Followers

Friday, August 28, 2009

Need to know

I am going to discuss this with some close friends and thought it was important enough to post.

The war has yet to begin. The issues at the root cause of the terrorist (irregular) warfare of today are so large and commonly backed by such large populations that a large-scale war is inevitable. Issues that are as critical and important as slavery and loyalty to state over Federal government (Islam AS a government) are so numerous that it can only be a matter of time. What is missing on our side is the all-important fact of knowing who our enemy is.

One problem we face is our news source. The news media has strengths and weakness like any other human endeavor.

Media strengths:

I) political issues, news and analysis (World-class)
II) Warfare facts(Our side more accurate than information on enemy)

Media weakness: warfare analysis (4th grade level understanding of basic concepts)

Five helicopters shot down yesterday. (Yes) This is seen as a setback or defeat. (No)

A single battle or campaign usually is not enough to decide a war. Even though the war in Iraq is not over, why did surge work?

Best surface on planet Earth for mechanized forces are: (In order)
1) Water
2) Desert
3) Open land, Great plains of North America – Steppes of Russia and Ukraine. Only natural obstacles are rivers.

Worst (In order)
1) Mountains
2) Swamps
3) Cities and forests

The war in Iraq moved into the cities because our enemy was wiped out in the open desert. We could then isolate each battlefield. We isolated each town and/or city neighborhood. Munitions and supplies are heavy. Our enemy could not supply and reinforce. Once we took it, we had enough force to occupy properly.

The United States is now on the strategic defensive. Our front-line troops are now the police. Our soldiers will now be expected to act the part. (Except Afghanistan until we can withdraw and even then restraint will be exercised far more than in a more strategic offensive posture) We will prosecute enemy ‘detainees’ with legal process similar if not exactly like within civilian courts. The result cannot be anything else but the war coming to us.

Think I am kidding? A few years ago, I told some close friends that we were winning the war and they laughed. I might be wrong about many things, but this is my area of expertise. In 1970 or 1971 I read in the Chicago Tribune that the U.S. could not win in Vietnam because the VC and NVA controlled the countryside. Was not Iraq the opposite in this case? Yet we could still not win? (Actually, the original plan and execution in Vietnam WAS working until it was changed in 1961) I was 12 or 13 years old at the time I read that article. I have been studying this subject a long time.

THE OBJECTIVE OF THIS WORK:

Be prepared. Have an emergency kit. Canned food, water, first aid and medical supplies. A plan if the EMP (Electro Magnetic Pulse) disables all transportation and electrial systems. Which way is the wind literally blowing? First decision: Stay and hunker down or flee? Where to go if your car is out of action? If car is OK, what route to take to what destination?
 
 

Tuesday, August 25, 2009

Iran cracks down on protesters

This quote is from today’s ACB news web site: "Tuesday's session was the fourth in the trial of more than 100 opposition activists and protesters, Iran's biggest political trial in decades. The defendants — who include some of the country's biggest pro-reform politicians — are accused of trying to topple the Islamic clerical leadership through a "velvet revolution" of mass protests that erupted after the disputed June 12 presidential election."

This is no surprise, although the public trial of so many is. I expected many to be interrogated, (And eventually, executed) although I admit that I expected not to hear much, if anything about it. Like many of the executions that occurred after the fall of the Iranian government in 1979, I did not think that news of these events would reach us for decades. Maybe the Iranian government will allow us to know that they have been sentenced to jail. I still expect most to find unmarked graves without any public press release. After all, these are the very same people who dare to defy the Islamic government. They are considered to be Apostates. The penalty is ‘authentic’, clear and has been enforced for centuries.

Friday, August 21, 2009

Lockerbie bomber released

CNN:
"The man convicted of murdering 270 people by blowing up Pan Am flight 103 over Lockerbie, Scotland, two decades ago received a boisterous welcome when his plane landed in his native Libya on Thursday."

The release surprises me, although his "boisterous" welcome does not. Two things I would like to point out:

1) I am not surprised because so many throughout the Islamic world (Including Libya) believe that he did the right thing. Or else are convinced that he is innocent and was wrongly convicted by the ‘western’ justice system. The west is decadent and prejudiced against anything Muslim or Islamic. (In one way of looking at it, this is correct) The same line of thinking and belief thinks that Israel was behind 9/11 and that the Holocaust did not occur. Once again, the problem here is sheer numbers. So many are defending that way of life.

2) I would have thought that the Obama administration would have been a little more effective in preventing this. Although the U.S. can’t (And should not) interfere with any other country’s judicial system, I would have expected an extradition fight or some other legal moves to stall and prevent this from happening.

In the larger picture, this release will probably not impact much. The man is dying and I doubt he will have enough time to attempt anything directly again. Where we lose is that this man is seen as a hero and doubtless will be listened to and followed in anything that he says.

Thursday, August 20, 2009

Afghanistan

Today, three quarters of Democrats oppose the war in Afghanistan. The big argument against the war in Iraq was that we had ‘dropped the ball’ by taking our focus off of the war in Afghanistan. Afghanistan was where the REAL war was. It was where we would get the bad guys like Osama Bin Laden. It now appears that most Democrats just want to end the war. You know, just pack up and leave like we did in Vietnam.

This war is NOT going away. This war will not end if we leave Afghanistan. The U.S. invaded Afghanistan as a direct result of 9/11. Vietnam did not begin with a direct upon U.S. soil. On top of this, the attacks on 9/11 were just the latest in a pattern of attacks upon U.S. target. Our waging war in Afghanistan and Iraq forced our enemy to engage our army with poor results for them. If the U.S. does leave Afghanistan, the losses our enemy has been enduring in terms of manpower lost and weapons and material lost will fall dramatically. Our enemy is already adapting to the lower level of attrition as a result of the lower amount of combat that is taking place within Iraq. With an U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan the war will accelerate even faster once our enemy re-deploys.

Tuesday, August 18, 2009

Islam and human nature

One reply to my Islam comment (How Islam is political and the Koran is poorly written) stated how I tell a good tale. This is not a tale, it is human nature.

I have studied warfare for more than 40 years. Warfare is conflict taken to the most violent, decisive level. Conflict is as much a part of us as arguing with our spouse. We cannot get rid of conflict; it is a part of us. All human beings are unique. All wars are unique.

I have studied hundreds, probably thousands of soldiers. ALL of them originally became soldiers to protect their way of life. They risk and many lost their lives in order to protect that way of living. This is why so many good southerners died defending slavery even though they themselves did not own any slaves, nor did many even like the concept. Many call this concept nationalism, which can also be considered protection of way of life, as the nation-state is responsible for the legal system under which we live. As I have stated in the past, Islam was designed as a nation-state and this concept of political Islam is being defended with violence.

(The following statement as declared by Imams that met in Istanbul is a classic example: "The obligation of the Islamic Nation [is] to regard the sending of foreign warships into Muslim waters, claiming to control the borders and prevent the smuggling of arms to Gaza, as a declaration of war, a new occupation, sinful aggression, and a clear violation of the sovereignty of the Nation. This must be rejected and fought by all means and ways.") Please note the use of the terms "Islamic Nation" and "Muslim waters" and "Sovereignty of the nation". These concepts are common throughout the Islamic world and contribute greatly to the warfare that is common where Islam is in contact with the nation-states of the world. This can be expected if one studies the fundamental reasons which cause organized warfare throughout the history of the world. Many other reasons exist for waging war but historically, this is one of the most common and consistent. It is only human to defend one’s beliefs and way of life. Even the parts that are evil.

Saturday, August 15, 2009

Somali piracy reaction

In June, the U.S. House of Representatives passed an amendment that would require the Department of Defense to put armed teams on U.S.-flagged ships passing through high-risk waters, specifically around the Horn of Africa. The amendment now goes to the Senate.

This is a revival of the 'Q' ship idea. Actually, armed merchantmen have been with us since prior to the Romans. 'Q' ships were armed with guns that they could use to defend themselves against subs when they approached on the surface. This worked well in World War I when international law required merchant ships to be searched prior to being sunk. (The law was ignored in World War II, by all sides)

In the case of Somali, very little in the way of defense will be necessary. If the pirates upgrade their weapondry, a few well trained and well placed riflemen may not be enough, but today this would probably be plenty.

Islam

Islam has a number of structural problems that are the source of open conflict and warfare. A large part of the problem is that Islam IS political. Islam has an economic system. Islam IS a legal system complete with jurisprudence that goes back 1400 years. Islam has a foreign policy. Islam was designed as a nation-state long before they become common. This alone causes all kinds of problems as loyalty to Islam over ANY government is one of the issues that wars are fought over. (One of the two main issues that triggered the U.S. Civil war was loyalty to the state over the Federal government.)

Please note the number of medieval concepts. Such as the reward for jihad being booty. (Which was how armies were paid) Or stoning people to death. In fact, death is a common penalty which demonstrates another fact of the ancient world. Life was cheap. Islam has great difficulty evolving because it is GOD's word. It can't be changed as it is already perfect. Modern times has placed great strain upon many of it's fundamental concepts. Political Islam has to go and it is fighting organized warfare to prevent this. (I compare this to the good southerners who fought for slavery, or the good Japanese or good Germans who fought for the axis powers in World War II. They are good people who will fight for their way of life.)

Personally, I see the Koran as having been very poorly written. It is organized by the size of the phrases, which is a very simple and disorganized way to group ideas. If God had really supplied this information to us, I think that he would have presented it a hell of a lot better. Not to mention a little more compassionate.

Thursday, August 13, 2009

Apostates in Islam

This post is a reply that I made on the infidelsarecool web site. The article was "Incredible testimony of Muslim Convert To Christianity Threatened With Death By Her Own Father".

The penalty for leaving Islam is death. This is considered to be an 'authentic' law. This means that Islamic scholars have ruled that the prophet declared this law. This 'law' has also been enforced for something like 1400 years. Islam has some serious structural problems. This is one of them. A major part of the reason why Shiite and Sunni can't resolve their differences (Since 690AD) is because each side believes the other to have left Islam. This contributes greatly to the conflict and violence between the two. It also helps understand why reconciliation has not been possible. You can't interpret this law any other way. You can only enforce or not enforce. This is another of Islam's structural problems, in that the 'laws' are specific and can only be ignored or enforced. As with many midieval systems, the laws are authoritarian and harsh.

Wednesday, August 12, 2009

Nigeria

Keep an eye on Nigeria. Nigeria is about 50% Muslim and 40% Christian. Nigeria is the most populous country in Africa. Many of the issues that I have brought up concerning Islam that are present in the Arab-Israeli confrontation are also present in Nigeria as well. In addition, other issues are exposed because of Nigeria’s unique situation. Example: The riots for the refusal to stone the convicted adulteress to death in 2006. (It was not carried out)

Monday, August 10, 2009

The war in Iraq is not over

Ten different bomb attacks struck Iraq killing more than 90 and wounding more than 400.
"No one has claimed responsibility for the attack, but it bore the hallmarks of al-Qaida in Iraq and other Sunni insurgents who remain active in Mosul and surrounding areas." As the pressure (And combat losses) on our enemy declines, we can expect their strength and capabilities to grow. The current wars in Afghanistan and Iraq are a starting point to observe how they are progressing.

As the U.S. involvement in Iraq winds down, I suspect that the current administration will leave the Iraqi’s to their own devices. This policy would be similar to that of the public attitude after the U.S. withdrawal from Vietnam. We wash our hands of it. And this is not all.

With respect to Israel, I suspect that our current administration will leave them in the lurch if any fighting broke out. I also suspect that President Obama would take the Arab side in any deals or negotiations regarding Israel. Not much of a friend.

My final observation here is that I would not want to be an ally of the United States in any shooting conflict while the current President is in office. This war is far from being over. You find out who your real friends and allies are when the shooting begins.

Tuesday, August 4, 2009

Al Qaeda offers truce to Obama if US pulls out of Afghanistan

Please note how the offer is for a truce. Islam allows for truces against enemies. This in no way means that the war is over. I would think that President Obama knows this. However, from many of the statements that he has made in the past, I doubt it.Our President has 'changed' our strategic posture to defensive. Making a truce would suit this well. Politically, he may not be able to do it. I am certain that he personally favors it.