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This Week in the Blackwater Tactical Weekly…
Afghanistan–Pakistan Developments
Homeland Security–First Responder
From Our Friends at Total Intelligence Solutions If you are having trouble viewing this please Click Here |
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| QUOTE OF THE WEEK |
| “War is an ugly thing, but not the ugliest of things. The decayed and degraded state of moral and patriotic feeling, which thinks that nothing is worth war is much worse.” –John Stuart Mill |
| WEEKLY SECURITY DEVELOPMENTS |
Suicide Bombing Puts a Rare Face on Central Intelligence Agency’s WorkNew York TimesIn the fall of 2001, as an anguished nation came to grips with the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, a slender, soft-spoken economics major named Elizabeth Hanson set out to write her senior thesis at Colby College in Maine. Her question was a timely one: How do the world’s three major faith traditions apply economic principles? Ms. Hanson’s report, “Faithless Heathens: Scriptural Economics of Judaism, Christianity and Islam,” carried a title far more provocative than its contents, said the professor who advised her. But it may have given a hint of her career to come, as an officer for the Central Intelligence Agency specializing in hunting down Islamic extremists. |
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| U.S. DEFENSE NEWS |
What’s Ahead for American Soldiers in 2010Army TimesThe surge in Afghanistan, evolving missions and tighter budgets will shape the year ahead for the Army. For soldiers, 2010 may mean tougher chances at promotion, a new camouflage pattern for uniforms and better gear and training. Full Story10 Science Fiction Weapons That Actually ExistWired Defense Blog – Danger RoomSure, the gear may look like it came straight out of Avatar or Battlestar Galactica. But all of the laser weapons, robots, sonic blasters and puke rays pictured here are real. Some of these weapons have already found their way onto the battlefield. If the rest of this sci-fi arsenal follows, war may soon be unrecognizable. Full StoryArmy Studies High-Altitude Health EffectsDefense TalkClimate and altitude commonly inhibits the optimal effectiveness of service-members in many theater operations. In the mountainous country of Afghanistan in particular, service-members are asked to perform at thousands of feet above sea level, oftentimes hindering their cognitive and physical performance. Full StoryA Look Back at Stripes' Top Military Stories of 2009Stars & StripesThe first top is Army Sgt. 1st Class Jared Monti awarded the Medal of Honor, marking the second time the nation’s highest military honor has been awarded for actions in Afghanistan. The Raynham, Mass., native was one of four service members killed June 21, 2006, during a mountainside ambush in the northeastern province of Nuristan. Promoted posthumously, then-Staff Sgt. Monti braved enemy fire three times to rescue a badly wounded unit mate, Pvt. Brian Bradbury. On his last attempt, he was felled. Members of his unit said in his last moments, he spoke to them: “I’ve made my peace with God. Tell my family that I love them.” Full StoryNew Name for U.S. Joint Forces Command?Defense NewsU.S. Marine Corps Gen. James Mattis, U.S. Joint Forces Command chief, late last month pitched to Defense Secretary Robert Gates a proposal to rename the Norfolk, Va.-based organization, aiming to reflect how much it works with non-American entities and officials. The JFCOM commander wants "coalition" added to the organization's name, according to a Dec. 22 memo Mattis sent Gates. Full Story |
| INTERNATIONAL MILITARY NEWS |
Helibras to Upgrade Brazilian Army Panther HelicoptersDefense TalkHelicópteros do Brasil S.A. - Helibras, Eurocopter subsidiary in Brazil, signed on the 24th of December 2009 a contract to upgrade 34 AS365K Panther helicopters of the Brazilian Army Aviation. This is the largest service contract signed by the Brazilian subsidiary in more than 30 years of presence in the country. This Programme will lead to a new generation of Panther helicopters that benefit from the last technical evolutions developed by Eurocopter. Full StoryIsrael To Soon Deploy 'Iron Dome' Defense SystemDefense TalkIsrael's soon-to-be-deployed anti-missile system, capable of intercepting barrages of rockets, may shoot down one of the biggest strategic threats facing the country in recent decades. After successfully completing its final tests this week, the Iron Dome system, providing an answer to short-range rockets and artillery shells, is planned to be integrated into the Israeli Army within six months, officials said. Full StoryBritish Military Boosts Javelin Missile ForceMilitary Supplier & NewsThe MoD has placed a multi-million pound order for the infrastructure to support continued operations of its Javelin US-designed and built missile systems, it emerged at the beginning of January 2010. Under the terms of the contract, the UK armed forces will receive in excess of 1,300 Javelin missile parts, with initial deliveries set to start later this year and carry on through to 2012 Full StoryAfrican Counterterrorism Gets Greater FocusArmed Forces Information ServiceCounterterrorism in Africa has come into greater focus since the United States cited five African countries on a list of nations deserving more scrutiny amid heightened airport security following a botched terrorist attack on a Christmas Day flight. Combating terrorism in Africa is one emphasis of the U.S. Africa Command, the military’s newest unified combat headquarters, and its associated sub-commands. Full Story |
| AFGHANISTAN–PAKISTAN DEVELOPMENTS |
Russian Advice on AfghanistanNew York TimesThe length of the NATO operation in Afghanistan will soon become comparable to that of the Soviet involvement there. But the military actions we conducted 20 years ago differed fundamentally from those of today. We were fighting against the fathers of today’s Taliban militants face-to-face, whereas Western armies prefer to fight from the air. This allows them to save soldiers’ lives, but does not secure them from tragic mistakes that kill and wound civilians Full StoryCIA killings in Afghanistan Spotlight Jordan as Key US Intelligence PartnerChristian Science MonitorThe death of Jordanian Army Capt. Sharif Ali bin Zeid alongside American CIA operatives in Afghanistan – and the fact that the attacker was a Jordanian double agent – has forced the US-Jordanian partnership into the open. Although Jordan has been involved in supporting operations in Iraq and Afghanistan since 2001, it has worked to keep its involvement secret due to the unpopularity of both wars among most Arabs. But the death of Jordanian Army Capt. Sharif Ali bin Zeid, a distant relative of Jordan’s King Abdullah II, alongside American CIA operatives, and the fact that the attacker was a Jordanian double agent, has forced at least a small part of this partnership into the open. Full StoryMarines in Afghanistan Take 'The Village' to HeartLos Angeles TimesComparisons of Afghanistan to Vietnam are usually negative, but Marines in Helmand believe there are valuable lessons in the experience of 15 Marines who lived in a Vietnamese hamlet for two years. But for the Marines in this former Taliban stronghold in southern Afghanistan, a book about the war in Vietnam has become a guide for how to wage a counterinsurgency campaign on a small scale. Full StoryGates Endorses Critique of Military Intelligence in AfghanistanVoice of AmericaU.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates has endorsed a stinging critique of military intelligence efforts in Afghanistan written by the top U.S. and NATO military intelligence officer in the country. In a paper published this week, Major General Michael Flynn orders major changes to the way his operation works Full StoryUS and Afghan Forces Target Insurgent Leaders in the EastLong War JournalIn an effort to dismantle the terror networks, Afghan and US forces have killed or detained 23 senior and mid-level Taliban, Haqqani Network, and al Qaeda leaders in eastern Afghanistan since late last year. The joint forces killed or captured "23 key insurgents ... known for leading the planning and undertaking of deadly attacks directed towards Afghan citizens, Afghan government officials, ANSF and Coalition forces, as well facilitating the trafficking of fighters, weapons, explosives and money to support their terrorist activities," according to information released by the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF), the NATO command in Afghanistan. The insurgent leaders were reported to have been killed or captured between Nov. 16, 2009, and Dec. 25, 2009. |
| HOMELAND SECURITY–FIRST RESPONDER |
President Obama Orders Security Overhaul in Response to Failed Christmas Day AttackWall Street JournalPresident Barack Obama ordered his top intelligence chiefs Thursday to patch gaps in the way terrorism intelligence is distributed, analyzed and checked against watch lists used to identify potential attackers bound for the U.S. It was his strongest and most detailed response to the Christmas Day attempt to blow up an airliner bound for Detroit. "We are at war," the president said. "We are at war with al Qaeda." The White House also released details on how the alleged suspect, Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab, slipped through the intelligence net, used cash to purchase a one-way ticket and, carrying a bomb sewn into his underwear, boarded a Northwest Airlines flight with almost 300 passengers and crew. Full StoryTerrible on Terror: Airline Bombing Attempt Revealed Total Dysfunction of U.S. IntelligenceNew York Daily NewsIn advance of the report on the failed Christmas Day terror attack, the White House national security chief warned that the revelations would generate "a certain shock" among Americans. That was an understatement of epic and outrageous proportions. The administration's summary of how Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula slipped its operative through America's vast intelligence network revealed screwups and incompetence of the most fundamental nature. US Marshals Identify Deputy Wounded in Fatal Las Vegas Federal Building ShootoutLos Angeles TimesA veteran deputy U.S. marshal wounded during a furious gun battle that left a court security guard and a shotgun-wielding disgruntled Social Security recipient dead was identified Wednesday as Richard Gardner. Gardner, 48, was wounded on the left side by bird shot pellets during the Monday gunbattle, and was recovering at home after being hospitalized with arm, side and head wounds, U.S. Marshal Gary Orton in Las Vegas said. Court to Cops: Stop Tasing People into ComplianceWired Defense Blog – Danger RoomThe use of Tasers has become increasingly controversial over the last year, following high-profile cases such as the Tasering of a 10-year-old girl who had refused to take a shower and video of a 72-year-old great-grandmother who was Tasered following a driving offense. Now a federal appeals court in San Francisco has set down new rules for when police officers are allowed to use Tasers. In particular, the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that Tasers can’t be used simply to force a non-violent person to bend to an officer’s will. Obama Orders Air Marshal Surge by Feb. 1: 'Race Against Time'ABC NewsPresident Barack Obama has ordered a "surge" of federal air marshals to be in place by Feb.1 in what officials said was a "race against time," with other suicide bombers believed to be in the terrorist pipeline, although there is no specific imminent threat, federal officials told ABC News. Under a preliminary plan, the officials said the already existing federal air marshal force of more than 3,200 personnel would be deployed almost exclusively to overseas flights flown by U.S. carriers. |
| FROM OUR FRIENDS AT TOTAL INTELLIGENCE SOLUTIONS |
Afghanistan: Infiltrating the CIA’s Forward Operating BaseHighlights
On January 2, 2010 al-Qaeda’s commander in Afghanistan, Abu Mustafa Abul-Yazid, issued a statement regarding the December 30, 2009 suicide attack against the Central Intelligence Agency’s (CIA) Forward Operating Base Chapman in Khost province. The statement was posted on the al-Qaeda and Afghan Taliban linked jihadist forum TIS-587613, as well as commonly discussed among other Islamic extremist websites. While authored by al-Yazid, the statement was issued in the name of the “General Command of al-Qaeda,” suggesting it was issued and supported by al-Qaeda central. The statement by al-Yazid, which was made under the name of the Afghan Taliban, appeared to be more of a eulogy and praising the Jordanian suicide bomber and double agent, Humam Khalil Abu-Mulal al-Balawi, also known as Abu Dujanah Al-Khurasani, rather than a claim of responsibility by the organization, despite recent media reporting. However, given the sophistication of the attack and that al-Balawi was ordered by Jordanian intelligence and the CIA to infiltrate the upper ranks of al-Qaeda, we believe the organization was involved in the attack. We believe by praising al-Balawl and making the statements under the name of the Afghan Taliban, al-Yazid is fulfilling al-Qaeda’s traditional role of remaining behind the scenes and supporting insurgencies rather than commanding and orchestrating major bombings, allowing regional groups, such as the Afghan Taliban and Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), to claim responsibility. The preceding article is part of subscription service created byTotal Intelligence Solutions (TIS). For additional information, please contact Brad Slade at bslade@totalintel.com. |
| BUMPER STICKER |
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| FRANKS REVIEW |
Tactical Equipment EvaluationOh Crap GearLong time readers know that I have, in the past, written several articles about Bugout Bags, Go Bags, Trunk Kept Go Bags and assorted other articles on related topics. This past week I was presented with an interesting hypothetical: what if you couldn’t take a bag? What if all you had was what you were WEARING and your guns. What would that consist of? Naturally this is radically different depending on what environment you are, or you expect to be, in. Still, it seemed an interesting enough challenge to contemplate that I thought I’d share. Recreational Equipment ReviewTry Something NewFive years ago, after hearing me talk about it for most of our marriage, my wife decided she wanted to get certified in scuba diving. She’s loved it every time we get a chance since then. Both of us are licensed motorcyclists. We both enjoying camping (although she likes to DRIVE to the campsite while I don’t mind hiking / backpacking). My best friend keeps trying to get me to go skydiving. I just can’t bring myself to do it – and really don’t have the guys or desire. For all that, I strongly encourage folks to try new adventures and recreational activities. This week I thought we’d discuss a few, what it takes to start out and some of the better locations. The rest of the review: http://www.newamericantruth.com/reviews/campback/trynewrec.htm |
| CHAPLAINS CORNER |
THE SITUATIONI am in a very quiet place today. No noise but the warm air and the hum of the furnace because we are in the grip of a cold wave. Both dogs are someplace asleep and my daughter is in the hospital for an extended stay.I have contemplated what to say to you today. I have said everything I know that is important to the lives of Peace Keepers dozens of different ways over the last eight years plus. I am sitting here in the midst of peace and so very far removed from strife for the moment that it all has faded to a low roar in my mind and heart. That is good for I have needed the break from strife and crisis and so now I have it and the peace is so soothing. Here in the peace and quiet with the absence of strife I am able to meditate and consider all of you who will be reading this message after it leaves me. Full article can be seen at: http://www.ustraining.com/new/btw/chaplain/011110chaplain.htm |
| BLACKWATER PRO SHOP – On Sale This Week |
CLEARANCE SALE - Going quick, hurry before they are sold out
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| CONTACT INFORMATION |
The Blackwater Tactical Weekly is a free weekly e–publication. The Mission of the Blackwater Tactical Weekly is to provide readers with valuable information from diverse sources regarding tactical, strategic, and geo–political security issues. Editor–in–Chief – N Conley (btw@ustraining.com) Questions regarding US Training (252) 435–2035 To subscribe to the Blackwater Tactical Weekly, Click Here To view an archived edition of the Blackwater Tactical Weekly, Click Here |
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