Art of War

The Art of War, by Sun Tzu



As I thought of the subjects I will tackle since arriving home from Baghdad, I have decided that I will touch on the book, The Art of War, by Sun Tzu. The Translation I will be using is the Barnes and Noble classics, Edited with an Introduction by Dallas Galvin and Translated by Lionel Giles. The Art of War is over 2400 years old, and the lessons and advice given by Sun Tzu are as relevant today in both Warfare and Business, as it was in 500 B.C. That’s Before Christ for those of you in Paris. Before Common Era, or B.C.E. is a ridiculous concept by stupid individuals to remove the existence of Christ from mainstream usage.

The Art of War is comprised of 13 Chapters.

1. Laying Plans
2. Waging War
3. Attack by Stratagem
4. Tactical Dispositions
5. Energy
6. Weak Points and Strong
7. Maneuvering
8. Variation of Tactics
9. The Army on the March
10. Terrain
11. The Nine Situations
12. The Attack by Fire
13. The use of Spies.



In the coming weeks, I will discuss each chapter but only highlight items that interest me at the time. You can follow the link above to read the whole chapter in context, and I encourage everyone to buy their own copy. To reiterate; The Art of War is not just applicable to physical combat, but also to business, personal matters, philosophy, and any myriad of subjects. If I think of something the text might refer to other then actual combat, I will address it at the time. At any time of course, I would encourage my readers to give examples as to how the advice of Sun Tzu has applied to you in your lives.

As an example…”Jay, the part about laying plans, and the concept of Earth, applies to me every time I go mountain biking. I plan how far I will ride, what the weather is like, what I will wear, what extra gear to bring, what dangers I will face on the trail, or weather I will ride on open ground or narrow passes/trails.”

I look forward to this Study of War with you, and the journey of Discovery we are embarking on. At any time of course, the wuss French guys can skip over the good parts and just look at the pictures. The rest of us, I expect, will become enlightened, and more prepared for the coming unrest. Huh? What was that? Unrest? What is Jay Talking about? Ladies and gentleman, according to Osama Bin Laden, the third world war has started. The president of Iraq has declared his intention to build a nuclear bomb and destroy the Jewish people and the evil Western empires. The coming of the 12th Imam is being talked about as the reason for all the Muslim unrest. This study of The Art of War, will give you insight into the events happening around us. We will be able to recognize acts of war committed against us as well as our neighbors. If you have not yet read or herd about the movie “Obsession”, I encourage you to visit the website, and if possible, buy a DVD and share it with all your friends. www dot obsessionthemovie dot com. There are links that will take you to muslim websites, where you will be able to see first hand just how much of a target you are, and the war that has begun while we slept.

For your homework, either go here and pre read chapter 1, “Laying Plans”. Better yet, head to Barnes and Nobles and pick up one of the 10 variations on the Military History shelf. I encourage you to buy the most expensive version with the most translations, and most commentary. During the week, I will write my outline and opinions on “Laying Plans” and when it is posted, I hope that you will leave feedback on what you thought and how it applies to your lives.

Until peace reigns and the French are conquered,

Jaybird

Hello Everyone

Yes, all my loyal fans, I have not been here for quite a while. Have no fear, the good Lord has not called me home, or at least not home in the Heavenly sense. I have been back in Virginia for the last 7 weeks.

My life as a Contract Warrior is over, and my new life as a Starbucks Bistro has begun. Yes, you read that correctly. My first day at Starbucks was yesterday. I had a wonderful time reading the "how to be a good employee" handbook. It will not pay my bills or mortgage, so I will also have to go back to the fire department part time to make ends meet.

I have been writing my book, The Infidel, for several weeks now, and I have about three of 14 chapters written. Most of what I have written so far, are dramatic memories, and in the next few months I will focus on adding details. Look for it at the military book club soon.

My second day at Starbucks will be on Thursday. Since I no longer get to share with you my experiences in Iraq, I will try and find something interesting to write about. I have not spent a long time on my future blog plans, but I am thinking of surfing some Islamic web sites and informing my readers of what I have found. A kind of Jihad watch. There are many such sites out there, but with my flare for the obvious and sardonic wit, I am sure you will find my ideas extremely satisfying.

This photo is a recent trip to the Virginia State Fair. My two boys, and a trio of daredevils that walk on one of those gerbil wheels 40' in the air. The Richmond Highland Games is 28 and 29 October, and I will most likely take many photos while there.

Ireland Photos

Here are some pictures from Jay's recent trip to Ireland.








And here is a link to the album of photos at yahoo.

A little perspective

Your alarm goes off, you hit the snooze and sleep for another 10 minutes.
He stays up for days on end.

You take a warm shower to help you wake up.
He goes days or weeks without running water.

You complain of a "headache", and call in sick.
He gets shot at, as others are hit, and keeps moving forward.

You put on your anti war/don't support the troops shirt, and go meet up with your friends.
He still fights for your right to wear that shirt.

You make sure you're cell phone is in your pocket.
He clutches the cross hanging on his chain next to his dog tags.

You talk trash on your "buddies" that aren't with you.
He knows he may not see some of his buddies again.

You walk down the beach, staring at all the pretty girls.
He walks the streets, searching for insurgents and terrorists.

You complain about how hot it is.
He wears his heavy gear, not daring to take off his helmet to wipe his brow.

You go out to lunch, and complain because the restaurant got your order wrong.
He does not get to eat today.

Your maid makes your bed and washes your clothes.
He wears the same things for months, but makes sure his weapons are clean.

You go to the mall and get your hair redone.
He doesn't have time to brush his teeth today.

You are angry because your class ran 5 minutes over.
He is told he will be held an extra 2 months.

You call your girlfriend and set a date for that night.
He waits for the mail to see if there is a letter from home.

You hug and kiss your girlfriend, like you do everyday.
He holds his letter close and smells his love's perfume.

You roll your eyes as a baby cries.
He gets a letter with pictures of his new child, and wonders if they'll ever meet.

You criticize your government, and say that war never solves anything.
He sees the innocent tortured and killed by their own government and remembers why he is fighting.

You hear the jokes about the war, and make fun of the men like him.
He hears the gun fire and bombs.

You see only what the media wants you to see.
He sees the bodies lying around him.

You are asked to go to the store by your parents. You don't.
He does what he is told.

You stay at home and watch TV.
He takes whatever time he is given to call and write home, sleep, and eat.

You crawl into your bed, with down pillows, and try to get comfortable.
He crawls under a tank for shade and a 5 minute nap, only to be woken by gun fire.

You sit there and judge him, saying the world is a worse place because of men like him
If only there were more men like him

Memories of Uncle Owen

As I sit here, between missions, I have had a nice time reflecting on the hero’s of my youth. There were some wonderful men that inspired me and lit the fire of adventure in my eyes as a young child. Owen Quinn, Mike Sergio,Don Hall, Ray Utting, Eddie Gopel, and most of all, David King, My father. They skydived as a team in upstate N.Y. under the name the Butterfly BangGang.

When I was a young lad in the early 1970’s, my father would take us to a Drop Zone in Upstate New York on the weekends. It was one of those things where I only went a few times, but after thinking of those times over the years it seemed like so much more. My Father started skydiving in the late 60’s, and continued into the 80’s. After 1980, I really don’t think he did that many jumps, just one now and then, for a total of 1021 jumps. In the Early 70’s there were few skydivers and active Drop Zones. The sport was a bit radical back then, and it was difficult to find anyone outside the DZ that had ever made a jump. Now a days’, with the advent of Tandem jumps and the improvements in canopy technology, the sport is much larger. Grand mothers and High School students are making their first jumps.

I was fortunate enough in my youth, to be exposed to some of the pioneers of the Sport. One such pioneer, I call Uncle Owen. Uncle Owen is not my biological Uncle, but he and my father were so close, I really don’t recall ever not knowing him. Uncle Owen used to tell us ghost stories at the campfires and I would shake in my sleeping bag all night long. It was a cruel thing to do to a 5 or 7 year old. Uncle Owen would go fishing with us, and he was an avid hunter. I also remember Michael Sergio, a young good looking soap opera actor. Mike and my father were very close. At my fathers funeral, Mike pulled my brother Jeremy and I aside and told us a very, descriptive story of his adventures with my father during the 1970’s. Things I never knew about my dad. I can close my eyes now and see Mike in 1986 singing Johnny Be Good at the DZ. Now Mike is an Emmy award winner producer/director.


I know Owen J. Quinn as Uncle Owen. The world knows Uncle Owen as the first guy to jump off of the Twin Towers. On 22 July 1975, Owen and Michael made history. They disguised themselves as construction workers, and went to the top of Tower 1. Mike distracted the guard long enough for Uncle Owen to get his rig on, and just as he jumped, Mike took a photo. This was the beginning of the sport of B.A.S.E Jumping. B.A.S.E stands for Building, Antenna, Span and Earth. (Of course Mike couldn’t be outdone by Owen, and in 1986, it was Mike Sergio that dropped into game 6 of the World Series with a sign that said, “Go Mets”.)

As I was surfing the web, I ran across this link. It is an interview with Uncle Owen by a New York newspaper.
And the photo comes from this blog.

I received a letter from Uncle Owen a few months ago, and he is doing well. He is retired and has 8 grandchildren. He does a prison ministry and fishes when he can. I look forward to seeing him again when my war is over. I think of the day I can look back on the memories of my youth while visiting with one of my childhood hero’s. A man that inspired me to take risks, and dance inside the fire. My Uncle Owen.

Life’s lesson - Moving Horizontally

Recently I was doing some paint ball training in real life scenarios, and during an “ambush” I turned into the attacker, fired and “killed” him, but also took a paint ball to my face. I accomplished my mission, and we “won” the scenario, but I was “dead”. What could I have done differently to both win the mission and survive the encounter? Once the gun fight has started our options are limited. Most shoot outs are fired from a distance of 5’ and an average of 5 shots between both shooters is fired. How could two men from 5 feet away (almost two meters for those of you in Europe) miss 4 times?

Unlike when we were children, pointing your hand at the target does not mean that your firearm is pointing at the target. The only way to know that your weapon is inline with the person you want to kill is to visually see the front site post on his chest. How many times in a gun fight, do you think the shooter can put his front site post on a target and shoot accurately? Not very often. Accuracy is usually replaced by quantity of rounds. Maybe some would use the term spray and pray.

The other thing we can do is to move. The next time you are at a range, notice the set up. A single target, in front of you. What I will substitute straight ahead, with vertically. Most public gun ranges will not allow you to shoot on any target other then your own. Meaning left to right, or for what I will call here, horizontally. Horizontal shooting is by far my favorite scenario. It is a skill that is not very often taught, but one of the more valuable skills. I will let you in on a little secret, please don’t tell bad guys or Ali-Babbas. The human eye does not track horizontally. Doesn’t do it. Put two hands in front of your face. Your right hand in front of your nose, your left in front of your right. Now…move your left hand to either side, left or right. Just after you move your hand, cover it again with your right hand. Not both hands at the same time, one then the other. Notice how it takes a second for your eyes to adjust to the target hand. If that were a person standing in front of you about to be shot, all they would have to do is take a step to the side, and you would miss. I guarantee it.

In the year of our Lord, 2000, Michael Biehn did a movie called, The Art of War. At the end or near the end of the movie, Michael Biehn gets into a shooting match with Wesley Snipes. (by the way, Michael Biehn would kick Wesley Snipes ass) Both shooters are running towards each other, both firing rapidly, but both shooters are moving to the side as they are shooting. Yes, it is Hollywood Land fiction, but it holds an element of truth. You will not get your front site post on a target that is moving from side to side.

In another Hollywood example, the recent television series, Battlestar Gallactica, Starbuck, played by a female tom boy, is in a room with a sexy female Cylon. Starbuck is trying to shoot the cylon, but the cylon is running around the room in a circle. Starbuck fires all the shots in her hand gun, but just cant seem to hit that rascally robot. Why? Because it is fantasy, science fiction, and that is how the writers wrote the episode. But another reason is, because the human eye cannot track horizontally.

But here is the good news. If you read my blog and the guy your shooting does not, he will stand still like in the movies, or even better, he will do that navy seal, delta, S.W.A.T bent knee duck walk thing, where the shooter bends his knees and walks straight at the target. I pray for the day that the guy I am shooting at walks in a straight line right at me. If that is how you train to shoot…your going to end up dead. A better way, is to maintain your front sight post on your target, and move to your left or right. Yes, you can still do the cool bent knee duck walk thing, as it may help maintain stability and decrease the bouncing of the front of your weapon, but more importantly, when you move horizontally your adversary will not be able to get his front sight post on you. Lets think about this. You can shoot him, but he cannot shoot you. This sounds good to me.

When you are moving from left to right, your front sight post is not! The front sight post maintains placement on the object you are shooting. There is no horizontal movement when you are moving. When you are standing still and the object you want to shoot is moving side to side, your eye wont be able to track the target.

Ok, I know a bunch of you are dying to tell me how wrong I am. Everyone has a story about the time they shot a horizontally moving deer at 300 yards with an iron sight 30/30, or the Marine Sniper that spends hundreds of hours and thousands of rounds of ammo learning how to shoot a target that is moving to the side. Yes, it can be done. This is called “Leading”. Leading is where you shoot to the left or right of the moving target, and basically the target runs into a bullet. You ask any sniper or hunter which would he rather shoot. A target standing still; a target moving toward him; or a target moving to the side? Leading your target is an educated guess. Your guessing where the target will be AFTER you pull the trigger. There are many, many more misses then hits. If the deer stops running in a straight line, or suddenly changes speed or direction, no amount of leading is going to work. The human eye does not track horizontally. Remember, the deer you shot moving to the side was not shooting back at you. The idea is to limit your misses while increasing your opponents. If you want to survive a fire fight, learn to move horizontally.

Newest Photo of Jay

Not All the French

I recently talked to an associate of mine of French descent, and he was upset with me for my French Bashing. I did a little self reflecting, and yes, I have been very intolerant of the French. My comments have not been accurately aimed at those that should feel shame and dishonor, and any Frenchmen reading my blog could assume that I am somehow a French Hater. So let me start here with an apology. To all the people of France and of French heritage, if I offended you or insulted you, then I humbly, and publicly apologize. Hold on, don’t get to excited, this apology comes with some provisos.

I work with some hard corps French Foreign Legion operators and I value their friendship as well as the remarkable skills they bring to the team. These men are warriors and competent soldiers. It is not any reflection on them that the FFL has never won a battle. If the military leadership that makes the decision to fight or run, chooses to run away and hide, that does not mean all French soldiers are cowards. If Politicians are telling their soldiers not to fight because of political reasons, then the military is not responsible for the dishonor, the Politicians are.


I do have an issue with the policies of France. Serving in Iraq has given me a unique perspective you can only appreciate from over here. The world was duped in the beginning of the war, when France refused to go along with the United Nations resolution to remove Saddam from power. France made it sound like they were morally against the liberation of Iraq, when in fact France was in league with Saddam. The reason Saddam thumbed his nose at the world, was because he believed France could stall or misdirect the UN. They could not. When the Multinational Force arrived in Iraq, we find evidence of Frances violation of the oil for food program, and also of violations of the embargo.

The French government will criticize America for its policies of over aggressiveness, but then we see that the bunny huggers in charge cannot quell a riot by a few Islamic extremist. And when the Interior Minister Nicolas Sarkozy says publicly that the rioters are "scum", Sarkozy is ridiculed and called intolerant. Why cant the French call scum, scum?

In 1968, there was a movie called, The Devils Brigade, about the USA/Canadian unit that fought in WWII. One scene that I remember, was the Canadian Major Cliff Robertson, trying to explain why the Colonel should do something different. The Majors reason was, that at the battle of Such and such, the Canadian army used a different tactic. The American Colonel played by William Holden, pointed out, that the Canadians lost the battle of such and such, and the American Colonel wasn’t going to use tactics that have proven failures, just because that was how it was always done.


In modern times, America has critics from all over the world telling her what to do. French are saying we should talk more, yet it’s citizens are burning the city down. Why would America change it’s policies to placate countries that have shown failure? The former Surgeon General under Bill Clinton, Joycelyn Elders, gave some advice on how to raise a drug free child. Unfortunately, her son was in prison for drugs. Why would anyone take advice on raising a drug free child from her? Before you criticize America, forget your intentions and look at your actions. Then shut up. Until your Countries policies lead to the prosperity and Freedom enjoyed by Americans your just blowing hot air.




If you are a Frenchmen or descendent of Frenchmen, and you feel I have slighted you unjustly, I apologize. But if you are a vocal Bush hater, Anti America protestor, or you hide in your room while the world around you collapses, then I stand firm in my criticisms. Ladies and gentlemen, shame is a powerful motivator. If someone is ashamed of their actions, they may change their behavior. But with out the feelings of remorse, negative behaviors are sure to be repeated. Maybe if the French Military and French Government stood firm and learned to fight, then we will never have a repeat of Hitler walking into France and the only challenge presented was a waiter saying, “table for 100,000?” If the people of France are ashamed that they let a few Muslim thugs, and scum, burn down their cars and homes and shops, then maybe in the future someone will go outside stand up to the terrorist and the cars and buildings will never be burned again.


Mother always said, that in order for a joke to be funny, it has to have some truth in it. Stop doing things we can laugh at, and we will stop laughing at you. BUT AGAIN, if your not one of the people that has offended anyone else with arrogance and condescending diatribes, and you are not one of the handful of French that are used in jokes because of irresponsible or dishonorable behavior, then my dislikes are not aimed at you. If you are one of the millions of wonderful French Persons in the world that has never bothered anyone and goes through life with a positive outlook, then don’t put yourself in the same category as the dregs I pick on.

Women's Rights in Iraq

First off, the only way to start this post, is by saying…there are none! Today I was able to visit Kadimyiah women’s prison in Baghdad. I was able to talk to inmates, corrections officers, and American advisors assigned to the prison. The stories are horrible. For all you French people out there, and those of you that are calling President Bush names and blaming America for human rights violations…FCUK OUY.

Today, I met several young girls that were incarcerated in the prison. The 12 year old girl that spoke English very, very well, was able to tell me about her plight. This girl, was a…street urchin. She made her living selling gum to soldiers in the green zone. She most likely started when she was 9, and for the last three years has supported herself, and most likely her family. She was forced to learn English at a young age, and were she raised in America would have a wonderful and bright future. Over the last year, the Iraqi Police (IP’S) have been paying closer attention to the Oliver Twist type children that almost terrorize their neighborhoods. This girl was caught selling gum in a sting, and when the IP asked her name, she lied about who she was. For that, this beautiful little girl is in a women’s prison.

Prostitution. You would not believe how many prostitutes are in Baghdad. Hundreds of them are in prison right now. Buy you see, Islam’s definition of prostitution is not the same as ours. If a woman makes eye contact with a man that is not her husband, she is considered a prostitute. If a woman is walking alone in public, she is a prostitute. If a man wants to get rid of his wife, he goes into court, and tells the judge, “she acts like a whore” and the woman is arrested and tried. The accused woman is not allowed to speak in court and she is automatically imprisoned based on the testimony of her husband or her family.

Another horrible thing I was able to witness today, is the children of the inmates. If the woman has no family to watch her children while she is in jail, the children are imprisoned with her. There was a small boy in the prison that everyone has adopted. When the American advisors first arrived the woman was unable to feed or nourish her baby appropriately. The guards did not care, nor the Iraqi judicial system. So the baby was starving to death. American contractors and advisors took the child to a doctor to save his life, and the child gets daily gifts of food and medicine from American advisors.

The food? The food is minimal. At the prison I visited today, the food is delivered by an Iraqi company contracted to provide meals. Meals consist of a bowl of soup, and a scoop of rice. Until the Americans arrived, the food was prepared by Male inmates. The food cooked by the male inmates at the men’s prison was divvied out on a tier system. The Correctional staff ate first. Then the guards. Then the male inmates. Any food left over was sent over to the women’s prison. Which means that the women were left with a kind of broth and a few grains of rice. No meat, vegetables, dairy, or any semblance of a sustainable intake. When the American advisors saw what was going on, pressure was put on the Ministry of Justice and the prison system. The end result was, the Americans would with hold funds if this practice did not change. So now the women prisoners get meals from outside caterers. Still, complaints of rotten food, and unsafe food are common. Today, a woman told us that her bread contained glass, and that the food is so bad, she is unable to keep it down. Again, this is changing. American Contractors and advisors are putting financial pressure on the prisons and women are getting the best treatment they have ever had.

The good news is, gang rapes are down. You see, a woman imprisoned for prostitution makes her open game for any man. Any Iraqi guard with a hard on, could walk into a cell and rape the woman in it, and it was applauded. “Give the whore what she wants” is the attitude. Now the women are being protected by the Americans. American advisors have established an internal affairs for the male corrections officers. The cells are now guarded by female ICO’s, and males are not allowed in the cell block. Now, do the women still get raped? I’m sure. I believe it is more an intimidation then a physical battery. Women are given special treatment for special favors. That is my guess, no evidence. One of the guards was heard bragging, “I am going to have her tonight”. Did he, or was he just talking male shit? Because of past behavior, I am sure that the guard has his own little harem, and for an extra scoop of rice, he gets unlimited blow jobs from oppressed and abused women. Tell me again why America needs to get out of Iraq? If it was not for America, these women would be raped and tortured until death, and only their fleas would mourn their deaths.

The prison is dilapidated. In America or most second world countries, the building would be demolished or condemned. The prison is literally falling apart. The septic system does not work, and raw sewage is filling the yard. Women are made to walk in the sewage to clean up after the male guards that throw garbage all over. American money is being used to rebuild prisons, but the money is being spent on MALE prisons. After all, why spend good money on whores? Feminine hygiene products are provided by Americans, Ladies, imagine being in prison for making eye contact with a man, and then during your menstruation, you have no pads or tampons, or running water. Just a dirty towel. Now imagine you are in a prison with 160 women, in a space designed for 80. With the arrival of the American Advisors, the women have running water. The prison has gotten some repairs, and women have mattresses, bunk beds, and blankets.

For those of you tree hugging hippie liberal communist faggots out there, (and of course the poof convicts that moved to France), That think we need to pull out of Iraq, because of abuses, your fools. It is the Americans that is the only protection these women have from real abuses. The only rights these women are the rights provided by Americans. Women under Islam are nothing. Women under Islam are property. Women under Islam are nothing more then ways to make babies, and the only honor is if the babies are male. For those of you obsessed with women’s rights, you should be praising God for the help and compassion President George Bush has brought to the women of Iraq. Before you throw stones at America for the “abuses” you hear reporters with no first hand account talk about, ask yourself, What have I done to make life better for the women of Iraq? And if you cant think of anything…Get off your @$$ and get yourself a big cup of SHUT THE UFKC PU.

Life’s Lesson; If it ain’t practical, it ain’t Tactical

I have come to loath the word “Tactical”. Everything you see now a days has the word tactical attached to it. Tactical knives, tactical folders, tactical clothing, tactical webbing, tactical shoes and boots. Everything is tactical, and if it doesn’t say “Tactical” it is a cheap copy.

Lets take a moment to look at the American Heritage Dictionary definition of Tactical;

tac·ti·cal (tkt-kl)

adj.

1. Of, relating to, or using tactics.

2.a. Of, relating to, used in, or involving military or naval operations that are smaller, closer to base, and of less long-term significance than strategic operations.

b. Carried out in support of military or naval operations: tactical bombing.

3. Characterized by adroitness, ingenuity, or skill.

tacti·cal·ly adv.

The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition copyright ©2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Updated in 2003. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.

Noun 1. adroitness - skillful performance or ability without difficulty;



Tactics, simply mean: this is what I do things. Tactical means, the way in which I do it.

In other words ladies and gentlemen, and those of you in France; Everything is “tactical” but this is where I get deep: Not everything is practical.

I work with the Special Operations community. I don’t have a badge or patch or certification, or what ever. I don’t carry a coin. I don’t know what group is attached to which region. I do have over 200 combat missions. I have thousands of kilometers on Baghdad roads. I have combat experience and I have learned what has worked for me, and what has not. So take a few pointers as I point out the difference between tactical and practical.

What makes a product “tactical”? As I surf the web, and review products, I see that some items that are tactical, are just a different color then items that are not tactical.





Take a red pair of Chuck Taylor Converse sneakers, color them coyote tan, and you can sell them as tactical. After all, Converse Chuck Taylor’s are canvas, light weight, rubber soles for good traction, and in all actuality, they would make a perfect desert warfare shoe. But they would only sell for $40. We cant have that. So, a marketing gu ru calls up a former navy seal, Says, “hey Richard, I’ll give you $1000 to wear our shoe and tell us what you think”, Richard wears the foot wear for a week, and says, yup, it’s a good shoe. Well, now the company can say “as worn by Navy Seals” or “tested by Navy Seals”. Call it a tactical boot, and charge $200 a pair. And you know what. One of you is going to buy it. I did. I bought a pair of desert color Oakley boots. MSRP was $225, but I got mine from the dealer for $100. Are they worth a hundred dollars? Nope. They look cool, and my operator friends think they are high speed, but are they worth a $100? Nope. But they look cool, and they are Oakley. Everyone knows Oakley is the best.


Ok, here is another pet peeve I want to throw your way. Tactical folders. For Malkie and his friends in France, I am talking about a pocket knife. The knives I see over here in Baghdad, are ridiculous. Titanium, extra carbon reinforced, spring assisted, tempered etc, tactical folder. These knives sell for between $40 and $100+. (my folder is a $2 Bud K special. www.budk.com When your body is in combat mode the body system in charge of survival is the Sympathetic Nervous system.

This system tells your body to fight or get the hell out of there. Now, during this time of stress, the human body works on gross motor skills. i.e. punching someone in the nose. The body looses fine motor skills, i.e. buttoning your Levi’s 501 blues. (This is why, when French guys get caught sleeping with their sisters boyfriends, they struggle to get their pants on while have no problem running away). So to say that a folding knife is a “Tactical Folder” is an oxymoron. Like French Intelligence. If you want a “tactical knife” you should have a straight edge knife, with a 7” blade, situated on your kit that is easy to grab, in a neutral position, and preferably with a partial serrated edge. It should be full tang and the sheath should be so that the knife comes out easily. Kinda sounds like your bayonet huh? Pulling a straight edge knife (like your bayonet), out of its sheath is a gross motor skill. Simplicity is practical. Practical is tactical.



Two months ago, A police officer friend of mine was given a new holster for his M-9. We reached a secured area, where all weapons needed to be cleared, and my associate tried to pull side arm from his triple retention holster, and it wouldn’t come out. The problem was, that the pistol needed to be twisted with an exaggeration to release it from the retention. It was a “tactical Holster” but for my colleague, it was not practical, and if it is not practical, it is not tactical. I myself went into a gun shop a in March of 06, and tried to buy a Kydex holster for my brothers Sig 9mm. This holster was designed so that the weapon could be drawn quickly. I could not get the weapon out of the holster. I pulled, I twisted, I yanked, (yanked is like a hard pull) and the weapon would not come out. My brother is 6’2, and 230lbs, and he couldn’t get it out. The gun shop staff had a difficult time getting the weapon out of the holster, and finally, the shop manager just about used a crow bar to remove it. Now, this was a tactical holster. Tactical. Why was it tactical? It was black. It was slim. It’s design was simple. But again, it was not practical. If a weapon needs fine motor skills to be used in a crisis situation, your dead.




My “tactical vest” is not. It has enough pockets, but they are all situated in the wrong areas. I am a right handed shooter, but all the M-4 magazines are on the right side. Now picture it. Fire fight. Magazine change. Your left hand needs to reach across your chest, grab a magazine from under your right armpit, remove it and then insert it into your weapon. Does it work for me? Sometimes. Is it practical? No, It is not. Again, I bought it, because all the operators had one. I even spent the extra money for the tactical tan one. It would be better if the magazines were on the left side and the pistol holster on the right, where…..imagine this…my right hand is. This is a design flaw, based on good intentions at the time. It looks cool, but to keep my magazine changes simple, I wear a thigh rig on my left thigh that holds 4 mags. If I have to go to my right side magazines, then I have been in the area way to long. The “tactical vests” that are being sold now, have MOLLE webbing and individual pouches for the operator to attach in a way that is practical for his individual mission. This customization makes the vest more practical, and of course, Practical is tactical.


There are many other examples I have, but it would take hours for me to write it all down and compare. Clothing, lights, helmets, ropes, what ever you can think of. Take a moment to think of what you do. Then, think of how you need to get it done. Do you really need any extra equipment, or can you accomplish your mission with what you have? Are you buying it because it is labeled “Tactical”? Don’t be fooled. If it is not practical it is not tactical.

Life’s Lesson; Fit to Survive Trauma 2: Breathing

ABC’s, Airway, Breathing & Circulation. They are the fundamentals to life. Once they stop, it almost becomes impossible for me, as the medic to keep you alive.

For simplicity sake, I am going to consider Airway and Breathing the same thing. Different sides of the same coin. Breathing. Nothing is more important. Getting air into the lungs, and Carbon Dioxide out. Our lungs hold 1200 cc’s of air, but only use about 800 cc’s of air during respiration. What happens to the other 400 cc’s of air? Nothing. It is a dead space. The average person is capable of using the air reserve, but because of ineffective breathing, cheats himself.

Lets look at a common example of the body’s reaction to trauma. http://www.ochealthinfo.com/docs/emstreatguide/i45.pdf#search='trauma%20vital%20signs' Increased breathing, increased heart rate, and decreased blood pressure. If the body cannot provide the oxygen it needs nor expel the CO2 it does not want, we become hypoxic, which is a big word for light headed, or oxygen starved. Hypoxia can lead to death.

It is up to us to learn to breath before we receive a traumatic injury. There are a couple of things that I have found that seem to work well. First, is running. Running will force your heart and lungs to work more effectively. Make the muscles stronger and pump more efficiently. If you don’t like to run, then cycling, swimming, or walking fast are other options. The idea is the same, we must keep the respiratory muscles strong, so that in an emergency, they are able to work under pressure, and keep us alive longer.

Proper breathing exercises. I myself prefer a yoga style of breathing. (I took the photo from this website) http://www.trinityyoga.net/yoga-photo/photo-category/C1/P0/. Yoga teaches wonderful breathing exercises that focus on proper body mechanics and efficient ventilations. Do a key word search on Yoga Breathing, and read some of the many sites and articles on it. You will learn a great deal. I will touch on Yoga again for other posts about fitness, but for now, just on breathing. You do not have to spend thousands of dollars on Yoga classes or equipment. You can go to your local library and ask for a DVD on Yoga breathing. Find your local Yoga class, and take one class a month for three months to learn the basics and then focus on them. Using a yoga breathing pattern will make the abdomen effectively use the wasted 400 cc’s of dead air, and will also teach the body to breath, in what would be considered uncomfortable positions. Maybe like positions that you would find yourself in following a car accident or IED attack in Baghdad. Spending 60 to 120 seconds in the morning or before bed is really all you need.

I want to also mention increasing your red blood cells. You can force your body to create more. During duress, the body realizes it needs more oxygen, and to compensate, it encourages the production of red blood cells. The more red blood cells, the more oxygen is in the body at a given time to keep it alive during trauma. How do we encourage our bodies to create more RBC’s? Good question. We have to force ourselves to endure short periods of hypoxia. In the Marine Corps, we used to jog with our gas masks on, and while working as a water safety officer in Hawaii, carrying rocks underwater was another way http://www.garrettmcnamara.com/training.htm . Ever notice the chest on a Free diver http://www.sfdj.com/sand/freedive.html. ? The guys that put on three foot long fins and swim to 100’ below surface and hold their breaths for two or three minutes? The lungs are powerful, and I believe one of the reasons they can hold their breath for so long, is the amount of red blood cells the frequent states of hypoxia has created.

To conclude. To survive trauma, we must breath. Our lungs must be able to work in extreme circumstances, and to achieve this, we must condition our lungs in advance of the trauma.

1. Physical activity, i.e. Running, Swimming, biking etc.
2. Teaching our lungs to effectively use the air it already has. i.e. Yoga breathing
3. Increasing our red blood cells, by forcing the body to mild hypoxic states, i.e. holding our breath, or limiting oxygen intake for short periods of time.



When we learn to breath effectively we will be fit to survive trauma.

Dirka Dirka Mohammad Jihad.