Today's Bird HERE
Tuesday, January 31, 2012
THE WORD ON THE STREET
Read this article over the weekend in the WSJ: the story on the Station Chief who was KIA’d with six other officers in 2009, in Khost, Afghanistan – I first learned about OBL from the operation this woman ran out of an office in Alexandria, in 1997 - S.L.
For CIA family, a deadly suicide bombing leads to painful divisions
By Ian Shapira, Published: January 28
The call from the Central Intelligence Agency came on a December afternoon in 2009 while Gary Anderson was skiing with his three children. It’s about your wife, the agency man said.
Standing inside Eagle Rock ski lodge in Pennsylvania, Anderson pleaded for details. The CIA official said simply: Where are you?
We’ll meet you.
* * *
A Jordanian double agent’s suicide bombing of the CIA base received days of media coverage. The CIA had been tricked into welcoming one of al-Qaeda’s own onto the agency’s base, enabling him to detonate a vest laden with explosives. On television, pundits and agency retirees called the incident a catastrophe, Langley’s “Pearl Harbor.” Initially, commentators did not utter Matthews’s name, but they did describe the Khost base chief as a “mother of three.” Anderson felt that his wife, however anonymously, was bearing all the blame.
Five months after her burial at Arlington National Cemetery, Matthews’s name became public at a CIA ceremony honoring fallen employees.
. . . underneath, Anderson, 50, is seething. He’s angry with the teachings in the Koran that he believes incited the suicide bomber to kill Americans; he’s upset with the CIA for failing to realize that a prized informant was a double agent willing to blow himself up; and he’s hurt by the legion of critics, including Matthews’s uncle, who have questioned her qualifications for the job she was doing.
“The suicide bomber was a bad guy, but at the time, nobody could clearly see it,” Anderson said. “I think the agency prepared my wife to be a chief of the Khost base, but not in terms of preparing for this asset. This guy wasn’t vetted.” And the mother of his three children is dead because of it.
Read the whole thing HERE
Tragic for sure. Once again, Langley HAS to take the blame for this, not her - but they won't; she is their scapegoat.
The Head Shed HAD to have been involved. There were simply too many basic principles of tradecraft violated here – there is no way any single operator could be this stupid. The way I heard it, the brass at Langley were drooling at the bit; they TOLD her to bring him in for a love-in. A private in the 82d wouldn’t have done it like this.
The word on the street is that this thing was absolutely controlled from the highest levels. My source left the ‘CYA’ for this very reason; nothing happens in the field unless approved by Langley. It is THAT simple. They are the masters of CYA and shifting blame to operators when things go bad.
That is why I was never tempted to throw my hat into that ring.
CAG – the same thing. In SF we always knew we had more personal freedom than anybody else in the machine. That’s why I stayed SF; was never tempted to go CAG or The Company . We knew it was different for the National Level guys – they were under the microscope. We had 100% freedom of movement, 100% ability to make our own decisions on the tactical level. We could literally get away with murder.
An episode like this NEVER would have happened on my watch. Never in a million years.
-STORMBRINGER SENDS
.
For CIA family, a deadly suicide bombing leads to painful divisions
By Ian Shapira, Published: January 28
The call from the Central Intelligence Agency came on a December afternoon in 2009 while Gary Anderson was skiing with his three children. It’s about your wife, the agency man said.
Standing inside Eagle Rock ski lodge in Pennsylvania, Anderson pleaded for details. The CIA official said simply: Where are you?
We’ll meet you.
* * *
A Jordanian double agent’s suicide bombing of the CIA base received days of media coverage. The CIA had been tricked into welcoming one of al-Qaeda’s own onto the agency’s base, enabling him to detonate a vest laden with explosives. On television, pundits and agency retirees called the incident a catastrophe, Langley’s “Pearl Harbor.” Initially, commentators did not utter Matthews’s name, but they did describe the Khost base chief as a “mother of three.” Anderson felt that his wife, however anonymously, was bearing all the blame.
Five months after her burial at Arlington National Cemetery, Matthews’s name became public at a CIA ceremony honoring fallen employees.
. . . underneath, Anderson, 50, is seething. He’s angry with the teachings in the Koran that he believes incited the suicide bomber to kill Americans; he’s upset with the CIA for failing to realize that a prized informant was a double agent willing to blow himself up; and he’s hurt by the legion of critics, including Matthews’s uncle, who have questioned her qualifications for the job she was doing.
“The suicide bomber was a bad guy, but at the time, nobody could clearly see it,” Anderson said. “I think the agency prepared my wife to be a chief of the Khost base, but not in terms of preparing for this asset. This guy wasn’t vetted.” And the mother of his three children is dead because of it.
Read the whole thing HERE
Tragic for sure. Once again, Langley HAS to take the blame for this, not her - but they won't; she is their scapegoat.
The Head Shed HAD to have been involved. There were simply too many basic principles of tradecraft violated here – there is no way any single operator could be this stupid. The way I heard it, the brass at Langley were drooling at the bit; they TOLD her to bring him in for a love-in. A private in the 82d wouldn’t have done it like this.
The word on the street is that this thing was absolutely controlled from the highest levels. My source left the ‘CYA’ for this very reason; nothing happens in the field unless approved by Langley. It is THAT simple. They are the masters of CYA and shifting blame to operators when things go bad.
That is why I was never tempted to throw my hat into that ring.
CAG – the same thing. In SF we always knew we had more personal freedom than anybody else in the machine. That’s why I stayed SF; was never tempted to go CAG or The Company . We knew it was different for the National Level guys – they were under the microscope. We had 100% freedom of movement, 100% ability to make our own decisions on the tactical level. We could literally get away with murder.
An episode like this NEVER would have happened on my watch. Never in a million years.
-STORMBRINGER SENDS
.
Sunday, January 29, 2012
A JOURNEY BACK IN TIME
This morning I got on a train at Waterloo Station and went to Portsmouth to meet my Dad's colleague, an old friend of the family.
Matt was a British officer in the Indian Army during World War II. He led a company of Gurkhas in North Africa and Italy.
Needless to say, Matt is a charter member of Team STORMBRINGER
I haven't seen Matt since I was 15, but he has been following my career.
Matt is 88, and I found him still agile and mobile, happy and joking and smiling all the time. Incredibly, he hasn't changed a bit.
I told him we kids all thought he looked like David Niven. He laughed and laughed at that, and said David Niven came from Portsmouth, and of course they had similar military careers.
Matt was so happy to see me. Our plan was to visit the D-Day museum. As we drove toward it, Matt pointed out toward the Solent - the stretch of water between Portsmouth and the Isle of Wight - and said, "They say on the weeks before D-Day, you could walk right across the water, there were so many boats and ships lined up."
I asked Matt where he was on June 6th, 1944. He said, "Oh, I was a D-Day Dodger!" I know a little bit about what Matt went through fighting Germans in Italy, and he didn't dodge anything. Matt explained; Lady Astor was the first woman Member of Parliament. The legend goes that during the Normandy Campaign she blurted out something about the men of the 8th Army fighting in the Italian campaign as the "D-Day Dodgers"; implying that they had it easy because they were avoiding the "real war" in France. The Allied soldiers in Italy subsequently composed a bitingly sarcastic song to the tune of the haunting German song Lili Marleen; "The Ballad Of The D-Day Dodgers" - and Matt sang a few bars of it for me. I wish I could sing the way Matt does - I'd be a Rock Star.
When we got to the D-Day museum I asked, "Is there a military discount?" the young man at the counter said,
"For World War veterans, they go free."
"Good; two World War veterans." The young man looked at me like I was crazy. I pointed at Matt, then pointed at myself, "He's a World War II veteran, and I'm a World War III veteran."
That got a chuckle. "No, only the Second World War veterans get in free. This is the D-Day Museum."
They have an amazing embroidery that encircles an entire display hall.
Inspired by the Bayeaux Tapestry, that chronicled the Norman Conquest of 1066 - when William Duke of Normandy crossed the channel from France and became William the Great - thirty-four huge panels depict the stunning scenes of the world's greatest, most well-known and most chronicled military operation.
The embroideries are amazing; they are a significant cultural artifact, and they honor the men and women involved in the great Operation Overlord.
The official name of this incredible relic is THE OVERLORD EMBROIDERY
Matt and I had a grand old chinwag and reminisced about the Good Old Days. We toured around and looked at the countryside and the various military fortifications around Portsmouth, dating back to the Napoleanic Era, and before that, to the reign of King Henry the VIII, and before that, King Alfred the Great.
Then we went to his flat and I saw all the things from Indonesia, Bangladesh and Thailand - my upbringing, the places from where I knew Matt. We drank some wine and everytime we raised a glass we drank to "The Good Old Days!" and Matt would laugh and smile that charismatic smile of his. He told me stories about his life, stories about World War II and a few stories about our ex-pat life in Asia, a couple anecdotes I didn't know about (because I was a kid then).
It was a poignant moment in Time.
There will be more to come about Matt and his remarkable career - I simply don't have the time to write right now; there is an important project and Matt knows what it is, because I told him.
And then we drove down to Gosport and took the ferry to the train station. When I take off from Heathrow tomorrow morning, I will have travelled by automobile, ship, train and aircraft, all within 24 hours. This is an personal achievement I have been trying to gain this for at least the past thirty-four years.
STORMBRINGER SENDS
Matt was a British officer in the Indian Army during World War II. He led a company of Gurkhas in North Africa and Italy.
Needless to say, Matt is a charter member of Team STORMBRINGER
I haven't seen Matt since I was 15, but he has been following my career.
Matt is 88, and I found him still agile and mobile, happy and joking and smiling all the time. Incredibly, he hasn't changed a bit.
I told him we kids all thought he looked like David Niven. He laughed and laughed at that, and said David Niven came from Portsmouth, and of course they had similar military careers.
Matt was so happy to see me. Our plan was to visit the D-Day museum. As we drove toward it, Matt pointed out toward the Solent - the stretch of water between Portsmouth and the Isle of Wight - and said, "They say on the weeks before D-Day, you could walk right across the water, there were so many boats and ships lined up."
I asked Matt where he was on June 6th, 1944. He said, "Oh, I was a D-Day Dodger!" I know a little bit about what Matt went through fighting Germans in Italy, and he didn't dodge anything. Matt explained; Lady Astor was the first woman Member of Parliament. The legend goes that during the Normandy Campaign she blurted out something about the men of the 8th Army fighting in the Italian campaign as the "D-Day Dodgers"; implying that they had it easy because they were avoiding the "real war" in France. The Allied soldiers in Italy subsequently composed a bitingly sarcastic song to the tune of the haunting German song Lili Marleen; "The Ballad Of The D-Day Dodgers" - and Matt sang a few bars of it for me. I wish I could sing the way Matt does - I'd be a Rock Star.
When we got to the D-Day museum I asked, "Is there a military discount?" the young man at the counter said,
"For World War veterans, they go free."
"Good; two World War veterans." The young man looked at me like I was crazy. I pointed at Matt, then pointed at myself, "He's a World War II veteran, and I'm a World War III veteran."
That got a chuckle. "No, only the Second World War veterans get in free. This is the D-Day Museum."
They have an amazing embroidery that encircles an entire display hall.
Inspired by the Bayeaux Tapestry, that chronicled the Norman Conquest of 1066 - when William Duke of Normandy crossed the channel from France and became William the Great - thirty-four huge panels depict the stunning scenes of the world's greatest, most well-known and most chronicled military operation.
The embroideries are amazing; they are a significant cultural artifact, and they honor the men and women involved in the great Operation Overlord.
The official name of this incredible relic is THE OVERLORD EMBROIDERY
Matt and I had a grand old chinwag and reminisced about the Good Old Days. We toured around and looked at the countryside and the various military fortifications around Portsmouth, dating back to the Napoleanic Era, and before that, to the reign of King Henry the VIII, and before that, King Alfred the Great.
Then we went to his flat and I saw all the things from Indonesia, Bangladesh and Thailand - my upbringing, the places from where I knew Matt. We drank some wine and everytime we raised a glass we drank to "The Good Old Days!" and Matt would laugh and smile that charismatic smile of his. He told me stories about his life, stories about World War II and a few stories about our ex-pat life in Asia, a couple anecdotes I didn't know about (because I was a kid then).
It was a poignant moment in Time.
There will be more to come about Matt and his remarkable career - I simply don't have the time to write right now; there is an important project and Matt knows what it is, because I told him.
And then we drove down to Gosport and took the ferry to the train station. When I take off from Heathrow tomorrow morning, I will have travelled by automobile, ship, train and aircraft, all within 24 hours. This is an personal achievement I have been trying to gain this for at least the past thirty-four years.
STORMBRINGER SENDS
SPOTTED DICK
On the trains today going through the English countryside. These are some of the names of the places I am traveling thru:
Wanking
Shaftsbury
East Dorking
Slopsbury
Screwing
St. Screamsbury
Blowing
Wadsworth
I had lunch in a pub called The Cock and Pussy - the pub sign was a painting of a rooster fighting a cat, I kid you not. The guy at the next table over said to the waittress, "I'm having Spotted Dick. I know I'll regret it tomorrow, but I've earned it."
Whatever floats your boat, Mister. I don't have Spotted Dick, I don't ever want to have it, and I REALLY don't wanna know whatever it was you did to EARN Spotted Dick. I mean, REALLY people - "Too Much Information!"
. . . OK too much time on my hands . . . here's some street names in various towns found throughout England:
Find Bush Lane
Sandy Balls
Hornyold Rd
Fingringhoe
Shitterton
Hole of Horcum
Fanny Hands Lane
Cockshoot Close
Crotch Crescent
Cumming Court
Cocknmouth Close
Rimswell
Spanker Lane
Beaver Close
Dick Court
Lickfold Close
My favorite is Beaver Close . . . Today's Bird HERE- STORMBRINGER SENDS
Friday, January 27, 2012
FROM A CANADIAN HOUSEWIFE
"Are we fighting a war on terror or aren't we? Was it or was it not, started by Islamic people who brought it to our shores on September 11, 2001 and have continually threatened to do so since?
Were people from all over the world, not brutally murdered that day, in downtown Manhattan, across the Potomac from the capitol of the USA and in a field in Pennsylvania?
Did nearly three thousand men, women and children die a horrible, burning or crushing death that day, or didn't they?
Do you think I care about four U.S. Marines urinating on some dead Taliban insurgents?
And I'm supposed to care that a few Taliban were claiming to be tortured by a justice system of a nation they are fighting against in a brutal Insurgency.
I'll care about the Koran when the fanatics in the Middle East, start caring about the Holy Bible, the mere belief of which, is a crime punishable by beheading in Afghanistan.
I'll care when these thugs tell the world they are sorry for hacking off Nick Berg's head, while Berg screamed through his gurgling slashed throat.
I'll care when the cowardly so-called insurgents in Afghanistan, come out and fight like men, instead of disrespecting their own religion by hiding in Mosques and behind women and children.
I'll care when the mindless zealots who blow themselves up in search of Nirvana, care about the innocent children within range of their suicide Bombs.
I'll care when the Canadian media stops pretending that their freedom of Speech on stories, is more important than the lives of the soldiers on the ground or their families waiting at home, to hear about them when something happens.
In the meantime, when I hear a story about a CANADIAN soldier roughing up an Insurgent terrorist to obtain information, know this:
I don't care.
When I see a wounded terrorist get shot in the head when he is told not to move because he might be booby-trapped, you can take it to the bank:
I don't care. Shoot him again.
When I hear that a prisoner, who was issued a Koran and a prayer mat, and fed 'special' food, that is paid for by my tax dollars, is complaining that his holy book is being 'mishandled,' you can absolutely believe, in your heart of hearts:
I don't care.
And oh, by the way, I've noticed that sometimes it's spelled 'Koran' and other times 'Quran.' Well, Jimmy Crack Corn you guessed it.
I don't care!!
If you agree with this viewpoint, pass this on to all your E-mail Friends. Sooner or later, it'll get to the people responsible for this ridiculous behavior!
If you don't agree, then by all means hit the delete button. Should you choose the latter, then please don't complain when more atrocities committed by radical Muslims happen here in our great Country! And may I add:
Some people spend an entire lifetime wondering, if during their life on earth, they made a difference in the world. But, the Soldiers don't have that problem.
I have another quote that I would like to share AND...I hope you forward All this.
One last thought for the day:
Only five defining forces have ever offered to die for you:
1. Jesus Christ
2. The British Soldier.
3. The Canadian Soldier.
4. The US Soldier, and
5. The Australian Soldier
One died for your soul, the other four, for you and your children's Freedom.
YOU MIGHT WANT TO PASS THIS ON, AS MANY SEEM TO FORGET!
AMEN! GOD BLESS CANADA AND AMERICA.
AMEN! GOD BLESS CANADA AND AMERICA.
I couldn't have said it better myself - read on (below) - STORMBRINGER SENDS
FOUND ON A SEABEE MESSAGE BOARD
Piss on a Crucifix, and they'll call you an "Artist"
Piss on the American Flag, and they'll call you a Freedom of Speech "Constitutionalist"
Piss on a Police Car, and they'll call you an Occupy Wall Street "Freedom Lovin' 99 percenter"
Piss on a Taliban piece of shit that just tried to kill you and your fellow Marines, and they'll call you a "Villain"
Sure is a f*cked-up Administration we have running this great country!!!!!
Be sure to vote them ALL GONE in November!!!!!
Piss on the American Flag, and they'll call you a Freedom of Speech "Constitutionalist"
Piss on a Police Car, and they'll call you an Occupy Wall Street "Freedom Lovin' 99 percenter"
Piss on a Taliban piece of shit that just tried to kill you and your fellow Marines, and they'll call you a "Villain"
Sure is a f*cked-up Administration we have running this great country!!!!!
Be sure to vote them ALL GONE in November!!!!!
Life Of Duty: Gunsite Academy
Here's the new video from Life Of Duty correspondent Chuck Holton on the Gunsite Academy in Arizona. Gunsite is a cool organization that offers firearms training to elite military personnel, law enforcement officers and free citizens of the US. Enjoy - S.L.
EXCELLENT GUN ADVICE
This little nugget of knowledge surfaced in the STORMBRINGER mailbag - S.L.
What is the smallest caliber you can trust to protect yourself?
My personal favorite defense gun has always been a Beretta Jetfire in .22 short. I have carried it for many years including while hiking. I never leave home without it.
Of course the first rule when hiking in the wilderness is to use the "Buddy System". This means you NEVER hike alone, you bring a friend, companion or even an in-law because if something happens there is someone to go get help.
I remember one time while hiking with my brother-in-law in northern Alberta and out of nowhere came this huge brown bear charging us and boy, was she mad. We must have been near one of her cubs.
Anyway, if I had not had my little Jetfire I would not be here today. Just one shot to my brother-in-law's knee cap and I was able to escape by just walking away at a brisk pace.
That's one of the best pistols in my collection . . .
Today's Bird HERE
What is the smallest caliber you can trust to protect yourself?
My personal favorite defense gun has always been a Beretta Jetfire in .22 short. I have carried it for many years including while hiking. I never leave home without it.
Of course the first rule when hiking in the wilderness is to use the "Buddy System". This means you NEVER hike alone, you bring a friend, companion or even an in-law because if something happens there is someone to go get help.
I remember one time while hiking with my brother-in-law in northern Alberta and out of nowhere came this huge brown bear charging us and boy, was she mad. We must have been near one of her cubs.
Anyway, if I had not had my little Jetfire I would not be here today. Just one shot to my brother-in-law's knee cap and I was able to escape by just walking away at a brisk pace.
That's one of the best pistols in my collection . . .
Today's Bird HERE
Thursday, January 26, 2012
HAPPY AUSTRALIA DAY
This is the Wattle
the Symbol of Our Land
You can Stick it in a Bottle
You can Hold it in your Hand
Australia!
the Symbol of Our Land
You can Stick it in a Bottle
You can Hold it in your Hand
Australia!
Australia Day Birds HERE
Monday, January 23, 2012
COMBAT ETIQUETTE: How It's Done Right
Kapitän zur See Hans Wilhelm Langsdorff (Iron Cross First Class, Iron Cross Second Class, Hanseatenkreuz) - 20 March 1894 – 19 December 1939
Kapitän Hans Langsdorff takes a smoke as he reads the morning newspaper on the morning before his death.
Men, Take Notice:
The dilemma faced by Captain Langsdorff, captain of Admiral Graf Spee the 'pocket battleship' that was the pride of the Third Reich's Kriegsmarine and scourge of British merchant shipping in the opening months of the Second World War.
The Graf Spee was renowned for being “faster than anything bigger, and bigger than anything faster”. Langsdorff zig-zagged across the Atlantic, sinking Allied merchant shipping all over the place, giving the impression that there was a large fleet of ships dedicated to this task.
Captain Langsdorff, however, was not a monster. Despite sinking over 50,000 tonnes of Allied shipping, in nine separate raids, Langsdorff ensured that not a single life - German or Allied - was lost in the process.
When he encountered Allied shipping, he would send a message to the unfortunate ship, telling them not to attempt to send out information by radio, with the threat of immediate sinking. Even when Allied captains defied this command and sent out messages, Langsdorff did not fire upon the ships, instead evacuating all souls on board to his supply ship, the Altmark, before scuttling the merchant ship peacefully. When faced with meeting the captains who had disobeyed his instructions, he personally commended them for making the right choice, despite the (perceived) risk to their own life.
Langsdorff's final engagement - the Battle of the River Plate. The battle itself was heroic enough and details can be found here. The most interesting part, however, came directly after the battle.
Graf Spee limped into Montevideo harbour in the neutral country of Uruguay, unseaworthy through the damage sustained in the fight against three Allied cruisers.
Intense political maneuvering in Montevideo by British and German diplomats followed. Graf Spee was able to be made just seaworthy but not able to restock her ammunition. Her magazine was severely depleted - about enough shells to last for about 20 minutes bombardment - against what he believed was a significant Allied presence in the international waters outside the estuary of the Plate. There was thus little chance that he could fight his way out of the Plate, let alone make it back to Germany.
Langsdorff tried to negotiate alternate solutions, but was ultimately forced to sail from Montevideo into international waters, towards the Allied fleet.
He therefore set sail. But while still in Uruguayan waters (and thus safe) he transferred almost all of his crew to German freight ships, and sailed out into the estuary of the Plate. A loud explosion was heard; Graf Spee burned and slipped under the water.
Langsdorff had scuttled his ship and escaped with his officers aboard a small craft. He had declined battle to prevent senseless loss of life, thus saving the lives of the 900 men under his command. His decision reportedly infuriated Adolf Hitler - who, like all tyrants, demanded of their subordinates obedience and self-sacrifice above and beyond.
Langsdorff wanted to go down with his ship, his negotiating skills were required to ensure that his crew received amnesty in Montevideo. After a couple of days, when Langsdorff had ensured that his crew were safe, he retired to his room, wrote letters to his wife and children, along with a suicide note, lay on the Imperial (not Nazi) ensign of his ship, and shot himself, symbolically going down with the vessel.
Langsdorff did not want to be accused of cowardice in refusing to face the enemy, and so had ended his own life, entwining his fate with that of his ship. He believed that “for a captain with a sense of honor, it goes without saying that his personal fate cannot be separated from that of his ship.”
It is evident that the British Naval officers of the time also agreed with this statement, for all those officers present in Montevideo at the time attended his funeral, and he was posthumously honoured by both sides in the battle for his gentlemanly conduct in battle.
"There are three things I like about being on an Italian cruise ship. First, their cuisine is unsurpassed. Second, their service is superb. And then, in time of emergency, there is none of this nonsense about women and children first."
– Winston Churchill
Right now I'm so mixed up I don't know if it's Sunday, Monday or Tuesday. What the Hell - some kind of hot bird is HERE
Men, Take Notice:
The dilemma faced by Captain Langsdorff, captain of Admiral Graf Spee the 'pocket battleship' that was the pride of the Third Reich's Kriegsmarine and scourge of British merchant shipping in the opening months of the Second World War.
The Graf Spee was renowned for being “faster than anything bigger, and bigger than anything faster”. Langsdorff zig-zagged across the Atlantic, sinking Allied merchant shipping all over the place, giving the impression that there was a large fleet of ships dedicated to this task.
Captain Langsdorff, however, was not a monster. Despite sinking over 50,000 tonnes of Allied shipping, in nine separate raids, Langsdorff ensured that not a single life - German or Allied - was lost in the process.
When he encountered Allied shipping, he would send a message to the unfortunate ship, telling them not to attempt to send out information by radio, with the threat of immediate sinking. Even when Allied captains defied this command and sent out messages, Langsdorff did not fire upon the ships, instead evacuating all souls on board to his supply ship, the Altmark, before scuttling the merchant ship peacefully. When faced with meeting the captains who had disobeyed his instructions, he personally commended them for making the right choice, despite the (perceived) risk to their own life.
Langsdorff's final engagement - the Battle of the River Plate. The battle itself was heroic enough and details can be found here. The most interesting part, however, came directly after the battle.
Graf Spee limped into Montevideo harbour in the neutral country of Uruguay, unseaworthy through the damage sustained in the fight against three Allied cruisers.
Intense political maneuvering in Montevideo by British and German diplomats followed. Graf Spee was able to be made just seaworthy but not able to restock her ammunition. Her magazine was severely depleted - about enough shells to last for about 20 minutes bombardment - against what he believed was a significant Allied presence in the international waters outside the estuary of the Plate. There was thus little chance that he could fight his way out of the Plate, let alone make it back to Germany.
Langsdorff tried to negotiate alternate solutions, but was ultimately forced to sail from Montevideo into international waters, towards the Allied fleet.
He therefore set sail. But while still in Uruguayan waters (and thus safe) he transferred almost all of his crew to German freight ships, and sailed out into the estuary of the Plate. A loud explosion was heard; Graf Spee burned and slipped under the water.
Langsdorff had scuttled his ship and escaped with his officers aboard a small craft. He had declined battle to prevent senseless loss of life, thus saving the lives of the 900 men under his command. His decision reportedly infuriated Adolf Hitler - who, like all tyrants, demanded of their subordinates obedience and self-sacrifice above and beyond.
Langsdorff wanted to go down with his ship, his negotiating skills were required to ensure that his crew received amnesty in Montevideo. After a couple of days, when Langsdorff had ensured that his crew were safe, he retired to his room, wrote letters to his wife and children, along with a suicide note, lay on the Imperial (not Nazi) ensign of his ship, and shot himself, symbolically going down with the vessel.
Langsdorff did not want to be accused of cowardice in refusing to face the enemy, and so had ended his own life, entwining his fate with that of his ship. He believed that “for a captain with a sense of honor, it goes without saying that his personal fate cannot be separated from that of his ship.”
It is evident that the British Naval officers of the time also agreed with this statement, for all those officers present in Montevideo at the time attended his funeral, and he was posthumously honoured by both sides in the battle for his gentlemanly conduct in battle.
– Winston Churchill
Right now I'm so mixed up I don't know if it's Sunday, Monday or Tuesday. What the Hell - some kind of hot bird is HERE
Saturday, January 21, 2012
PROFESSIONAL READING LIST
Interesting and insightful . . . S.L.
A Bright Shining Lie - Neil Sheehan
This passionate, epic account of the Vietnam War centers on Lt. Col. John Paul Vann, whose story illuminates America's failures and disillusionment in Southeast Asia. Vann was a field adviser to the army when American involvement was just beginning. He quickly became appalled at the corruption of the South Vietnamese regime, their incompetence in fighting the Communists, and their brutal alienation of their own people. Finding his superiors too blinded by political lies to understand that the war was being thrown away, he secretly briefed reporters on what was really happening.
A Man Called Intrepid - William Stevenson
The incredible World War II narrative of the hero whose spy network and secret diplomacy changed the course of history.
A Passage to India - E. M. Foster
A detailed look at the cultural differences between East and West through a tragic occurrence in colonial India. Written while England was still firmly in control of India, Forster's novel follows the fortunes of three English newcomers to India - Miss Adela Quested, Mrs. Moore, and Cyril Fielding - and the Indian, Dr. Aziz, with whom they cross destinies. The idea of true friendship between the races was a radical one in Forster's time, and he makes it abundantly clear that it was not one that either side welcomed.
A Question of Loyalty: Gen. Billy Mitchell and the Court Martial that Gripped the Nation - Douglas C. Waller
A superb and charismatic Signal Corps officer and innovative air tactician in WWI, Mitchell faced an internal conflict: should he be loyal to his superior officers, whom he regarded as almost treasonably incompetent, or to what he saw as his country's best interests, which included a vastly larger, united and independent air arm? The result was a famous court-martial, which Time magazine correspondent Waller makes extremely comprehensible and gripping to readers more than 75 years on.
After Bali: The Threat of Terrorism in Southeast Asia - Kumar Ramakrishna
This book critically analyses the specific threat of terrorism in Southeast Asia since the Bali blasts of 12 October 2002 and the US-led war on Iraq. It offers a comprehensive and critical examination of the ideological, socioeconomic and political motivations, trans-regional linkages, and media representations of the terrorist threat in the region, assesses the efficacy of the regional counter-terror response and suggests a more balanced and nuanced approach to combating the terror threat in Southeast Asia.
Allah's Torch: A Report from Behind the Scenes in Asia's War on Terror - Tracy Dahlby
Dahlby begins his journalistic account of his pre- and post-9/11 travels there with a study of religious conflict in the Moluccas in 1999. A reluctant interisland passenger along with several hundred Islamic jihadis, he meets a Moluccan elder statesman and his savvy daughter. On a later trip, he finds the country suffering from the aftereffects of 9/11 and American pressure to deal with what is inaccurately perceived as a monolithic jihadist movement—Indonesia's Islam, and its militant factions, are no more monolithic than any other aspect of the country.
Blind Man's Bluff: The Untold Story of American Submarine Espionage - Sherry Sontag, Christopher Drew, Annette Lawrence Drew
Little is known about American submarine espionage during the Cold War. These submerged sentinels silently monitored the Soviet Union's harbors, shadowed its subs, watched its missile tests, eavesdropped on its conversations, and even retrieved top-secret debris from the bottom of the sea.
Blink - The Power of Thinking Without Thinking Malcom Gladwell
Blink is about the first two seconds of looking--the decisive glance that knows in an instant. Gladwell campaigns for snap judgments and mind reading with a gift for translating research into splendid storytelling. Building his case with scenes from a marriage, heart attack triage, speed dating, choking on the golf course, selling cars, and military maneuvers, he persuades readers to think small and focus on the meaning of "thin slices" of behavior.
Charlie Wilson's War - The Extraordinary Story of How the Wildest Man in Congress and a Rogue CIA Agent Changed the History of Our Times - George Crile
No thriller writer would dare invent Wilson, a six-feet-four-inch Texas congressman, liberal on social issues but rabidly anti-Communist, a boozer, engaged in serial affairs and wheeler-dealer of consummate skill. Only slightly less improbable is Gust Avrakotos, a blue-collar Greek immigrant who joined the CIA when it was an Ivy League preserve and fought his elitist colleagues almost as ruthlessly as he fought the Soviet Union in the Cold War's waning years.
Chinese Foreign Relations: Power and Policy since the Cold War - Robert G. Sutter
China is rightly considered an emerging power in world affairs as Chinese leaders, backed by growing economic and military strength, engage in innovative diplomatic approaches that pave the way for China's international role. But this is only part of the story of China's rise. As Robert G. Sutter meticulously shows in this thoroughly updated and balanced assessment, the record of twists and turns in Chinese foreign relations since the end of the Cold War highlights a very different perspective. Domestic problems, nationalism, and security concerns continue to preoccupy Beijing, complicating China's influence and innovations in foreign affairs. On the international front, the actions of other powerful nations and growing dependence on the world economy complicate as well as enhance China's advance to international prominence.
Providing a comprehensive introduction to Chinese foreign relations, Sutter shows Chinese leaders exerting growing influence in world affairs but remaining far from dominant. Facing numerous contradictions and tradeoffs, they move cautiously to avoid major confrontations, costly commitments, or mistakes that could undermine their one-party rule as they deal with an international environment posing numerous challenges as well as opportunities for Chinese interests.
Code-Name Bright Light - The Untold Story of U.S. POW Rescue Efforts During the Vietnam War George J. Veith
An accounting of US Personnel Recovery Efforts during Vietnam. The author used multiple FOIA requests and extensive research to chronicle the triumphs and failure of DoD and DoS Personnel Recovery Efforts. A must read for commanders and staffs to see the evolution of PR during Vietnam and the correlation between the challenges then to the challenges we face now.
That's it for now - more to follow when I get a chance to come up for air. - STORMBRINGER SENDS
Today's Bird HERE
This passionate, epic account of the Vietnam War centers on Lt. Col. John Paul Vann, whose story illuminates America's failures and disillusionment in Southeast Asia. Vann was a field adviser to the army when American involvement was just beginning. He quickly became appalled at the corruption of the South Vietnamese regime, their incompetence in fighting the Communists, and their brutal alienation of their own people. Finding his superiors too blinded by political lies to understand that the war was being thrown away, he secretly briefed reporters on what was really happening.
The incredible World War II narrative of the hero whose spy network and secret diplomacy changed the course of history.
A detailed look at the cultural differences between East and West through a tragic occurrence in colonial India. Written while England was still firmly in control of India, Forster's novel follows the fortunes of three English newcomers to India - Miss Adela Quested, Mrs. Moore, and Cyril Fielding - and the Indian, Dr. Aziz, with whom they cross destinies. The idea of true friendship between the races was a radical one in Forster's time, and he makes it abundantly clear that it was not one that either side welcomed.
A superb and charismatic Signal Corps officer and innovative air tactician in WWI, Mitchell faced an internal conflict: should he be loyal to his superior officers, whom he regarded as almost treasonably incompetent, or to what he saw as his country's best interests, which included a vastly larger, united and independent air arm? The result was a famous court-martial, which Time magazine correspondent Waller makes extremely comprehensible and gripping to readers more than 75 years on.
This book critically analyses the specific threat of terrorism in Southeast Asia since the Bali blasts of 12 October 2002 and the US-led war on Iraq. It offers a comprehensive and critical examination of the ideological, socioeconomic and political motivations, trans-regional linkages, and media representations of the terrorist threat in the region, assesses the efficacy of the regional counter-terror response and suggests a more balanced and nuanced approach to combating the terror threat in Southeast Asia.
Dahlby begins his journalistic account of his pre- and post-9/11 travels there with a study of religious conflict in the Moluccas in 1999. A reluctant interisland passenger along with several hundred Islamic jihadis, he meets a Moluccan elder statesman and his savvy daughter. On a later trip, he finds the country suffering from the aftereffects of 9/11 and American pressure to deal with what is inaccurately perceived as a monolithic jihadist movement—Indonesia's Islam, and its militant factions, are no more monolithic than any other aspect of the country.
Little is known about American submarine espionage during the Cold War. These submerged sentinels silently monitored the Soviet Union's harbors, shadowed its subs, watched its missile tests, eavesdropped on its conversations, and even retrieved top-secret debris from the bottom of the sea.
Blink is about the first two seconds of looking--the decisive glance that knows in an instant. Gladwell campaigns for snap judgments and mind reading with a gift for translating research into splendid storytelling. Building his case with scenes from a marriage, heart attack triage, speed dating, choking on the golf course, selling cars, and military maneuvers, he persuades readers to think small and focus on the meaning of "thin slices" of behavior.
No thriller writer would dare invent Wilson, a six-feet-four-inch Texas congressman, liberal on social issues but rabidly anti-Communist, a boozer, engaged in serial affairs and wheeler-dealer of consummate skill. Only slightly less improbable is Gust Avrakotos, a blue-collar Greek immigrant who joined the CIA when it was an Ivy League preserve and fought his elitist colleagues almost as ruthlessly as he fought the Soviet Union in the Cold War's waning years.
China is rightly considered an emerging power in world affairs as Chinese leaders, backed by growing economic and military strength, engage in innovative diplomatic approaches that pave the way for China's international role. But this is only part of the story of China's rise. As Robert G. Sutter meticulously shows in this thoroughly updated and balanced assessment, the record of twists and turns in Chinese foreign relations since the end of the Cold War highlights a very different perspective. Domestic problems, nationalism, and security concerns continue to preoccupy Beijing, complicating China's influence and innovations in foreign affairs. On the international front, the actions of other powerful nations and growing dependence on the world economy complicate as well as enhance China's advance to international prominence.
Providing a comprehensive introduction to Chinese foreign relations, Sutter shows Chinese leaders exerting growing influence in world affairs but remaining far from dominant. Facing numerous contradictions and tradeoffs, they move cautiously to avoid major confrontations, costly commitments, or mistakes that could undermine their one-party rule as they deal with an international environment posing numerous challenges as well as opportunities for Chinese interests.
An accounting of US Personnel Recovery Efforts during Vietnam. The author used multiple FOIA requests and extensive research to chronicle the triumphs and failure of DoD and DoS Personnel Recovery Efforts. A must read for commanders and staffs to see the evolution of PR during Vietnam and the correlation between the challenges then to the challenges we face now.
That's it for now - more to follow when I get a chance to come up for air. - STORMBRINGER SENDS
Today's Bird HERE
POSTSCRIPT
I threw this thing up here on a dare - fact of the matter is I ran out of time today, and there isn't going to be much time for the next 48 - 75 hours. . .
I'm shipping out tomorrow . . . . . . . . . . . . . STORMBRINGER SENDS
Thursday, January 19, 2012
"Water Displacement #40"
QUESTION: What is the main ingredient of WD-40?
Before you read to the end, does anybody know what the main ingredient of WD-40 is? Don't lie and don't cheat. WD-40. Who knows? Somebody? Anybody? B-U-E-L-L-E-R-?-?-?
I had a neighbor who bought a new pickup. I got up very early one Sunday morning and saw that someone had spray painted red all around the sides of this beige truck (for some unknown reason).
I went over, woke him up, and told him the bad news. He was very upset and was trying to figure out what to do . . . . probably nothing until Monday morning, since nothing was open.
Another neighbor came out and told him to get his WD-40 and clean it off. It removed the unwanted paint beautifully and did not harm his paint job whatsoever. I'm impressed!
WD-40 - who knew?
The product began from a search for a rust preventative solvent and degreaser to protect missile parts.
WD-40 was created in 1953 by three technicians at the San Diego Rocket Chemical Company. It's name comes from the project that was to find a 'water displacement' compound. They were successful with the fortieth formulation, thus WD-40. The Convair Company bought it in bulk to protect their atlas missile parts. Ken East (one of the original founders) says there is nothing in WD-40 that would hurt you . . . When you read the 'shower door' part, try it.
It's the first thing that has ever cleaned that spotty shower door. If yours is plastic, it works just as well as glass. It's a miracle! Then try it on your stove top . . . Viola! It's now shinier than it's ever been. You'll be amazed.
WD-40 uses:
1. Protects silver from tarnishing.
2. Removes road tar and grime from cars.
3. Cleans and lubricates guitar strings.
4. Gives floors that 'just-waxed' sheen without making them slippery.
5. Keeps flies off cows.
6. Restores and cleans chalkboards.
7. Removes lipstick stains.
8. Loosens stubborn zippers.
9. Untangles jewelry chains.
10. Removes stains from stainless steel sinks.
11. Removes dirt and grime from the barbecue grill.
12. Keeps ceramic/terra cotta garden pots from oxidizing.
13. Removes tomato stains from clothing.
14. Keeps glass shower doors free of water spots.
15. Camouflages scratches in ceramic and marble floors.
16. Keeps scissors working smoothly.
17. Lubricates noisy door hinges on vehicles and doors in homes.
18. It removes black scuff marks from the kitchen floor. Use WD-40 for those nasty tar and scuff marks on flooring. It doesn't seem to harm the finish and you won't have to scrub nearly as hard to get them off. Just remember to open some windows if you have a lot of marks.
19. Bug guts will eat away the finish on your car if not removed quickly. Use WD-40.
20. Gives a children's playground gym slide a shine for a super fast slide.
21. Lubricates gear shift and mower deck lever for ease of handling on riding mowers.
22. Rids skids on rocking chairs and swings of squeaky noises.
23. Lubricates tracks in sticking home windows and makes them easier to open.
24. Spraying an umbrella stem makes it easier to open and close.
25. Restores and cleans padded leather dashboards in vehicles, as well as vinyl bumpers.
26. Restores and cleans roof racks on vehicles.
27. Lubricates and stops squeaks in electric fans.
28. Lubricates wheel sprockets on tricycles, wagons, and bicycles for easy handling.
29. Lubricates fan belts on washers and dryers and keeps them running smoothly.
30. Keeps rust from forming on saws and saw blades, and other tools.
31. Removes splattered grease on stove.
32. Keeps bathroom mirror from fogging.
33. Lubricates prosthetic limbs.
34. Keeps pigeons off the balcony (they hate the smell).
35. Removes all traces of duct tape.
36. Folks even spray it on their arms, hands, and knees to relieve arthritis pain.
37. Florida 's favorite use is: 'cleans and removes love bugs from grills and bumpers.
38. The favorite use in the state of New York , WD-40 protects the Statue of Liberty from the elements.
39. WD-40 attracts fish; spray a little on live bait or lures and you will be catching the big one in no time. Also, it's a lot cheaper than the chemical attractants that are made for just that purpose.
40. Use it for fire ant bites; it takes the sting away, immediately, and stops the itch.
41. WD-40 is great for removing crayon from walls.
42. Also, if you've discovered that your teenage daughter has washed and dried a tube of lipstick with a load of laundry, saturate the lipstick spots with WD-40 and rewash.
43. If you sprayed WD-40 on a distributor cap, it displaces the moisture and allows the car to start.
P.S. The basic ingredient in WD-40 is . . .
. . . FISH OIL ! ! !
Today's Bird HERE
Before you read to the end, does anybody know what the main ingredient of WD-40 is? Don't lie and don't cheat. WD-40. Who knows? Somebody? Anybody? B-U-E-L-L-E-R-?-?-?
I had a neighbor who bought a new pickup. I got up very early one Sunday morning and saw that someone had spray painted red all around the sides of this beige truck (for some unknown reason).
I went over, woke him up, and told him the bad news. He was very upset and was trying to figure out what to do . . . . probably nothing until Monday morning, since nothing was open.
Another neighbor came out and told him to get his WD-40 and clean it off. It removed the unwanted paint beautifully and did not harm his paint job whatsoever. I'm impressed!
WD-40 - who knew?
The product began from a search for a rust preventative solvent and degreaser to protect missile parts.
WD-40 was created in 1953 by three technicians at the San Diego Rocket Chemical Company. It's name comes from the project that was to find a 'water displacement' compound. They were successful with the fortieth formulation, thus WD-40. The Convair Company bought it in bulk to protect their atlas missile parts. Ken East (one of the original founders) says there is nothing in WD-40 that would hurt you . . . When you read the 'shower door' part, try it.
It's the first thing that has ever cleaned that spotty shower door. If yours is plastic, it works just as well as glass. It's a miracle! Then try it on your stove top . . . Viola! It's now shinier than it's ever been. You'll be amazed.
WD-40 uses:
1. Protects silver from tarnishing.
2. Removes road tar and grime from cars.
3. Cleans and lubricates guitar strings.
4. Gives floors that 'just-waxed' sheen without making them slippery.
5. Keeps flies off cows.
6. Restores and cleans chalkboards.
7. Removes lipstick stains.
8. Loosens stubborn zippers.
9. Untangles jewelry chains.
10. Removes stains from stainless steel sinks.
11. Removes dirt and grime from the barbecue grill.
12. Keeps ceramic/terra cotta garden pots from oxidizing.
13. Removes tomato stains from clothing.
14. Keeps glass shower doors free of water spots.
15. Camouflages scratches in ceramic and marble floors.
16. Keeps scissors working smoothly.
17. Lubricates noisy door hinges on vehicles and doors in homes.
18. It removes black scuff marks from the kitchen floor. Use WD-40 for those nasty tar and scuff marks on flooring. It doesn't seem to harm the finish and you won't have to scrub nearly as hard to get them off. Just remember to open some windows if you have a lot of marks.
19. Bug guts will eat away the finish on your car if not removed quickly. Use WD-40.
20. Gives a children's playground gym slide a shine for a super fast slide.
21. Lubricates gear shift and mower deck lever for ease of handling on riding mowers.
22. Rids skids on rocking chairs and swings of squeaky noises.
23. Lubricates tracks in sticking home windows and makes them easier to open.
24. Spraying an umbrella stem makes it easier to open and close.
25. Restores and cleans padded leather dashboards in vehicles, as well as vinyl bumpers.
26. Restores and cleans roof racks on vehicles.
27. Lubricates and stops squeaks in electric fans.
28. Lubricates wheel sprockets on tricycles, wagons, and bicycles for easy handling.
29. Lubricates fan belts on washers and dryers and keeps them running smoothly.
30. Keeps rust from forming on saws and saw blades, and other tools.
31. Removes splattered grease on stove.
32. Keeps bathroom mirror from fogging.
33. Lubricates prosthetic limbs.
34. Keeps pigeons off the balcony (they hate the smell).
35. Removes all traces of duct tape.
36. Folks even spray it on their arms, hands, and knees to relieve arthritis pain.
37. Florida 's favorite use is: 'cleans and removes love bugs from grills and bumpers.
38. The favorite use in the state of New York , WD-40 protects the Statue of Liberty from the elements.
39. WD-40 attracts fish; spray a little on live bait or lures and you will be catching the big one in no time. Also, it's a lot cheaper than the chemical attractants that are made for just that purpose.
40. Use it for fire ant bites; it takes the sting away, immediately, and stops the itch.
41. WD-40 is great for removing crayon from walls.
42. Also, if you've discovered that your teenage daughter has washed and dried a tube of lipstick with a load of laundry, saturate the lipstick spots with WD-40 and rewash.
43. If you sprayed WD-40 on a distributor cap, it displaces the moisture and allows the car to start.
P.S. The basic ingredient in WD-40 is . . .
. . . FISH OIL ! ! !
Today's Bird HERE
Wednesday, January 18, 2012
KEEL HAUL THE BASTARD
"House Arrest" for Cowardly Captain who abandoned stricken Costa Concordia cruise liner ahead of passengers.
"What are you doing? Are you abandoning the rescue? Captain, this is an order, I am the one in charge now. You have declared abandoning ship. There are already bodies." - Coastguard officer's instructions to Francesco Schettino
Words fail to capture the magnitude of this disaster, caused by the actions of this idiot (above). The fact that the loss of life was so incredibly low - 29 deaths so far, eleven missing last count out of about 4200 has nothing to do with the actions of the Captain, who bolted like a rabbit at the first sign of trouble. In an earlier age, there would be no court case because he already would have paid for his dishonor with a single bullet to the brain, self-inflicted. - S.L.
Imagine the terrifying chaos as panic swept through the interior of the ship.
Italian military divers placing explosive breaching charges to create access holes.
Rescue & recovery divers entering the Costa Concordia.
The jumbled mess that awaits them in the interior.
Today's Bird HERE
"What are you doing? Are you abandoning the rescue? Captain, this is an order, I am the one in charge now. You have declared abandoning ship. There are already bodies." - Coastguard officer's instructions to Francesco Schettino
Words fail to capture the magnitude of this disaster, caused by the actions of this idiot (above). The fact that the loss of life was so incredibly low - 29 deaths so far, eleven missing last count out of about 4200 has nothing to do with the actions of the Captain, who bolted like a rabbit at the first sign of trouble. In an earlier age, there would be no court case because he already would have paid for his dishonor with a single bullet to the brain, self-inflicted. - S.L.
Today's Bird HERE
Tuesday, January 17, 2012
Monday, January 16, 2012
THE ULTIMATE ANTI-OBAMA
I suggest we run Pepe le Puw as the quintessential anti-Obama Republican candidate:
- He's half-black and half-white.
- Born & raised overseas - no known birth certificate.
- Capable of charming Europeans.
- Doesn't stink half as bad as any of the candidates we have now.
Comment?