V Visits DC
WeThePeople– This is just funny (link has more pictures and video) –
On Monday, November 6, 2006, “V” visited security check points at the White House, the main Treasury, IRS and Justice Department Buildings and the Capitol.
Standard Communication
UPI – 5 years later and now one force in one state has a standard open communication language – standard plain english responses –
Localized codes squawked over police radio bands weren’t a problem until the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks threw many responders together, the Post said. After the attacks, federal Homeland Security officials required first responders to speak in plain English when working an event with other agencies.
But as the U.S. Department of Homeland Security began developing a national emergency response system, officials found they needed to ensure that responders spoke the same language.
Afghani Army Dependent On The US
UPI – Good summary of the situation in Afghanistan –
In many districts, warlords, opium dealers and corrupt police help the insurgents exert authority as the Afghan army units control virtually no territory. These units are completely dependent on U.S. supplies and support. The task is compounded by the fact the U.S.-backed government has not been able to improve the quality of life in the country or rein in local warlords.
Thanks
Via Zen – Kent’s Imperative has some thoughts on the 5GW discussion. Thanks for the mention.
On Mortars
LA Times –
Mortar battles have erupted between Shiite and Sunni neighborhoods in Baghdad, and the once-mixed city is reeling as the two sides adopt the weapons and tactics of urban civil war.
The shift to mortars is a result of Baghdad’s devolution into a highly fragmented urban shell of a multiethnic city. This devolution is marked by divergent refugees of either Sunni or Shia denomination fleeing to areas where they are in close proximity with those they owe their primary loyalties.
The highly portable though inaccurate mortar is increasingly the weapon of choice…
Perfect for environments where accurate targeting matters less than simply being able to fire with deadly repercussions.