Readers;

We've reached the crest of winter and are now heading towards spring. It's been a year since I started editing the BTW and reconnecting with many former teammates and friends has been a rewarding experience.

There is a continuous stream of news from all fronts in the GWOT. And down south the Mexican government cracks down on the cartels. Of note in Northern Africa, Al-Qaida may be trying to acquire and employ bio terror weapons. And finally, in Afghanistan, the Taliban is resorting to old terror tactics to gain a psychological advantage.

Take a look at the cool bionic hand in the Innovations section. Very cool.

Keep the powder dry, and the flint sharp.

John Wrenn
Managing Editor, Tactical Weekly
Director, Corporate Communications

Abraham Lincoln

Here is a different view of BW, an entertaining report from an investigative reporter.

Blackwater's trusty prop job ferried our band of milbloggers atop Virginia's rolling farmland and expansive waterways. We crossed into North Carolina, and soon we saw nothing but forest. We descended onto a remote landing strip.

Afghan Insurgent Tactics Shift To Dodge Airstrikes
Puts Extra Burden On U.S. Ground Troops
January 20, 2009
USA Today
Tom Vanden Brook

Here is a great example of the adaptability of the enemy, and how we have to stay ahead of their decision cycle.

BAGRAM AIR BASE, Afghanistan - Afghan insurgents have learned to attack U.S. troops and scatter before they can be hit by airstrikes, a change in tactics that creates new pressure on coalition ground forces, say defense officials and military experts.

Insurgents "have a pretty good idea of how long it takes for close-air support to arrive," Pentagon press secretary Geoff Morrell said. "We've seen some indications that they will fight for as long as they believe they have until close-air support will likely arrive on the scene."

Interesting development in Afghanistan, as the agreement would prohibit NATO troops from searching Afghan homes, which would severely curtail the hunt for the Taliban.

Kabul, Afghanistan -- The government here has sent NATO headquarters a draft agreement that would give Afghanistan more control over future NATO deployments in the country -- including the positioning of some U.S. troops, officials said.

The draft technical agreement would establish rules of conduct for NATO-led troops and require that additional NATO troops and their locations be approved by the Afghan government.

Interesting analysis of Chinese capabilities and their rising global power projection.

About a decade ago the foreign policy establishment was busy dismissing China's efforts to build a powerful, modern military. Writing in the Washington Post in 1997, Michael Swaine, a China specialist then at the RAND corporation, declared that the "enduring deficiencies in China's military logistics system call into question its ability to operate [naval and aviation] weapons over a sustained period, particularly outside China's borders." Well, right now, Chinese naval vessels are deploying in the Gulf of Aden to assist in the international anti-piracy mission. It's 4,000 miles from China to the Gulf of Aden.

Become part of the solution, not a statistic.

5 minutes to live. If a cop is going to die, it will be in the first 5 minutes - before help can arrive. Now YOU become the help!

Here is a new course from The Backup, a Blackwater Worldwide company that specializes in digital distance learning courses. Please check out the website or number below for additional information.

To view the latest contract opportunities at Blackwater, visit our Contract Web Page

TO FILL OUT AN APPLICATION AND SUBMIT YOUR RESUME CLICK HERE
Questions regarding Security Consulting or Training at Blackwater (252) 435-2488 or email webmaster@ustraining.com

Shades of Luke Skywalker, this new invention has great promise for injured warriors.

Evan Reynolds has been given a new lease of life by the fully functional artificial replacement.

The sports biology student at University of the West of England (UWE), in Bristol, was the second person in Britain to be fitted with the advanced i-LIMB hand.

Mr Reynolds, 19, from Haslemere, Surrey, said it took him only minutes to adapt to the product, which is controlled by electronic muscle signals from the remaining part of the limb.

A new tool in the GWOT.

The Navy plans to issue biometric-capable handheld computers that can help sailors quickly identify a terrorist suspect when they are searching enemy ships.

New tool for enhanced physical security.

A company based in Teleford, Pa., is offering two new products that are designed to keep criminals in prison and intruders from high security facilities.

New developments in mine hunting that protects the warrior.

Landmine "contamination" continues to plague developing countries, where more are laid every year than are cleared, according to a UN estimate. Now, a company promises a new technique to locate and map landmines from the air-three times faster and at half the price of conventional detection methods.

Tactical Equipment Evaluation

Last week I did a quick look at a few highlights from the SHOT Show 2009 floor in Orlando, Florida. This week we're going to take a more in depth look at some of the new products; some of the changes in major industry players and a couple of changes that it might be good for the National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF – owns SHOT Show) to make in the future. As seems to happen every year, SHOT Show's attendance numbers grew again and changes are being made as they plan SHOT '10 for Las Vegas.

Full Story Can Be Viewed At:

Recreational Equipment Review

As with the tac side, I breezed through a few things from SHOT Show '09 for the outdoors and hunting side last week. This week we'll take a bit closer look. There were a few interesting items in the LE/MIL section that have specific applicability to the recreational outdoor arena, as well as a host of products from the rest of the show floor. While I didn't find as many things this year that really lit my fire, that's not to say there was nothing exciting to see. Let's take a look at a few.

Full Story Can Be Viewed At:

http://www.borelliconsulting.com/recevals/campback/shot09rec.htm

Like Caesar of old, we have crossed the Rubicon... And like Caesar, we do not intend to re-cross this river again... The die is cast...

Full Story Can Be Viewed At:

http://www.ustraining.com/tw2009/article/012609chaplain.htm

Some good advice on what to look for if you hire a personal trainer.

Until quite recently, personal training was seen as a 'luxury good' of the rich and shameless who were simply too bored to exercise by themselves...

Some info to debunk the myths that all carbs are bad.

Health and diet experts, all agree that good carbs are very essential for your health. 'Carbohydrate' means carbon plus water. It is an essential nutrient that provides your body with energy. The body is able to efficiently use carbohydrates for energy production. In fact, this is what makes them stand apart from proteins and fats.

Here are some links for charitable organizations.

Blackwater does not endorse any organization over another nor encourage charitable contributions, we provide these links as a public service, and take no responsibility for the actual sites. Although we strive to validate the sites before linking we caution you to do your own research, as the internet is ripe with scams.

Welcome Back Veterans

Here is an organization sponsored by Major League Baseball that wants to help returning vets.

Ten thousand young men and women come home from Iraq, Afghanistan, and other zones of conflict every month. They've served our country well, and have made sacrifices - of health, of family, of livelihood - that most of us will never have to make.

IT'S OUR TURN

To step up to the plate and GIVE.

The players and owners of Major League Baseball have contributed their time and resources to help returning soldiers and their families through Welcome Back Veterans. Now it's up to us to join the effort and do our part by giving generously.

Keep My Soldier Safe
Packages for Soldiers

Here is a great site that is trying to organize a bill that would allow free postage for letters and packages mailed to our service people overseas. Very relevant during the holidays.

Please go here and sign the petition so that we can help get this bill passed and get more packages sent to your troops for FREE...

We ask you to join us in urging our U.S. Senators and Representatives to support the effort to pass a law that would allow for the free mailing of letters and packages to our military personnel in the Iraq and Afghanistan theaters of operation.

Full Story

Paw Prints Dog Sanctuary

Here's an organization that cares for dogs of deployed service personnel.

Welcome to Paw Prints Dog Sanctuary & Canine Corps!

We provide a loving "home away from home" for dogs whose owners are deployed overseas in the military, as well as a safe haven for Central Pennsylvania's senior and special needs dogs. To date, nineteen of our guest have been adopted into loving homes, and we are currently caring for seven senior and special needs dogs and sixteen military pets.

Project Healing Waters Flyfishing

Great way to help our wounded brethren.

Project Healing Waters Fly Fishing, Inc. is dedicated to the physical and emotional rehabilitation of disabled active duty military personnel and veterans through fly fishing and fly tying education and outings.

Age is a high price to pay for maturity.

The Tactical Weekly is a free weekly e-publication.

The BTW provides readers valuable information from diverse sources regarding tactical and strategic security issues.

Editor-in-Chief - Gary Jackson (btw@blackwaterusa.com)
Managing Editor - John Wrenn (btw@blackwaterusa.com)
Format Editor - Jennifer Granoff (JGranoff@blackwaterusa.com)
Frank's Review - Frank Borelli (frank@borelliconsulting.com)
Chaplain's Corner - Chaplain D. R. Staton (chpln1@verizon.net)
Advertising - Jennifer Granoff (JGranoff@blackwaterusa.com)

Questions regarding Security Consulting or Training at Blackwater (252) 435-2035

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