Richard Disney

This is interesting to me because I was directly involved in looking for Karadzic in Bosnia and his military commander Ratko Maladic near Hans Piezak in the Bosnian Serb sector. Our military sector which was halfway between Tuzla and Sarajevo and very wide west to east was some wild country. While serving with Task Force Silver Lion 2-68 Armor out of Camp Linda in Olovo, Bosnia we didn’t find Karadzic. Now I understand why.

I was in Srebrenica in 1996 and saw mass graves there. It was unbelievable and horrible to behold. I am very glad Radovan Karadzic was caught and I hope Ratko Maladic isn’t far behind.

Article follows:

By GRAHAM BOWLEY
Published: July 23, 2008

He grew long white hair and a flowing white beard, and, as Dragan Dabic, the former psychiatrist worked for years in a clinic in Belgrade, the Serbian capital, as a practitioner of alternative medicine. He even lectured at local community centers.

“How convincing his false identity was, we can tell you that he has been freely walking in the city, ” said Serbia’s war crimes prosecutor, Vladimir Vukcevic, on Tuesday. “Even the people he rented a flat from were unaware of who he was.”

The secret life was very different from his years as the outspoken, clean-shaven leader — with a prominent square jaw and a distinctive shock of grey hair — of Bosnian Serb forces during the 1990s.

But on Monday his false identity was broken, his mask pulled away, and secret police officers arrested Radovan Karadzic, one of the world’s most wanted war criminals for his part in the massacre of nearly 8,000 Muslim men and boys in Srebrenica in 1995.

He had been sought by international prosecutors since he vanished from view in 1996.All along, he was said to have eluded arrest by disguising himself as a Serbian Orthodox priest and by hiding out in caves in the mountains of eastern Bosnia and in monasteries.

But details provided by Serbian officials for the first time on Tuesday showed that, at least for some of those years, one of the accused architects of Europe’s worst massacre since World War II had been hiding in Serbia in plain sight.

Serbian officials said he had transformed his identity and appearance so successfully that he was able to walk out freely in public. He used false documents and false identities, and most recently lived in New Belgrade, a working class neighborhood of the capital that is known as a stronghold of Serbia’s radical far-right party.

Click here to read entire article: For Bosnian Serb, a Life of Hiding in Plain Sight - NYTimes.com

Tags: bosnia, serb, radovan karadzic, ratko maladic, hans piezak, srebrenica, 1996, olovo, bosnia, camp linda, 2-68 armor, silver lions

Things must be improving in Iraq when the Main Stream Media starts publishing stories like this.

Article follows:

BAGHDAD, Iraq (AP) — Spc. Grover Gebhart has spent nine months at a small post on a Sunni-Shiite fault line in western Baghdad. But the 21-year-old soldier on his first tour in Iraq feels he’s missing the real war — in Afghanistan, where his brother is fighting the Taliban.

Military officials say violence in Iraq is at its lowest point in the past four years.Military officials say violence in Iraq is at its lowest point in the past four years.

With violence in Iraq at its lowest level in four years and the war in Afghanistan at a peak, the soldiers serving at patrol station Maverick say Gebhart’s view is increasingly common, especially among younger soldiers looking to prove themselves in battle.

“I’ve heard it a lot since I got here,” said 2nd Lt. Karl Kuechenmeister, a 2007 graduate of the U.S. Military Academy at West Point who arrived in Iraq about a week ago.

Soldiers who have experienced combat stress note that it is usually young soldiers on their first tour who most want to get on the battlefield. They say it is hard to communicate the horrors of war to those who have not actually experienced it.

“These kids are just being young,” said Sgt. Christopher Janis, who is only 23 but is on his third tour in Iraq. “They say they want to get into battle until they do, and then they won’t want it anymore.”That soldiers are looking elsewhere for a battle is a testament to how much Iraq has changed from a year ago, when violence was at its height. Now it’s the lowest in four years, thanks to the U.S. troop surge, the turn by former Sunni insurgents against al-Qaeda in Iraq, and Iraqi government crackdowns on Shiite militias.

At least 29 U.S. soldiers died in Iraq last month, and there were 19 deaths in May — the lowest monthly toll for American troops since the war began in March 2003. By comparison, in Afghanistan, 28 Americans died in June and 17 in May, but there are four times as many U.S. troops in Iraq.

American military deaths in Iraq are also down sharply this month, in a trend that could take center stage during Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Barack Obama’s planned visit to Baghdad and the debate over whether America’s main battle is shifting back to Afghanistan.

Click here to read entire article: Quiet Iraq streets leave soldiers yearning for Afghanistan - CNN.com

Tags: iraq, war on terror, u.s. army, afghanistan, baghdad, soldier, military, alqiada, barack obama

The U.S. Army Rangers deserve much more praise and attention than they get from American society and media. Rangers are the Army’s primary raiders. Raids are one of the most dangerous missions there is. Rangers Lead the Way!

Article follows:

By Mike Manhatton

SAVANNAH, GA (WTOC) - We very rarely hear about United States Army Rangers. But our nation and our world, would be a very different, and likely a much more dangerous place without them.

The 1st Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment is based at Hunter Army Airfield and just recently changed commanders. We offer a WTOC Military Salute to the man who’s lead them through years of the war on terror, Col. Lee Rudacille.

The very public ceremony, in the middle of Forsyth Park, is a rare chance to see some 800 of our finest soldiers marching to honor one of their own, and a time-tested military tradition. The change of command, symbolized by Col. Lee Rudacille handing the colors over to incoming commander, Lt. Col. Brian Mennes.

A time to remember and honor Col. Rudacille’s leadership. Col. Richard Clarke knows all about leading Rangers. He’s the current commander of the entire Ranger Regiment. He’s also served in the unit based at Hunter.

Col. Clarke reminded the gathering of the hard work Col. Rudacille and his Rangers have taken in the global war on terror. “For the past two years, enduring three combat deployments, Lee has ably lead this battalion through some of the toughest parts of the fight,” said Col. Clarke.

Tough isn’t a strong enough word for it. Col. Rudacille obviously can’t talk about the details, but did sum up the missions for his Rangers. “Over the course of 1,000 raids, they captured or killed over 3,000 insurgents,” said Col. Rudacille. “You have forever changed the fight against extremism.

“Col. Clarke pointed out just how challenging that can be. “While deployed all night, every night, they went on literally thousands of raids, by helicopter, by vehicle, by foot and in some cases on boat assault,” said Col. Clarke. “Yes, Rangers were doing boat assault, against the world’s most valuable, dangerous and elusive targets, in the worst areas, under the most threatening and demanding operational conditions.

“Col. Rudacille bid farewell with honors for his soldiers. “The credit for this battalions achievements belongs to the Rangers in the field, who not only entered the arena time and time again, and emerged victorious,” said Col. Rudacille. “May God bless, continue to bless, this great battalion, our Army, and our nation. Rangers lead the way!”

WTOC, Savannah, Georgia, news, weather and sports | Military Salute: Col. Lee Rudacille

Tags: rangers, u.s. army, col clarke, col rudacille, honor, change of command, hunter army airfield, military, war on terror, raid

I think so many Americans have become dependent on government largess that they forget the meaning of Independence Day.

The 4th of July is celebrated because after the American Colonies had petitioned the King of England for redress without favorable consideration for many years, the Colonial leaders made the decision that unjust rule was sufficient reason for a People to rule themselves.

Everyone should read the Declaration of Independence at least once a year and this is a great day to do it!

Don’t just read the resounding opening lines– read the whole thing.

Read the damning point-by-point indictment of King George’s gross misrule and petty tyrannies.

“In every stage of these Oppressions We have Petitioned for Redress in the most humble terms: Our repeated Petitions have been answered only by repeated injury. A Prince, whose character is thus marked by every act which may define a Tyrant, is unfit to be the ruler of a free people.”

(Realize that those were fighting words that could have put the signers of the Declaration to death.)

So definitely enjoy the blessings of liberty! Enjoy the cook-outs, the fireworks, the beer, and the guns too. Remember to shoot the guns before drinking the beer!

Raise a glass or two to the health of our Armed Forces, to the glory of the United States, and damnation to our enemies.

Tags: independenceday, 4th of july, liberty, armed forces, declaration of independence, king george, tyrannies, cook-outs, fireworks, beer, guns, shoot

A wholehearted thank you goes out to all the service members that make so many sacrifices to protect all Americans. I will raise glasses in salute to our Armed Forces for their health and wellness.

Article follows:

BAGHDAD – How are you spending your 4th of July holiday?

While most Americans probably slept, 1,215 Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, and Marines raised their right hands and committed to a combined 5,500 years of additional service during the largest reenlistment ceremony in the history of the American military.

Beneath a large American flag which dwarfed even the enormous chandelier that Saddam Hussein had built for the Al Faw Palace, members of all services, representing all 50 states took the oath administered by Gen. David Petraeus, Commander of Multi-National Forces Iraq.

Petraeus, reiterating earlier remarks made by Command Sergeant Major Hill, said that the unprecedented ceremony sends a “message to friend and foe alike.” He told those assembled that it is “impossible to calculate the value of what you are giving to our country . . . For no bonus, no matter the size, can adequately compensate you for the contribution each of you makes as a custodian of our nation’s defenses.”

Last year Gen. Petraeus, along with Senator John McCain, presided over a similar Independence Day ceremony. Then only 588 servicemen reenlisted. This year’s event, more than twice as large, saw the equivalent of two battalions extend their service in America’s military. Nearly the entire rotunda was filled with reenlisting servicemen, their voices drowning out all other noise. For two days the military members, flown in for the occasion from all across Iraq, have toured the elaborate palace where Saddam’s sons were said to have entertained friends lavishly and tortured enemies mercilessly in the basement dungeon.

Following the ceremony, they were treated to Chicago deep dish pizza donated by Lou Malnati’s Restaurant and flown fresh by DHL for the occasion.

Among those in attendance were service members from the more than two dozen Allies serving with MNF-I. Along with their American counterparts, each appeared in awe of the sacrifice of these incredible men and women. Each of the reenlistees knows full well the costs of war, and yet, they chose to stand with their units, their mission, and each other. It was as humbling an experience as I have ever witnessed.

On this 4th of July, while you celebrate around grills and coolers all across America, keep in mind the 1,215 who allow us that privilege.

BobKrumm.com » How did you spend Independence Day?

Tags: armedforces, reenlistment, 1215, iraq, gen. david petraeus, palace, saddam hussein, sailors, soldiers, airmen, marines, 4th of July

This daring rescue is great news! The Communist FARC rebels have been plaguing Columbia for long enough. This news is just breaking but it will be studied as a hostage rescue without having to fire one shot.

Article follows:

BOGOTA, Colombia - Former presidential candidate Ingrid Betancourt embraced her children for the first time in six years Thursday, saying the thought of them helped her stay alive until a daring rescue plucked her and 14 other hostages from the jungle.

“Nirvana, paradise — that must be very similar to what I feel at this moment,” Betancourt said, fighting back tears as her son reached over to kiss her. “It was because of them that I kept up my will to get out of that jungle.

“Betancourt raced to the stairway of the French government plane that flew her children to Bogota, throwing her arms around Lorenzo, 19, and Melanie, 22.

“The last time I saw my son, Lorenzo was a little kid and I could carry him around,” she said. “I told them, they’re going to have to put up with me now, because I’m going to be stuck to them like chewing gum.

“Betancourt, 46, was airlifted to freedom Wednesday in an audacious operation involving military spies who tricked the rebels into handing over their most prized hostages — including three U.S. military contractors — without firing a shot.

The stunning caper involved months of intelligence gathering, dozens of helicopters on standby and a strong dose of deceit: The rebels shoved the captives, their hands bound, onto a white unmarked MI-17 helicopter, believing they were being transferred to another guerrilla camp.

Looking at helicopter’s crew, some wearing Che Guevara shirts, Betancourt reasoned they weren’t aid workers, as she’d expected — but rebels. This was just another indignity — the helicopter “had no flag, no insignia.” Angry and upset, she refused a coat they offered as they told her she was going to a colder climate.But not long after the group was airborne, Betancourt turned around and saw the local commander, alias Cesar, a man who had tormented her for four years, blindfolded and stripped naked on the floor.

Then came the unbelievable words: “We’re the national army,” said one of the crewmen. “You’re free.”The helicopter crew were soldiers in disguise. Cesar and the other guerrilla aboard had been persuaded to hand over their pistols, then overpowered.

“The helicopter almost fell from the sky because we were jumping up and down, yelling, crying, hugging one another,” Betancourt said.The mission — in which many military intelligence agents infiltrated the top ranks of the leftist Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, or FARC — snatched from the the four foreigners who were its greatest bargaining chips, as well as 11 Colombian soldiers and police.

Defense Minister Juan Manuel Santos said it “will go into history for its audacity and effectiveness.” He also acknowledged the risks: “If this had failed, I would have had to resign,” he told Caracol Radio on Thursday.

It was the most serious blow ever dealt to the 44-year-old FARC, which is already reeling from the recent deaths of key commanders and thousands of defections after withering pressure from Colombia’s U.S.-trained and advised armed forces.

Colombia could be “at the end of the end” of its long civil conflict, armed forces chief Freddy Padilla told Caracol Radio Thursday. “We are seeing the light at the end of the tunnel.”

Click here to read entire article: Freed hostage Ingrid Betancourt embraces children - Yahoo! News

Tags: hostage, freedom, farc, columbia, rescue, jungle, columbian army, ejercito, u.s. special forces, training, communist, rebels

When reading this British news article, I detected some angst from the author that a weapon designed to obliterate terrorists actually works. Also down further in the article, there is a sense that the author would like to see a weapon that is more humane.

War is an ugly thing, it is even uglier when wars are lengthened by “humanitarians”  who make war “humane” enough to endure for longer periods. What is so controversial about a missile that kills the enemy? Wars are virtually impossible to fight let alone win when large segments of a population cringe at killing the enemy.

Article follows:

From Times Online by Michael Smith

British forces in Afghanistan have used one of the world’s most deadly and controversial missiles to fight the Taliban.

Apache attack helicopters have fired the thermobaric weapons against fighters in buildings and caves, to create a pressure wave which sucks the air out of victims, shreds their internal organs and crushes their bodies.

The Ministry of Defence (MoD) has admitted to the use of the weapons, condemned by human rights groups as “brutal”, on several occasions, including against a cave complex.

The use of the Hellfire AGM-114N weapons has been deemed so successful they will now be fired from RAF Reaper unmanned drones controlled by “pilots” at Creech air force base in Nevada, an MoD spokesman added.

Thermobaric weapons, or vacuum bombs, were first combat-tested by the Soviet Union in Afghanistan in the 1980s and their use by Russia against civilians in Chechnya in the 1990s was condemned worldwide.

The secret decision to buy the Hellfire AGM-114N missiles was made earlier this year following problems attacking Taliban fortified positions.

British Apache pilots complained that standard Hellfire antitank missiles were going straight through buildings and out of the other side. Even when they did explode, there were limited casualties among the Taliban inside, particularly when a building contained a number of rooms.

American Apache pilots overcame the problem in Iraq with the thermobaric Hellfire.The weapons are so controversial that MoD weapons and legal experts spent 18 months debating whether British troops could use them without breaking international law.

Eventually, they decided to get round the ethical problems by redefining the weapons.“We no longer accept the term thermobaric [for the AGM-114N] as there is no internationally agreed definition,” said an MoD spokesman. “We call it an enhanced blast weapon.”

The redefinition has allowed British forces to use the weapons legally, but is undermined by the publicity of their manufacturer, Lockheed Martin, which markets them as thermobaric.

When the American military bought them in 2005, President George W Bush said: “There are going to be some awfully surprised terrorists when the thermobaric Hellfire comes knocking.”Despite the Bush rhetoric, it is unlikely anyone targeted by the missile would know much about it. The laser-guided missile has a warhead packed with fluorinated aluminium powder surrounding a small charge.

When it hits the target, the charge disperses the aluminium powder throughout the target building. The cloud then ignites, causing a massive secondary blast that tears throughout any enclosed space.

The blast creates a vacuum which draws air and debris back in, creating pressure of up to 430lb per sq in. The more heavily the building is protected, the more concentrated the blast.

Click here to read entire article Army ‘vacuum’ missile hits Taliban - Times Online

Tags: vacuummissile, thermobaric missile, enhanced blast weapon, george bush, british army, ministry of defence, taliban

This article is most surprising to me in that it reveals rarely heard words when referencing a piece of military or naval equipment…”delivered eight months ahead of schedule and $54 million under budget.”

Article follows:

GROTON, Connecticut (AP) — The Navy’s newest attack submarine, the New Hampshire, was christened Saturday, delivered eight months ahead of schedule and $54 million under budget.

The New Hampshire will begin sea trials this summer and be delivered to the Navy in October.

The New Hampshire will begin sea trials this summer and be delivered to the Navy in October.The New Hampshire was christened by the widow of a pilot killed in the September 11 terrorist attacks.

“I believe I’m looking at heroes,” said Cheryl McGuinness of Portsmouth, New Hampshire, looking at the ship’s crew. “You all are my heroes.

“Thomas McGuinness was co-pilot of American Airlines Flight 11, which was flown into the World Trade Center’s north tower.

Navy officials, members of Congress and shipyard workers were among the thousands who gathered to celebrate the christening of the 7,800-ton, 337-foot nuclear-powered submarine, which will have a crew of 134.

“She’s a living, breathing soul who will provide a home to her crew,” said Rep. Joe Courtney, D-Connecticut.

The submarine, built by General Dynamic’s Electric Boat and Northrop Grumman Shipbuilding, is the third Navy vessel to carry the name of the Granite State.

“Now it’s time for this New Hampshire to continue the seafaring legacy of the ships before,” said Adm. Kirkland Donald, director of naval reactors. “We’ll soon depend on this crew to take this submarine into harm’s way.

“The submarine is scheduled to begin sea trials this summer and is expected to be delivered to the Navy in October, in a ceremony at the Naval shipyard in Kittery, Maine.

Navy’s newest submarine christened - CNN.com

Tags: u.s.navy, submarine, new hampshire, under budget, ahead of schedule

Very interesting! France actually returning to NATO after more than 40 years. Sarkozy is bringing a change in attitude if nothing else.

Article follows:

by Carole Landry 7:27 AM ETPARIS, June 17, 2008 (AFP)

President Nicolas Sarkozy on Tuesday launched a major overhaul of the French military, cutting back the armed forces, beefing up intelligence and setting a course for France’s return to NATO command.

A leaner, more mobile and high-tech military will allow France to confront new threats, in particular terrorism which poses the greatest danger, Sarkozy said in an address to some 3,000 officers in Paris.

Bringing France closer to the United States on defence, Sarkozy confirmed that France will soon return to NATO’s integrated command, which it left in 1966 when Charles de Gaulle rejected US dominance of the alliance.

“Today, the most immediate threat is that of a terrorist attack”, said the president in a defining speech as commander-in-chief.

“The threat is there, it is real and we know that it can tomorrow take on a new form, even more serious, with nuclear, chemical and biological means,” he said.

To face up to the threat, Sarkozy announced a “massive investment effort in intelligence” to make use of satellites, drones and other airborne surveillance equipment.

Click here to read entire article Sarkozy overhauls the military as France plans return to NATO - Yahoo! News

Tags: france, military, nato, sarkozy, return to nato, 1966

Here is a blog post by Major John Tammes directly from Iraq. His post follows:

Back in late March, I was preparing for something quite different than what I have done the past 2 ½ months. I was called into the colonel’s office and told “things in Basrah have really heated up and everything has changed.” I was then informed that I was to be sent to Basrah to assist a US team in the area, and I would also be working with the Iraqi Army’s 14th Division.

By nature I am a bit of a stick-in-the-mud. I try to get comfortable and find a routine wherever I am. Needless to say, this quite disrupted what I had settled into. I didn’t go kicking and screaming, but I was a bit perturbed. However, I was also interested and couldn’t really complain too much, as there were plenty of others in a lot worse situations than I. When I got to Basrah, the first “Charge of the Knights” had taken place, and the IA was readying for further operations into the city. I was then informed that I would not be staying at the large base at the Basrah International Airport, but moving out to the 14th Division’s HQ, at the then named camp of Mahmud Al Kasim.
I was the only American there. When I arrived there was a single British officer, 2 Lance Corporals and 4 Privates from the 1st Scots Battle Group/Royal Scots Borderers. A much larger Coalition presence was at the Basrah Operations Command. Somehow we managed to feed information to the Multinational Division South-East Headquarters and the US team I was there to support - plus help the 14th Division staff in anyway we could. The British officer was the Operations/Intel brains of the outfit, I was the Logistics and Civil Affairs guy. We both covered any other fields we could – Communications, Personnel, and the like. For one really stressful two day period, I was the only Coalition officer there.

Click here to read entire post Miserable Donuts: After the Charge

Tags: majorjohn tammes, iraq, u.s. army, basrah