Kurdistan

Why I use a two-point sling

To put it simply: the one-point sling is not versatile enough. It’s really good at a specific role, and that is accommodating a direct action based use of the weapon. It is extremely good in this capacity but because it is such a specialized piece of kit, it lacks the versatility of the two-point. I […]

Meditations on life and death through combat

“Always grip your sword with the thought of killing.” “To win any battle, you must fight as if you are already dead.”  – Miyamoto Musashi   All training for lethal combat regardless of form should be routed in death. That is not to say that escalation of force and rules of engagement do not apply […]

Respect your enemy, hate the condition, love the act

“Fear leads to anger, anger leads to hate, and hate leads to suffering…” – Master Yoda One thing I absolutely despise is the use of dehumanization towards an enemy. Dehumanizing an enemy has never helped men be any better at fighting or killing them. If anything it has made men worse at the task. It […]

Turkish forces experience deadliest day since beginning Operation Olive Branch

During the deadliest day of the Turkish military’s Operation Olive Branch, Turkey has lost eleven soldiers to the Kurdish YPG’s combat prowess this past Saturday. The operation began last month in an effort to capture the territories of Afrin and Manbij from Kurdish occupation but has yielded little results other than mounting casualties on both […]

How to transition from a rifle to a pistol like a pro

Transitioning from a rifle or other primary weapon to a side arm can be a tricky process. The technique required is heavily dependent on the gear you use, different sling setups accommodate certain techniques better than others. A weapon transition should be simple and efficient above all else but when you transition is subjective to […]

Corruption in Kurdistan: illegal check points extort money from drivers

As the financial crises in Kurdistan continues, corruption is still a big problem that plagues the political climate. It has come to light, under the claim of Kurdish Prime Ministers, that recently five illegal checkpoints were set-up by political party affiliated officials to collect money for personal gain. The Kurdish regional government’s parliamentary finance committee […]

Iran pleads with Turkey to cease military ops

 As Turkey continues to advance on the autonomous Kurdish region of Rojava (northern Syria), opposition is coming from an unlikely voice in the middle east. Iranian President Hassan Rouhani has taken a strong stance of opposition to what he views as a violation of sovereignty by Turkish military forces. Iran, who views the Turkish and […]

Kurdish fighters kill 2 Turkish soldiers over the weekend

Two more Turkish soldiers were killed over the past weekend during combat operations in Afrin, a Kurdish control city/region in northern Syria. A total of 16 Turkish soldiers have been killed since the start of Operation Olive Branch according to Turkish authorities. The two soldiers recently killed were hit by mortar fire from the Kurdish […]

Secretary of Defense Mattis remains diplomatic over Turkey’s assault on Afrin.

When Secretary of Defense James Mattis was questioned about Turkey‘s offensive against the Syrian Kurdish controlled region of Afrin, he responded with, “When rockets come over a border, or insurgents come over a border — and not just in — in this Syria complex situation, but also out of northern Iraq and all — then […]

Iraq inexplicably sends $210 million to KRG regional bank

A large sum of $210 million dollars has been deposited into the KRG’s (Kurdish regional government) Erbil branch of the Central Bank of Iraq, the deposit was made by the central Iraqi government and the KRG was not notified of the fund’s purpose. The Kurdish Prime Minister‘s Chief of Staff, Safeen Dizayee, said that the […]

Two Seattle men charged after attempting to smuggle guns into Turkey

Two local residents of Seattle, Washington are facing weapons trafficking charges after authorities intercepted them attempting to smuggle guns into Turkey. According to reports, the men were going to smuggle the guns over the Turkish border and into the hands of Kurdish fighters in Iraq. Paul Brunt (51) and Rawnd Khaleel Aldalawi (29 and an […]

1st and 2nd Peshmerga Brigades re-unify for first time after Kirkuk fallout

A lot of stuff has transpired in Iraqi Kurdistan over the last few months and the turn over of Kirkuk to Iraqi forces has left the Peshmerga in disarray. Finally, two of the Peshmerga’s infantry brigades have officially been reunited as they were separated over 100 days ago when the offensive for Kirkuk began. 1st […]