tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-955273524757178757.post6232031203527226654..comments2024-02-06T08:33:52.695+02:00Comments on Eeben Barlow's Military and Security Blog: THE TRAGEDY OF AFRICAN ARMIESEeben Barlow's Milsec Bloghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08942119485068301545noreply@blogger.comBlogger86125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-955273524757178757.post-86381050014425392792009-04-04T13:39:00.000+02:002009-04-04T13:39:00.000+02:00These things are actually scary to see, Alan. Than...These things are actually scary to see, Alan. Thanks for the link.<BR/><BR/>Rgds,<BR/><BR/>EebenEeben Barlow's Milsec Bloghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08942119485068301545noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-955273524757178757.post-17596748929025630352009-04-04T13:19:00.000+02:002009-04-04T13:19:00.000+02:00Thanks, Alan. It certainly makes one think...Rgds,...Thanks, Alan. It certainly makes one think...<BR/><BR/>Rgds,<BR/><BR/>EebenEeben Barlow's Milsec Bloghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08942119485068301545noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-955273524757178757.post-31246035623448580042009-04-04T04:12:00.000+02:002009-04-04T04:12:00.000+02:00Eeben:I know you prefer to steer clear of politics...Eeben:<BR/><BR/>I know you prefer to steer clear of politics, but since this was written by one of your countrymen I thought I'd pass it along.<BR/><BR/>Groete, Alan<BR/><BR/>A warning to Americans; a message from a South African<BR/>by Robin Noel<BR/><BR/>http://www.milsurps.com/showthread.php?t=7507&highlight=robin+noelAlanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02155000096802114856noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-955273524757178757.post-32772857925232440412009-04-03T13:26:00.000+02:002009-04-03T13:26:00.000+02:00Why should we be surprised.New HQ Video Shows Amer...Why should we be surprised.<BR/><BR/>New HQ Video Shows American Leading al Qaeda in Somalia Attacks.<BR/><BR/>http://mypetjawa.mu.nu/archives/197048.phpAlanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02155000096802114856noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-955273524757178757.post-30003734173390299382009-03-26T17:14:00.000+02:002009-03-26T17:14:00.000+02:00Thanks, Alan. What I really enjoy is reading the v...Thanks, Alan. What I really enjoy is reading the valuable comments everyone contributes to each posting. It makes me believe that I am not wasting my – and every visitor’s – time. <BR/><BR/>Rgds,<BR/><BR/>EebenEeben Barlow's Milsec Bloghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08942119485068301545noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-955273524757178757.post-10507237459561350272009-03-26T15:03:00.000+02:002009-03-26T15:03:00.000+02:00Eeben and Jake:I enjoyed your perspectives and dia...Eeben and Jake:<BR/><BR/>I enjoyed your perspectives and dialogue reference the proper military applications issues.<BR/><BR/>The attached link and very graphic photos are a dynamic we're wrestling with right now along our southern border. Believe it or not, our military has not been brought to bear and horseback volunteer patrols are strongly discouraged. Making matters worse, the politicians are now pointing to cross-border weapons trading as a primary cause. Most here are confident this is only a canard, enroute to their ultimate leftest goal of weapons seizure. You have Beitbridge, we have the ditch but no one appears to have a solution.<BR/><BR/>Regards, Alan<BR/><BR/>http://www.boston.com/bigpicture/2009/03/mexicos_drug_war.htmlAlanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02155000096802114856noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-955273524757178757.post-66164692468381132802009-03-26T11:58:00.000+02:002009-03-26T11:58:00.000+02:00Well said, Jake. It is high time some people reali...Well said, Jake. It is high time some people realised this fact.<BR/><BR/>Rgds,<BR/><BR/>EebenEeben Barlow's Milsec Bloghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08942119485068301545noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-955273524757178757.post-15548121863761350392009-03-26T11:35:00.000+02:002009-03-26T11:35:00.000+02:00I concur. Both sides of this fence often fail to ...I concur. Both sides of this fence often fail to appreciate the other sides role and capabilities. Forces are simply tools for solving specific problems. Some are more akin to a 10-pound hammer and others have the ability to serve as a surgical scalpel. The fact is it's nice to have both tools and the whole spectrum in between in your toolbox provided you know when to use the right one. It's no more an either/or case than asking someone which is more important your lungs or your liver? The fact is you need both.<BR/><BR/>JakeJakehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07884597076606569906noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-955273524757178757.post-72014673706612666882009-03-26T11:24:00.000+02:002009-03-26T11:24:00.000+02:00Unfortunately, it is this very essence of civility...Unfortunately, it is this very essence of civility that has gone lost, Alan. It seems to be more a situation of civilised equals weak in today’s world. <BR/><BR/>You make a very valid comment re unconventional vs conventional. It is time senior officers/politicians realise that everyone has their role to pay and one cannot be boosted at the expense of the other. I too have straddled a couple of sides of the fence – conventional to unconventional (clandestine) to covert. I never cease3d to be amazed at how little kingdoms seem to be built – we are all supposed to be working for the same ultimate goal. Sadly some seem to not realise that.<BR/><BR/>Rgds,<BR/><BR/>EebenEeben Barlow's Milsec Bloghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08942119485068301545noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-955273524757178757.post-79226518299303237812009-03-25T23:20:00.000+02:002009-03-25T23:20:00.000+02:00Eeben and Jake;Having been on both sides of the co...Eeben and Jake;<BR/><BR/>Having been on both sides of the conventional - uncoventional fense, I concur with your assessments completely. While operationally, I cannot speak relative to the elite forces of other nations, SAS, Légion étrangère, Recces, etc. I can attest to, as you have mentioned, the dangers and consequences of both inflated expectations and an improper 'one size fits all' force application. <BR/><BR/>Another pox that I have witnessed is that of inflated attitude, or looking down the nose at the conventional force and common ranker as inferior or less a solution to the overall combat equation. Smith writes in 'Bitter Harvest', upon meeting the late Antonio Salazar of Portugal, "his actions were dignified, and everything about him depicted modesty, that characteristic which is probably the most important ingredient of civilized man." I believe Smith was spot-on regarding the civilized man. I would say the same programme applies to the soldier. Thank you both for your comments.<BR/><BR/>Regards, AlanAlanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02155000096802114856noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-955273524757178757.post-45229415042896978622009-03-22T10:30:00.000+02:002009-03-22T10:30:00.000+02:00The conventional military, whether we like it or n...The conventional military, whether we like it or not, will always be the mainstay of the ground forces, Jake, so I in turn, agree with you. <BR/><BR/>Costs are high due to the training and equipping of such forces, as are operational deployments. Selection poses its own unique “weeding out process”. I think I mentioned it before, but during our war, more than 100 000 men applied for Special Forces selection – fewer than 480 made it past selection. This was less than 1%. So, if selection is watered down, so will the determination and fighting ability be watered down. <BR/><BR/>Again, I somehow think that the plan may be to use SOF as a strategy and not as a deployment. I am always wary when folks expect too much from the Special Forces and see them as able to achieve the impossible. Granted, Special Forces from many nations in conflict have achieved incredible results – but those results were attained in a specific theatre of operations and the men were carefully selected, correctly trained and they did what they were trained to do. <BR/><BR/>Rgds,<BR/><BR/>EebenEeben Barlow's Milsec Bloghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08942119485068301545noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-955273524757178757.post-20213863761767468952009-03-22T09:41:00.000+02:002009-03-22T09:41:00.000+02:00Eeben's comments are, in my opinion, more precise ...Eeben's comments are, in my opinion, more precise than the original article. SOF of course have an important role to play and perhaps the U.S. needs more of them both in real numbers and a '% of total force' basis. But let us not fool ourselves into thinking that abandoning conventional military capabilities is the answer, it is not. <BR/><BR/>Secondly, the proposal to do this, while interesting, is simply not workable even if one decided it needed to be done. SOF forces are, as the article indicates, generally more mature (read: older with more experience). So you could not have SF without the conventional side in most cases. They are the pipeline to the SF community. Or atleast they should be. In recent years the U.S. Army has started a program that takes people directly into the SF community 'off the street' without the benefits of having served in the regular forces for 4 to 6 years. This is a recipe for disaster is not managed very very carefully. <BR/><BR/>Not to mention the fact that the training of one SF trooper costs 10X the amount of a conventional soldier. So unless you are prepared to pay taxes at a much higher rate and have enough citizens willing to sign 10 year enlistment contracts this idea is a non-starter simply from a practical perspective, putting aside its lack of tactical merit. <BR/><BR/>JakeJakehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07884597076606569906noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-955273524757178757.post-11639853855805960602009-03-22T07:38:00.000+02:002009-03-22T07:38:00.000+02:00A very good and interesting address Alan, but I do...A very good and interesting address Alan, but I do not agree with all of the points made, especially in terms of the comment “nobody in any military does this better than the United States Special<BR/>Forces”. Furthermore, I do not believe the modern war will be structured along the lines of Special Forces detachments.<BR/><BR/>Special Forces have a major role to play in most wars but will never be the answer to fast, mechanised warfare actions. <BR/><BR/>Whereas the US Special Forces, like many Special Forces men are trained to operate in numerous environments, they too have their limitations. My concern is that too much emphasis will be placed on Special Forces, the expectations will become too great to “perform” and this will lead to its own unique set of problems. <BR/><BR/>In a COIN or guerrilla environment, Special Forces do come into their own but they can never be the only answer.<BR/><BR/>Rgds,<BR/><BR/>EebenEeben Barlow's Milsec Bloghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08942119485068301545noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-955273524757178757.post-18185587231387289352009-03-21T19:24:00.000+02:002009-03-21T19:24:00.000+02:00Lengthy, but a good read. The Commencement addres...Lengthy, but a good read. <BR/><BR/>The Commencement address for the recent graduation ceremony of SFQC Class 242 was present by BG Sacolick, DCG, USAJFKSWCS, Fort Bragg. This theme was "What's so Special about Special Forces". <BR/><BR/>Since 9/11, there has been significant discussion on the need for America’s conventional<BR/>military forces to be more like Special Forces or “SOF Like”. I completely endorse this<BR/>proposition, assuming it is not a knee-jerk reaction to our current conflicts but a conclusion<BR/>drawn from our potential 21st century adversaries. There have been numerous forecasts describing our future environment- an environment without any peer or near-peer competitors, one in which our most likely threats will resort to an alternative to conventional military confrontation such as irregular warfare. Special Operations Forces are specifically trained and<BR/>equipped to combat irregular warfare, so I can’t argue with our military commanders when they<BR/>propose the requirement for more small combat and advisory teams along the Special Forces<BR/>model or that we need more troops who are culturally adept and comfortable working outside<BR/>the conventional structures of the Army or Marine Corps. Joint Forces Command recently created a Joint Irregular Warfare Center, headed by a Special Forces officer, to guide their efforts in shifting general purpose force capabilities more towards a Special Operations Forces approach to fighting. The Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff reinforced the necessity for more SOF-like forces when he said, "The one requirement that jumps off the page is the requirement for all services to be SOF-like--to be netted, to be much more flexible, adaptive, faster, lethal, and precise.”<BR/><BR/>From my vantage, that of a career Special Operations Officer currently assigned as the<BR/>Deputy Commanding General of the Army’s John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Center and School, the organization charged with assessing, selecting and training the Army’s Special Forces (Green Berets), I thought it would be helpful to describe the complexities associated with<BR/>creating Special Forces Soldiers and the unique role they will play in the execution of American<BR/>foreign policy both now and in the post-Iraq/Afghanistan environment. I chose Special Forces as<BR/>a representative example of SOF because they are the largest single component assigned to<BR/>the United States Special Operations Command.<BR/>One common denominator in the SOF community is the requirement to pass a challenging pre-selection screening process and/or qualification course. In order to attend our Special Forces Qualification Course, for example you must first pass a rigorous 19-day Assessment and Selection process where we evaluate three important qualities: Character,<BR/>SOF or Special Operation Forces describes forces of all services that are specifically organized, trained and equipped to conduct special operations. These forces are assigned the United States Special Operations Command of which the largest component is Army Special Forces, otherwise known as Green Berets.<BR/><BR/>Commitment, and Intellect. Character goes to a candidate’s moral and ethical foundation;<BR/>commitment determines the soldier’s level of physical and mental preparation, and intellect is indicative of their ability to conceptualize and solve complex problems.<BR/><BR/>Those few Soldiers who eventually become Green Berets have demonstrated the highest standards of discipline, dedication, integrity and professionalism. That is why approximately 73% of the young men who try out for the challenging year-long, Special Forces Qualification Course rarely make it past the first few months. We demand that each Special<BR/>Forces Soldier master hundreds of tasks specific to his specialty, plus an array of advanced<BR/>war-fighting skills that are critical for survival on today's complex battlefields. For example, our Special Forces Weapons Sergeants are trained to repair any known weapon, foreign or<BR/>domestic, and are able to make it work properly in our indigenous partners hands. They are also<BR/>trained to survey our battlefields, to identify the threats and to leverage the proportional force necessary to defeat the enemy, protect the team and accomplish the mission. Our Special Forces Engineers can precisely calculate and employ any type of explosives with the precision necessary to destroy enemy forces or structures without injuring their teammates who are<BR/>usually in close proximity to the blast. Our Special Forces Communication Sergeants can design<BR/>networks and establish communications with Air Force or Navy close air support aircraft,<BR/>medical evacuation helicopters, higher headquarters, and adjacent military units both foreign<BR/>and domestic. Our Special Forces Medics provide medical and trauma care to coalition troops,<BR/>host-nation personnel, and enemy combatants. They can treat one patient with pneumonia, and<BR/>perform a lifesaving field surgery the next, such as performing a tracheotomy or insert a chest<BR/>tube into a casualty. When immediate medical evacuation is not possible, they have the skills to treat, and stabilize the wounded, keeping them alive until evacuation is possible. They also<BR/>routinely establish local clinics where they offer free medical care to our indigenous partners<BR/>and their families. Some consider our Medics provision of care as one of our most effective methods in building host nation rapport. And all of our Special Forces Soldiers have the mental discipline to perform their duties under any conditions, in any type of weather, in or out of enemy<BR/>gunfire. They possess the physical strength to carry their 90 pounds of assigned individual gear<BR/>into battle, and if required, carry their wounded teammates to safety, because we never leave<BR/>our brothers behind.<BR/><BR/>If this was not enough, every single Green Beret learns a foreign language - hard<BR/>languages like Russian, Chinese, Korean, or Arabic, and then demonstrates proficiency in this<BR/>language before they graduate. But most importantly, Green Berets must demonstrate maturity,<BR/>judgment, courage, initiative, self-confidence, and compassion beyond what we expect from<BR/>members of any other profession.<BR/>In order to appreciate why these qualities are so important, we need to put them in the<BR/>context of our assigned mission which is to win the War of Terrorism. Recently, the Secretary of Defense, the Honorable Robert Gates said that “The most important military component in the<BR/>War on Terror is not the fighting we do ourselves, but how well we enable our partners to defend and govern their own countries.” The true beauty of Special Forces is that we are a fighting force inherently designed to execute the Secretary of Defense’s guidance. In other words, Special Forces Soldiers are specifically trained and equipped to assist the indigenous security forces of troubled countries and to build their capacity to defeat terrorism before these conditions become a threat to our country. This has been a core task of Special Forces since our inception in 1952 and nobody does it better. However, in order to accomplish this task, we<BR/>need access to these troubled countries, and this access requires a continued policy of Global Engagement - the strategic use of development, diplomacy, and defense to advance our political agenda in areas like economic prosperity and international cooperation.<BR/><BR/>As I alluded to earlier, the intelligence community agrees that our foreseeable future<BR/>guarantees to be one of persistent conflict between third world countries, insurgencies and<BR/>terrorist organizations, fueled by poverty, illiteracy, injustice, expanding Islamic extremism, as<BR/>well as competition for energy, food, water, and other resources. Although our homeland has<BR/>not been attacked recently, international terrorism is still spreading, and, similar to the Cold War, there will never be one decisive battle that will win the war and bring stability to the world. But I believe that a strategy of Global Engagement, employing Special Forces Soldiers, may be our best bet at winning this War. Terrorist organizations like the Taliban, Al-Qaida, Hamas, and Hezbollah must be defeated at the local, grass roots-level by a combination of development,<BR/>diplomacy and defense, hence Global Engagement.<BR/><BR/>Green Berets are the United States’ only trained warrior-diplomats, the only force we<BR/>have that intuitively understands the balance between diplomacy and force, and the only force<BR/>that possesses the judgment to determine which actions are most appropriate in any given<BR/>situation. We specialize in coaching, teaching, mentoring, motivating, and training local security forces, and we do this with the patience of a diplomat and in their native tongue. Special Forces Soldiers understand that the key to success is through “the indirect approach” - working “by, with, and through” host-nation forces, because ultimately the most powerful message is one delivered by our partners to their own people. Additionally, it is the ability to instinctively understand the equilibrium between the two opposite notions of diplomacy and force that makes our Soldiers so remarkably valuable and quite possibly our best military solution to the War on Terror.<BR/><BR/>In Afghanistan, less than 8% of our overall force structure belongs to a Special Operations Task Force. In one recent 6-month rotation, these Special Operators conducted hundreds of operations, engaging and killing thousands of Taliban insurgents. However, what is most noteworthy is that they also medically treated more than 50,000 Afghanis, delivered over<BR/>1.4 million pounds of aid, and established over 19 radio stations. They also distributed 8,000 radios, so the country’s populace can now listen to an Afghani voice of reason as opposed to the extremists’ ranting of anti-American, Taliban rhetoric. Granted, most of these activities were in conjunction with other United States government agencies, but Special Forces Soldiers were<BR/>instrumental in both the planning and execution of these activities and are usually the first ones<BR/>on the scene. It is not just food and radios, either; our Soldiers facilitate the construction of<BR/>bridges, schools, clinics, wells, and other critical engineering projects in places where other<BR/>government agencies would not dare to go without Green Berets by their side.<BR/><BR/>This effort is but one example of what is being duplicated around the world by other Special Forces Soldiers. As of March 2009, we have Special Forces Soldiers conducting various Global Engagement activities in 39 countries. Special Forces soldiers are not just training host-nation forces, but they are teaching their military personnel about democracy, human rights, freedom and dignity; while eating, sleeping, living, working, planning, and, if necessary, fighting with them. Our Soldiers, our warrior diplomats, are building a coalition of partner nations around the world to help share the burden of global stability.<BR/><BR/>We send our Special Forces Soldiers to the far corners of the world, working in their 12-<BR/>man operational detachments, isolated and far removed from any support or protection, other<BR/>than that provided by the forces they are training. Consider that responsibility - consider the<BR/>trust required to train those who provide the blanket of security under which you live, work, and<BR/>sleep. The men of the Green Beret live that reality every single day. This is the expectation that<BR/>our country places upon our Special Forces Soldiers, and this is what them special. <BR/><BR/>I would like to offer just one last thought on the uniqueness of Special Forces; one characteristic that resonates above all others; Special Forces is a family business. Our Soldiers develop powerful relationships with the men on their teams. This bond drives them to train harder, fight harder, and go further than they ever would have on their own. They are born into the family that begins during the Special Forces Qualification Course and continues long after retirement. This fraternity is inclusive of our wives and our children, as well as the wives and children of our fallen. In many respects, it is also inclusive of our indigenous partners that we train with and their families also.<BR/><BR/>Our future may produce more challenges than Special Operations Forces alone can effectively respond, hence the critical requirement for more SOF or SOF-like forces. However, despite the doomsday forecast we see in the media, the United States remains the most prosperous; power nation in the World and with this greatness comes responsibility. <BR/><BR/>Many Americans believe that our continued engagement in the affairs of our foreign partners is<BR/>counterproductive. However, our security and prosperity, as well as, the safety of our families<BR/>and our homeland are inextricably linked to the international community who consistently turn to<BR/>the United States for their own security guarantees. Right or wrong, the mantle of leadership<BR/>has been thrust upon us and there is no other nation more trusted, more suitable, or more capable to assume that role than the United States. It is also in our best interest to serve as the<BR/>guardians of democracy, while protecting trade, promoting finance, and maintaining our own<BR/>access throughout the world. This all translates into a sustained and continuous process of Global Engagement and nobody in any military does this better than the United States Special<BR/>Forces.Alanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02155000096802114856noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-955273524757178757.post-73789936078148393962009-03-16T06:11:00.000+02:002009-03-16T06:11:00.000+02:00It is strange how politicans want to hold everyone...It is strange how politicans want to hold everyone accountable, except themselves, Alan. But such is the world of the politicians. Ultimately, the armed forces need to be called in to rectify their blunders – and usually at a huge cost. <BR/><BR/>There are also good B&Bs other than Paternoster…<BR/><BR/>A great week to you as well, thanks.<BR/><BR/>Rgds,<BR/><BR/>EebenEeben Barlow's Milsec Bloghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08942119485068301545noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-955273524757178757.post-424309542005553152009-03-15T19:38:00.000+02:002009-03-15T19:38:00.000+02:00Yes indeed. Our politicians seem to have been extr...Yes indeed. Our politicians seem to have been extraordinarily adept over the years at picking the wrong side and leading everyone else to the light. I'm a hundred pages or so into Smith's facinating book, 'Bitter Harvest' and enjoying it immensley. A few of my former colleagues assisted the RLI effort a few years back...quite a few years now. Some paid dearly. And you are entirely correct. No accounting will likely be made this side of eternity. Please rest assured, not everyone here thinks like Carter and Young. Comrade Mugabe's scheme has worked so splendidly in Zim, we're now attempting to replicate it here! If it gets too unbearable here, I know of a lovely B&B in Patternaster run by two happy chaps who can cook up a storm. Enjoy your week.<BR/><BR/>Cheers, AlanAlanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02155000096802114856noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-955273524757178757.post-60500617603923304792009-03-15T08:17:00.000+02:002009-03-15T08:17:00.000+02:00Jimmy Carter and Andrew Young were instrumental in...Jimmy Carter and Andrew Young were instrumental in ousting PM Smith and installing Pres Mugabe, Alan. But, that is the nature of US foreign policy…Sadly, those two will never be called to account for the actions and the resultant situation in Zimbabwe.<BR/><BR/>Rgds,<BR/><BR/>EebenEeben Barlow's Milsec Bloghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08942119485068301545noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-955273524757178757.post-16224631743535710282009-03-14T15:52:00.000+02:002009-03-14T15:52:00.000+02:00Never boring Sir.Some interesting items coming to ...Never boring Sir.<BR/><BR/>Some interesting items coming to light recently, Mobile Training Teams (MTT's) in the 1970's, former President Jimmy Carter, Mugabe's ascent to power, etc. Your comments on the attached if you're obliged.<BR/><BR/>Regards, Alan<BR/><BR/>http://yidwithlid.blogspot.com/2007/07/mugabes-zimbabwe-reign-of-terror-jimmy.htmlAlanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02155000096802114856noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-955273524757178757.post-84593875894659212402009-03-14T10:25:00.000+02:002009-03-14T10:25:00.000+02:00That looks like a serious error of judgement, Alan...That looks like a serious error of judgement, Alan.<BR/><BR/>Let me bore you with a story: In 1984, I was part of our EOD/IED teams. We were called out to a suspect limpet mine on a fuel bowser. After we had gone through our RSP, under the watchful eyes of the police at a cordon about 500m away – it was in a busy part of the city, it turned out to be a hoax. Upon return to HQ we were asked at the debrief what steps we would have taken had it been a limpet. Without hesitation, my No1 said “Great big bloody steps – in the opposite direction, Sir”. <BR/><BR/>Although unrelated to your link, it made me realise how many people are “instructors” in something they know little about. The consequences are usually devastation.<BR/><BR/>Rgds,<BR/><BR/>EebenEeben Barlow's Milsec Bloghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08942119485068301545noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-955273524757178757.post-21046551184434291332009-03-14T01:39:00.000+02:002009-03-14T01:39:00.000+02:00Ever wonder what a G5 155mm HE round going off jus...Ever wonder what a G5 155mm HE round going off just below ground level looks like? Here's a Improvided Explosive Devise (IED) implant class that won't have to be concerned with the new Justice Department terms of reference or conditions at GITMO. The training session appears to have gone dreadfully wrong. A bit of.... red wire - blue wire confusion it would appear. <BR/> <BR/>Regards, Alan<BR/><BR/>http://mrusofababy.multiply.com/video/item/12Alanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02155000096802114856noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-955273524757178757.post-71808368457707312942009-03-11T12:28:00.000+02:002009-03-11T12:28:00.000+02:00If ever you get the chance to go to Madagascar, ta...If ever you get the chance to go to Madagascar, take it. It is truly exceptional. No, it wasn’t the Swedish MA – but close. <BR/><BR/>Pity the Army so seldom recognises what talent they have lurking in their ranks, Alan. Your Afrikaans is brilliant and with all of the practise you seem to be getting, it will only get better. <BR/><BR/>We are fortunate to have people such as Evita B, Zapiro and others who give us the chance to laugh when there isn’t much to laugh about. <BR/><BR/>Talking about Malva – we had some last night. A truly great delicacy, especially when served with warm custard and ice cream. <BR/><BR/>Thanks for your prayers. Ons waardeer dit baie!<BR/><BR/>Rgds,<BR/><BR/>EebenEeben Barlow's Milsec Bloghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08942119485068301545noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-955273524757178757.post-56318143450918654092009-03-10T03:23:00.000+02:002009-03-10T03:23:00.000+02:00I've never visited Madagascar, but I'm told it is ...I've never visited Madagascar, but I'm told it is indeed a hiker, kayaker, fisherman, outdoorsman's paradise. No snark or slight intended. No need to export our very own national pass time. <BR/><BR/>In reference to your visit with.<BR/>Pres Ravalomanana...."Again, he was told (by guess who?) that I was exaggerating the problem as there was no problem." That would be the Swedish Defense Attache of course?<BR/><BR/>My failing Afri? If you must, blame former EPP presidential candidate, the 'Darling' Ms. Evita Bezuidenhout. Watching everyone else laugh and being totally clueless led me to study, and struggle through Die Burger. I practice on a local restauranter from Durban. He tolerates me, and his wife's Malva pudding is to die for. We are richly blessed with nearly 30k of your kinsmen here in the Atlanta area. Back to Evita, your Pieter-Dirk Uys is a national treasure, as is Zipparro. If you ever tire of them, please send them on over.<BR/><BR/>Ek bid, en my vrou ooks, vir jy mooi land... and hope to return someday. Until then, I'll just keeping polishing my commemoratives, wahhahaa.<BR/><BR/>Sincerely, AlanAlanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02155000096802114856noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-955273524757178757.post-39337405762296825162009-03-09T18:18:00.000+02:002009-03-09T18:18:00.000+02:00Never been there myself, but I've been told by hik...Never been there myself, but I've been told by hikers, kayakers, etc. that it really is a nature paradise. No sarcasm intended. Oh the Afri....? Novice in the extreme, self taught Die Burger reader. Can you believe, the Army never saw fit to use it? I must have been the only one, who knew? Wahahha. Please blame one time presidential candidate Evita Bezuidenhout. Listening to folks laugh at Pieter-Dirk Uys was too much for me. I had to learn a bit. Deploring oppression would have been enough however, without a visit to Darling. I'm also a huge Zapiro fan. Please send both of them to us. We need some humour about now, voter's remorse, etc.<BR/><BR/>Geen boer, geen kos.<BR/><BR/>AlanAlanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02155000096802114856noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-955273524757178757.post-58058540098840286052009-03-09T17:01:00.000+02:002009-03-09T17:01:00.000+02:00Madagascar could truly be paradise, Alan. I recall...Madagascar could truly be paradise, Alan. I recall being asked to visit Pres Ravalomanana a few years back and warned him of the pending problem, which at that time was simmering on the sideline. Again, he was told (by guess who?) that I was exaggerating the problem as there was no problem. <BR/><BR/>Now, where did you learn to speak Afrikaans?<BR/><BR/>Rgds,<BR/><BR/>EebenEeben Barlow's Milsec Bloghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08942119485068301545noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-955273524757178757.post-50077467549942017012009-03-09T15:37:00.000+02:002009-03-09T15:37:00.000+02:00More trouble in paradise. I suppose it would be to...More trouble in paradise. I suppose it would be too much to ask for the wonks in Stuttgart and the UN to keep their noses clear of it. They'll be solving 'global warming' in Namakwaland soon.<BR/> http://www.khaleejtimes.com/DisplayArticle08.asp?xfile=data/international/2009/March/international_March652.xml&section=international<BR/><BR/>Lekker sojur tunes vir jou - http://www.khaleejtimes.com/DisplayArticle08.asp?xfile=data/international/2009/March/international_March652.xml&section=internationalAlanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02155000096802114856noreply@blogger.com