'Course, who the hell is St. Francis University? Nothing against them, but back in the '80s we did play UVA and UNC.

Seems we can't even get the Citadel on the schedule this year...

WTF?

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(John on Sep 6, 2008 4:05 PM) hey a win's a win, 'specially in Lexington. seriously though, no Shitadel this year? What a shame.

(bullnav on Sep 6, 2008 4:52 PM) Nope. Check it out. I guess it is a Big South deal or something...I sort of thought it was kind of like...I don't know... a fucking TRADITION?!?!?!!!

(Old Tanker on Sep 6, 2008 6:40 PM) Heck, the only team of note is Ohio.....wadup widat?? On another note Bull, I had the dogs out running rabbits at Sharonville today......I could hear 'em shootin' at the range from Raby Rd.!

(bulllnav on Sep 7, 2008 3:53 AM) OT - I took my son out there last Sunday to shoot. We took our .22s (his Marlin single-shot and my souped up 10/22). I also let him shoot my AR15 (which needs work desparately). Didn't draw a Fall Turkey tag, either...

"Victory in Anbar."

Anbar was where al-Qaeda located its attempt to turn Iraq into what it called the center of its war against the United States. By 2004 it ruled the cities of Fallujah and Ramadi; by 2006 it had declared an "Islamic emirate" in the region. Two years ago this month, The Post reported that a Marine assessment had concluded that the situation in Anbar was "dire" and that the province was "lost politically." The turnaround since then has been a crushing blow for al-Qaeda -- one that is not lessened, in its impact on the Arab Middle East, by the fact that the terrorist group did not begin operations in Anbar until after the U.S. invasion.

Very well put indeed, but let me help them along. Victory in Anbar is victory in the one place in the Middle East that should have ample cause to hate the U.S. and rise up against us. When we broke downt he Hussein dictatorship, we removed the Sunni ascendancy from its position of power, its source of wealth and prestige. We occupied its heartland, and we told them how things were going to go from here on out. And they fought us tooth and nail.

Until, that is, they began to realize that when we said, "No better friend, no worse enemy," we were serious. That we would pull out the stops to support and protect them, or alternately that we would fight them to a standstill, and they (unlike some of our politicians) weren't willing to bet that we'd give up and pull out. And what we protected them against was their putative savior-- Al Qaeda. Lo and behold, the Sunnis of Anbar decided that they didn't like what Al Qaeda was selling. It was too costly, too brutal, too foreign. And so our fight against the Sunnis and AQI became ours and the Sunnis' fight against AQI. Al Zarqawi and his band of nasties were preaching to the one choir that should have been listening, and the choir tossed them out.

That is the real strategic victory: we have something to offer that is far far better than what the cavemen have to offer. We have a future to offer them, not an apocalypse; the chance for houses, lives, jobs, prosperity, not subsistence and subservience. No better friend!

Continued reading More On Anbar... Guess Who Calls It A "Victory"?...

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British commanders estimate that more than 200 Taliban were killed as they tried to prevent the convoy of 100 vehicles from getting the machinery to Kajaki hydroelectric dam where it will provide a significant increase in energy for up to two million Afghans.

The operation has been described as the biggest of its kind since the Second World War.

For the last five days the force has fought through the heart of Taliban territory to push through the 220 tonne turbine and other equipment that included a 90 tonne crane to lift it into place.

With a third turbine fixed at Kajaki it will mean that the extra electricity could double the irrigation output allowing farmers to plant two crops of wheat a year. With a dramatic rise in world wheat prices this could crucially mean that it becomes more profitable than producing opium which would deprive the Taliban of a major source of revenue.

Escorted by attack helicopters, armoured vehicles and men of the Parachute Regiment, the trucks trundled into Kajaki.

For the first 50 miles of its journey from the southern city of Kandahar the convoy was protected by American and Canadian troops [emphasis added]. But for the second 50 mile leg through Taliban strongholds more than 3,000 British troops were needed to fight off the insurgents.

Go to the link, and follow their links to the various articles. Priceless stuff.

The other item is from the Baltimore Sun. Reporter David Wood has been keeping the homefires burning for 2d Battalion, 7th Marines, alone and unafraid, with many of its far-flung units in a vicious daily fight. I like Dave Wood; I met him in 92 when he embedded with the 24th MEU SOC for our work-ups and subsequent deployment to Somalia. He's a good guy, a good reporter, and a straight shooter. You might not like everything he says, but the man has integrity and a real love for the boys in uniform. Bookmark that site.

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If you had told me, this time in 2004, that we'd be turning over Al-Anbar province to the Iraqis-- and not part of some shameful withdrawal, but with a real prospect of success-- I'd have said that you were smoking crack.

How did we get here? National leadership, and theater leadership, that learned some hard lessons and refused to give up. There was never a question that the Marines and sailors and soldiers were up to the task. The big question was whether the senior leaders in and out of uniform would also have the stones to stick it out. After Fallujah One and over the summer of 2004, I wouldn't have made a bet on it. But, instead, here we are.

We got here by dint of strong, hard decsions from the top; by incorporating the lessons of mistakes and missteps; by the willingness of commanders on the ground to grasp the situation, and then take the risks needed to gain the trust and goodwill of the population. We got here by the never-ending hard work and can-do attitude of tens of thousands of Americans and Iraqis and allies, living and fighting under discomfort and near-constant attack. We got here by the sacrifice of hundreds and hundreds of good young men and women, who did their duty regardless of the danger, and paid the ultimate price.

This doesn't mean the end of the Iraq campaign, and Anbar has a tough row to hoe, but they now have a fighting chance. They have an opportunity to succeed.

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(Kurt on Sep 2, 2008 3:48 AM) Dream on

(John on Sep 2, 2008 8:10 AM) could you elaborate kurt?

(LtCol P on Sep 2, 2008 8:54 AM) Yes, Kurt. Do tell.

(Lawrence on Sep 3, 2008 7:10 AM) Dream on? As in our "National leadership, and theater leadership, that learned some hard lessons and refused to give up."? Or in that "They [Iraq] have an opportunity to succeed."?

( on Sep 3, 2008 7:14 AM) One thing we must never forget, I suppose, is that Islamic culture thrives on conflict and war. It doesn't matter what we do their, they will refuse to accept a peaceful existence. At least an existence that we would consider peaceful, anyway. However, we can "help" them pursue their own brand of chaotic culture within the confines of their own national borders, without throwing the rest of the world into chaos.

(Lawrence on Sep 3, 2008 7:16 AM) Forgot to sign my previous anonymous post. Sorry.

Continued reading Making Sausage...

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(Lawrence on Aug 29, 2008 8:40 AM) It makes sense that we need less specialists, but not all aspects of operations can be done by generalists. Ask an INF commander to coordinate a fire direction cell with a staff of generalist officers and he's going to have a tough time. Ask an FA officer to command a perimeter defensive position and then plan a river crossing assault, and it's going to get a bit wierd. What we end up with then is NCO's who are trained specialists running things under the general overall guidance of a generalist commander. Ooh... wait... {I hope some lightbulbs just pop on}

(DaveO on Aug 29, 2008 10:06 AM) Townie, Good points! A Space Support Team are just a specialized comms team. That's about the limit of their capabilities. EBO isn't crap - the way it's been packaged by the massengales and USAF (and enshrined in their latest doctrine) is crap. EBO is basically doing whatever it takes to get the other side to do what you want it to do. Sun Tzu wrote on this. Napoleon's Maxims incorporate EBO. B.H. Liddell Hart is all about EBO. I agree that the appetite for information is growing beyond the ability to spread that information. Staff Officers are becoming Dune-like Mentats when what we need competent staffers. I credit the Army culture of zero defects to the need for the most perfect, up-to-date, and blame-free information. [The following gripe about the conference is not directed at you Townie ] So the Army is no longer joint? ASCC, Corps, and Divisions are no longer players in the game? Who the hell allowed GEN Casey to get involved? His friggin job is to wine and dine the Senate and House for $$$, NOT to make strategic, operational, tactical, or administrative decisions! The reason for all the doctrinal manuals is because we have too many generalists floating around between the echelons and none of them really know just what they're supposed to do. Train a General Staff and keep them there is another solution. My two cents...

(MikeM on Aug 30, 2008 10:15 AM) As a retired Army CSS officer, I got tired of training "generalists" that came into my branch to command because their branch did not find them quite fit to command. However, you never saw a specialist command one of their units. I mean using your logic, any good commander can lead any unit, especially at Brigade level and higher. One of the reasons I retired 7+ years ago was because I was executing an order from my commander (an infantry officer in a logistics position) and he failed to support me when his boss questioned my actions. Nothing like being thrown under the bus. I guess things haven't changed much since I got out.

FORT IRWIN, Calif. (Army News Service, Aug. 27, 2008) -- Dwell time for Soldiers between deployments is expected to increase to 17 months next year, and almost to 24 months by 2011, said Army Chief of Staff Gen. George W. Casey Jr. He said this will allow the National Training Center to once again focus on "conventional operations" and not just counter-insurgency training.

Gen. Casey made his remarks during an interview outside the town of Medina Jabal in the National Training Center's range area, "the box," during a visit to NTC Aug. 14.

This adjustment, Casey said, would involve including "major conventional operations training" as well as "irregular warfare training" at NTC over the next couple of years, as Soldiers spend more time at home and not deployed.

"And we're already starting the planning to reset the scenarios and the OPFOR [opposing force], so that we can do that," Casey said.

Look, if this incorporates OIF I-style maneuver warfare training -fine. If this is Fulda Gap training -fighting the Krasnovian rifle regiments, then I think it is a step back. More:

"What I've seen now across the Army. We are a combat-seasoned force. Some of the battalions out here-60, 70, 80 percent-combat veterans, Gen. Casey said. "And so they know how to fight. And right now, we're focused on irregular warfare. And a lot of the skills that they have are directly transferable to...major conventional operations." Gen. Casey said that the time he spent in Iraq changed his views on the relationship between training and the versatility of the force.

How about some training in transferring from Phase III (combat, lead flying) to Phase IV (restoring order, transitioning to civil authorities)?

"When I was a divisional commander in Germany in '99 to 2001, if you had asked me where I should optimize my training on the spectrum of conflict so I could be the most versatile, I would have said, If I can do conventional war, I can do anything.

"After 32 months in Iraq, I don't believe that...mostly the Soldiers that have been to Iraq and Afghanistan don't believe that, either. There's enough difference, some fundamental differences between irregular warfare and major conventional warfare that we need to...be more versatile," Gen. Casey said.

Hmmm... My thoughts on this vary. On the one hand, balancing the force for conventional combat rules seems like a good idea. At the same time, each day spent learning to mass division artillery fires and perform battalion-level armor assaults is one less day devoted to COIN training, Arabic/Afghan language and cultural familiarization. If more dwell time relieves enough pressure on the force to do both -why not?

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(Joel on Aug 29, 2008 3:55 AM) I would re-phrase Casey's statement... "if you can do UNCONVENTIONAL, then you can do anything." Infantry and Armor officers may hate this, but conventional operations can be taught to a group of chimpanzees and they can carry it out with reasonable success.

(Mrs. Davis on Aug 29, 2008 5:47 PM) Is this the same Casey who almost presided over defeat in Iraq? He's the Army COS? Why?

(DaveO on Aug 30, 2008 4:44 PM) Mrs. Davis, GEN Casey's being the CS is truly the safest place for him to be. He's a very personable and likeable guy (I worked for him for a time). I wouldn't, even out of morbid curiosity, follow him anywhere. Joel: your comments are spot-on. V/R, Dave

(L on Aug 31, 2008 6:36 PM) Is anybody in the U.S. Army training to fight the Red Chinese? I'll bet the P.L.A. is training to fight us.

(DaveO on Sep 1, 2008 9:03 AM) L, No. That's impolitic.

An interesting briefing by the Northcom Commander General Victor Renuart has flagged cyber and arctic threats as priorities for the next President. Reportedly, the National Security Council is debating drafting a new strategy document on the Arctic. We have already discussed cyber threats a couple of times, but not the Arctic. Ironically, Russia's behavior in Georgia may have ripple effects of national security thousands of miles away in the Arctic if we really are seeing the resurgence of an aggressive Russian bear. For that matter, one of the near-term security implications of global warming is to make the Arctic more in play for geopolitics. The Arctic mission is also one that would have interesting inter-service rivalry implications, since it would be primarily a Navy and Air Force mission. How important is the Arctic and should an increasing portion of defense resources be directed to it? My own sense is that the bipartisan push for energy security will make the Arctic a higher priority for future Administrations than it has been for decades, and its importance will grow in the decades to come. Given the long lead-times for some weapons purchases, it would be foolish not to make at least some investments in improving our capacity to project power in that region. The priority still should be on other near term concerns, winning the wars that we are in, as Gates puts it, and ensuring our capacity to respond to more urgent challenges, but it is smart strategy to be thinking anew about the Arctic. How big a factor should the Arctic be in US military planning?

At the top of the world we are cheek by jowl with Mother Russia. The end of the Cold War (supposedly) brought the end of the existential threats the old regime presented, the ICBMs, the bombers, the subs. Well, since the new boss in the Kremlin is the same as the old boss, welcome back to a new Cold War in the cold.

All of this has flown below our DEW Line, but it is a frequent topic over at The Torch...

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(John on Aug 28, 2008 7:34 AM) first the artic, then the moon! Both must be conquered. For freedom.

(jordan on Aug 28, 2008 8:36 AM) Didn't the Russians a while back plant a Russian flag on the seabed in the Arctic?

(Jetman on Aug 29, 2008 10:47 AM) Arctic as a focus? After McCain's VP pick, you would think any sabre rattling that would take place would be a very serious mistake... I'll bet Palin would be able to hit a target at 150 yards in a snowstorm.

(Skippy-san on Sep 1, 2008 8:23 PM) I was in Nashville getting drunk on Russian vodka.

(Mark Collins on Sep 3, 2008 3:24 PM) Sorry--didn't notice this post already had a link to "The Torch". But the first link in my previous comment updates things a bit. Mark Ottawa

Yes, a few are variations on old themes-- not that there's anything wrong with that-- but a couple are right on the money. (Like 1, 4 and 8.)

Ridicule: One of the most potent weapons in the arsenal of free men.

Continued reading Taliban Humor...

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(BD from NH on Aug 28, 2008 5:25 AM) Q. How many Taliban does it take to change a lightbulb? A. What's a lightbulb?

(mindy1 on Aug 29, 2008 2:40 AM) Haha so very true and funny:lol:

Lifting
1. Killing in the Name - Rage Against the Machine
2. More Human than Human - White Zombie
3. Slither - Velvet Revolver
4. For Whom the Bell Tolls - Metallica
5. Let the Bodies Hit the Floor - Drowning Pool
6. Immigrant Song - Led Zepplin
7. Raining Blood - Slayer

Cardio
1.Don't Stop Me Now - Queen
2. All The Things That I've Done - The Killers
3. Wrong Way - Sublime
4. One More Time - Daft Punk (a little eh... Eurotrashy, but great rhythm)
5. Stronger - Kayne West
6. Praise You - Fatboy Slim
7. Long Road to Ruin - Foo Fighters

Cool Down
Soul to Squeeze - Red Hot Chili Peppers
Tuesday's Gone - Lynyrd Skynyrd

If Hanna Montana pops up anywhere on this list, you can bet Charlie's been tampering with my post. Speaking of, I *believe* that Charlie does Crossfit.... which is way too hardcore for me, I'm Air Force. Credit to our buddy Lex for sticking to the same hellacious routine.

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(Joel on Aug 24, 2008 8:22 PM) Cool down tunez was a nice addition. I would throw in In the Air Tonight by Phil Collins for cool down, just because it relaxes the heck out of me. Sorry, I know that may be a fruity suggestion in light of all the death metal.

(dnice on Aug 25, 2008 3:14 AM) Just rattlin two off of my head after this fat boy civvie want for his morning run: (1) Zombie Nation (by Kerncraft or something like that-get the Sports version; sorry Techno suits me for running) (2) Harvester of Sorrow - Metallica (3) 'Til I Collapse - Eminem & Nate Dogg

(dnice on Aug 25, 2008 3:16 AM) Just rattlin some off my head after this fat boy civvie want for his morning run: (1) Zombie Nation (by Kerncraft or something like that-get the Sports version; sorry Techno suits me for running-esp sprinting) (2) Harvester of Sorrow - Metallica (3) 'Til I Collapse - Eminem & Nate Dogg

(Whiskey Tango on Aug 25, 2008 7:30 AM) Anything by Metallica will get you going for weights. Techno, though completely stupid music, is simply awesome for running.

(Crossfit Fan on Aug 25, 2008 7:39 AM) Crossfit knocked my PT score up a full ten points. That was after sticking to the program for only 3 months. I highly recommend it, but the program is not something you can just jump into. You need to have a knowledge of weight training and some understanding of nutrition to do it without hurting yourself. And you need to be in decent shape to start. Fortunately we had someone on base who was a certified crossfit trainer, otherwise I would have never been able to do it.

(Marcus Atrocious on Aug 25, 2008 1:30 PM) Try adding these two to your list: -Lifting Dropping Plates; Disturbed -Running Loneliness of the Long Distance Runner; Iron Maiden

(John on Aug 25, 2008 1:45 PM) hey great suggestions Marcus

(Marcus Atrocious on Aug 25, 2008 2:08 PM) John, I too enjoy a little inspirational music while I get my smoke on. L8ters Marcus

(LtCol P on Aug 25, 2008 3:36 PM) Lifting... Marines' Hymn Cardio... Marines' Hymn Cool Down... Marines' Hymn

(ccat on Aug 25, 2008 3:50 PM) Boom - POD

( on Aug 26, 2008 6:23 AM) "In the Air Tonight" always reminds me of the fellows in Bravo Two Zero running across the desert after their first shoot-out. The cardio list is great, I can see myself listening to every song on there during my runs. There's no need to be defensive about enjoying Daft Punk during PT.

(dnice on Aug 26, 2008 6:45 PM) Crossfit fan: Thanks so much - totally new to crossfit. Routine has been my enemy lately. Oh, please forgive the duplicate posts above - wife gave birth to our second kid recently - not thinkin straight. (BTW got my 1st boy!)

(bullnav on Sep 4, 2008 3:25 AM) Don't forget that the new Metallica...album will be out next week....

]]> Firearms 2008-08-24T16:41:17-08:00 http://op-for.com/2008/08/missile_defense_suddenly_popul.html ...In Europe! As we dust off the Russia analysts from various think-tank basements, we seem to be seeing a replay of many Cold War Soviet vs US conflicts. First up: STAR WARS. From the Economist: THE east Europeans have little... 1936@http://op-for.com/ ...In Europe! As we dust off the Russia analysts from various think-tank basements, we seem to be seeing a replay of many Cold War Soviet vs US conflicts. First up: STAR WARS. From the Economist:

THE east Europeans have little reason to fear a strike from Iran. So why are they eagerly signing up to America’s system to intercept Iranian missiles? Because they are scared of Russia. Within days of Russia’s invasion of Georgia, Poland had agreed to host ten American interceptors. Ukraine offered to link up its early-warning radars and contribute to surveillance in space. The Czech Republic had already agreed to host the missile-tracking radar.

What's next? Russia putting mid-range missiles in Cuba or Venezuela? Russian support of insurgencies in Africa? What about Iran? Hold on as we travel back to the future...

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(Galrahn on Aug 24, 2008 3:46 PM) Good question at the end. We are going to spend a fortune in BMD one-ups-man-ship with Russia, so we can put a half dozen interceptors in Poland. Dumbest idea ever sold. Build a radar if necessary, but put BMD at sea and everyone is happy.

(John on Aug 24, 2008 4:55 PM) Deep down I know you're right, Galrahn. But I've gotta come clean: I'm almost happy to see Cold War style brinksmanship return. I miss having a worthy adversary. These terrorists suck ass.

(Galrahn on Aug 24, 2008 8:56 PM) I'm not, its all about eye on the ball. We have invested a lot in Iraq and are on the verge of great things, the last thing we need is to be distracted by Georgia. They have the slickest PR campaign I've ever seen. Imagine a country that takes advantage of our taxpayer money to build a military we are told is for defense and promoting peace, but instead they use to start a war with Russia... Then fall flat and get embarrassed, only to spin the media hard to appeal to our national moral values and exploit us for sympathy. Russia is the bad guy, Georgia is the bad guy. We need to avoid helping bad guys. People claiming Georgia is the good guy in this dispute are willingly ignoring the facts. Sometimes there is no good guy.

(SSG Jeff (USAR) on Aug 25, 2008 9:02 AM) Putting the interceptors in Poland and the Czech Republic gives us, in their eyes at least, something to defend. It ties the United States more tightly into their defense, if ever needed.

(Skippy-san on Aug 26, 2008 3:22 PM) Job security for me! ( Plus a possible chance to work in Europe!) I can live with a new cold war if it gives me a job overseas. I'm in favor of putting a GBI site in Singapore, to defend against the Chinese threat-with me working there!

While I realize we generally deal with matters military, I believe the editorial on fiscal policy is worth considering, for an essential, in fact I would argue the essential element of national security is economic security. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/08/17/AR2008081702079.html

Second, I commend Fred Hiatt piece on what made Russia attack. This article reminds me of the quote from George Santanya and I paraphrase, "Those who do not study the past are destine to repeat it." As George Kennan pointed out in the Long Telegram, the history and nature of Russia is consistent.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/08/17/AR2008081702076.html

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( on Aug 18, 2008 3:27 AM) My opinon regarding Hiatt's editorial is that the west has made so many inroads into eastern eruope that the leadersihip of the west doesn't really care about what is happening in Georgia except to make the right pronouncements for domestic comsuption. The Russian action is also for its own domestic comsumption. The western public and news media are up in arms and finger pointing while the leadership of the west does a collective yawn. It looks serious but, really, they think its too little too late for Russia. But for appearances sake no one wants to embarrass the Russian leadership by saying it. Unfortuantely when a large country like Russia throws an infantile tempertantrum it can have unpleasant consequences for small countires.

(Doug Santo on Aug 18, 2008 6:57 AM) Check Robert Kagan, History's Back, Weekly Standard website. Frederick Kagan, What is to be Done?, Weekly Standard Website. Strafor, Russo-Georgian War and the Balance of Power, Real Clear World Web site at http://www.realclearworld.com/articles/2008/08/russogeorgian_war_and_balance.html These three pieces are about the best presentation of facts concerning the recent conflict and the best analysis of those facts that I have seen. Doug Santo Pasadena, CA

(LtCol P on Aug 18, 2008 11:10 AM) Excellent articles, both of them. What statist economic tinkerers-- found on both sides of the aisle but far more prevalent on the port rather than the starboard-- can never seem to figure out is that they want to impose static solutions on dynamic problems. Market economies are not immune from ups and downs but are much better at absorbing them. In the free market you might get high gas prices, for readily understood reasons, but the market will find a way to supply the demand. In a planned or tinkered-with economy, you'd get high prices and rationing.