Archive for November, 2011

Smartphones as Pocket Spies against Mexican Drug Cartels?

“Michael Yon travels with U.S. combat troops overseas and has learned much about smartphones as pocket spies with actionable intelligence that is trackable and could mean life or death. While continuing to discuss smartphones as pocket spies with actionable intelligence that can be tracked, Yon pointed out that:

Smartphones are computers. Software is hacked every day. The speaker and camera can be turned on without a warning. This also is possible with normal landlines. The phone speaker can remotely activated without the phone ringing.

Chinese hackers were said to be turning on webcams and secretly transmitting. Information flows into and out of smartphones like water flows in rainforests. Information practically evaporates. Spyware can be installed. Wifi and Bluetooth are open doors.”

http://blogs.computerworld.com/19352/smartphone_pocket_spy_tracking_by_drug_cartels_at_mexican_border_war_zone

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Woman shoots and kills home intruder with .22 pistol

The woman in this video used a .22 pistol to defend herself from a would-be rapist that broke into her home – and she killed him with it. This story illustrates that even a .22 can be lethal.

A related point is that training is crucial, because a .22 round in a vital organ will put a bad guy down faster than a .45 that misses or only wounds him. Doesn’t matter how big the bullet is if it misses the target.

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Pakistan, Russia and the Threat to the Afghan War

Pakistan, Russia and the Threat to the Afghan War is republished with permission of STRATFOR.

By George Friedman

Days after the Pakistanis closed their borders to the passage of fuel and supplies for the NATO-led war effort in Afghanistan, for very different reasons the Russians threatened to close the alternative Russia-controlled Northern Distribution Network (NDN). The dual threats are significant even if they don’t materialize. If both routes are cut, supplying Western forces operating in Afghanistan becomes impossible. Simply raising the possibility of cutting supply lines forces NATO and the United States to recalculate their position in Afghanistan.

The possibility of insufficient lines of supply puts NATO’s current course in Afghanistan in even more jeopardy. It also could make Western troops more vulnerable by possibly requiring significant alterations to operations in a supply-constrained scenario. While the supply lines in Pakistan most likely will reopen eventually and the NDN likely will remain open, the gap between likely and certain is vast.

The Pakistani Outpost Attack

The Pakistani decision to close the border crossings at Torkham near the Khyber Pass and Chaman followed a U.S. attack on a Pakistani position inside Pakistan’s tribal areas near the Afghan border that killed some two-dozen Pakistani soldiers. The Pakistanis have been increasingly opposed to U.S. operations inside Pakistani territory. This most recent incident took an unprecedented toll, and triggered an extreme response. The precise circumstances of the attack are unclear, with details few, contradictory and disputed. The Pakistanis have insisted it was an unprovoked attack and a violation of their sovereign territory. In response, Islamabad closed the border to NATO; ordered the United States out of Shamsi air base in Balochistan, used by the CIA; and is reviewing military and intelligence cooperation with the United States and NATO. Read the rest of this entry »

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Weatherby Series 2 Vanguard

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Houston: Unarmed man shot by carjackers in front of his home.

“Police are searching for two gunmen after an attempted carjacking in northwest Harris County.

A family of three were returning to their home on Roydencrest Dr. and Dawn Lily Dr. around 11:15 p.m. Saturday after purchasing two new cars.

The wife and child went into the house. The husband was still outside when two gunmen appeared demanding both cars.

Police say the men then shot the husband after he refused to hand over the keys. Both gunmen then ran off on foot.

The husband was then taken to Memorial Hermann Hospital in serious but stable condition.”

http://www.click2houston.com/news/Father-shot-during-attempted-carjacking/-/1735978/4829918/-/ox6dg2z/-/index.html

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Marine Medal of Honor Recipient Sues Defense Giant BAE After Sniper Scope Fight

“Marine Sgt. Dakota Meyer is perhaps this country’s best-recognized war hero, a man who risked his life over and over again to save his buddies from a Taliban ambush. That’s why he’s the only living Marine to be awarded the Medal of Honor — the nation’s highest award for valor — for his actions in Afghanistan or Iraq.

It’s undoubtedly one reason why the defense giant BAE Systems hired Meyer after he left the Corps.

Then, BAE considered selling high-tech sniper rifle scopes to the Pakistani military. Meyer objected, given Islamabad’s um, unambiguous relationship with the terrorists and militants based in Pakistan. Then he quit. Suddenly, Meyer’s former bosses at BAE started calling the war hero “mentally unstable” and a drunk.

“We are taking the best gear, the best technology on the market to date and giving it to guys known to stab us in the back,” Meyer wrote to his supervisor…

http://www.wired.com/dangerroom/2011/11/bae-dakota-meyer/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+wired%2Findex+%28Wired%3A+Index+3+%28Top+Stories+2%29%29

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Rifle Plates from Bullet Proof Me

From: BulletProofMe.com

 For rifle threats you need Level III or Level IV Rifle Plates
(either on top of a supporting vest, or Stand-Alone).

Soft Body Armor vests are excellent for fragmentation and pistol protection but will NOT stop rifle bullets. (Even Level III-A is only tested to stop pistol-caliber threats such as 9mm SUB-machine-gun or .44 Magnum.)

Plates, also described as Small Arms Protective Inserts or SAPI, are best deployed in Rifle Plate Pockets on the outershell carrier of Tactical Vests or, more discreetly, in our ProMAX Concealable with Rifle Plate Pockets.

Rifle Plates may also be used in a stand-alone configuration – as appropriate for the threat – with a stand-alone Rifle Plates Carrier Harness (very handy if your vest doesn’t have Rifle Plate Pockets).

We stock a huge selection of Rifle Plates – if you see too many options below – just call us, we are happy to advise!

We also have more expensive, specialized Rifle Plates not listed – if you have specific requirements – call us !

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Make Ready with Paul Howe: Tac Rifle Operator

We take you to the CSAT (Combat Shooting and Tactics) training facility in Nacogdoches, TX for a one-on-one private training session with Paul Howe. Paul is a high-risk training instructor that served 20 years in the US Army, ten of those in Special Operations. He served as a Tactical Team Leader and Senior Instructor while assigned to Army Special Operations. During his tour in special operations he was involved in several combat actions. One of the most notable was the battle of Mogadishu that was later portrayed in the motion picture Black Hawk Down. Now you can learn rifle handling techniques from Paul right from your home. You will review equipment check list, proper grip, dry firing, tac reload, zeroing your rifle, shooting from kneeling, shooting from prone, loading/unloading, transitions, multiple key shooting drills that culminate to shooting the CSAT rifle standards, and weapon maintenance. You also get an honest and frank discussion with Paul Howe on leadership, training, and the combat mindset that is applicable to the military, law enforcement, and civilian sector.

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Gun owners are compensating for something.

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Houston man shoots and kills one of three men trying to steal his car

“A southeast Houston homeowner is under investigation after he said he caught three men stealing from his car.

Police said the homeowner said he heard noises outside of his home on Gulf Valley and Springtime and looked outside to find three men inside of his car with the trunk open.

He said he then told the men several times to stop.

The homeowner said he thought one of them pointed a gun at him and that’s when he started to shoot, detectives said.

The men then tried to take off in their car.

Investigators said the homeowner shot the driver’s side window out, hitting the driver in the head and killing him.

The two other men then got out of the car and ran.”

http://www.click2houston.com/news/Homeowner-questioned-after-suspected-car-buglar-killed/-/1735978/4829924/-/b8q5l7z/-/index.html

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Texas concealed handgun carrier thwarts robbery at Denny’s

“Two armed suspects attempted to rob a Denny’s restaurant, but ended up fleeing for safety after a shootout with a customer.

Officials said two armed suspects wearing bandannas entered and attempted to rob the store. The sole customer in the restaurant, a licensed concealed handgun carrier, observed the suspects enter, pulled out his own gun, took cover and fired at the robbers.

Officials said the suspects returned fire and fled the restaurant. The customer followed the suspects, firing as he went. The suspects jumped into a white minivan and fled the scene.”

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/45446615/ns/local_news-houston_tx/#.TtNUGk-kSyN

 

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MC-130P Crash – Afghanistan, 2002

Details, video and still images taken from reconnaissance and strike footage of a downed Combat Shadow aircraft in Afghanistan in 2002.

From: Jouster.com

Here are some pics and vids of my aircraft, crashed in the Hindu Kush of the Shahi-Kot valley Afghanistan and its final bombing and destruction by the squids F18.

This the bird I had flow on for all my “stan” missions up until the night it crashed. That evening, another crew had flown a mission, came back and mission hogged our line and took our bird. Well hell long story short, they logged one more takeoff than landing

Almost felt bad about giving the crew such a hard line of **** about hogging us, almost. In the end, due to a number of fortuitous circumstances, nobody died, even though it took four or five hours to cut one of the loadmasters out of the airplane and he spent the next year and a half locked up in Walter Roach er Reed.

I have sat on these things since Feb 13th 2002, all classified tell tales have been redacted and there shouldn’t be any problem posting them now.

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Pit Bull Revolver from Charter Arms

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Send a GI a G2

From: Peacekeeper Support Network

 

About the Send a GI a G2 Program

Send a GI a G2 is a program dedicated to providing Surefire G2 flashlights as well as other necessary gear to the men and women in uniform who are deployed overseas. The Send a GI a G2 program has been sending flashlights and other gear for several years now. The program had humble beginnings as an attempt to get a few friends some quality gear. From there it has seen several great people handle the project, each pushing it forward a little bit more.

The Surefire G2 flashlight is industry recognized for it’s high quality, excellent output, good battery life, and most important, it’s durability. Surefire flashlights have been in harms way and proven themselves again and again in the face of danger. Most branches of the military do not issue as high quality gear as the G2.

It is our aim to provide members of the armed services with the highest quality gear possible. We believe that our soldiers deserve the best one way or the other. Send a GI a G2 has been handling job specific requests for gear including but not limited to rifle accessories, shooting glasses, home town newspapers, caffeine supplements and anything else a soldier requests.

Our program is personalized enough where we can provide support to individuals and handle specific requests for products.

Currently, Send a GI a G2 is shipping an average of a box a week to members of the armed forces deployed in harms way.

We have sent packages to all points APO, as well as members of British and Canadian forces. The program has been able to send thousands of boxes to soldiers, and intends to send thousands more.

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Gunman barricaded in building at Colorado air base

SCHRIEVER AIR FORCE BASE, Colo. (AP) — An airman armed with a pistol barricaded himself in a building at an Air Force base in Colorado that controls all GPS satellites, but operations haven’t been disrupted, officials said Monday.

The building was evacuated, and no shots were fired and no one was injured, said Schriever Air Force Base spokeswoman Jennifer Thibault.

A negotiator and a SWAT team from the El Paso County Sheriff’s Department were on scene at the Air Force’s request, said Air Force Lt. Marie Denson.

Thibault said the airman is a member of a security squadron and is armed with his own handgun. Officials were investigating how he got the weapon past security and onto the base.

The airman is in a building where personnel prepare for deployments, Thibault said.

Control rooms for GPS and other military satellites are in a separate, heavily protected inner compound surrounded by fences and staffed with armed guards.

The gunman faces a discharge over a matter in civilian court, but no other details were available, Denson said. He is still classified as being on active duty, she said.

The airman’s name, rank and service history weren’t immediately released.

The base about 60 miles south of Denver controls more than 60 military satellites.

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5hQkQgFlocMMOz4ScABKMY-Axi8aA?docId=ccbda24d71294a1b8fb394b4794e8217

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