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"So often we try to put pirates and terrorists in two different categories. We do this because the primary objectives of both are different. Pirates are primarily seagoing bandits with a goal of theft of valuables. Terrorists are essentially killers who want to inflict as many human casualties – in as dramatic a fashion as possible – in order to influence mass audiences. But both pirates and terrorists are in many ways the same, and they certainly have similar sub-objectives, which goes to the heart of your question. "

Last week, while working on a piece for National Review Online, I had the opportunity to chat with several experts on the subject of armed combat – all of whom have heard the zip and pop of bullets breaking the sound barrier around them. One of those experts was Col. John W. Ripley (U.S. Marine Corps, ret.).

The vehicle, if close enough to the blast, flips into the air, snapping necks and spinal cords. Heads and limbs are torn from bodies. Gasoline ignites and ammunition cooks off, burning any survivors to a crisp. Those soldiers and Marines (many of whom are still teenagers) who witness the action are instantly shocked, physically sickened, grief-stricken, and enraged over the horror of having watched buddies—who have become closer than any sibling might ever hope to be—torn to pieces. Badly wounded buddies are screaming in agony. Yet the ones uninjured or with minor injuries have to respond as trained. They are...

3/28/2006 - BALAD AIR BASE, Iraq (AFPN) -- A little-known capability here is paying big dividends for warfighters on the ground. Air National Guard F-16 Fighting Falcons from the 332nd Expeditionary Fighter Squadron are using the Theater Airborne Reconnaissance System, or TARS pod, to provide high-quality still imagery to ground commanders to help them achieve their tactical objectives. The TARS pod, mounted on the centerline of the F-16, contains a sophisticated photographic system that records high-resolution images which can be exploited by users on the ground within hours of landing. Because the pod is mounted on the centerline, the aircraft...

Iraqi Troops Ride Recon Off the Beaten Path Iraqi soldiers at Al Kasik learn motorcycle riding techniques for use in base reconnaissance and forward convoy scouting. By U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Mark Woodbury Multinational Security Transition Command — Iraq AL KASIK MILITARY TRAINING BASE, Iraq, March 8, 2006 — Iraqi soldiers at Al Kasik are embracing a new mode of transportation for use in base reconnaissance and forward convoy scouting. The soldiers here are learning proper on and off-road motorcycle techniques from coalition forces that will allow them to access areas they could never reach using conventional vehicles.Before...

Indian Navy 'spooks' new Chinese destroyer NEW DELHI: In a remarkable act of long-range maritime snooping, Navy's reconnaissance aircraft and spy drones detected, tracked and photographed a spanking new Chinese destroyer and a tanker traversing through the Indian Ocean region this weekend. Sources said the newly-commissioned Sovremenny class destroyer, built for the People’s Liberation Army (Navy) at Russia’s St Petersburg-based North Shipyard, was "picked up" as soon as it entered the Arabian Sea from the Red Sea. A Tupolev-142M long-range maritime patrol aircraft, flying from the Goa naval airbase, spotted the Chinese destroyer and the accompanying tanker off Yemen’s Socotra...

Going to war, more than job opportunities and money for college, is the post-September 11 allure for joining the armed services, military officials say. And, in a trend that bewilders and dismays those opposed to the war in Iraq, enlistment numbers are up and recruiting goals are mostly being met or exceeded.

Dragon Eye Protects Troops, Improves Recon The easily-transportable unmanned aerial vehicle gives troops up-to-date reconnaissance over a wide area of terrain. By U.S. Marine Corps Sgt. Robert M. Storm JALALABAD, Afghanistan, Nov. 4, 2005 — U.S. Marines and sailors from 2nd Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment, Marine Corps Base Hawaii, use the Dragon Eye to minimize friendly casualties and maximize surveillance during missions in support of Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan. The Dragon Eye is the smallest functioning unmanned aerial vehicle. "The Dragon Eye is a good tool if used properly. It's excellent for short range reconnaissance and can easily...

No matter where Marines are serving, from the Pentagon and Marine Barracks in Washington, to the loneliest outposts in Iraq and Afghanistan, Marines will stop, shake hands, say happy birthday, sing the Marines' Hymn and, if it is available, have a piece of cake. It doesn't matter to us if its an elaborate cake from some big hotel, a smaller cake from the great cooks aboard ship, or a cookie from an MRE, we're going to celebrate!

CAMP SCHWAB, OKINAWA, Japan (Oct. 25, 2005) -- Family and friends gathered to welcome more than 100 service members home from Iraq in the early morning Oct. 18. The Marines and sailors of 3rd Reconnaissance Battalion, 3rd Marine Division, returned to Camp Schwab after completing an eight month tour of duty in the Al Anbar province of Iraq. The 3rd Reconnaissance Bn. Key Volunteers coordinated the welcome home party with signs and banners for the returning Marines. “We had all the families come out and make signs and decorate the Marines’ homes, barracks and offices with signs and balloons,” said...

CAMP FALLUJAH, Iraq (Oct. 25, 2005) -- The Marines of Iraqi Army Platoon, Echo Company, 3rd Reconnaissance Battalion, 2nd Marine Division, clashed with insurgents in the month leading up to the unit’s relief in place. Nearing the end of their seven-month deployment and after spending more than a month in Ferris Town and Al Amariyah in support of Operation Southern Fire, Sgt. Joe Gonsalez, platoon sergeant, IA Platoon, was conducting a familiarization foot patrol in Al Amariyah with the incoming team from 1st Reconnaissance Battalion. On Oct. 2, as the patrol came to a halt in front of Al Amariyah’s...

The 173rd Long-Range Surveillance Detachment has had to modify its mission to short-range reconnaissance in the hunt for insurgents in Iraq. By U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Raymond Drumsta 42nd Infantry Division Public Affairs FORWARD OPERATING BASE SUMMERALL, BAYJI, Iraq, Oct. 24, 2005 — U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Timothy Halloran and his team arrive at their departure point here about sundown. They watch the Iraqi highway that lies just outside the wire and wait for darkness. They seem almost casual as they talk among themselves, noting traffic and other activity. However, their ease is actually a professional detachment, a cool...

Like the exploits of 21st-century special operators – including U.S. Navy SEALs, Army Delta soldiers, Force Recon Marines, Air Force commandos, and CIA paramilitary operatives – stories of men like Ortiz are rarely gleaned from books, newspapers, and magazines. Their incredibly dangerous work often goes unseen and is thankless.

AL AMIRIYAH, Iraq, Sept. 15, 2005 — Becoming a Marine is no easy task. With the longest boot camp in the U.S. military and arguably the toughest training, Marines have distinguished themselves as America's finest fighting force. Some Marines further separate themselves by becoming a part of the reconnaissance community that only few of the “few” are able to join. One of these warriors is Cpl. Brian Andrews, Iraqi Army Platoon, Echo Company, 3rd Reconnaissance Battalion, 2nd Marine Division. After attending Blinn College in Brian, Texas, for two semesters, the native of Austin, Texas decided he wanted to take a...

KUWAIT - The Raven could very well be "the little engine that could" of the unmanned aerial vehicle fleet. Weighing in at four and a half pounds with a five-foot wingspan and stretching a mere 38 inches in length, the Raven is by far one of the smallest vehicles in the Army, but its aerial reconnaissance value has quickly earned the respect of battalion commanders in Iraq and has filled a niche at the battalion level when larger UAVs are unavailable. "The system is developing the confidence of the leadership," said Maj. Chris Brown, Kuwait Raven Equipping Detachment officer in...

Did anybody else see the Recon Marines on Dennis Miller?

"Isolated, behind enemy lines or far out in front of advancing friendly armies, a combat controller might be tasked with coordinating an air strike on an enemy air-defense position. Equipped with special range-finding binoculars, a palm-top computer, a GPS (global positioning system) receiver, and a rifle, the airmen can clandestinely spot the target, direct an attacking pilot to it, and then leap on a motorcycle and race toward another target where he will repeat the process."

The Washington Times www.washingtontimes.com Elite veterans prowl PakistanBy Rowan ScarboroughTHE WASHINGTON TIMESPublished August 9, 2004 The United States, on the hunt for Osama bin Laden, is augmenting counterterror operations in Pakistan with scores of former special-operations warriors who work for the CIA and other agencies under contract.     Thousands of U.S. troops are openly fighting in Afghanistan along the Pakistan border. The stated U.S. policy, however, is that no American troops are inside Pakistan pursuing bin Laden's al Qaeda terrorists or advising local troops.     The reality is there are "a load of contracts" with U.S. agencies attracting veterans of Special...

This article appears in The Marine Corps Times, a division of Gannett Newspapers, and as such can only appear here as title and link. GOOD NEWS:   There is no sign up or registration required, in order to view this story.

FOX Teams Bring Versatility to 1st Armored Division’s DIVARTY Combat Teamby Staff Sgt. Mark Bell, 372nd MPAD BAGHDAD, Iraq – American dictionaries defines versatility as, “the ability to do many things.” The 69th Chemical Company’s Reconnaissance (RECON) Platoon exemplifies the word and more. Besides the unit’s doctrinal mission to seek out and detect nuclear, biological and chemical (NBC) threats against coalition forces and Iraqi residents in and around Baghdad, the 13 Soldiers assigned to operate the Army’s M 93A1 NBC Reconnaissance System, commonly known as the Fox, have been busy supporting the 1st Armored Division Artillery Combat Team (DCT)...