Folly!
2 Apr 15 “Follies” During the Vietnam War, I vividly remember daily military briefings, faithfully delivered by military spokesmen to the press corps in Saigon. They were cynically referred to by news correspondents as “The Five O’Clock Follies,” as both content and presentation were so preposterously biased and self-serving as to be laughably absurd. Gradually, […]
Unpopular!
30 Mar 15 “All progress has resulted from people who took unpopular positions.” Adlai Stevenson We desperately need a few “unpopular” people to speak-up now! In a meeting yesterday in Egypt, of Middle-Eastern nations (mainly Egypt and Saudi Arabia), it was decided to form, without delay, a joint military task-force to oppose Iranian incursions into […]
Propaganda
27 Mar 15 Propaganda, then and now: In August of 1942, Paramount Pictures released a feature film entitled, “Wake Island” It starred Brian Donlevy. A supporting role, played by a young and previously unknown William Bendix, propelled him into subsequent stardom. These were the “dark days” of WWII, and Paramount willingly “supported the War effort,” […]
Security Theater!
27 Mar 15 This from a friend in Manila. We’ll soon see this here, and in most of Western Europe: “The Philippine approach to security in business districts and hotels where most foreigners hang-out is much more rigorous than we see at home, and is surely a sign of things to come. You go through […]
Still We Sleep!
22 Mar 15 Still we sleep! From a friend on active duty: “The US military, despite endless pious rhetoric, is not taking recent ISIS threats to specific military individuals and families seriously. Military families are advised, once more, to be vigilant and security-conscious. Advise includes locking doors, using peepholes, adequate exterior lighting, etc, all the […]
300Blk
19 Mar 15 Hunting with the 300Blk On Tuesday of this week I was in OH, hunting big game on a private preserve. As I did last fall, I was using my DDA (Devil Dog Arms) AR in 300Blk. And, as last time, I used DPX ammunition (Barnes 125gr), super-sonic. 300Blk ammunition is manufactured in […]
T2
16 Mar 15 Aimpoint T2 At an anti-terrorist training Class in FL last weekend, a student was using a AR with a Aimpoint T2, mounted mid-point on the top rail. The T2 is Aimpoint’s latest small red-dot. I saw it at the SHOT Show in Las Vegas in January, and I noted that, although about […]
Ammunition
11 Mar 15 Ammunition Last week, when in TX, I visited a big Cabelas near Austin. 223/5.56mm was nearly cleaned-out! Plenty of pistol ammunition in all popular calibers, and 308, 7.62×39, 6.8mm, and 300Blk were also all in good supply, but scant 223/5.56mm, in any configuration brand, nor bullet weight. The issue was, of course, […]
Duty!
8 Mar 15 “Ready for anything. Depending on nothing” Motto of 2/7, First Marine Division (my old outfit from 1968, Vietnam) The tinge of bitterness, evident in the above motto, betrays a wisplike sense of disappointment that the “system” often failed to provide us with what we needed at the critical instant, yet those of […]
Self-Reliant?
4 Mar 15 “Self-Reliant” or “Cell-Phone-Reliant?” Last November, a NY man froze to death while remaining in his stranded car for twelve hours, patiently waiting for help that never arrived. From his marooned vehicle nearly buried in snow, disabled when struck from the rear by a snowplow, the man repeatedly called 911 and was repeatedly […]
Hollywood!
27 Feb 15 Hollywood! I recently was made aware of the sizeable LAPD contingent assigned to providing security at the Oscar Ceremonies last week. Of course, they all quietly and professionally went about their jobs, never expecting to be thanked. And, yes, there were police snipers on the roof! I wonder if Michael Moore and […]
At Least They Now Have Knives!
25 Feb 15 Blades for Rabbis! “The pervasive expansiveness of the (Roman) Empire which we see today did not come about as a result of accident nor precipitous good fortune. These (Roman) warriors do not sit around congratulating themselves in the wake of every victory, nor are they idle in peacetime. Rather, they are constantly […]
ISIS Update
24 Feb 15 “All are born ignorant. Many then spend the remainder of their natural lives practicing it to perfection!” Wiggington ISIS Update, from a friend in the System: “We review all ISIS/AlQaeda documents, publications and videos here. Key learnings: 1) They go to great lengths to identify and recruit potential jihadis from Western cultures. […]
“Polite Society” 2015
23 Feb 15 2015 “Polite Society” Tactical Conference, Memphis, TN The 2015 “Polite Society” Event at the MPD Academy in Memphis, TN last weekend, ended yesterday. Hosted by my famous friend and colleague, Tom Givens, this annual Conference has grown into a major entry on my personal training calendar! This year, Memphis was cold and […]
“Dead-Gulations”
23 Feb 15 “Dead-gulations” Our active-duty military wives are now receiving pernicious threats from ISIS, via e-mail messages sent directly to them: “While your president and your husband are killing our brothers in Syria, Iraq, and Afghanistan, we’re coming for you. You think you’re safe, but ISIS is already here. We know everything about you, […]
Visigoths!
18 Feb 15 “Unarmed” Forces: From a proud father of an American Infantry Soldier: “My son left for his assigned post today. Of course, he could not take anything along that might even resemble a weapon, including a utility knife. The Army has a training issue, that it is covering up with a manufactured ‘safety […]
Serious Rrifle Optics
16 Feb 15 Optics for serious rifles: I’ve editorialized more than once the everyone ought to be able to use, and be comfortable with, iron sights on serious rifles, both Western style and Soviet style. When you have nothing else, you have to know how to make iron sights work. With good iron sights and […]
Unchecked
15 Feb 15 ISIS, Unchecked: “Things are far worse than ‘not good!’” Burczynski In Braunschweig Germany today, a large and popular parade and festival was abruptly cancelled, less than two hours before it was to start. The annual event typically draws to the area a quarter million visitors and participants. Many, already dressed in colorful […]
“Offical” Reports
12 Feb 15 More on Yemen: The Yemen Embassy story, as originally reported, has now been slightly “softened,” in subsequent “official” reports. However, given the lying history of the BHO Administration, I believe little contained in any such “official” statement. Their “official” version of events in Benghazi was subsequently proven to be a pack of […]
Gun industry legends Dave Spaulding, Massad Ayoob, Mike Boyle, and John Farnam join Fernando Coelho to dive deep into the history of the gun industry, shedding light on how firearms and firearms training have transformed over the decades. They discuss the dramatic shift from traditional print reviews to the digital age of internet forums, social media influencers, and YouTube personalities of the industry.
