-Caveat Lector- WJPBR Email News List [EMAIL PROTECTED] Peace at any cost is a Prelude to War!
DefenseWatch – Jan. 2, 2002 Soldiers For The Truth (SFTT) Weekly Newsletter When we assumed the Soldier, We did not lay aside the Citizen. General George Washington, to the New York Legislature, 1775 In this week’s Issue of DefenseWatch: Stay Vigilant in 2002 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ -- EDITORIAL and ADMINISTRATIVE STAFF ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ -- Ed Offley Editor, DefenseWatch Email: [EMAIL PROTECTED] J. David Galland Deputy Editor, DefenseWatch Email: [EMAIL PROTECTED] David H. Hackworth Senior Military Columnist Email: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Chris Humphrey SFTT Webmaster Email: [EMAIL PROTECTED] ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ -- TABLE OF CONTENTS ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ -- Hack’s Target for the Week: Stay Alert, Stay Alive Article 01 – A Commander’s Careless Words, by Matthew Dodd Article 02 – The Surreptitious Importation Strike, by Robert G. Williscroft Article 03 – We Ignore the Threat From Militant Islam At Our Peril, by Patrick Hayes Article 04 – U.S. Military Success: Beyond a ‘Hyperpower,’ by David Warren Article 05 – Interpersonal Skills Vital in Agent Recruitment, by J. David Galland Article 06 – Feedback: Readers Respond to Hack and DefenseWatch Article 07 – Let’s Proudly Fly the Blue Star Banner Again Medal of Honor: Article 08 – BARNUM, HARVEY C., Jr., Lt. USMC ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ -- Hack’s Target For The Week: Stay Alert, Stay Alive ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ -- By David H. Hackworth I see fewer flags flying these days, and the patriotic flame that burned so brightly after Sept. 11 also seems on the wane. A lot of folks are probably thinking that since what's left of Osama's crazy crew is on the run, the war is over. It's human nature to start taking things for granted again when danger isn't banging loudly on the door. I hope we don't go back to the fickleness of the Vietnam War. In 1965, when the 1st Brigade, 101st Airborne Division left Fort Campbell, Ky., it was to ringing endorsements from President Lyndon Johnson, Congress and the people. Eighty-five percent of Americans told the pollsters they were "All the Way With LBJ." Just a year later, the survivors of that storied fighting unit returned from Vietnam to many of the same folks chanting, "Hey, Hey, LBJ, how many kids did you kill today?" But this time around, we're in a fight that's as critical as World War II. Because our homeland and very survival are once more at stake, the American people can't afford to treat this new war against terrorism like they did Vietnam. We must stay the course and support this war from beginning to end, remaining ever aware that the brilliant victory in Afghanistan is simply one battle, with at least 60 more ahead. Fighting terrorism is not unlike fighting a deadly cancer. It can't be treated just where it's visible – every diseased cell in the body must be destroyed. Terrorism, too, must be excised wherever it exists, which will take years, and which can't happen without the total commitment and the everyday involvement of the American people. Just as during World War II when our block wardens and other sharp-eyed patriots looked out for enemy spies, subs and planes, we today must remain as vigilant as our warriors overseas. Not an easily maintained mind-set for the most laid-back and relaxed citizenry in the world. But even on the battlefield, a leader's biggest problem has always been alertness. Even with infantry troops, where fast reactions mean the difference between life and death. Grunts on the line, where the enemy wants them dead, still goof off – even knowing that by letting their guard down they might die. In order to drill into young men the need to stay alert and stay alive, I used to punish offenders with my fists, boots and rifle butt, and with stockade time. I was ruthless. I'd seen too many kids go down because someone was asleep at the switch. There was no technique or punishment I didn't employ except killing the sorry slackers, and I often threatened that. Fortunately, it worked. In my last combat tour in Vietnam with a mainly draftee battalion (the 4/39th), we didn't lose one soldier because our opponent got the edge. Now it's not uncommon for a 52-year-old former battalion member to thank me for kicking his butt and keeping him alive back when he was 19. We must all discipline ourselves into becoming super soldier-sensitive to weird, suspicious stuff and reporting same to the FBI or local police. Two years ago, for example, a very alert female customs inspector stopped several major attacks by catching a Middle Eastern tourist as he was entering the USA from Canada. The arrest led to the FBI roll-up of a large terrorist network planning on blistering Los Angeles and New York City. Last month, several tips protected nuclear reactor sites. And last week, two sharp American Airlines crew members nailed another terrorist bent on bringing their plane down with explosive devices secreted in his shoes. And even though friends in the FBI say some of their best tips are coming from alert citizens, we must still make sure our info gets attention. Remember, the Bureau received advance warning of the 9/11 kamikaze attacks before it got lost in the maze. Since that's the nature of bureaucracies, you-the-citizen must take your wartime home-front responsibilities seriously enough to follow up and make sure that everyone assigned to protect us is as much on the ball as you are. As I drilled into my troops for more than a quarter of a century in training and battlefields: "Stay Alert, Stay Alive." And don't forget to make a New Year's resolution that you'll support our troops in this long, hard war until "It's over, over there," and here, too. http://www.hackworth.com is the address of David Hackworth's home page. Sign in for the free weekly Defending America column at his Web site. Send mail to P.O. Box 11179, Greenwich, CT 06831. © 2001 David H. Hackworth Table of Contents ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ -- ARTICLE 01 – A Commander’s Careless Words ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ -- By Matthew Dodd “Machine-gunners are criminals. Snipers are just smarter criminals. They’re more stealthy.” Those words conjure up images of war at the beginning of the 20th century, right around the time of the “War to End All Wars.” The quote evokes a much simpler time when many still regarded war as a “gentlemen’s sport,” or a test of manhood; a time when new weapons and new tactics were forever changing how wars were fought. And it suggests a time when quotes like the one above were reserved for scholarly debates and personal memoirs. Well, let me shatter that image for you: those words are attributed to a “Gung-ho to the extreme” 38-year-old Marine captain rifle company commander currently deployed to Kandahar, Afghanistan, according to a front-page article in The Wall Street Journal by reporter Michael M. Phillips on Dec. 21. Phillips’ article told the story of a dedicated Marine sniper at Kandahar airport, his personal and professional backgrounds, his intense sniper training, and his unique warrior skills and perspectives. But that commander’s quote, in my opinion, seriously detracted from an otherwise positive and motivating article about one of our unsung heroes deployed far away from home. I believe the article contains many media and leadership lessons that apply to military leaders at all levels. I was shocked when I first read the quote. How can any leader call his men ‘criminals,’ and how could saying it to a staff reporter from a major international newspaper be something positive? In peacetime, that quote is at best idiotic. In war, on the ground in a politically and culturally sensitive region of the world, that quote is, at worst, strategically devastating as a potentially lucrative gift of propaganda to the enemy. They say that loose lips sink ships, and I am afraid of the possibility in the Muslim world that loose lips may shatter relationships. My next thoughts were focused on the families and loved ones of the Marines (especially of the machine-gunners and snipers) under that captain’s command. As a son and as a parent, I know my family would be upset to learn in print that I or my son is considered to be in the company of criminals (or even as a criminal) according to my or my son’s commander. All it takes is one or two upset parents or loved ones to call their congressman’s office to set in motion a paperwork headache that is not needed when we are at war. In one glib moment, that leader disrespected all (past, present and future) Marine machine-gunners and snipers. In a military service known for its cult-like reverence for and remembrance of its wartime heroes, such disrespect is inconceivable and unacceptable. I am sure that this leader did not intentionally mean to disrespect heroes like “Manila John” Basilone (World War II Medal of Honor machine-gunner) and Carlos Hathcock (the ultimate Vietnam Marine sniper), but the bottom line is that he did reduce them to criminal status with his flippant comments. The remaining lessons are best left as questions about how this article made it to print. Did the captain proofread the article before it was published? Did the captain know he was going to be quoted, and did he know what quote was going to be used? What kind of relationship did the captain have with the reporter, and was it long enough for them to build up mutual trust and respect? What public affairs training and guidance were available to this captain before he spoke to the reporter? Effectively dealing with the media is a leadership responsibility, especially in times of war when the consequences of unintended second- and third-order effects of ineffective dealings can negatively affect so many people and organizations. I believe the media is a force multiplier when used carefully by qualified individuals. Unfortunately, the quoted captain deserves the dubious distinction of delivering the dumbest, most insensitive, unprofessional, and irresponsible sound bite of the war in 2001. I hope that leaders at all levels will take time to reflect on at least some of these lessons before they discredit or disrespect themselves, their troops, their organizations, and possibly our nation in our own news media. Lt. Col. Matthew Dodd is the pen name of an active-duty Marine Corps officer stationed at the Pentagon. He can be reached at [EMAIL PROTECTED] *COPYRIGHT NOTICE** In accordance with Title 17 U. S. C. Section 107, any copyrighted work in this message is distributed under fair use without profit or payment to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the included information for nonprofit research and educational purposes only.[Ref. http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/17/107.shtml ] Want to be on our lists? Write at [EMAIL PROTECTED] for a menu of our lists! Write to same address to be off lists! <A HREF="http://www.ctrl.org/";>www.ctrl.org</A> DECLARATION & DISCLAIMER ========== CTRL is a discussion & informational exchange list. Proselytizing propagandic screeds are unwelcomed. Substance�not soap-boxing�please! These are sordid matters and 'conspiracy theory'�with its many half-truths, mis- directions and outright frauds�is used politically by different groups with major and minor effects spread throughout the spectrum of time and thought. That being said, CTRLgives no endorsement to the validity of posts, and always suggests to readers; be wary of what you read. CTRL gives no credence to Holocaust denial and nazi's need not apply. Let us please be civil and as always, Caveat Lector. ======================================================================== Archives Available at: http://peach.ease.lsoft.com/archives/ctrl.html <A HREF="http://peach.ease.lsoft.com/archives/ctrl.html";>Archives of [EMAIL PROTECTED]</A> http:[EMAIL PROTECTED]/ <A HREF="http:[EMAIL PROTECTED]/";>ctrl</A> ======================================================================== To subscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email: SUBSCRIBE CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED] To UNsubscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email: SIGNOFF CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED] Om
