October 2009 - BlackFive - The Network of Care

UN weighs in on Predator drone strikes

And shockingly decides they violate international law. I am sure there is a law somewhere that they do violate, and shockingly I don't give a rat's ass. I can't say for sure that we have signed any treaty or agreement that requires us to proffer...

Published Wed, Oct 28 2009 7:54 AM by BLACKFIVE

One tribe at a time

There is an amazing paper out by a Special Forces officer MAJ Jim Gant about how to win in Afghanistan which Grim references in the post below. It comes from his team's personal experiences and it is absolutely spot on. All of his ideas are well-grounded...

Published Wed, Oct 28 2009 4:18 AM by BLACKFIVE

Beyond COIN v. CT or COIN + CT: An Emerging Third Position

How many troops do we need in Afghanistan? Yesterday's publishing of State Department officer's letter of resignation brought us a practical expression of a theory: essentially, that the unified insurgency would collapse if we weren't there...

Published Wed, Oct 28 2009 2:31 AM by BLACKFIVE

Actively helping the war effort in Afghanistan- Spirit of America

I had the chance to meet Jim Hake of Spirit of America last Friday in DC. They have been doing tremendous work supporting our troops with items that help them accomplish their missions, largely in Iraq. Now they are making a civilian surge into Afghanistan...

Published Tue, Oct 27 2009 2:57 AM by BLACKFIVE

State Dept. Official resigns over Afghanistan policy

I applaud anyone with the strength to act on his convictions and this guy seems to deserve that praise. A former Marine Corps captain with combat experience in Iraq, Hoh had also served in uniform at the Pentagon, and as a civilian in Iraq and at the...

Published Tue, Oct 27 2009 2:28 AM by BLACKFIVE

History Lesson - The Iraq Surge

Let's start with the most excellent Cox & Forkum from January, 2007: Back at Cox & Forkum, there are a few cartoons depicting the trouble over the Iraq Surge. Here at Blackfive, we collected the wisdom of the left as they staked out debate...

Published Tue, Oct 27 2009 2:12 AM by BLACKFIVE

Filed under: Bust Their Chops

President must delay Afghan decision until after runoff

It is imperative that President Obama delay any decision on Afghanistan until after an upcoming runoff between current President Hamid Karzai and his oppponent Abdullah2 because A2 has very diffferent views about US presence in his country and will likely...

Published Tue, Oct 27 2009 1:25 AM by BLACKFIVE

Head Count

U.S. Army Sgt. 1st Class Scott Lund conducts accountability of soldiers before boarding a CH-47 Chinook helicopter in Logar province, Afghanistan, Oct. 12, 2009. Lund is assigned to the 10th Mountain Division's Company A, Brigade Support Troops Battalion...

Published Tue, Oct 27 2009 1:22 AM by BLACKFIVE

Filed under: Picture of the Week

John Kerry on Afghanistan- Allow me to disconcur

John Kerry spoke today at the Council on Foreign Relations on his cunning plan for A-Stan. He is not a bright or wise man and his plan basically involves kicking the can down the road and then cutting and running sometime before the next election, or...

Published Mon, Oct 26 2009 10:38 AM by BLACKFIVE

Valour-IT - TEAM ARMY - Please visit these Army blogs

Hooah Wife & FriendsThis Ain't HellLaughing WolfMail Call!Supporting the TroopsPure SurplusRighty in a Lefty StateBlatherationThe Thunder RunFrom My Position... On the Way!!!SignaleerLove, Mom (Notes From The Fridge)The SniperBrinestoneMilitary...

Published Mon, Oct 26 2009 6:11 AM by BLACKFIVE

Filed under: Caring For The Defenders

Valour-IT Kickoff! TEAM ARMY!

Today kicks off the annual Valour-IT fundraiser to get laptops with specific software capabilities into the hands of our Wounded Warriors. This year, we are leading the kick-off again, and Blackfive is leading Team Army with over 40 other sites. For those...

Published Mon, Oct 26 2009 4:07 AM by BLACKFIVE

Filed under: Military, Current Affairs, Caring For The Defenders

The Passing of a Giant

First, I need to start with a disclaimer: The following is my personal account and thoughts, and in no way represents the official position of Purdue, the Weldon School of Biomedical Engineering, the College of Engineering, Marketing & Media, or any...

Published Mon, Oct 26 2009 2:25 AM by BLACKFIVE

Filed under: Fallen But Never Forgotten

Pentagon wargames Afghanistan plans

As you would assume they have been, the Pentagon is reported to have wargamed the two most likely scenarios for Afghanistan. The exercise, led by Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, examined the likely outcome of inserting 44,000...

Published Mon, Oct 26 2009 12:47 AM by BLACKFIVE

Godspeed, Chris Rudzinski...

Blackfive asked me to stand up and post this for him- Chris' father Mike wrote in with the details of Chris' services. Previous postings are HERE and HERE. Even the Illinois Governor, Pat Quinn, paid respects. Matt's always said he's a...

Published Sun, Oct 25 2009 10:49 PM by BLACKFIVE

Filed under: Fallen But Never Forgotten

Ospreys Over Egypt

MV-22B Ospreys fly over the Egyptian coastline during Exercise Bright Star in Egypt, Oct. 12, 2009. U.S. Central Command conducts the multinational exercise, which is designed to improve readiness, interoperability, and strengthen the military and professional...

Published Sun, Oct 25 2009 4:22 PM by BLACKFIVE