Readers;

A good Monday morning to all, I am hoping everyone had a great weekend. Summer is here and at the Training Center all six hundred students this week will be getting the full benefit. Hydration is the word of the day and high tech gear at least makes the training day bearable.

The BTW is eight years old and has over 100,000 people who receive every week. Please do not hesitate to forward to your family, friends, and peers. We are always trying to grow.

Stay safe.

John Adams

Managing Editor, Blackwater Tactical Weekly
Please continue to submit your suggestions to btw@ustraining.com

- Mark Twain

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Both at 15% off for our Blackwater Tactical Weekly Readers!

Discount code for the Pistol BTWPDVD & Discount code for Shotgun BTWSDVD http://proshop.blackwaterusa.com/Training-DVDs-C107.aspx

Limited time offer to all Blackwater Tactical Weekly Readers through June 29, 2009 Just in time for Father's Day

Building an Afghan National Army

The Afghan National Army (ANA) is critical to the success of the allied efforts in Afghanistan and the ultimate stability of the national government. This monograph assesses the ANA's progress in the areas of recruitment, training, facilities, and operational capability. It draws on a variety of sources: in-country interviews with U.S., NATO, and Afghan officials; data provided by the U.S. Army; open-source literature; and a series of public opinion surveys conducted in Afghanistan over the past several years. Although the ANA has come a long way since the outset of the recent conflict in the country, the authors conclude that coalition forces, especially those of the United States, will play a crucial role in Afghanistan for the foreseeable future, particularly in light of the increased threat from Taliban forces and other illegally armed criminal groups.

One tool in the current war on terror involves the Bush Administration's labeling of alleged terrorists as "enemy combatants" and detaining them indefinitely, without access to counsel, and without having to file any criminal charges. This enemy combatant policy is really an ad hoc system of preventive detention whereby U.S. citizens or foreign nationals are detained against their will without the filing of criminal charges for the purposes of incapacitation and interrogation. President Bush has justified his unilateral decisions to label individuals as enemy combatants on the exercise of his war power as Commander in Chief under Article II of the Constitution and the Joint Resolution passed by Congress after 9/11 to use all "necessary and appropriate force" against those who "planned, authorized, committed or aided the terrorist attacks that occurred on September 11, 2001." 3 As law professors Samuel Issacharoff and Richard Pildes describe: "The most controversial legal power that the U.S. government has not just asserted but actually deployed at this point in the war on terrorism is probably the power to detain preventatively both citizens and noncitizens who the executive considers are 'enemy combatants.'" 4

When new information about Americans who had cooperated with the Soviet KGB began to emerge in the 1990s, no individual case generated as much controversy as that of the journalist I.F. Stone, who had long been installed in the pantheon of left-wing heroes as a symbol of rectitude and a teller of truth to power before his death in 1989. Charges about Stone's connections with the KGB have been swirling about for more than a decade, prompting cries of outrage among his passionate followers. Until now, the evidence was equivocal and subject to different interpretations. No longer.

KABUL (AP) - Gen. Stanley McChrystal, a four-star American general with a long history in special operations, took charge of U.S. and NATO troops in Afghanistan on Monday, a change of command the Pentagon hopes will turn the tide in an increasingly violent eight-year war. McChrystal took command...

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Tactical Equipment Evaluation

In Nickel Mines, PA the police had to deal with a subject who had thoroughly barricaded himself into the school house before he started killing children. At Virginia Tech the police had to deal with a subject who had chained the three main building entrances shut prior to going on his shooting spree. In some cases shotguns can be used for breaching and such should be trained, but what about when a mechanical breaching tool is needed? The Delia Tactical Raptor entry tool offers four breaching tools in one.

Full Story Can Be Viewed At:

Recreational Equipment Review

Have you ever wondered what our founding fathers would think of the United States of America as they exist today? Well, it's obvious that Mr. Rowe had some of those thoughts as he wrote "Tempus Fugit". Translated that means "Time Flies" and it's a book about three of our founding fathers who find themselves transported through time to Mount Rushmore in the year 2001. George Washington, Thomas Jefferson and Ben Franklin are depicted in a historically accurate fashion – which will surprise many readers – as they attempt to understand the future of what they began.

Full Story Can Be Viewed At:

http://www.borelliconsulting.com/recevals/recreading/tempusfugit.htm

THE CONTRACT - THE OATH OF OFFICE

"Right is right, even if everyone is against it; and wrong is wrong, even if everyone is for it." William Penn

"...who swears to his own hurt and does not change;" Psalms 15:4b

Now, there is a good definition of an oath and an Oath Taker! The Oath Taker is making a commitment to do what is demanded of him/her in relation to the purpose for which the oath is taken. People entering the military take an oath. People entering law enforcement take an oath. All of them take an oath to support and defend the Constitution against all enemies whomsoever, foreign or domestic. These can be very high stakes.

Full Story Can Be Viewed At:

http://www.ustraining.com/new/btw/Chaplain/062209chaplain.htm

Rock repelling is a form of rock climbing, and it is meant for those who are extremely adventurous and the true dare devils. But, it is always advised to attempt rock repelling under the proper guidance of professional rock climbers.

Here are some links for charitable organizations.

The Blackwater Tactical Weekly 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.

We all know the amazing job our veterans have done for this wonderful country. It is the Disabled Veterans Associations focus to continue to assist those who fought for our country. Join us in helping those who have helped keep our country free by choosing one of our donation categories below, or if you do not have Paypal you may send a check or money order in care of:

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The Blackwater Tactical Weekly provides readers valuable information from diverse sources regarding tactical and strategic security issues.

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