Free Republic

WASHINGTON (AFP) – US President Barack Obama admitted having made tactical errors but stood by his accomplishments Sunday in an interview weeks ahead of crucial midterm elections. Obama confessed to the The New York Times that during his first 20 months in office he had probably not focused enough on public relations, which, like it or not, is an all-important part of the job. "Given how much stuff was coming at us, we probably spent much more time trying to get the policy right than trying to get the politics right," he was quoted as saying in a lengthy magazine...

KABUL, Afghanistan (July 11) - “Our strategic imperative to reduce civilian causalities has not, and will not change,” said German Army Brig. Gen. Josef Blotz, International Security Assistance Force spokesman, at a weekly operational update press conference held at the Government Media and Information Center today. Blotz and Dominic Medley, Senior Civilian Representative spokesman addressed the issues against the military rules of engagement in Afghanistan and the tactical directives used to implement them. “We have been very clear that our partnership with the Afghan government is a counterinsurgency, or COIN campaign,” said Blotz. “At the center of this is that...

Air Force Document Media Exploitation team members triage evidence taken from captured enemies, Aug. 21. The DOMEX mission is to exploit information from captured enemy documents, electronic media and cell phones. The team's work contributes to theater and national intelligence efforts in support of targeting and detainee operations, force protection and criminal prosecution. Photo by Tech. Sgt. Johnny Saldivar. VICTORY BASE COMPLEX — The job of more than 60 Airmen on the Tactical Documentation and Media Exploitation Brigade Support Team here can be summed up in their unique motto, "You check their pulse, we'll check their pockets."The DOMEX mission is...

Staff Sgt. Joshua Wheeler, 332nd Expeditionary Logistics Readiness Squadron tactical mobile maintenance team vehicle-maintenance craftsman, fabricates a metal mud flap bracket for a vehicle on April 22. Photo by Staff Sgt. John Gordinier. JOINT BASE BALAD — Security Forces Airmen in the 532nd Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron here constantly go outside the wire to perform missions, and they rely on protection from Mine Resistant Ambush Protection vehicles to get them through the mission and back to base safely. "Every morning and afternoon as ground combat patrols get ready to leave here, 332nd Expeditionary Logistics Readiness Squadron tactical mobile maintenance team...

Second Lt. Mohammed, an Iraqi Army platoon leader assigned to 3rd Battalion, 40th Iraqi Army Brigade, coaches his Soldiers through a room clearing exercise during a three-day joint training exercise with their American counterparts from 2nd Battalion, 12th Cavalry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division on Forward Operating Base Cedar, Iraq. Photo by 1st Lt. Patrick Dunn. FORWARD OPERATING BASE CEDAR — Iraqi Army (IA) Soldiers here recently underwent three days of intense training overseen by their U.S. counterparts. The 40th IA Brigade Soldiers were instructed by U.S. 1st Cavalry Division Soldiers on various tactical formations, including entering...

Tactical Shotguns now available to general public. North Haven, CT (January 2009)—From U.S. Service men and women around the world to law enforcement agencies across the country, Mossberg shotguns have experienced nearly four decades of combat and combat readiness in the hands of armed forces world-wide. Enjoying a long-standing relationship with the U.S. armed forces, Mossberg is the manufacturer of the only 12 gauge pump action shotgun ever to pass the stringent U.S. Military Mil-Spec 3443 standard. Now, for 2009 Mossberg will make available select 590A1 models to the general public. All models will come standard with heavy-walled barrels, metal...

Tehran, Aug. 13: One of Osama bin Laden’s sons, Saad, together with a number of top Al Qaeda commanders, including Seif al Adel, are hiding in Iran and are not in Syria as reported by several Western papers this week, a well informed source said. The source, a top Iranian intelligence official until a few months ago, said Al Qaeda and members of Iran’s powerful Revolutionary Guard, the Pasdaran, are negotiating coordinated actions against the United States and Israel. The Al Qaeda members had been living for the past four years in a neighbourhood in northern Tehran under the surveillance...

  Tactical Operations Center Tracks Troops Soldiers process countless pieces of information to ensure ‘boots on the ground’ units can accomplish mission. By U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Nikki Prodromos 133rd Mobile Public Affairs Detachment TIKRIT, Iraq, July 24, 2006 -- The tactical operations center, or “TOC,” is the “nerve center” in the anatomy of any successful military unit. Tactical operations centers, such as the one at the 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division, have a very big job tracking seven combat battalions and two support battalions, a total of approximately 3,700 boots on the ground, spread over miles...

Tactical Ops Center Runs 24/7 Joint Command Post provides real-time data so commanders can make critical decisions rapidly. By U.S. Army Pfc. Jason Dangel 4th Brigade Combat Team BAGHDAD, July 14, 2006 -- The brain, defined as a part of the spine and central nervous system, is responsible for controlling all functions in the human body. Just like the human brain, the 4th Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry DivisionÂ’s Tactical Operation Center operates 24 hours-a-day, seven days-a-week. The TOC, or command post, manages all operations within the brigade combat team. It is where all brigade staff sections come together...

Afghan Police Open Tactical Training Facility The facility allows Afghan National Police cadets to train to respond to domestic violence, apprehension of an insurgent, a hostage situation or when contraband is expected in the home. By Combined Security Transition Command–Afghanistan ABUL, Afghanistan, April 21, 2006 — The Afghan National Police took a major step toward advance training with the opening of the Brummet Tactical Training House at the Central Training Center April 18. This opening reflects the progress being made by the Afghan National Police.During a ribbon cutting ceremony, Afghan Brig. Gen. Khadadad Aga, Central Training Center commander, inaugurated...

BAGHDAD, April 11, 2006 – The 6th Iraqi Army Division's military police frequently patrol the streets of Baghdad in light-utility vehicles that offer no more protection than a standard pickup truck. But thanks to the Iraqi Ministry of Defense, MPs are getting a new, professional look this year. The 6th Iraqi Army Division's military police company received four Polish army vehicles in March as part of an initiative by the Iraqi Defense Ministry to provide updated equipment to soldiers. The Dzik-3s are a huge upgrade from the light utility vehicles the MPs have used since the start of the...

3/28/2006 - BALAD AIR BASE, Iraq (AFPN) -- A little-known capability here is paying big dividends for warfighters on the ground. Air National Guard F-16 Fighting Falcons from the 332nd Expeditionary Fighter Squadron are using the Theater Airborne Reconnaissance System, or TARS pod, to provide high-quality still imagery to ground commanders to help them achieve their tactical objectives. The TARS pod, mounted on the centerline of the F-16, contains a sophisticated photographic system that records high-resolution images which can be exploited by users on the ground within hours of landing. Because the pod is mounted on the centerline, the aircraft...

I have mounted a new tactical light to my Glock but I don't really know how to secure it properly. Any suggestions would be appreciated. Please look at the pictures and offer better ideas than a rubber band if you have any. Thanks, Eaker

Sgt. Richard Skinner, Tactical Micro Unmanned Aerial Vehicle project trainer, Fort Belvoir, Va., launches the TACMAV by hand. The newest UAV is the smallest in the UAV family with a body length and wing span of 21 inches. U.S. Marine Corps photo Mini-plane Newest Addition to Unmanned Family The Tactical Micro Unmanned Aerial Vehicle can be stored in a 22-inch long, five-inch diameter tube and placed on a soldier’s backpack. By Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Bernadette L. Ainsworth / Multinational Corps Public Affairs Office CAMP VICTORY, Iraq, Oct. 17, 2005 – The Army recently began using an unmanned aerial...

Paul Williams details 'American Hiroshima' Al-Qaida plotting nuclear attack with weapons already in U.S. Posted: September 3, 20051:00 a.m. Eastern Paul L. Williams is a former consultant to the FBI on organized crime and terrorism. Since then, he has become an award-winning investigative journalist and written several books. In his new book, "The Al Qaeda Connection," he claims Osama bin Laden has obtained nuclear weapons and smuggled them into the U.S. through Mexico for use in a plot known as "American Hiroshima." By Ryan Mauro © 2005 WorldNetDaily.com Ryan Mauro: Much has been written about the "American Hiroshima" report. How did you...

PARIS. March 18 (Interfax) - Russian President Vladimir Putin confirmed Russia's support for the idea of China's territorial integrity. "The Soviet Union and Russia have always been in favor of China's territorial integrity. We have not changed our position and think that China has a right to fully restore its territorial integrity. We understand the Chinese authorities' efforts to resolve this problem," Putin told a press conference in Paris on Friday. "We assume this problem will be resolved by peaceful methods," Putin said.

DOD officials await April tests to determine future of software radio BY Frank Tiboni Published on Feb. 21, 2005 More Related Links FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — Amid concerns that the innovative Joint Tactical Radio System may be behind schedule and over budget, Defense Department officials are considering a wholesale change in the system's delivery. Pentagon officials are considering asking JTRS' prime contractor, Boeing, to build and deliver a part of the system for ground vehicles and rotary-wing aircraft. The change comes after Boeing officials notified DOD in December that they would need more time and money to finish the job....

PAC-3 Missile Program Advances On Separate Fronts, Officials Say By Marc Selinger 11/19/2004 08:55:36 AM The U.S. Army's Patriot Advanced Capability-3 (PAC-3) missile program has achieved significant progress on two key fronts, Army officials said Nov. 18.The Missile Segment Enhancement (MSE), which aims to make several improvements to the PAC-3 missile, successfully completed its preliminary design review (PDR) the week of Nov. 8-12, said Col. John Vaughn, the Army's lower-tier air and missile defense project manager. There were "no major issues" during the PDR, which will be followed by one more review, the critical design review, in late summer...

Raptor Ready for Prime Time At a March 22 review of the F/A-22 program, the Defense Acquisition Board found no reason that USAF should not proceed with initial operational test and evaluation (IOT &E) for its new stealthy fighter. The DAB, which is chaired by acting Pentagon acquisition, technology, and logistics chief Michael W. Wynne, appeared satisfied with the aircraft’s progress despite earlier claims by some members that the Air Force was moving too quickly into IOT&E. The board met to review whether the F/A-22’s avionics had met the level of stability that was mandated for entry into IOT&E. The...

One of the reasons the North won the Civil War is that President Lincoln was willing to sack incompetent generals and President Davis was not. Some recent remarks by the American commander in Iraq, Lt. Gen. Ricardo Sanchez, suggest that it is time for President Bush to emulate Mr. Lincoln. According to the Sept. 7 Cleveland Plain Dealer, during Secretary of Defense Rumsfeld's recent visit to Iraq, General Sanchez said, "There is no risk at the tactical, operational or strategic level... A platoon out of any one of my battalions could defeat the threat, readily." The first of these statements...