and perceived double standards.  And now we are actively supporting the opposition who will only take our support as long as it fits their needs and objectives, leaving us with another OBL type situation to deal with down the road.

I honestly can't pinpoint the purpose of our actions for long term success.  Than again, politicians rarely seem to think in the long term so maybe my assumptions that someone else is thinking that was are naive.  And don't get me wrong, I and not an isolationist by any means, but this constant interventionism and (perceived?) hypocrisy is causing blow back, and it seems like with current foreign policy we are only repeating our mistakes.  If we are going to have such an interventionist policy, we should at least be overt about our short and long term policy objects.  And if we are going to try to influence policy in a covert manner, our actions should be clandestine, not these hush-hush open secrets that earn us the label of meddlesome big brother and/or hypocritical a**hole (thus creating more blow back in the future).

I would love to hear all of your opinions on the matter.  And please don't take this as some unpatriotic rant.  It just seems to me that US destabilization efforts are doing the exact opposite; creating a region of the world united in its radicalism and creating an even more dangerous enemy of the future to contend with.  And a Middle East vs. West scenario sounds much more dangerous and threatening than a few errant nation states that disagree with current US globalism/policy.

We have a big stick, but we no longer walk quietly; and a carrot is much more conducive to long term peaceful & bountiful relations than the stick.

____________

I hope that doesn't put me on the no fly list or ruin my chances for a security clearance, haha

-M

KineticFury
KineticFury 5pts

@Motojunky27  I feel 'ya! It's like family road trips. We can all agree on what we don't want to eat. But can't agree on anything. So we end up going to Golden Corral Buffet (that has everying, yet tastes like crap). And everybody ends up regretting the whole ordeal.

Remember with our oh-so-wonderful system of checks and balances and elections, there are lots of 'conflicts of interests' within our own government. As we all know supporting one uprising in say, the Nile Delta temporarily makes the CIC look like white hat version of Che Guevara. 

And yes, the "Golden Corral" crisis is from personal exp.


Motojunky27
Motojunky27 5pts

@KineticFury @Motojunky27

Golden Corral?

*shudders*

... a dire crisis indeed...

ArcticWarrior
ArcticWarrior 5pts like.author.displayName like.author.displayName like.author.displayName like.author.displayName 4 Like

Just posting here gets you on the list...............You bring up a lot of valid questions and points.

I dont think its straigh interventionist in the 20th century version but the enemy is part of a transnational global network across many borders in many regions of the world from Saharan Africa to the ME to Central Asia and the Phillipines, OEF/WOT is complicated....like headcheese

Head cheese is not actually cheese, but a jellied meat dish made from the head of a pig or calf. Occasionally, a sheep’s or cow’s head may be used. Head cheese typically takes the form of a large sausage and is served sliced as a cold cut. Alternatively, it may be made in a mold or pan and served as a terrine. It is usually eaten slightly chilled or at room temperature, to prevent the gelatine from melting.

To prepare head cheese, the cook must procure the head of a freshly slaughtered pig or calf. The head must be carefully washed and scraped clean. If the head is a pig’s, the bristles are shaved or plucked. If another animal, such as a calf or cow, the head is skinned. The head is split or quartered and the eyes are removed and usually discarded. The ears are removed and the ear canals cleaned of wax.

ArcticWarrior
ArcticWarrior 5pts

To make head cheese, the split or quartered head is then simmered in a large stockpot until the meat is so tender that it falls off the bone. The skull is removed from the cooking liquid and allowed to cool enough so that it can be handled. The meat is then picked off the skull and chopped.

ArcticWarrior
ArcticWarrior 5pts like.author.displayName 1 Like

@Motojunky27 @ArcticWarrior  You already have a good grasp of our lack of consistant foreign policy. You brought up a lot of valid and intelligent points that few politicians could or would answer.

As for OEF-P and JSOTF-P this paper while a few years old gives good insight. Follow all the way through the notes.

http://www.army.mil/professionalWriting/volumes/volume5/january_2007/1_07_1.html

As @majrod would say there is a lesson here

Old PH2
Old PH2 5pts like.author.displayName 1 Like

@ArcticWarrior@Old PH2 In my part of Ohio we have a large Mennonite, Amish and German Baptist population, head cheese, pickled pigs feet, sauerkraut, it's all good!  Love them Mennonite girls, wild just don't do them justice, just sayin'....

http://media.npr.org/books/images/2006/rumspringa200-d4edb2697bb547c7c12c73e2a7058289ce374ac9-s6-c10.jpg

ArcticWarrior
ArcticWarrior 5pts like.author.displayName like.author.displayName 2 Like

@Old PH2 @ArcticWarrior Lol...no way, I would rather eat either one of those old school mre pork patties or better yet the moss off of the north side of a tree then that stuff. Its not cheese of any kind, I was duped by the naming and packaging. Mislead by the marketing, cheese it isnt......

Old PH2
Old PH2 5pts like.author.displayName like.author.displayName 2 Like

@ArcticWarrior  It's quite good on crackers, just sayin'....

Motojunky27
Motojunky27 5pts

@ArcticWarrior I hope that's a rhetorical question, because in all honesty I couldn't say.  I try to keep up on at least all the broad strokes of our foreign policy decisions, but I know very little about OEF-P and the going-ons of that area (besides the occasional posts on SOFREP of course).

But I would gladly hear your opinion to become more enlightened on the matter.

ArcticWarrior
ArcticWarrior 5pts like.author.displayName 1 Like

Like transnational global networks and headcheese, all is not what it is branded to appear as.

Are we doing a better job in OEF-P ? As opposed to the WOT elsewhere?

Motojunky27
Motojunky27 5pts like.author.displayName like.author.displayName like.author.displayName 3 Like

@ArcticWarrior I have to say, though I am in awe of such a descriptive analogy, I have become somewhat lost on the relation between transnational global networks and... headcheese.  I'm also now feeling somewhat nauseous as well...

TyrdFurgesen
TyrdFurgesen 5pts like.author.displayName 1 Like

I'm just a super low speed high drag casual reader, but I have to agree with Sean's earlier BDA. I see no signs of a detonation or blast pattern of any kind. My questions for the group are; Aren't most chemical warheads designed to be altitude sensitive and detonate a given distance above the ground for maximum dispersal of the agent? If so, how would that change the look of the impact site? Are most military grade agents  more persistent? Could all of those people enter the area so quickly without showing symptoms as well? Thanks in advance for any responses, I find the conversations interesting.

JHR
JHR 5pts like.author.displayName like.author.displayName like.author.displayName 3 Like

@TyrdFurgesen Hi Tyrd: NO to your question. The explosion could have been secondary or a diversion to a chem attack. Chemical Weapons do not need an explosion form to disperse.

ArcticWarrior
ArcticWarrior 5pts like.author.displayName 1 Like

@TyrdFurgesen Chlorine has a less then 5 minute persistence

ArcticWarrior
ArcticWarrior 5pts like.author.displayName like.author.displayName like.author.displayName 3 Like

For those who have the time and like to read this stuff....

http://www.understandingwar.org/sites/default/files/TheAssadRegime-web.pdf

isaiahzb
isaiahzb 5pts like.author.displayName 1 Like

@ArcticWarrior Great find. Thanks for posting.

KineticFury
KineticFury 5pts like.author.displayName like.author.displayName 2 Like

@ArcticWarrior Eureka! You have found it! Muchas gracias, Arctic.

From page 19:

Whether criminal-sectarian gangs or neighborhood
militias, a broad segment of the Syrian population will
continue to stand with Assad against the opposition. The
shabiha militias appear to be motivated as much by their
fear of the opposition as their loyalty to the Assad family.
Abu Jaafar explained that he took up arms “to fight those
Wahhabi radicals who will force my wife and daughters
to wear the veil and will close all the wine shops.”75 The
Popular Committees are just as likely to remain militarized
because of collective fear of reprisals. “I am sure there will
be massacres [of Alawites],” explained one Alawite man
interviewed in Latakia, “The regime made us enemies
over the past two years.”76 Both types of militias are thus
likely to continue resisting the ascendant majority-Sunni
opposition whether or not Assad remains in power.

--------------


This is what I think most American's don't understand. In our 'statist' culture we put country first (for the most part.) This is almost purely European in origin and practice. It began in Europe when 'professional' standing armies came out, thereby securing the necessities for organized statehood/national sovereignty (read "The Fighting Man" - Jack Coggins) I believe this worldview really began to happen to us sometime during WW1 to WW2. 1861 it was still "state first, country second." 

That and the fact we're the worlds melting pot. But these ethnic, tribal, & religious divisions go back centuries (and western intervention & decree, along with 'tribal pets' haven't helped).

 Beginning of 20th century: http://www.the-map-as-history.com/demos/tome02/index.php

 http://islamandthegreatwar.umwblogs.org/maps-ii/

Pre-WW1 map of the ME: http://unimaps.com/mideast1914/index.html & http://www.timemaps.com/history/middle-east-1914ad

Post WW1 map  http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=3860950

1960 map:  http://www.timemaps.com/history/middle-east-1914ad

Also: http://people.virginia.edu/~jrw3k/middle_east_timeline/middle_east_timeline.htm

_______________

The British needed to keep the Red Sea/passage to India open, but then when they switched from coal to oil in 1911 (finally decided by none other than the 1st Lord of the Admiralty; Winston Churchill) along with the recent discoveries of oil in the ME, Britain began to change the map forever. Then whatever group who got put in power was able to keep it and punish all the other unlucky ones. After WW2, the US stepped in. Thus began much of the bitterness against Uncle Sam.





ArcticWarrior
ArcticWarrior 5pts like.author.displayName 1 Like

@KineticFury @ArcticWarrior The pre and post war maps say a lot.....

KineticFury
KineticFury 5pts like.author.displayName 1 Like

@ArcticWarriorOT, but 4 those interested, I present W. Churchill:

"To commit irrevocably to oil was indeed 'to take arms against a sea of troubles,'"

However, the benefits of speed and efficiency were deemed worth the trade-off. The Welsh had & and still does have enough coal to last centuries, but:

"Mastery itself was the prize of the venture."

Read "The Prize: The Epic Quest for Oil, Money and Power" Daniel Yergin

http://www.amazon.com/The-Prize-Quest-Money-Power/dp/1439110123/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1363838753&sr=8-1&keywords=the+prize+daniel+yergin


Old PH2
Old PH2 5pts

@JHR @ArcticWarrior @KineticFury  Getting tough to find primers, I've got enough IMR, Hogdon, and Accurate.  I'm good on brass.  But I was set before December,so I don't know about now.

JHR
JHR 5pts

@ArcticWarrior @KineticFury Thor and some of the other guys I know are making there own ammo. Is anyone else doing this?

JHR
JHR 5pts like.author.displayName 1 Like

@ArcticWarrior @KineticFury One of my fav's. I was listening to this song as I screamed across AZ at 2 am the other morning, escorted by those in hog heavan. Awesome tunes......

KineticFury
KineticFury 5pts like.author.displayName 1 Like

@ArcticWarrior @KineticFury Did the coyotes 'round here tell you that?

ArcticWarrior
ArcticWarrior 5pts like.author.displayName like.author.displayName 2 Like

@KineticFury @ArcticWarrior 30.06 is everywhere you are right. Even 300 WinMag is getting sparse.

KineticFury
KineticFury 5pts like.author.displayName like.author.displayName 2 Like

@ArcticWarrior @KineticFury Shoulda stuck w/ .30-.06 bud


ArcticWarrior
ArcticWarrior 5pts like.author.displayName like.author.displayName like.author.displayName like.author.displayName 4 Like

@KineticFury All my stripper money is going towards research books from you guys and gals...    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rc6VANCNMjo

I was going to say ammo money but there isnt any 308 or 556

KineticFury
KineticFury 5pts like.author.displayName 1 Like

@ArcticWarrior crap. sorry for the graffiti folks.

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    • In the IDF, 'Lonely Soldier' is a term that describes soldiers serving on active duty who have no family is Israel. These are volunteers that came to serve for 3-5 years. They typically go back to their respective countries upon completion. Most commonly, these are people who immigrated to Israel by themselves. I was one of them. While in Israel, I lived in an apartment building where the majority of people were lonely soldiers. It was located on the outer ring of Jerusalem, surrounded by four Arab villages. My roommates were two recon guys (like me) and one who worked in field intel. All of the other inhabitants were soldiers from various units, with most of them serving a combat role. It was a well known thing, especially to the Arabs in the village. Most of the time we wouldn't be there, but when we were on leave, we would come to the apartment for a little R&R. It was rare that the four of us were there at the same time, but once in a blue moon, it did happen. Each village had, as is customary, its own mosque. When the time for prayer came, the loudspeakers would call out to the faithful. It was OK, we were used to it. However, over the weekend they would make it a point to play the call to prayer very, and I mean VERY, loud. They knew soldiers would be in the building trying to get some sleep - recovering from several weeks in the field. This always annoyed me but there was nothing I could do. On this particular weekend, after an intense seven weeks of non-stop ops, all I wanted was to go to the apartment, sleep, eat, sleep some more and then sleep again. That weekend the four of us were at the apartment and we were all equally tired. We arrived Thursday night and after a small dinner and some beers, we went to sleep. At 0400 we all jumped.... The freaking loudspeakers at all four mosques began their call to prayer at full blast. Fuck.... We spent the remainder of the day trying to rest and every time we would fall asleep, again... The call for prayers, full blast! Over lunch, we all looked at each other and knew this had to stop. We came up with a plan. I know it wasn't nice, but at that point we couldn't care less about political correctness. Here's what we did. After some recon that night, we noticed that the call to prayer wasn't performed by an Imam or some other person with a microphone. It was a tape recorder that used a tape. We figured the four of us, experts in stealthy infils, could sneak in and steal those tapes. However, while we were planning the different infil routes for each village, we all smiled and did something better. We recorded Metallica's 'For Whom the Bell Tolls' on repeat on all four tapes and then waited till midnight. At midnight, each one of us - armed with a Metallica tape - headed to a different village. All dressed in black, we were careful not to be seen. We entered into the buildings and exchanged the tapes. We rallied back to the exfil point, a crossroad not far from the last village and headed back to our apartment. And then we waited... At 0350 we went to the roof with some coffee, opened some field chairs and waited for the show to begin. At 0400 sharp the first "call" came alive, full volume: Make his fight On the hill in the early day Constant chill deep inside ... Take a look To the sky Just before you die It's the last time he will Followed by the next, then the 3rd and 4th joined in. Full volume Metallica! Soon after, we heard sirens headed to the villages. I don't know what happened after that, but we had our own private concert, right there. No kidding, there I was... Metallica call to prayer

      No Kidding There I Was… Metallica Call to Prayer

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