Readers;

Summer is almost gone and Labor Day is fast approaching. The first Labor Day was held on September 5, 1882. For many decades, Labor Day was viewed by workers not only as a means to celebrate their accomplishments, but also as a day to air their grievances and discuss strategies for securing better working conditions and salaries. Nowadays, Labor Day is associated less with union activities and protest marches and more with leisure. For many, the holiday is a time for family picnics, sporting events, and summer's last hurrah. However you choose to spend your Labor Day, have fun, be safe and enjoy.

Stay safe.

Zach Taylor

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

- Chinese Proverb

SHANGHAI (Reuters) - General Motors said on Sunday it has agreed to set up a light commercial vehicle production venture with major Chinese automaker FAW Group, with total investment of 2 billion yuan ($293 million).

The 50-50 joint venture, based in the northeast China city of Changchun in Jilin province, will make light-duty trucks and vans, GM said in a statement.

"For us in China, this is an important complement to the rest of our portfolio," Kevin Wale, president and managing director for GM's China operations, told reporters in a conference call.

In an in-depth analysis of the Sri Lankan government's defeat of the LTTE, the 'Indian Defence Review' has identified Eight Fundamentals of Victory.

These are listed as the ‘Rajapaksa Model of fighting terror' and are described as:

Full Story

A scion of wealth and power, Ted Kennedy became the Senate's great lion by fighting for the poor and the dispossessed

The "careless rich." at times in his life, Edward M. Kennedy seemed to embody the type. Like many scions of wealth, he did not carry money—other people had to pick up the bill. If he drove too fast, there was someone to pay, or fix, the ticket. He was, after all, a Kennedy—"the most exclusive club in the world," the proud patriarch, Joseph Kennedy, liked to proclaim. Kennedys, including Teddy Kennedy, could come off as entitled to the point of irresponsibility, certainly in their messy personal lives.

And yet, Edward Kennedy, perhaps more than any United States senator in the past half century, cared about the poor and dispossessed. Though he was relentlessly mocked by the right as a tax-and-spend liberal, he kept the faith. "For all those whose cares have been our concern, the work goes on, the cause endures, the hope still lives, and the dream shall never die," he said in his most famous speech, at the Democratic National Convention in 1980, and he stayed true to his words.

FORWARD OPERATING BASE FALCON, Iraq - Gen. Douglas MacArthur had his signature corncob pipe. Soldiers got cigarettes in their C-rations during World War II. Even today, America's war on tobacco seems to have largely bypassed the military.

Now a proposal to make the forces smoke-free is drawing strong reactions from troops who have served in Iraq and Afghanistan, even though the Pentagon itself says any ban is a long way off.

The troops' fears - and, in some cases, hopes - were triggered by a study commissioned by the Pentagon and the Veterans Affairs Department that recommends moving toward a tobacco-free military, perhaps in about 20 years.

Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Janet Napolitano today announced new directives to enhance and clarify oversight for searches of computers and other electronic media at U.S. ports of entry-a critical step designed to bolster the Department's efforts to combat transnational crime and terrorism while protecting privacy and civil liberties.

"Keeping Americans safe in an increasingly digital world depends on our ability to lawfully screen materials entering the United States," said Secretary Napolitano. "The new directives announced today strike the balance between respecting the civil liberties and privacy of all travelers while ensuring DHS can take the lawful actions necessary to secure our borders."

Tip of the week: Organize your training sessions

With the current ammunition costs and busy work schedules, training sessions should be maximized to their fullest. How does one go about maximizing their precious range time? Before you head to the range next time spend a little bit of time to set up and organize a training plan. As with any plan you have to have a start point and an end point. Ask yourself the following questions before you begin.

To view the latest contract opportunities at U.S. Training Center, visit our Contract Web Page

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

Tactical Equipment Evaluation

I have written a number of articles in the past revolving around the prepared evacuation kit commonly referred to as a "Bug out" bag or a "Go bag". One of the more recent terms I've seen is the "Get Out Of Dodge" (GOOD) Bag. As I read more and more about the purpose of such bags – and the potential circumstances leading to their use – I am constantly adjusting what I feel I need to load into mine. So, this weeks' review is a simple "go over" of the basic contents and then some things I've been recently led to think about that are particular to different circumstances.

Full Story Can Be Viewed At:

http://www.borelliconsulting.com/evals/other/bugout09.htm

Recreational Equipment Review

A few weeks ago I wrote a review of the book "Patriots" written by James Wesley, Rawles. That book is a fiction novel that delineates, in several areas, specific methods for practicing survival skills after a societal breakdown of services. This new book, being released September 29th, is actually an instruction manual. It provides clear instruction and advice on such things as retreat property, water sources, storage and use, food storage and preparation and more. Anyone who read "Patriots" and felt that they wanted to know more about post-societal-collapse preparation would be interested in this book.

Full Story Can Be Viewed At:

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

THE DIFFERENCE

An American soldier died in Afghanistan on Friday, according to the Iraq Coalition Casualty Count, making August the deadliest month for the Pentagon. July now has the second-highest, with 44 deaths.

2009 is turning out to be the most tragic for Americans in the Afghan War, with 176 dead, far more than the 155 casualties in all of 2008. The United States has suffered a total of 806 military deaths since the 2001 invasion. The only other coalition members with triple-digit casualties since the war began are the United Kingdom, which has 207 deaths, and Canada, which has 127.

Kettlebell training is rapidly growing in popularity amongst general fitness enthusiasts and athletes.

Used by the Russian military and Special Forces, the kettlebell (or girya) has been touted as the most effective, efficient piece of strength training equipment available. Proponents of kettlebell training suggest that it increases strength, power, speed, co-ordination as well as core stability. Some even claim that it can replace several different forms of training and is superior to more traditional weight training.

Full Story

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.

Established in May 2004, the Injured Marine Semper Fi Fund is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization that has provided over 15,000 grants totaling over $32 million in assistance to our Nation's OEF/OIF wounded heroes and families. Since our inception, we have consistently maintained our program expenses at 92%, or above, and our fundraising expenses have averaged just 2 cents per dollar raised.

The Blackwater Tactical Weekly is a free weekly e-publication.

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

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

To subscribe to the Blackwater Tactical Weekly, Click Here

To view an archived of the Blackwater Tactical Weekly, Click Here