12/28/2006
Geekin' on the M-14
Or, more properly, on scope mounts for the M-14. Important detail.
So, with M-14s being pulled out of depot storage for use by SDMs and snipers in Iraq and especially in Afstan, I've noticed some non-standard scope mountings in at least a couple of photos.
First, there's this famous photo (from Jack McMillan):
Note that both scope rings are actually forward of the receiver, but that the rear of the scope looks to be in pretty much the normal spot.
Then there's this one:
Same front handguard rail system, (Can anyone tell me what type that is? It looks almost, but not quite, like a Fulton Armory Super Scout system.) but this time with some sort of 1913 rail mount replacing the stripper clip guide, allowing the rear scope ring to be mounted back there.
For those not familiar with the standard M-14 scope mount, here's a pic:
Now, I can't be totally sure, but looking at the height of the rings in the first two pictures, and comparing to the third, it looks like the rails in the first two setups are lower that the standard mount. Further, the third mount looks like it might be high enough to block use of the iron sights-something that doesn't look like it's a problem with the first two. As a trade off, I'd hazard a guess that the first two aren't quite as solid as the standard mount.
Which would I prefer? Tough to say. I'm a big believer in having irons available with minimal fuss if the optics go down, but I don't know if I'd trade that for accuracy of the optics. However, if the first or second rig is close as far as how solid it is, I'd go with one of those.
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12/26/2006
Casus Belli
(Multiple hat-tips to Instapundit on this. With all due respect, Professor, I think you can omit the question mark.)
The American military is holding at least four Iranians in Iraq, including men the Bush administration called senior military officials, who were seized in a pair of raids late last week aimed at people suspected of conducting attacks on Iraqi security forces, according to senior Iraqi and American officials in Baghdad and Washington. . . .
Gordon D. Johndroe, the spokesman for the National Security Council, said two Iranian diplomats were among those initially detained in the raids. The two had papers showing that they were accredited to work in Iraq, and he said they were turned over to the Iraqi authorities and released. He confirmed that a group of other Iranians, including the military officials, remained in custody while an investigation continued, and he said, “We continue to work with the government of Iraq on the status of the detainees.”
So you have Iranians, a mix of diplomats and military folks, captured collaborating with some of the terrorists who are currently destabilizing Iraq. Now, I'm not sure about the diplomats (can you do more than PNG them?), but the military types, actively engaged in supporting a terrorist insurrection against the Iraqi government, constitutes casus belli, at least for the Iraqi government.
Now, the Iraqi military has it's hands more than full dealing with internal problems; they're in no condition to undertake a foreign war, no matter how justified, much less one against a country with a larger population and larger military. Since we toppled Saddam Hussein in 2003, the US and our Coalition allies have been responsible for safeguarding Iraq against external threats. Iran has qualifed as such for some time-but now we have the proof required to act on it.
If that weren't enough, we also have the recent court decision pinning at least partial blame for the Khobar Towers attack on Iran. That means proven in court, which would be, in theory at least, good enough even for former President Clinton.
So, the Iranians have attacked our military forces (indirectly) and continue to due so through their support of terrorist 'militias' in Iraq. They are also lavying war against the Iraqi government through those same terrorists.
So, what exactly to do? Well, I'm just a mid-ranking officer with no strategic experience, but I'd go with what I said in my previous post, with some additions. First, neutralize everything they have that can effect ships in the Persian Gulf and the Straits of Hormuz-primarily their navy and their anti-ship missiles. Next, send a Tomahawk or JDAM into every known residence and workplace of every current or former Iranian official and agent named in the court decision (in addition to flattening the Hezbollah camp in Lebanon, if it still exists. I'd use a B-52 arclight strike for that.) Then start in on the munitions plants that are supplying Sadr's terrorists (taking Sadr out would be a good idea, as well). If you run out of those before the mullahs' regime collapses, start in on the pillars that support it-secret police, Revolutionary Guards, etc. And don't stop until the regime collapses.
But that's just me.
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12/25/2006
Merry Christmas
Just don't forget why today is a holiday
Today's reading is from the Book of Luke, chapter 2, verses 1-11:
1In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. 2(This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) 3And everyone went to his own town to register.
4So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. 5He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. 6While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, 7and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.
8And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. 9An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. 11Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord.
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