What is a War on Terror?

Many those who have been opposed to the recent combat operations in Iraq have been raising questions about how the removal of Saddam is vital in the War on Terror when there may or may not be strong links
to al-Qaeda. This question is bases on the erroneous assumption that each terror organization operates alone in its own sphere separate from outside intervention. Nearly all terror organizations do have some link o to each other and much of that link runs through our old adversaries in Havana and North Korea.

Over the past years some of the most notorious terrorist organizations in the world - PLO, IRA FARC ETA, FALN, Hamas - have been hosted and encouraged to open training facilities on Cuban soil by Fidel Castro. An Afghan al-Qaeda defector did report seeing Cubans training in camps in the Kunar province of Afghanistan. Five months before the attacks of September 11, Castro visited Teheran where he and Ayatollah Khamenehi stated that Iran and Cuba would defeat America, and swore publicly to destroy the United States. In May 2001, Castro toured Syria, Libya and Iran to garner support for this effort. This is why Cuba remains on the list of state sponsor terrorist.

In the 1980s, Cuba started an intensive search for atomic minerals in its territory. The search revealed uranium Northwest of Pinar del Rio, called the Hierro-Mantua ore, and early in the 1990s, Cuba was able to obtain Yellow Kake. Cuba has developed an industry dedicated to the specialized needs for the biotechnology, as well as the nuclear related industry. This industry assisted Iraq’s nuclear centers needs and provided Iran with material it could not purchase in the world market.

It is common knowledge that the PLO(Palestine Liberation Organization) has harbored Hezbullah-trained suicide bombers. Iraq/Sudan-supported PLO and Iran/Syria-sponsored Hezbullah have persisted in bolstering Islamic terrorism, threatening pro-US Arab regimes and Israel as well as other US interest. Financed and supplied by Iran, and logistically-backed and trained by Syria, Hezbullah has facilitated a deepened PLO-Hams-Islamic Jihad coordination. Hezbullah terrorists have been recently imported, by the PLO, into Gaza for training and operational assignments. In addition, Osama Bin-Laden, a veteran ally of Hezbullah, heralded by PLO media, established an Al-Qaeda outpost in Gaza prior to the attacks of September 11.

Those who research terrorism can easily trace the IRA's (Irish Republican Army) connections to the PLO and its numerous factions back to the 1970s and 1980s, when IRA and PLO operatives trained together in Libya and the Bekaa Valley. Recently, the IRA has been teaching Palestinian terrorists to build booby-trap bombs for use against Israeli soldiers, according to a British explosives expert working in the Jenin refugee camp. In addition, IRA operatives are suspected to have carried out a vicious sniper attack against Israeli citizens.

On August 11, 2001, two members of the IRA, who were known to be stationed in Cuba and reportedly on the payroll of the Cuban Communist Party, were arrested by Colombian officials after leaving the territory in southern Colombia controlled by the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC). On April 24, 2001, the House of Representatives Committee on International Relations published the findings of its investigation into IRA activities in Colombia. Their report clearly demonstrated a longstanding connection with FARC, mentioned at least 15 more IRA terrorists who have been traveling in and out of Colombia since 1998, and estimated that the IRA had received at least $2 million in drug proceeds for training members of FARC. Finally, the IRA has been know to have relations with ETA the Basque separatists in Spain , The PLO in Palestine, Turkish and other Middle Eastern Islamic extremist. In fact, murals in Northern Ireland have been found depicting IRA and PLO gunmen bear the message "IRA - PLO One Struggle."

Finally, since the mid-1960s, North Korea has been an ardent supplier of military equipment and expertise to governments and resistance movements throughout the Third World. The Middle East is the major market for North Korean arms, with most sales going to Iran and Libya. By 1990, North Korea had provided military training to groups in sixty-two countries. North Koreans are alleged to have operated Libyan tanks during the 1977 Egyptian-Libyan conflict, and some reports suggest that as many as 100 North Korean pilots and air crews were in Libya training pilots on Soviet-supplied aircraft beginning in 1979. North Korea's support for the PLO began in the late 1970s and included military training in North Korea and the supply of small amounts of arms.

This what a war on terror looks like. For those who claim that ideology would refrain certain groups from joining together against the United States are proven incorrect by the facts of History. Iraq may have not been directly linked to Al-Quida, but Iraq was definitely guilty by association. The IRA, PLO, al-Qaeda, Hamas, Hezbollah, FARC, Cuba, Iran, Iraq, and North Korea are ultimately all part of the same terrorist network. The Iraq military operation was as vital in the war on terror as Iwo Jima was in our war against Japan. Iraq represents the second step in an "island hopping" campaign dedicated to destroying those united against peace, liberty, and freedom. So, What is a War on Terror, It is a covert World War.

Will wonders never cease:

Will the Real Bill Clinton Please Stand Up!

In an interview with Larry King, former President Clinton said that at the end of his term, there was "a substantial amount of biological and chemical material unaccounted for ." He went on to say, "So I thought it was prudent for the president to go to the U.N. and for the U.N. to say, 'You got to let these inspectors in, and this time if you don't cooperate the penalty could be regime change, not just continued sanctions." Finally, President Clinton stated, "People can quarrel with whether we should have more troops in Afghanistan or internationalize Iraq or whatever, but it is incontestable that on the day I left office, there were unaccounted for stocks of biological and chemical weapons."

Addressing the manufactured scandal involving the allegations that Iraq was seeking uranium, the former President said: "I thought the White House did the right thing in just saying 'we probably shouldn't have said that,' " He went on to say, "You know, everybody makes mistakes when they are president," (I will refrain from making any jokes) Finally he said, "I mean, you can't make as many calls as you have to make without messing up once in awhile. The thing we ought to be focused on is what is the right thing to do now. That's what I think."

I can not comment on this story. I do not know what to say. The only thing my cynicism of Bill Clinton leads me to ask is what is the political play? What are his goals? Or, is Bill Clinton trying to establish an after the fact legacy like former President Carter has done? Only time will tell.

HEADQUARTERS UNITED STATES CENTRAL COMMAND
7115 South Boundary Boulevard
MacDill AFB, Fla. 33621-5101
Phone: (813) 827-5894; FAX: (813) 827-2211; DSN 651-5894

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

July 22, 2003
Release Number: 03-07-68


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE


STATEMENT REGARDING OPERATION IN MOSUL, IRAQ

Statement from US Central Command:

On Tuesday, July 22, forces associated with the 101st Airborne Division and Special Operations Forces conducted an operation against suspected regime figures at a residence in Mosul, Iraq. The site is currently being exploited. Four Iraqis were killed in the operation. We have confirmed that two of the dead were Saddam’s sons Uday and Qusay.

Now who will be the first to continue to call the current operations going on in Iraq a quagmire? All I have to say is, HAHAHA. After they announced the death of Uday and Qusay, I heard a Democrat spokesperson bring up the possible that this will hurt the President's credibility because this occurred on the same day that Private Lynch returned home.

Saving Private Lynch

WHAT? Do they believe that the President is such an evil genius that he could orchestrate these two events to coincide?

The one thing I did find interesting is the fact that 200 members of the 101st Airborne and Task force 20 took four hours to get four people in a house. I suspect that more people may have been involved and the results of this operation may lead to bigger things.

Much has been made about the supposed "guerrilla war" that is occurring in Iraq. The Media and armchair Generals, many of whom were all but declaring a loosing war or quagmire just two days into the war, are playing up the sporadic and isolated pockets of resistance in what is called the Sunni Triangle. Some are even invoking the curse of Vietnam to make their misconceived point that the US occupation of Iraq is in trouble.

The general definition of guerrilla warfare is operations conducted in enemy held or hostile territory by irregular predominantly indigenous forces. Vladimir Lenin provided a more complete definition by saying "Today as a general rule guerrilla warfare is waged by the worker combatant.... Guerrilla warfare is an inevitable form of struggle at a time when the mass movement has actually reached the point of an uprising and when fairly large intervals occur between the "big engagements" in the Civil War.... It is not guerrilla actions which disorganize the movement, but the weakness of the party which is incapable of taking such actions under its control ."

A general theme that runs through all successful guerrilla campaigns is not so much the tactics used, but rather the idea that an underrepresented majority is seeking to overthrow the power of a controlling minority. If one is to just consider the tactics used and not the totality of the circumstances surrounding the conflict, nearly any army, it could be argued, has engaged in guerrilla warfare. This Confusion is caused by leaving out the element of a popular political goal that leads to the confusion of asymmetric tactics with a popular uprising.

This is important to point out the absurdity of those who are comparing the current tactical situation in Iraq to Vietnam. Most people correctly call the Vietnam Conflict a guerrilla war. In Vietnam, the US was facing a popular movement to overthrow the French colonial yolk with the ultimate goal of unification. To achieve this goal, they used asymmetric warfare which gathered its soldiers from the general population. Those who are pushing to have the administration declare Iraq a guerrilla campaign are seeking to bolster their case that this war should not have been fought and to fabricate a public perception that the country faces the same result as in Vietnam. The fact is, in Iraq, we are facing resistance from a minority of people who tied their futures and success to Saddam. Their only hope is to continue fighting because they have no chance of success in the New Iraq. These people are joined by members of foreign terror organizations who see it as an opportunity to fight the US. The fact that nearly 3/4 of Iraq and the vast majority of Iraq's population support the overthrow of Saddam and the creation of a popularly elected Government makes the possibility of a guerrilla war nearly impossible. Those who claim it is now a guerrilla war are being dishonest and skewing the facts to fit their preconceived notions to cause support for a popular war to cease. These people are placing more soldiers at risk and harming the reputation of the United States.

"Moore" reasons to keep away from DISNEY/MIRAMAX :

Fox News

DISNEY/MIRAMAX is funding a movie made by Michael Moore called Fahrenheit 911. The film "will look at the United States in the aftermath of Sept. 11, 2001 and alleged links between the families of Bush and Osama bin Laden, the Muslim militant accused of coordinating the hijackings on that date. " " Miramax took over after actor Mel Gibson's Icon Productions withdrew backing for the production, the source said." And that is why I support Gibson and all his movies! What is DISNEY/MIRAMAX thinking? First a movie showing the US army in poor light(see below) and now a Michael Moore "film"(lefty propaganda) trying to link the President to 911. I wonder if DISNEY/MIRAMAX would be so quick to pick up a film based on Ann Coulter's book

Treason

I suspect not!

On July 25th, DISNEY/MIRAMAX is releasing BUFFALO SOLDIERS Directed
by Australian Gregor Jordan. The film paints a distorted view of the American Army deployed to Germany in 1989.The movie is based on a novel of the same name by SUNY(State University of New York) Professor Robert O'Connor.

Drudge

It seems the director is trying to be the next Michael Moore(WHY WOULD SOMEBODY DO THAT TO THEMSLVES) by producing a Bowling for Columbine type review of the US Army.

Bowling for Columbine a Documentary?

I fear that, much like Bowling, this film will be considered a documentary and its mischaracterization of the US Army will be consider factual. If this film were to have taken a Kelly's Heroes or McHale's Navy comedic approach, most people would not have a problem with it. The Problem is, there is a motive behind it, and it is not Comedy.

In and interview about the Film, the Director said:

Interview

......."There are a lot of people now asking questions about this whole thing, (referring to 9/11)wondering whether or not there's wisdom or madness in what's going on at the moment. I think a film like Buffalo Soldiers forces you to be introspective about those issues. Also, before September 11, this was a film about another time and not really relevant to the here and now, but now, Buffalo Soldiers is actually very relevant."
Because of Bush's Iraq policy? (interviewer)
"Yeah, but it's also because of Afghanistan and the fact that more Afghan civilians were killed than there were victims of September 11. People are starting to think that this whole situation is pretty insane. Some are wondering who's worse, Saddam Hussein or George Bush? "
The director also said when asked the question Are people inherently aggressive:
"There's that quote from Nietzsche, which is how the book starts: "When there is peace, the war-like man attacks himself." I think this is a very interesting idea because there are a lot of films that deal with the horror of war and how war is a terrible thing, how it takes a terrible toll on society, but what I've never really seen dealt with in a film is the idea that war is actually necessary, that there are a lot of people out there who like war."

He obviously does not like the military and seems to be implying that all solider are impulsive, irrational animals that should be tightly controlled or not exist at all. I can say that I am not a fan of Nietzsche(the whole God is dead thing leaves a bad taste in my mouth), but to view the armed forces as mindless machines, incapable of controlling themselves, shows a COMPLETE lack of understanding of the armed forces and an intent to destroy what is not understand and therefore has contempt of.

In an industry where Mel Gibson is investigated and ridiculed for making a film depicting the life a Jesus in a favorable light,(

The Passion

) BUFFALO SOLDIERS is being wildly heralded by the liberal entertainment community Some are complaining because the release date was delayed because of 9/11. They claim that it is censorship and tramples on the Constitution. So, what they have done to Mr. Gibson is not? Once again the liberals show their hypocrisy, freedom for me, but not for those who disagree with my values.

Even the Name of the movie is offensive.

Buffalo Soldiers

were former slaves, freemen and Black Civil War soldiers, who were the first to serve during peacetime and helped in the Westward movement. They were brave men who helped shape the country and represented a breakthrough in race relations. The name of the title disgraces their memory and what they represented simple because the subject is depicting the Army as drug dealers and thieves.

I am not so naive to believe that all Soldiers conduct themselves in a Godly manner ALL the time. Nor am I suggesting that the military should be above investigation and free from scrutiny. But, portraying the Army as a bunch of drug addicted thieves and not showing what actual army life is like is dishonest and subversive. In a time when brave men and women are dying and sacrificing, this movie is portraying them as mindless animals. There are many questions that can legitimately be raised about political decisions with respect to war and foreign policy, but painting those who volunteer for service in such a poor light is dishonest and disgraces those who have fallen in service. Would a movie about the FDNY showing them acting in an improper manner ever be filmed? No, (and rightly so)because unlike the armed forces, the liberal entertainment community does not have contempt for the fire department. I can honestly say that DISNEY/MIRAMAX will not be getting my money for quite some time.

Glenn Reynolds over at

Instapundit

may be bring more attention to a very UNDERREPORTED story showing a

SADDAM/OSAMA CONNECTION!

The article was written by Federal appellate Judge Gilbert S. Merritt of Nashville acting in his capacity as one of 13 experts selected by the U.S. Justice Department to help rebuild Iraq's judicial system.

The Material part of the article states:
"the Americans have, so far as I am aware, have never been able to prove that relationship, but the president and others have said that they believe it exists."...An Iraqi lawyer replied , ''Well, judge, there is no doubt it exists, and I will bring you the proof tomorrow.''

The Iraqi lawyer produced a document that "shows that an Iraqi intelligence officer, Abid Al-Karim Muhamed Aswod, assigned to the Iraq embassy in Pakistan, is ''responsible for the coordination of activities with the Osama bin Laden group.''"

"The document shows that it was written over the signature of Uday Saddam Hussein, the son of Saddam Hussein. The story of how the document came about is as follows."

If this is true, this Story should be getting MUCH more attention and Glenn Reynolds should be given his due credit, even if he does put puppies in blenders!

Power Drink!

Does anybody remember this Story?

Washington Post

"A mid-level intelligence officer assigned to the CIA persistently questioned the targeting of a building that turned out to be the Chinese Embassy in Yugoslavia, but his concerns went unheeded inside the spy agency and at the U.S. military's European Command, a senior U.S. intelligence official said yesterday."

"Clearly the means of identifying the building was inappropriate, flawed," one administration official said. "The system of checks and balances didn't work."

The Gardian

"Nato deliberately bombed the Chinese embassy in Belgrade during the war in Kosovo after discovering it was being used to transmit Yugoslav army communications. "

I bring up this story to make a few points. First, to emphasize that intelligence and intelligence gathering is not an exact science. Often a best guess must be made based on a limited availability of information to come to a final conclusion. Secondly, to show the complete and overt double standard that is often placed on a Republican administration. No where in the reports of the bombing are there ANY discussions about the President's role in the bombing. Many of the reports talk about the CIA's role and NATO's role, but nothing implicating the President. Even the Republicans leadership did not suggest that the President and his administration acted improperly. Shortly after the errant(?) bombing, The New York Times, The Los Angeles Times, The Chicago Tribune, and The Washington Post had very little to say about the incident and in response to the allegation that the bombing may have been intentional. This same standard has not been applied to the current discussion of the claims made by the Bush administration that Iraq was seeking to purchase Uranium. Most of the major press outlets are making a concerted effort to show that the President of the United States lied about the Information. There is this story EXPLICTEDLY claiming that the President knew the information was false.:

CBS news

It is amazing to me how the press and the Democrats are SO quick to claim that a Republican President committed a treasonous act. Furthermore, these discussions are not helpful is solving a REAL problem, that is a breakdown of the intelligence community. Finally, these discussion are picked up by the foreign press and are irreparably harming the nation's reputation abroad and, like the anti-war demonstration that occurred prior to the Iraq war, are give aid and comfort to our enemies and bolstering their will to fight. So much for internal American issues stopping at our shores. I fear that partisan fighting and bickering will only make the global security situation much worse and place more soldiers and American citizens at risk.

Take a look at these reports from

XII Corps

"21 May. Period was generally quiet except for a few scattered incidents. At 0300 hrs this morning, trucks belonging to the 410th FA Gp were fired on just South of Grafenau. Fire was returned and one killed......The 90th Inf Div reports a sharp increase in the sabotage of communications during the night. Three telephone poles were chopped down vic (P272176) and wire was cut vic (P290048) (P215145) and (U365930) . . . There were two reports of sniping during period. Personnel of the 27th AAA Gp were fired on from the woods near Drachelsried yesterday morning. Appropriate action was taken but snipers had fled. A party of six U S officers were fired on vic Konusin last night. One officer was reported wounded. Civilians reported 22 May that an organized group of armed Gsoldiers is in Frymburk. . . 25 May. During period enemy activity consisted of cutting field wire four times vic (06071). Patrol investigating incident at present. 90th Inf Div: Polish and civilian informants reported 21 SS trs, armed with machine pistols ("burp" guns) vic Zfitiarn; investigation of report resulted in wounding of one SS trooper, while remainder fled into woods in the area; investigation continuing....28 May. 90th Div: Fire at Chemical Warfare Dump, vic Grafenwohr reported afternoon 28 May. Fire completely under control by 1800B. Exact cause of fire undetermined, though two German youths apprehended, who stated they were removing tar strips from gas crates for use in patching up homes. Approximately 11 civilians in area being held for investigation by CIC"

"The situation as reported from Kreis Vilsbiberg was typical of the entire Corps area during the period: 'In general the conduct of the civil population has been satisfactory. Transients and DP's have caused some disorder and unrest by plundering and robbing. Occasionally a firearm is displayed or used to terrorize. "

Is this Iraq 2003? No Germany 1945 after VE day!
Hugh Hewitt over at

Weekly Standard

has a more in depth analysis and more on this point.

Annika

has more on this also and more on Hewitt on her Blog

It is amazing how history can repeat itself. Very similar circumstances with the same 3rd Army(3rd Army is the army command component, ARCENT, of CENCOM) and the same problems. To those that are crying VIETNAM already, they should read history and learn restraint from it. I would go so far to say that the operation in Iraq is more difficult than the rebuilding period after VE day. In Iraq we won a rapid decisive military victory but have had no Political capitulation of the former Iraqi government, the nature of the combat left many former Iraqi soldiers alive and these are the people who have the most to lose from a new government, Iraq is proving to be a gathering for all foreign groups who Hate the US and these people are bolstering the already fanatical former regime fighters, and we have yet to kill or find Saddam. These factors give a small group of people who have nothing to lose the incentive to keep fighting. But I have no doubt that the Good Iraqi people and American forces will overcome these circumstances.

Well, it looks like the effort to Recall Governor Gray Davis may have been successful and the voters will soon have the opportunity to choose another person.

Total Recall?

At the dedication of my local County Court House in 1938, Judge E. B. Farr made the following statement, "Mr. President, Ladies and Gentlemen: We are gathered today rather to celebrate the completion of the Courthouse than dedicate it. It was already dedicated by you when you gave us power to build it......This is your Courthouse. Do not let anyone deceive you. You have paid or will pay for it, every penny. No benevolent individual or government has paid one farthing. The PWA funds which went into it are raised by taxation. And no one was benevolent except the taxpayers. I mention this only for the purpose of keeping us thinking straight. When farmers get checks for taking their land out of cultivation or for declining to raise certain crops, or people get relief for one thing or another it is not the benevolence of an individual or a combination of individuals but of the taxpayers." This emphasizes a very important point, ALL elected officials, and governmental activities are done on behalf of and paid for by the people. Elected officials sever at the will of and are subject to majority of people's demands, within the constructs of a representative democracy. It seems that a troubling trend has been occurring in the way Americans view the relationships between the People(electorate), the state, and the Federal Government. Very few, even those in the Government tend to believe that Governmental authority flows from the people, to the State, then to the Federal Government. The people give up certain freedoms and liberties, considering all people are born completely free, and enter in a Social Contract delegating authority to the state and the federal government to protect their health and safety. When a public official or governmental agency violates this implied contract, they are subject to removal and will of the people. I believe that John Locke and Thomas Hobbs should be required reading for all those who wish to enter into public office. Perhaps they would then understand these principles better, and better serve the electorate.

Today is the one year Blogiversary

IMAO

Check it out if you have not already read anything Frank has written. It is definitely worth it.

This time of year has a special meaning for people from NE Pennsylvania.
This year marks the 225th anniversary of the Battle of Wyoming and the infamous Wyoming Massacre during the Revolutionary War. On July 3, 1778 a contingent of about 300 American militia met a much larger invading army of British regulars, Tories and Indians in the Wyoming Valley near modern Exeter south of Scranton. The Americans were overwhelmed and driven into a panicked retreat, with the Indians scalping every soldier they could lay hands on. Warriors held down sixteen men, one by one, on a large boulder while a part French, part Indian “queen” smashed their skulls with a tomahawk. The exact number of men killed that night is uncertain, but Major Butler reported that 227 scalps and only 5 prisoners were taken. The several American forts in the Valley were surrendered or abandoned; the invaders killed many civilians and destroyed houses, crops, and cattle. Shortly after the Wyoming Massacre, General George Washington writes to General John Sullivan; "The immediate objects are total destruction and devastation of their settlements....[The Indian country] is not to be merely over run, but destroyed." This sparked off Sullivan's famed march from Easton, PA to up state NY in which he sought retribution for the Indian and Tori attacks on Americans. This story demonstrates what this Nation endured in its founding and places some of the stories emanating out of Iraq in perspective and helps some who take for granted their fortune of living in this Great Country by helping them understand that freedom and liberty are achieved at a cost, and that cost is often great.

Jonah Goldberg over at NRO has a good rant on how the Constitution should be "dead" and not "living."

NRO

The concept of a "living Constitution" is bizarre to me and seems very anti-democratic. The Idea that 9 all-powerful individuals can change the meaning of the Constitution based on what is fashionable at the time or what the NY Times likes to cover disturbs me quite a bit. When hostilities ended after the Civil War, Congress when ahead drafting Amendments to the Constitution to reflect the change in attitudes with respect to the rights of minorities. People wanting to ensure that the EXPLICIT rights granted in the Constitution extended to ALL did not engage in a concerted effort for the Court to interpret in the Constitution in a manner reflecting these values, rather the reformers in the United States used the political process to reflect the modern trend in the country. The fact is, a bill passed both houses of Congress, voted on by the people is much less controversial then a decree from Mount Olympus( The Supreme Court) to the people of the country. It is especially important for the political process to be used in dealing with controversial issues like affirmative Action or Sodomy laws. The Supreme Court ruling on issues that reasonable people can reasonably disagree on only flames the debate and polarizes the sides. When the political process resolves these issues, there seems to be more legitimacy to the ultimate decision. The power of the Supreme Court to Change the Constitution based on modern values should only be reserved for especially egregious issues and then only after the political process fails to resolve the problem.