Forward Observation Post - Vermillion » War on Terror

Citizens Against Terror

FOPVermillion — Mon, 21 Dec 2009 01:12:10 +0000

I saw mention of this story over at Patterico bringing attention to a warning by Scotland Yard of Mumbai style attacks coming to London. The article got me thinking about what would happen if the tactic is employed here instead of, or in addition to, London. In that scenario, I am glad for the Second Amendment and legal concealed carry in most states. Considering one reason the attack was effective in Mumbai was the gunmen seemed to be everywhere and law enforcement was overwhelmed. It would be a similar situation here in outcome, if not in fact. This is because in most active shooter scenarios, the police look to secure the area and then deal with the shooter. If there are multiple shooters, the SOP and local law enforcement will be overwhelmed . They may have brainstormed it but unless the shooters pick somewhere with a highly trained large force like NYC or LA, it will be too much for them. When that happens, it will be up to the people to do what they can if and when it is possible. I am grateful I will have the choice and the ability to act if that time comes.

- FOP Vermillion

West Point Blues

FOPVermillion — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 02:55:08 +0000

I just caught the last few minutes of the speech at West Point and I am pissed. First, for a President that has not shown that he gets the military or the fact that we are at war, it came across as if the Corps of Cadets was being used as a prop. Considering how bright these young men and women are, they could have gotten into the elite colleges, and yet they CHOSE to go to a college where they would be required to serve after graduation and go into harm’s way. You do not do this if you do not believe in the country and the cause. West Point is famous for the Douglas MacArthur speech where the words Duty, Honor, Country rang through the hall. The corps knows what is at stake and they do not need to be sold.

The second thing that got me going was the whole world without nuclear weapons bit. I do not for one second believe that if we had no weapons we would all get along. An argument can be made that the longest period of prolonged peace has been since the invention of nuclear weapons. To think that we would be liked and listened to if we were weak is naive. It is a nice idea to hold onto in college but in a world leader it shakes my confidence.

Tonight was a disappointing night. Obama went to West Point to elevate his stature. He failed.

- FOP Vermillion

Photo-op or Respect? UPDATE

FOPVermillion — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 01:18:17 +0000

Last night the President went to Dover AFB and paid his respects to eighteen fallen soldiers as they came home to their families. Considering this is the same person who had to be shamed into meeting with the commander of our forces there, and who has been unable to make a decision on troop levels and strategy, I have a hard time not being cynical about the motivation. (Now to be fair the tone of the WSJ linked article bothers me so maybe the warm and fuzzy feeling just went away too quickly.) Knowing what I know about our CINC I imagine the decision was made on the basis of the photo-op and who died (most died in a helicopter crash rather than in combat) rather than honor for the fallen.

Prove me wrong Mr. President. Don’t make this a one time thing. Honor our warriors and their sacrifice. They deserve it and they have earned it.

- FOP Vermillion

Update: Well it looks like Hot Air has caught the friends of the White House at the NY Times covering up the fact that the trip to Dover AFB was a calculated move that looked good. The operative phrase is “intended by the White House to convey to the nation that Mr. Obama was not making his Afghanistan decision lightly or in haste.” I would rather have been proved wrong.

Save Lives and Walk Away

FOPVermillion — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 00:51:50 +0000

The word continues to leak out that General McChrystal will be asking for approximately 40,000 additional troops in Afghanistan to successfully complete the mission and make sure that it is no longer a haven for Al-quaida to try and kill us. At the same time, the White House continues to stall for time not wanting to address what they referred to as “the real war”. Due to frustration with the pace of support, friends of the general have leaked that he will resign if he does not get what he needs rather than be set up to fail (my words not his).

I am glad general McChrystal is sticking by his guns and demanding what he needs and I believe the mission in Afghanistan is the right one. We need to help make the region safer, kill those who would try to kill us, and build a better image of the US in the area. If we will not stand up for ourselves, who will?

However, based on the administrations current stance, please do us all a favor and PULL OUT THE TROOPS. I would willingly put my life on the line for our country and to take up the cause for freedom and lives will be lost in the cause. If the prize is worth it, we will make the sacrifice. I suspect that this is not the attitude of our current leadership and it is just a matter of time before they find a reason to pull the troops and come home. Well I don’t want to see a repeat of Somolia where we see dead American soldiers in the streets and then we pull up and go home. If you don’t have the spine or stomach to do what needs to be done and commit the blood and treasure required to win, pull out.

Do everyone a favor and be honest with yourself and us and get out and save countless lives.

- FOP Vermillion

Unsung Heros

FOPVermillion — Sun, 20 Sep 2009 22:25:34 +0000

I was surfing the net and I visited Michael Yon’s blog and greatly enjoyed the photo essay about the “Pedros“, which is a Para Rescue unit of PJs in Afghanistan. These guys are amazing and they receive very little attention. All they do is save lives. As far as jobs go that is pretty cool to me.

Please go to Micheal’s page to read the entire article.

- FOP Vermillion