Though it sounds like the plot of a movie the reality is that select Army engineer, Special Forces, Navy SEALs and select Marines were once trained to employ backpack nukes. The scientists of Los Almos Scientific Laboratory created the W54 atomic warhead in the late ‘50s. It was one of the smallest nuclear warheads ever fielded at under 11" diameter (270 mm), about 16" long … [Read more...] about SOF Backpack Nukes
It’s been a little over a year since Fallujah and Ramadi fell to ISIS and almost seven months since US troops returned to Iraq. Back in September I wrote a series describing how we got where we’re at and how things would continue to deteriorate as we send more troops to push the problem past Inauguration Day 2017. Sadly, my predictions continue to be accurate. The latest … [Read more...] about Iranians using M1 Abrams Tanks and More Bad News…
13 years ago, madmen killed thousands of innocents. It changed our way of life in many ways and was the spark that ignited an ongoing struggle with Islamic radicals. It deserves some meditation. I learned about 9-11 sitting in a hospital waiting room for a physical therapy session (the result of an old parachute jump injury). I walked in and sat watching a TV showing the … [Read more...] about Remembering 9-11 2001
As the world dissects the downing of Malaysia Airlines Flight 17, we need to prepare for what’s next. What’s the potential regional and international impact over the downing of Flight 17? Utilizing an approach taught me while in uniform, I'll outline what I believe are the "most dangerous" and "most likely" courses of action. Most Dangerous: Russia Invades The most dangerous … [Read more...] about Malaysia Airliner Shot Down: What Next?
The Ukrainian interior ministry claims the Malaysia Airlines plane carrying 295 people was shot down today (17 July) by a Buk surface-to-air missile (SAM). The Ukrainian government is blaming the shoot down on separatist rebels equipped with advanced weapons by Russia. Rebels deny the claim. Body parts are reported spread over a large area, suggesting that the aircraft came … [Read more...] about Malaysia Airlines Plane Shot Down Over Ukraine
According to the Washington Times, US SOF (Special Operations Forces) allegedly had the location of SGT Bowe Bergdahl, and even knew how many guards were present several times over the years but supposedly SOF commanders felt their troops were too valuable to “lose” for a deserter. This is according to high level intelligence officials. It is highly unlikely we’d send any SOF … [Read more...] about SOF Too Valuable to Risk Rescuing Deserter Bergdahl?
The reason Bowe Bergdahl's recovery has become such a controversy is because of a climate of distrust the Obama administration has cultivated in light of a multitude of previous scandals, the clear effort to portray the Bergdahl story as a success when it is clearly not, and the US Military's desperation to avoid embarrassment. The betrayal of multiple principles further stokes … [Read more...] about Bowe Bergdahl Breakdown
For those who have been following the events in Ukraine, the reasons for Russia's intervention are pretty clear, but they also point to what is likely to occur in the future. Russia has always seen Ukraine as part of Russia. Henry Kissinger wrote an op-ed for the Washington Post: "Russian history began in what was called Kievan-Rus. The Russian religion spread from there. … [Read more...] about Ukraine: What Next?
A scandal is brewing at the Air Force Academy. Racked by some huge sexual assault and drug incidents, the Air Force Academy allowed the Office of Special Investigations (OSI), an Air Force undercover law enforcement unit (similar to but not the equivalent of the Army’s CID or Navy’s NCIS) to develop informants among the cadets. Four have been identified but there could be … [Read more...] about Air Force Academy Informants & Integrity
Since the fall of The Wall, the Russian military has seen better days. It went from a force of four million men and $400+ billion budget, to 1.5 million active and a $90 billion budget today, but Russia has consciously invested in raising the quality of its forces over the last decade. This year has demonstrated some of the most extensive exercises since the Cold War, … [Read more...] about Russia/NATO Exercises: Blast from the Past?
Today there was an addition to the illustrious roll of Medal of Honor awardees. It took way too long to put him on there. Before I delve into the politics of CPT Swenson’s Medal of Honor, I want to honor his incredible acts. CPT Swenson was on an embedded training team advising Afghan Border Police on 8 Sep 2008, when his 65-man unit, which included Afghan Border Police … [Read more...] about CPT Swenson Awarded MOH
If you read my previous post on The Case for Intervention in Syria, you have the commonly-ignored information necessary to understand the Syrian situation. What follows are the three reasons that it's in our national interest to intervene in Syria, and the way forward in that country Deter Chemical Warfare Use Deterring chem use is both of long and short term national … [Read more...] about The Case for Intervention in Syria: Three Reasons Why We Should Intervene
