*"Truth Commission" finally goes away... and
US Vice President Cheney refused to back down on his former assertion
that
Saddam's had long-established ties to al Qaeda was based on facts - despite
findings to the contrary by the "September 11 Commission". President
Bush
backs him up.
*"The only good infidel is a dead infidel"
"Jihadists murder in cold blood an employee of the most persistent
Western
voice for appeasement with them. Has the world finally learned its lesson?"
http://jewishworldreview.com/0604/chafets_2004_06_10.php3
*We pass this along as received - name of writer not given (some of
you will
know...)
(follow up to June 7 Bulletin reporting this incident)
"All,
I ask in advance that you respect the dead. We will never know exactly
why
they made certain decisions, it's easy to pick it apart and second guess.
Don't. You don't know exactly where everyone was, where they perceived
the
threat, or where they were trying to go.
I knew every man, I've spent several months with one of them in Ramadi.
And
worked with the others as well. Not a knob among them, all locked on
and
vigilant.
Things are still murky, this AAR is built from three perspectives of
the
three surviving members of the Team. There are contradictions and differing
views. We all know how that goes.
A seven man crew was on a movement to BIAP. Two suburbans. One a Level
6
hard and the other soft. The rear was the soft vehicle. It was a gun
truck
so to speak and carried four of the guys.
While passing the first main overpass at a speed around 120K, six indigenous
vehicles merged alongside (their right). This is where lots of high
speed
merging traffic comes from. And is very common.
Without warning an RPG struck the rear vehicle at the door jam on the
front
passenger side, immediately disabling and igniting the rear vehicle.
It
slowed to a controlled stop.
Small arms fire sprayed the lead armored car. They had no principle
and
elected to immediately reverse and try to recover/extract their Teammates.
While backing up and coming along the left side of the suburban in
distress
(using the stricken vehicle as cover), Two Pajaro SUV stopped ahead
at 100M
and opened up with PKM belt fed machine guns, using armor piercing and
incendiary rounds. This destroyed the engine of the Level 6 vehicle
and
wounded a man in the lead.
The TL decided to unass the dead vehicle and they were now on E&E.
The badguys made a 180 degreed turn and came alongside for another
pass.
They came to a complete stop and engaged. Estimate 20 badguys on guns.
While
still being peppered by PKM from the front and now in a 30 Meter gunfight
on
the right they engaged.
They traded fire, the three still in the fight went through 3, 4 and
8 mags
respectively and throw 10 frag grenades on the cocksuckers. They believe
the
frags were the only thing that broke contact.
The enemy rolled off after collecting their dead and wounded (4 KIA
for
sure).
The three survivors rallied, collected ammo and distributed it evenly,
they
approached the vehicles and accounted for all the team.
They then crossed the median via foot, stopped a local, put a glock
to his
head, handed him 500 bucks and took his car. They arrived at CP 12 and
were
medevaced.
Some Points We assume: THE ENEMY MADE A HIGH SPEED PASS AND ENGAGED,
REALIZED THEY ONLY HAD TWO VEHICLES AND RETURNED TO FINISH THE AMBUSH.
This
creates the assumption of Command Control and Communication of a high
caliber.
The enemy wanted to survive and exfil as opposed to the Iranian Shia
TTP of
suicide, we suspect Syrian Sunni or Chechen hired guns.
Some other points: The Team Leader who was driving the lead vehicle
received
a gunshot wound to the head, two to the legs and frag wounds on his
face
from a grenade. He continued to fight, expending five frags and eight
mags,
he accounted for his team, made decisions, and ran 600 meters in full
kit
while shooting, AFTER being shot in the head. He spent several hours
in
surgery and is now recovering well. John "RAT" Ratliff. Everyone
owes him
beer and gratitude.
Sasha was shot three times and charged and enemy vehicle and tossed
a frag
in the window, ran past the others spraying into their cars from the
oblique. Treated and released for GS and broken Clavicle.
The third survivor had nary a scratch.
The four dead went out hard. There were thousand of shell casing and
two
bodies were draped over their guns still aiming at the enemy. The other
two
were found next to the car as they had attempted extraction and died.
All
died of massive gunshot wounds and were later burned badly from the
fire.
They did not die from the fire.
The family of Chris "Learch" Neidrich has been notified.
Chris survived a
fatal accident 72 hours ago, and was supposed to be going home yesterday.
He
volunteered to stay and help give the new guys time to learn the ropes.
That's the kind of guys Chris was. I spent months with him in Ramadi
Fallujah, I was his Team Leader and when I left he became the TL. He
was my
friend and a good man. The world is a shittier place without him.
Tex was with also a survivor of that tragedy and died. He escorted
Kato's
body with me to the morgue and sadly three days later he is in the same
morgue.
Teammates and colleagues. Take what you can from this. Learn, adapt.
Stay
vigilant, Stay aggressive and make the c*nts pay in spades." (supplied
by
Chris)
*Explosion Videos
Hey - go to this site for videos of explosions Jim
http://www.wmdetect.com/Library/Explosion%20Videos.htm
*Al-Qaeda Forms Drug Links
London Financial Times June 15, 2004 By Mark Huband
When chief warrant officer Jeffrey Fishel and his US Marine unit boarded
a
dhow crossing the Arabian Sea and arrested its crew on December 31,
Mr
Fishel's senses confirmed what intelligence officers already suspected.
"The
crew said they were fishing, but there was no smell of fish. And their
nets
were dry," said Mr Fishel. "We found some signs of narcotics
on board, and
then below deck was a thick block of ice. We dug through it, and found
a
false wall. Beyond that was 2,800 pounds of hashish." The drugs
seizure was
the third in the area in three weeks. Its combined street value was
Dollars
31m (Euros 26m, Pounds 17m). But as significant as the drugs seizures
were
the identities of those associated with its sale. Of the 33 people arrested,
10 are being held in secret locations not only for being drug dealers
but
because they may have links with al-Qaeda, US military sources say.
The
Arabian Sea seizures indicate that the global infrastructure that links
al-Qaeda's affiliates, sympathisers and Osama bin Laden's close circle,
may
be evolving into an organised crime network - or at least tapping into
existing criminal activities. Despite growing evidence of the links
between
terrorist cells and organised crime, law enforcers are still uncertain
how
to tackle this new aspect of the terrorist threat. After the US-led
war in
Afghanistan overthrew the Taliban regime in late 2001, al-Qaeda was
forced
to scatter. The freezing of about Dollars 130m of alleged terrorist
funds
worldwide, and action to stop charities channelling donations to the
terrorists, have forced activists to find their own incomes. The great
success of the war on terror has been in hindering al-Qaeda's access
to
these funds. By using the proceeds of crime, al-Qaeda can circumvent
many of
the formal financial measures now ranged against it. The drugs trade
is a
key source of finance in al-Qaeda's central and south Asian heartland,
partly because the export route from Afghanistan is well-established
and
accessible. (What was it they used to say about doing drugs being a
"victimless crime"?) Mayer
*Ramp-up to Greek Olympics SitRep (follow up to previous Bulletin)
"Regarding ATH, the problems are many. The C4I platform will not
be
completed in time©..only 21 of the 94 antennas have been installed,
per an
article in a Greek newspaper. The Greek Gov't trained 1,500 LEO's to
provide
close protection to VIP's (500-3 man teams). The LEO's who were trained
served in admin function and because of their contacts were able to
obtain a
spot on this squad. The training lasted fifteen days. Twelve days was
allocated to the CP function and three days was allocated to protective
driving. Once the training was completed, they all went back to their
desk
jobs and were not provided with the opportunity to acquire ANY field
experience! There is an existing VIP PSD squad that are well trained
and
serve on the embassy and parliament details, but will only be used on
a
limited level to support the "primary" squad.
The Greeks have repeatedly stated that Greece is secure. Why then does
EVERY
member of parliament have a full time LEO that serves as their PSO.
The
ministers and high level bureaucrats have three man teams.
Other issues:
GOV PSD's use their cell phones to communicate, not radios. This is
supposed
to change, but there is a shortage of radios and time to train.
Shortage of armored cars.
PSO's/LEO's are not proficient with their side arms. They qualify once
every
three years. Very few have received ANY tactical weapons training.
Most PSO's/LEO's are not trained in First Aid or CPR. AED's are not
part of
their kit.
PSO's/LEO's have not been provided with any additional DT training.
Most PSO's/LEO's do not wear protective vests, as there are not enough
for
the department.
Use of force policy is very restrictive. LEO's who have used lethal
force
were persecuted, consequently PSO's are apprehensive.
Most of their side arms are old and in disrepair. The former GOV had
contracted to purchase 35,000 semi-automatic pistols, but the contract
was
cancelled by the new government because of "suspected" fraud.
The standard
issue for patrol officers is a .38 caliber revolver.
Ambulance response time is on average 45 minutes. There are no MEDI-VACS
nor
a place to land the birds. The GOV did train paramedics to be dispatched
by
motorcycle, but neglected to train them to operate the motorcycles.
They are
now being trained.
Private Security Companies are not regulated in GR. There are no standards.
Security guards sometimes carry a baton, but usually only a flashlight
and
their cell phone.
Private BG's have a horrible reputation in GR. Many of them work for
the
"rich and famous" which means they have "diplomatic immunity"
in
Greece©essentially Carte Blanche to carry what they want and do
what they
want.
People who are sentenced to prison in Greece are eligible for leave,
usually
twenty days every other month, once they have served 20-40% of their
sentence. Leave is provided irrespective of the crime committed. Prisoners
sent to agricultural prisons are awarded 2 years for every year served.
It
is not uncommon for white collar criminals or the affluent, to park
their
Mercedes in the parking lot, after their 20 day leave, and walk into
their
cell with their laptop and supplies.
The LEO's were neglected by the former socialist government that was
in
power for approximately 20 years. The LEO's are eager and committed
but have
not been provided with the training or tools to succeed. The Greek SWAT
Team
and Special Forces are excellent, but there are not enough of them to
provide the necessary level of coverage. The RSO is well aware of these
issues, hence our insistence that we protect our athletes and VIP's.
*....and...
"A second group of Greek military specialists finished training
Friday in
the Czech Republic on preventing and responding to potential chemical
attacks at this summer's Olympic Games in Athens, Agence France-Presse
reported. Two teams of 24 soldiers each received a week of training,
which
included working with substances such as sarin, soman, VX and mustard
gases,
according to the Czech Defense Ministry." (a whole week????)
http://www.nti.org/d%5Fnewswire/issues/2004/6/14/de3f992c%2D612f%2D407d%...
b2%2Dc20d1c6fd37a.html
*US warns of suicide bombing threats in Kabul
Friday June 18, 10:10 AM AFP The United States warned US citizens in
Afghanistan that militants may be planning suicide bombings in the capital
and advised them to avoid certain areas of city. The State Department,
through the US embassy in Kabul, said it had information that possible
attacks would target foreigners and urged Americans to exercise caution
throughout the city. "Information received from the international
community
indicates a threat towards foreigners of suicide bombing attacks targeting
Chicken Street, Mahmood Khan Bridge and/or the Police Academy,"
the embassy
said. "We advise you to avoid all movements in the aforementioned
areas," it
said in a notice to US citizens, a copy of which was provided to AFP
in
Washington by the State Department. "Furthermore we urge caution
in
movements near other potential target areas," the embassy said.
Those
include government buildings, Afghan and foreign military facilities,
restaurants, Internet cafes and markets, according to the notice.
*Australia to host first 15-nation special forces meet on terrorism
Special forces officers from the United States and 14 Asia-Pacific nations
are set to hold an unprecedented meeting in Australia to coordinate
their
battle against terrorism, officials said Wednesday. Australian Defense
Minister Robert Hill will open the inaugural "Australian Regional
Special
Forces and Counter-Terrorism Conference" on Thursday in the town
of Bowral
south of Sydney, his office said in a statement. "The conference
provides an
opportunity for senior counter-terrorism officials to establish links
and
share information regarding national counter-terrorism response mechanisms
and the capabilities of Special Forces counter-terrorism units,"
it said.
The three-day meeting will involve special forces and counter-terrorism
officials from Australia, Brunei, Cambodia, China, India, Indonesia,
Japan,
Malaysia, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, the Philippines, Singapore,
Thailand, Vietnam and the United States. (Ought to be one hell of a
fight! )
*The "No Fly" List
June 15 - A federal judge on Tuesday accused the federal government
of using
"frivolous claims" to avoid publicly disclosing who is banned
from boarding
airplanes because of terrorism concerns. The sharply worded accusation
came
in a lawsuit brought by the American Civil Liberties Union and others
seeking to find out how hundreds of people wound up on the government's
"no
fly" list after the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001. The list of banned
passengers
has been a frequent target for civil rights advocates who accuse the
Bush
administration of using excessive secrecy in its campaign against terrorism.
The judge who is hearing the lawsuit, Charles R. Breyer of Federal District
Court in San Francisco, said in an opinion released Tuesday that he
had
privately reviewed voluminous government materials and that in many
cases,
government lawyers did not appear to have met their burden of proving
that
the material was exempt from the Freedom of Information Act. (I was
OK until
"Judge in San Francisco"....)
http://www.nytimes.com/2004/06/16/politics/16flight.html
- end bulletin -
