Jordan Could Be the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant's Next Target

Jordan Could Be the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant's Next Target

A definite "need to read." Betrayal in Benghazi!

Precisely the reason for never electing Hillary into any office of responsibility, if she does not know "What Difference It Makes!" As for this do nothing, self conceited, sorry ass President the people elected, he and she should be stood at the wall and shot by a firing squad for being such idiots.  Hillary should have known on special holidays and special events, you beef up the security, not reduce it.  rln

 

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 A definite "need to read."

 

Colonel Phil "Hands" Handley is credited with the highest speed air-to-air gun kill in the history of aerial combat. He flew operationally for all but 11 months of a 26-year career, in aircraft such as the F-86 Sabre, F-15 Eagle, and the C-130A Hercules. Additionally, he flew 275 combat missions during two tours in Southeast Asia in the F-4D and F-4E.  His awards include 21 Air Medals, 3 Distinguished  Flying Crosses, and the Silver Star.

 

Here is what Col. Handley wrote in response to Panetta and Dempsey's claims there was no time to send help to Benghazi

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Betrayal in Benghazi
Phil "Hands"  Handley Colonel, USAF (Ret.)

 

The combat code of the US Military is that we don't abandon our dead or wounded on the battlefield. In US Air Force lingo, fighter pilots don't run off and leave their wingmen. If one of our own is shot down, still alive and not yet in enemy captivity, we will either come to get him or die trying.

 

Among America's fighting forces, the calm, sure knowledge that such an irrevocable bond exists is priceless. Along with individual faith and personal grit, it is a sacred trust that has often sustained hope in the face of terribly long odds.

 

The disgraceful abandonment of our Ambassador and those brave ex-SEAL's who fought to their deaths to save others in that compound is nothing short of dereliction-of-duty.

 

Additionally, the patently absurd cover-up scenario that was fabricated in the aftermath was an outright lie in an attempt to shield the President and the Secretary of State from  responsibility. The White House strategy, with the aid of a "lap dog" press has been to run out the clock before the truth is forthcoming.

 

The  contention "that there were simply no military assets that could be brought to bear in time to make a difference" mainly due to the unavailability of tanker support for fighter aircraft is simply Bull Chit, regardless how many supposed "experts" the Administration trots out to make such an assertion.

 

The bottom line is that even if the closest asset capable of response was half-way around the world, you don't  just sit on your penguin ass and do nothing.

 

The fact is that the closest asset was not half-way around the world, but as near as Aviano Air Base, Italy where two  squadrons of F-16Cs are based.

 

Consider the following scenario (all  times Benghazi local): When Hicks in Tripoli receives a call at 9:40 PM from Ambassador Stevens informing him "Greg, we are under attack!" (his last  words).  Hicks immediately notifies all agencies and prepares for the  immediate initiation of an existing "Emergency Response Plan."

 

At AFRICON, General Carter Ham attempts to mount a rescue effort, but is told to "stand down". By 10:30 PM an unarmed drone is overhead the compound and streaming live feed to various "Command and  Control Agencies" so everyone watching that feed knew damn well what was going  on.

 

At 11:30 PM Woods, Doherty and five others leave Tripoli, arriving in Benghazi at 1:30 AM on Wednesday morning, where they hold off the attacking mob from the roof of the compound until they  are killed by a mortar direct hit at 4:00 AM.

 

So nothing could have been done, eh? Nonsense. If one assumes that tanker support really "was not available" what about this: When at 10:00 PM AFRICON alerts the 31st  TFW Command Post in Aviano Air Base, Italy of the attack, the Wing Commander orders preparation for the launch of two F-16s and advises the Command Post at NAS Sigonella to prepare for hot pit refueling and quick turn of the jets.

 

By 11:30 PM, two F-16Cs with drop tanks and each armed with five hundred 20 MM rounds are airborne. Flying at 0.92 mach they will cover the 522 nautical miles directly to NAS Sigonella in 1.08 hours.  While in-route, the flight lead is informed of the tactical situation, rules of engagement, and radio frequencies to use.

 

The jets depart Sigonella at 1:10 AM with full fuel load and cover the 377 nautical miles directly to Benghazi in 0.8 hours, arriving at 1:50 AM which would be 20 minutes after the arrival of Woods, Doherty and their team.

 

Providing that the two F-16s initial pass over the mob, in full afterburner at 200 feet and 550 knots did not stop the attack in its tracks, a few well placed strafing runs on targets of opportunity would assuredly do the trick.

 

Were the F-16s fuel state insufficient to return to Sigonella after jettisoning their external drop tanks, they could easily do so at Tripoli International Airport, only one-half hour away.

 

As for those hand-wringing naysayers who would worry about IFR clearances, border crossing authority, collateral damage, landing rights, political correctness and dozens of other reasons not  to act -- screw them. It is time our "leadership" get its priorities straight and put America's interests first.

 

The end result would be that Woods and Doherty would be alive. Dozens in the attacking rabble would be rendezvousing with "72 virgins" and a clear message would have been sent to the next worthless P.O.S. terrorist contemplating an attack on Americans that it is not really a good idea to "tug" on Superman's cape.

 

Of course all this depends upon a 'Commander In Chief' more concerned with saving the lives of those he put in harm's way than getting his crew rested for a campaign fund raising event in Las Vegas the next day. It also depends upon a Secretary of State who actually understood "What difference did it make?", and a Secretary of Defense who was watching the feed from the drone and understood what the attack consisted of instead of making an immediate response that "One of the military tenets is that you don't commit assets until you fully understand the tactical  situation."

 

YGBSM! ( You Gotta Be Chittin' Me)

 

Ultimately it comes down to the question of who gave that order to stand down? Whoever that coward turns out to be should be exposed, removed from office, and face criminal charges for dereliction of duty. The combat forces of the United States of America deserve leadership that really does "have their back" when the chips are down.

 

FOR THOSE OF YOU HAVE ACTUALLY TAKEN THE TIME TO READ THIS, DO

ONE THING FOR ME AND FORWARD IT TO EVERYONE YOU KNOW!! TO AVOID THIS HAPPENING AGAIN, WHOM EVER GAVE THE "STAND DOWN" ORDER NEEDS TO BE EXPOSED!

 

Why Ukraine's freeze on arms sales to Russia will hurt Kiev too

Why Ukraine's freeze on arms sales to Russia will hurt Kiev too

Did you know this about bats?

 

Did you know this about bats?

 

The newsletter from, "The Texas Gardener Seeds" said:

 

Put up a bat house to encourage the presence of these shy animals.  Bats consume 3,000 or more mosquitoes and other insects nightly, and bats are less likely to be rabid than dogs are.

 

Need another reason?  Bats are responsible for up to 95 percent of the seed dispersalessential to the regeneration of forests.

 

Our planet is populated with plenty of bizarre and astonishing creatures.  Here are three from the Bat Family…

 

 

 

 

Sucker-footed Bat

 

 

 

 

 

 

Red-Winged Fruit Bat

 

 

 

 

 

 

Left-Winged Ding Bat

 

So 2 out of 3 Bats have a useful purpose!

 

If we could just train him to eat mosquitoes..

 

Or do anything useful...

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Intrigue Lying Behind Iraq's Jihadist Uprising

The Intrigue Lying Behind Iraq's Jihadist Uprising

Bowe Bergdahl. Read, remember, vote responsibly !!!

 

 

Bowe Bergdahl     By Jon Williams    As an Army Veteran who was working as a contractor attached to the 25th Infantry Division (same Division as Bergdahl) in a nearby FOB when Bowe Bergdahl went missing, I feel the need to speak out on the situation (notice I don’t ascribe rank to him, I will address that later). A few days ago, Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel took the stage at Bagram Air Field in Afghanistan and excitedly started with what he thought would be a big applause line. “We got him back!” he exclaimed. Silence. Not. Even. One. Clap. Numerous White House leaks show that Obama and his team were convinced that Americans would greet the news of a returning POW with elation; that this would be the great moment in Obama’s second term. This shows just how clueless they are about the military. Let me clue them in. You see, when Hagel took the stage, he expected joy at the announcement that one of their own was returned! However, you have to see inside a soldier’s mind to understand what was going on here. I believe I can provide a little insight. When a soldier deserts his post, when he writes that he is ashamed to be an American, when he gives the enemy secrets (and he did), he is no longer “one of us”. He is a traitor. He is not a brother-in-arms. Soldiers risk their lives for each other every day on the battlefield, there is a trust and respect they have for each other. For Bowe Bergdahl to break that trust and the Secretary of Defense to announce a hero’s welcome instead of a court-martial is a huge let-down. He isn't one of their own. He is one of them. He is the enemy.   That's not something to celebrate.   The message the White House is sending is that they value treason more than honorable service. Read that last sentence again. Let it sink in. THIS is what every soldier is thinking. In a soldier’s mind serving with honor means finishing your tour, even if you disagree with the way things are done. All bets are off if you serve with dishonor. I do not refer to Bergdahl as a sergeant, even though he received “automatic” promotions while in the Taliban’s custody because according to law, after 30 days his rank and pay should have been stripped from him. Due to political pressure, his was not. In fact, he probably has over $200,000 in cash waiting in his bank account. In my opinion, this money should be given to the families of the soldiers who died in the aftermath of his desertion. Bowe Bergdahl deserted his post. He served with dishonor. I know that firsthand. Our soldiers know that. They know they risk their lives every day. They don't get a hero’s welcome from the White House, they get fewer meals (due to budget constraints) and less safety equipment (due to the drawdown). Let me be perfectly clear. A Rose Garden Ceremony, a “hero’s welcome”, and automatic promotions to a person that deserted is nothing more than a slap in the face to every service member who has served honorably. That, Mr. President and Mr. Hagel, is why soldiers aren’t clapping and applauding for you. That is why you have lost any remaining respect from the military community.

Do Your Part ... Learn Arabic!

       

President Obama says we should create harmony by

    learning Arabic...

 

      We might as well get on the band wagon.

 

The current administration wants us to learn more about Muslims

and accept them into our culture.

 

 

So, I'm making a sincere effort to learn to communicate with our

Muslim friends and learn Arabic for the sake of 'cultural diversity.'

 

 

This is my first attempt!!