Readers;

The word for the day is "late." As in, I am late in sending out this week's BTW. (I apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused.) I am also late in wishing a Happy Birthday to the United States Air Force. They celebrated their 62nd birthday on September 18, 2009 so belated Happy Birthday to the United States Air Force! I want to thank those brave men and women, in all branches of our military, who serve our nation and those who support them.

Stay safe.

Zach Taylor

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

- Ralph Waldo Emerson

Iran Insists on Its 'Rights' to Nuclear Program
September 29, 2009
New York Times
By Alan Cowell and Nazila Fathi

PARIS - One day after it said it test-fired missiles capable of striking targets 1,250 miles from its soil, Iran said Tuesday it would soon offer a timetable for international inspectors to visit a hitherto secret nuclear enrichment facility, but was not prepared to renounce its nuclear program or debate its "rights" to operate the previously undeclared plant.

Full Story

Call it the Rubber-Chicken War-the looming trade dispute between the United States (which has announced punitive tariffs on imports of Chinese tires) and China (which is threatening retaliation against American poultry exports). Against the background of the G20 trade talks in Pittsburgh, that contretemps made this an auspicious time to examine the age-old question of protectionism. Last week, beginning the fourth season of public debates sponsored by Intelligence Squared US, six panelists discussed the proposition that "Buy American/Hire American policies will backfire."

Those arguing for the motion were Columbia professor Jagdish Bhagwati, former U.S. trade representative Susan Schwab, and Dartmouth economist Douglas Irwin.

In a project entitled "Integrating the Interagency in Planning for Army Stability Operations," RAND Arroyo Center examined the question of how the Army can help make key civilian agencies more capable partners in the planning and execution of stability, security, transition, and reconstruction (SSTR) operations. The authors identify the primary and secondary civilian agencies that should be involved in strategic-level planning and implementation of SSTR operations. Then, relying on available information on Provincial Reconstruction Teams and using a variety of federal databases, the authors identify the skill sets needed for the envisioned Field Advance Civilian Teams and where these skills reside in the federal government. The authors then assess the capacity of the main civilian agencies to participate in SSTR operations and analyze the recurring structural problems that have plagued their attempts to do so. The authors suggest a series of options that are worth considering in order to improve the current situation. Even without much action at the national level, the Army can still improve the situation by improving Army Civil Affairs and by executing a well-thought-out strategy of liaison officers assigned to the civilian agencies most important for SSTR operations.

Tip of the Week:

Choosing a Holster

Choosing the right holster can be just as important as choosing the right handgun. Some considerations are frequency of carry, whether concealment is a factor and level of retention needed and the reason for carrying the weapon, self protection, competition shooting or just recreation. With an open carry holster it is a wise choice to have a positive retention device such as a hooded bale or thumb break. The friction only retention allows for a faster draw in an emergency however the possibility of the weapon being taken during a altercation is increased. With a concealed inside the waistband holster a ridged construction will allow easier one handed return to the holster. However with some users this may cause discomfort. Some quality leather in the waistband holsters allow for comfort but have an insert that holds the top of the holster open for quick re-holstering. There are a wide variety of styles and manufacturers on the market so it is worth the time to research and test a variety before purchasing. Quality and construction is a must also, better to spend a little extra on a well made holster than to buy a cheaply made one and have to purchase a new one. Typically people will spend the extra cash on the handgun and then go cheap on the holster. Having substandard equipment will handicap the skills of the shooter and prove to be a frustrating and counter productive. Before purchasing any system, consult a professional instructor or person in your area who carries a weapon for a living. More than likely, they have received professional training or already suffered with other substandard equipment. Be sure to consult more than one person and if possible, try the system before committing to a purchase. Learn from their experience, minimize expense and train with your system properly.

Chris Costanza
Firearms and Tactics Instructor

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Tactical Equipment Evaluation

Active Shooter Kit from Spectre Gear

Since the attack that occurred in Columbine, "Active Shooter" response training has been a primary focus in law enforcement agencies nationwide. Part of that training always includes information on what type of gear an officer should have available and ready to go when the fit hits the shan. From Spectre Gear comes a simple, modular "kit" that provides an officer the ability to prepare what should be considered bare minimums in equipment needs for such response. I got one; assembled it; packed it and tried it out in a few training exercises. Here's what I found out.

Full Story Can Be Viewed At:

http://www.newamericantruth.com/reviews/other/spectreasrr.htm

Recreational Equipment Review

I think I took my first armorer training course from Sig Sauer way back in 1988 when they were still headquartered in Virginia. Across the years I took more to include Beretta, Glock, Colt and a couple others. Inevitably I built up my own armorer's kit that contained the items I most often needed to work on the various handguns and shotguns that I would work on. No matter what type or caliber gun it is, there are a few common things you need to maintain them. The same can be said of necessities to maintain tools and knives. Sentry Solutions has put some of those common items together into convenient kits.

Full Story Can Be Viewed At:

http://www.newamericantruth.com/reviews/knives/classickabar.htm

FROM WHERE DOES IT COME?

What motivates the ones who go out into a life of duty that will require them to charge into the face of death? Is it for a cause... Some grand idea? Is it for personal reasons? Is it because of something that they are hard pressed to put into words that can tell anything to others?

The Relationship Between Caffeine, Physical Activity And Pain
Medical News Today
March 31, 2009
By Steven P. Broglio, Rachael C. Gliottoni and John R. Meyers

Stopping to smell the coffee - and enjoy a cup of it - before your morning workout might do more than just get your juices flowing. It might keep you going for reasons you haven't even considered.

As a former competitive cyclist, University of Illinois kinesiology and community health professor Robert Motl routinely met his teammates at a coffee shop to fuel up on caffeine prior to hitting the pavement on long-distance training rides.

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.

Operation Kid Comfort

Operation Kid Comfort creates custom-made quilts for children of deployed military personnel who experience grief from missing their mom or dad.

Created in 2004 at Ft. Bragg/Pope Air Force Base in Fayetteville, N.C., ASYMCA's Operation Kid Comfort is designed to address the emotional stress that children of military personnel suffer during a parent's absence from home, providing free quilts for children ages 6 and under and pillows for children ages 7 and older. To date, the program has made nearly 6,000 quilts for children of deployed parents.

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.

Managing Editor - Zach Taylor (ztaylor@ustraining.com)
Format Editor - Jennifer Granoff (JGranoff@ustraining.com)
Frank's Review - Frank Borelli (frank@borelliconsulting.com)
Chaplain's Corner - Chaplain D. R. Staton (chpln1@verizon.net)
Advertising - Jennifer Granoff (JGranoff@ustraining.com
All other inquiries – btw@ustraining.com

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