-Caveat Lector- VOICE OF THE GRUNT, 1999-08-04-B ===================================================== ARTICLE 6 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ NATO FORCES SEEK CALM AFTER PRISTINA BOMBING ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ SUMMARY: As recently as Monday we have a report of "terrorist" activity in Kosovo. **************************************************** Associated Press Monday, August 2, 1999 PRISTINA, Yugoslavia, Aug. 1-Peacekeepers scrambled to keep a lid on simmering ethnic tensions today after a bomb damaged a Serbian Orthodox church under construction in Kosovo's capital. The early morning blast did little damage to the structure, but it further undermined the confidence of minority Serbs in the ability of Western peacekeepers to protect them from violence that they say is committed by ethnic Albanians. The bombing "was not a surprise, because for the last few days we have been telling every day the [peacekeeping] officers that this is going to be the next target," said the Rev Sava Janjic, a prominent Serbian Orthodox priest in Kosovo. "We very much wonder why it couldn't be prevented." No one was reported injured in the explosion, which was heard throughout the capital, setting off car alarms and sending a large cloud of smoke and dust into the air. British Capt. Tony Tesar said damage to the church, which had not yet opened, was minimal. He said six five-pound charges were found inside the structure, but not all of them had been detonated. He said the perpetrators used a timer. NATO issued a statement saying it "vigorously condemns this cowardly attack against a place of worship" and was carrying out an investigation. The bombing added to tensions already running high after Russian peacekeepers briefly detained the Kosovo Liberation Army's military commander, Agim Ceku. In response to the detention Saturday, ethnic Albanian rebel leader Hashim Thaqi warned that if such actions aren't stopped, "we will defend our honor." Russia defended the action of its peacekeepers and accused the rebel group of flouting the peace process. The statement called Thaqi's response "a crude provocation" and criticized what it termed "the impunity of the KLA, which is carrying out illegal violence against local Serbs." ==================================================== ARTICLE 7 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ MORE ON DIVERSITY AND C.O.O ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ SUMMARY: We can all celebrate our ancestral roots, but the very nature of military training is to build a common culture for troops from different backgrounds. ************************************************* By A Warrior Officer Two things were mentioned in your recently published "letter of resignation" of a Ft Carson LTC. Consideration for Others Training I just returned from my two weeks of reserve "training" at Aberdeen Proving Ground MD. LTG Foley gave a lecture on "Consideration of Others," a program he apparently started as commandant of West Point and now is fostering within the Army (we were ordered to attend). I realize that he is a Medal of Honor recipient with a distinguished career, but I really wonder if this program is actually doing anything. During the Q&A session that followed his lecture I asked "as an executive in a multinational company in civilian life, I am always asked to justify programs based on ROI (return on investment). Do you (LTG Foley) have any hard numbers that this program is actually contributing to the Army in a positive way?" His answer was basically "no." He said he had anecdotal "feedback" that it is a good program, but I wonder if he really believes that any subordinate in his right mind would tell a LTG that his pet project wasn't working. Too much emphasis is placed on diversity (Asian week, African American week, Hispanic week, etc.). While I served with the Training Brigade at Ft. McClellan, we had a HHC commander who seemed to spend all his time preparing for Hispanic Appreciation Month, apparently in lieu of his normal responsibilities. The CO said he was "broke" but I don't think he was able to relieve him. Maybe the quota system described in your newsletter had something to do with it. It is certainly true that the emphasis on diversity detracts from unit cohesion. It is creating an Army where the only thing we have in common is our differences. ==================================================== ARTICLE 8 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ *******Medal Of Honor******* ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ FOLEY, ROBERT F. Rank and organization: Captain, USA, Co. A, 2/27, 25th Infantry Division. Place and date: Near Quan Dau Tieng, RVN, 5 November 1966. Entered service at: Newton, Mass. Born: 30 May 1941, Newton, Mass. Citation: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty. Capt. Foley's company was ordered to extricate another company of the battalion. Moving through the dense jungle to aid the besieged unit, Company A encountered a strong enemy force occupying well concealed, defensive positions, and the company's leading element quickly sustained several casualties. Capt. Foley immediately ran forward to the scene of the most intense action to direct the company's efforts. Deploying 1 platoon on the flank, he led the other 2 platoons in an attack on the enemy in the face of intense fire. During this action both radio operators accompanying him were wounded. At grave risk to himself he defied the enemy's murderous fire, and helped the wounded operators to a position where they could receive medical care. As he moved forward again 1 of his machine-gun crews was wounded. Seizing the weapon, he charged forward firing the machine-gun, shouting orders and rallying his men, thus maintaining the momentum of the attack. Under increasingly heavy enemy fire he ordered his assistant to take cover and, alone, Capt. Foley continued to advance firing the machine-gun until the wounded had been evacuated and the attack in this area could be resumed. When movement on the other flank was halted by the enemy's fanatical defense, Capt. Foley moved to personally direct this critical phase of the battle. Leading the renewed effort he was blown off his feet and wounded by an enemy grenade. Despite his painful wounds he refused medical aid and persevered in the forefront of the attack on the enemy redoubt. He led the assault on several enemy gun emplacements and, single-handedly, destroyed 3 such positions. His outstanding personal leadership under intense enemy fire during the fierce battle which lasted for several hours, inspired his men to heroic efforts and was instrumental in the ultimate success of the operation. Capt. Foley's magnificent courage, selfless concern for his men and professional skill reflect the utmost credit upon himself and the U.S. Army. ===================================================== ARTICLE 9 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ THE CONDOM DOCTRINE ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ A Letter To The Editor regarding the ANTHRAX issue: Last week, in a fearful Washington Post op-ed titled "Preparing for a Grave New World," Secretary of Defense William Cohen revealed the Clinton Administration's plans to use the military to respond to domestic terrorism. An unstated centerpiece of Cohen's plan is the controversial DOD mandatory anthrax vaccination policy. Supposedly a measure to protect U.S. forces overseas, many servicemembers have wondered why all military personnel, even those who do not deploy, must be vaccinated. Additionally, members of Congress have asked why DOD suddenly decided to use a thirty-year old vaccine against a threat our adversaries have had since World War II. Cohen hinted at the real reason for the anthrax vaccination policy last week. He intends to use an immunized military as a "911" force to respond to domestic bioterrorism incidents. This is contrary to the official stated purpose of the policy which is "force protection" for servicemembers deployed to so-called "high threat" areas where they have served for decades without being vaccinated for anthrax. DOD has used other misleading statements to implement this policy -- starting with the assertion the vaccine is "safe, effective, and FDA-approved." To prove this, Cohen mandated an independent review before starting the shots and DOD later told the troops that a Yale medical school professor had approved it. Congressional testimony has revealed that DOD's "expert" was a gynecologist who has admitted to "no expertise in anthrax." When the vaccine manufacturer was sold last year because of repeatedly failing FDA inspections, no reputable pharmaceutical company would buy it. Instead, the winning bidder was a foreign investor who just happened to give 22% ownership in the plant to former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs Admiral William Crowe - the only senior military officer to endorse Clinton in 1992. Since then, this company has not produced a drop of vaccine, but has demanded a tripling of the negotiated price -- after DOD spent $15 million in tax dollars to renovate the plant. Why immunize soldiers to prepare for domestic bioterrorism? Because Clinton cannot force civilian police, firemen, and healthcare workers -- the real first responders to any terrorism incident -- to take a questionable vaccine that none of our allies make mandatory for their troops. Even the State Department won't force its personnel -- the frequent target of terrorism overseas -- to take the anthrax vaccine. And Israel, most at risk from terrorism, does not use it. Why, then, should US soldiers? Because Clinton has been obsessed with bioterrorism since reading a novel about an anthrax attack a few years ago. A few days after the impeachment vote he told New York Times reporters he wanted his domestic counterterrorism policy to be "a major legacy" of his administration. So, Cohen and the Joint Chiefs are enforcing the anthrax vaccination policy with courts martial, intimidation and ridicule to insure the centerpiece of Clinton's defense legacy is a policy success. The Joint Chiefs' complicity in this policy is shameful. They have been cowed ever since Cohen fired an Air Force general over the Khobar Towers bombing because he supposedly did not protect his troops from a terrorist attack. The top generals got the message that casualties are now an unacceptable consequence of sending troops in harm's way, so any policy labeled as "force protection" is accepted without question. By jailing servicemembers to enforce a health policy the Joint Chiefs have turned the anthrax vaccination policy into a test of servicemembers' blind obedience. Cohen's assistant secretary for reserve affairs Charles Cragin told CBS last week he doesn't care how many reservists quit over the vaccine. The result is plummeting morale and serious readiness problems, especially among reservists who can simply quit without fear of punishment. For decades America was protected from anthrax and other deadly agents by deterrence based on the credible willingness of the US to respond forcefully to any adversary. But the Clinton Administration's repeated failure to confront Saddam Hussein has advertised to the world that US doctrine has changed. Instead of using deterrent strength, Cohen now hypes the inevitability of a bioterrorism attack and responds with a prophylactic force protection placebo -- anthrax vaccine. This Clinton-Cohen "Condom Doctrine" is the brainchild of two policy-wonk lawyers who have avoided risk their entire lives. It is a biological Maginot Line. Like the failed French attempt at deterrence through defense, a defensive posture against weapons of mass destruction will not succeed. The Joint Chiefs know better and should tell Cohen before their own defense of the anthrax vaccination policy further erodes troops' confidence in the leadership. If they don't, Congress must act quickly to save the military from itself. Meanwhile, the military suffers from a plague of arrogant indifference by a spy-novelist defense secretary who has placed the President's legacy before the safety of the troops. ==================================================== Sources: William S. Cohen, "Preparing for a Grave New World", Washington Post, July 26, 1999 William J. Broad and Judith Miller, "Clinton Describes Terrorism Threat for 21st Century", New York Times, January 22, 1999 William J. Broad and Judith Miller, "Germ Defense Plan In Peril As Its Flaws Are Revealed", New York Times, August 7, 1998 =================================================== ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ VOICE OF THE GRUNT Volunteers: ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ David H. Hackworth, Taker of Names and Spiritual Leader Robert L. McMahon, Editor and Chief bottle-washer Kate Aspy, Contributing Editor and Oracle Barry "Woody" Groton, Assistant Editor and Medicine Man Ed "Edgar" Schneider, Letter to the Editor EDITOR, Man of Letters and gentleman: Ed's e-mail address - [EMAIL PROTECTED] Larry Tahler, WebMaster Guru and Crack-shot Judy Bowyer Martin, Administration and Brains of the Outfit Kyle Elliott, Book List Editor and Most Over-worked *********, MOH Editor and NCOIC =================================================== EDITOR'S NOTE: Please address all "Letters To The Editor" to Edgar Schneider at [EMAIL PROTECTED] Ed has agreed to be our repository for correspondence from the field. As a rule of thumb, please try to keep article for possible publication to 700 words or less. We do make exceptions and will not turn away an 800 to 900 word piece, but please make every editing effort not to exceed these guidelines. If you believe you have a story that is longer than 700 words we will consider running it in parts. Keep the piece focused on the story you want to express, not impress upon the reader. Please make submissions in open format as we've been unwittingly receiving and passing worms and viruses and cannot open any file attachments. Thanks to everyone for keeping the communication lines open and the ideas flowing. Semper Fi, Bob McMahon [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://www.freeyellow.com:8080/members7/rlmcmahon ============================================= HACK'S DEFENDING AMERICA COLUMN: Many readers have asked for guidance/help/ideas for getting Hack's column in their local newspapers. See http://www.hackworth.com --- NEWSPAPERS for a few suggestions. Much appreciate your effort. What we're into is getting the word to as many citizens as possible about what is causing our military machine to sputter like old WWII Sherman tank. Thanks, Bob McMahon ============================================= ARCHIVED DEFENDING AMERICA COLUMNS: You can now find copies of Hack's previous columns at: http://www.hackworth.com These are found in the Defending America Section, under Archived Copies. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ GLOSSARY OF MILITARY ACRONYMS: We've had numerous requests from troops in different branches of the military to establish this link so that we will all know how "all you others" talk that talk. Please see below: http://www.dtic.mil/doctrine/jel/doddict/acronym_index.html ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ CONGRESSIONAL E-MAIL ADDRESSES Congressional e-mail addresses can be found by going to (www.hackworth.com) and accessing Congressional e-mails at the bottom of the first page. ********************ORDERING BOOKS************************* We still have Trade copies of About Face. These are exactly the same as the hardback, except they have a soft cover. Cost for an autographed copy: $26.00 (including handling and postage). If you are interested in ordering Hack's books (About Face*, Hazardous Duty**, or The Vietnam Primer), check out the instructions at our web page: http://www.hackworth.com It takes about 3 weeks to process the book orders. Your patience is appreciated. Please mark on outside if envelope "Book Order" and make check out to: Twin Eagles Ink P.O. Box 5210 Greenwich, CT 06831 *About Face available in trade copy. **Hazardous Duty available in hardback. ==================================================== **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 ] DECLARATION & DISCLAIMER ========== CTRL is a discussion and informational exchange list. Proselyzting propagandic screeds are not allowed. Substance—not soapboxing! These are sordid matters and 'conspiracy theory', with its many half-truths, misdirections 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, CTRL gives no endorsement to the validity of posts, and always suggests to readers; be wary of what you read. CTRL gives no credeence to Holocaust denial and nazi's need not apply. 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