novatownhall blog

This is in reply to the thoughtful comments I read on Joe’s post regarding the AK, which became a discussion regarding the relative merits of the two types, AR v. AK.  The general philosophy behind the two weapons is a reflection of the military tradition of the two countries.  The AR is a precise weapon, regardless of the caliber.  It is accurate out to 500-600 yards using the peep sight system adopted by the American military.  Troops can be trained readily to become proficient out to that range, the entire Marine Corps is trained out to that distance.  I agree w/Monk (someone note the date and time) the AK is not a weapon I generally appreciate.  It reflects the Russian military philosophy that the tools of war, like the troops, are cheap, imprecise and expendable.  The atrocious accuracy of the AK at 200yds is emblematic of everything that is wrong with the weapon.

The US and some other western countries became enamored of the 5.56×45 round because a soldier could carry more rounds than if they where equipped with the 7.62×51.   The thinking was the stopping power of such a round on the plains of Germany to stop Ivan was sufficient; the 5.56×45 was, and still is, sufficient for warfare in open terrain.  If someone gets hit by a 5.56 at 200+ yards, they are done for the day, if not for good.  If you want to openly contest this, go find Monk in western Loudoun, and let him shoot you at 200+ yards (or even 100 yds), with a 5.56×45 using an AR15.  If you are able to then run up and explode your IED strapped to your chest, more power to ya.

The trouble is that this round may not drop someone fast enough in an urban environment.  In house to house, room to room fighting the high velocity 5.56×45 round is not knocking people down, as it is passing through cleanly, and not imparting its energy to its intended target.  However, there are work-a-rounds, as the Wolverine put it, pull out a bazooka and the trouble in the other room WILL GO AWAY.  As many AR type weapons are capable of carrying a 40mm grenade launcher slung underneath, that is almost as good as a bazooka.  The real lesson here is that the AR is fine, the round it is pushing is far too specialized.  The new 6.5×47 is a very good compromise.

I like to hit what I am aiming at. If you keep your AR clean it will work.  Our troops kept their gas operated M1’s clean in WWII and Korea. The argument that taking care of a weapon is too much to expect is vacuous. The Russian’s made the AK popular because it was cheap. You get what you pay for. The loose manufacturing tolerances are a function of the abysmal state of Russian/Soviet manufacturing, not some stroke of design genius.  The loose tolerances gave the AK its ability to be a maintenance free weapon.  The price for this feature is accuracy.  Accuracy kills.  At 200+yds the AR is to the AK what a guided missile is to an iron bomb dropped at 30K ft.

The short comings of the 5.56 were magnified in Iraq, the fighting there has been almost exclusively urban in nature.  In Afghanistan the 5.56×45 is in a mixed urban/rural environment and has performed well there.  The urban environment is where the 7.62×39 shines, at close range it has far more stopping power than the 5.56×45.  Again, the issue is not the rifle but the ammo.  The AR10 fires the 7.62×51, a round with plenty of stopping power.  As mentioned above the 6.5×47 Lapua is another option.  Considering the nature of asymmetrical warfare the US may need to consider adopting a new round, or, returning to the 7.62×51.

Another area where the AK shines is in the use of it by untrained militias, guerrilla troops, or other irregulars.  These troops fit the profile of typical troops in the Russian military doctrine.  They can’t hit anything past 100 yards, regardless of weapon choice, so the AK is just fine.  The AK requires no care, since untrained militia typically do not take good care of their weapons, the loose tolerances of the AK is a plus for these kinds of combatants.  If all you want is something that will fire, with an effective range of less than 100yds, the AK is good enough.  Since it is cheap, the AK is probably a better choice than the AR for those who can’t shoot.

UPDATE:
The issue of tumbling M16 bullets came up. Below is a link all may find useful:

http://www.firearmstactical.com/briefs13.htm

and the following illustration is useful as well.

Like our governor (or lack thereof) in Virginia, being an absentee Commander-in-Chief doesn’t bode well with those that you command. What happens when you have an all volunteer military and nobody joins? I’ve seen this decades ago and it causes things like drafting to have a standing military. You don’t think the commanders and members of the military aren’t a little bit disgruntled over the state of affairs with this current administration? Some have already begun to leave which was an issue of times past NOT having senior, qualified people in the services. I no longer qualify for draft (except militia) but as things are, I really can’t see a future need for the military. We will stop hating and interefering in other countries’ affairs so one won’t be necessary. After all, all we really should need is the police for what happens in THIS country. Civil law is the new rule. Leaving our troops to hang out and dry will become just a blur of history. Wonder why our founding fathers didn’t use this concept almost 250 years ago? Amazing! If the draft comes back, will those that don’t want to serve still be able to flee to Canada or Mexico? Just imagine a new Mexico of draft dodgers (criminals). Kinda like the birth of Australia. Isn’t history fun?

While reading an article today, a thought ran through my mind. The part that prompted the thought was the follow:

According to the Associated Press, Anwar al-Awlaki, Hasan’s former imam from the al-Hijrah Islamic Center in Falls Church, Virginia, has posted praise for Hasan, and has called on other Muslims serving in the U.S. Military to “follow in the footsteps of men like Nadal.”

If a person states that people should follow in the footsteps of someone that is a murderer, praises them for their crime, is that at least inciting murder? Could it not be considered conspiracy to commit murder?
While I am all for freedom of religion, I am not for expressing murder is okay. It is not okay for Christians to murder abortionists, it is not okay for Thugs to perform ritual strangulation, it is not okay for Islamists to perform jihad murder (or any other murder sanctioned by their religion). Praising a murderer, encouraging people to commit murder is wrong and (unless I’m mistaken) illegal. Why do those that preach violence against innocent people still walk free?

Whether the guy you elected is a bona fide terrorist sympathizer or not is immaterial, because whatever the cause the circus is coming to town:

Khalid Sheik Mohammed — the self-proclaimed mastermind of the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks — and four co-defendants will be tried in federal court in New York instead of a military commission, a federal official said early Friday…

The prosecution of cases in both federal court and military commissions may also be complicated by the treatment of detainees while in CIA custody. Both Mohammed and Nashiri were waterboarded at secret agency “black sites,” and defense attorneys are likely to press hard to get evidence of abuse into the court record.

Johnny Cochran is no longer around, of course, but undoubtedly someone will step up to the plate.

What I am waiting for is the first photo of the 9-11 plotters in business suits, enjoying a casual moment during the trial’s intermission, on a poster under the headline “Hope and Change.”

This came up in the comments, the report here forwarded by Eugene Delgaudio:

Law enforcement agencies in Loudoun County will be escorting the body of fallen soldier and Purcellville, VA resident Stephan L. Mace on Sunday, October 11, 2009.

The body of Mace, who was 21 at the time of his death, will be flown from Dover Air Force Base in Delaware to Leesburg Executive Airport and is due to arrive at 8:28 a.m. on Sunday. Members of the Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office Motor Squad, as well as personnel from the Leesburg Police Department, the Purcellville Police Department, the Middleburg Police Department and the Virginia State Police will be assisting with the escort to Hall Funeral Home in Purcellville, VA.

The route will follow Sycolin Road to the Route 15/Route 7 Bypass and continue onto Route 7 westbound. The motorcade will then exit onto Route 9 (Charles Town Pike) and then travel west on Colonial Highway through Hamilton, VA and into Purcellville, VA, on Main Street ending at Hall Funeral Home on South Nursery Avenue. Delays along this route should be expected.

Those wishing to show their support are asked to line the roadway along the listed secondary roads (Sycolin Road, Colonial Hwy. through Hamilton, and Main St. or South Nursery Ave. in Purcellville).

Please do not attempt to drive with the motorcade.

The Army specialist was among eight U.S. soldiers killed on October 3rd during a firefight against more than 200 Taliban insurgents in the Nuristan Province of Afghanistan.

A funeral service will be held at 1 p.m. on Monday, October 12, 2009 at the Purcellville Baptist Church. Mace will be interred at 11 a.m. Monday, October 19, 2009, at Arlington National Cemetery.

In the city for a few days for a conference, here are some snapshots ….

A huge Army convention is taking place, lots of American heroes all around, and lots of interesting suppliers.

In a tent across the street from the hotel is the new Sikorsky X2 “Tactical” Helicopter:

At the Historical Society – “Quilts for Obama”.

Quilts for Obama. Heh. So 2008.

I think the current state of the nation would be something less comfy for Obama.

Next, morons on parade:

I wanted to get some photos of the actual morons at this event, and maybe get some video answers to questions along the lines of “what about the fact the temperature of the Earth is decreasing?” – but the pity factor kicked in so I backed off. Stupid people.

Weakness is the new strength.

Kick our allies in the teeth and kiss our enemies on the ass.

Hey fellow Americans: Y’all clear now on what we get when we get liberal Democrats running the country? It’s called “national self-annihilation.”

And if Poland and Czech Republic seem too remote for concern, maybe Iran and Venezuela will bring the picture into clearer focus.

UPDATE: This will cause some consternation. One is almost tempted to shout “You lie!”

This is why we are in Afghanistan. Any questions?

Could someone call Speaker Pelosi and explain this to her and the other left wing nuts.

Titled “The Fall of Capitalism and the Rise of Islam,” the conference this Sunday is sponsored by Hizb ut-Tahrir.

New story about the conference here.

Hizb ut-Tahrir often says that its indoctrination “prepares the infantry” that groups like Al Qaeda take into battle, Phares said.

“It’s like a middle school that prepares them to be recruited by the high school, which is Al Qaeda,” he said. “One would compare them to Hitler youth. … It’s an extremely dangerous organization.”

Phares said Hizb ut-Tahrir has strongholds in Western countries, including Britain, France and Spain, and clearly is looking to strengthen its base in the U.S.

“The aim of this conference is to recruit within the Muslim community in America…”

Be sure to read it all.

And here is info on the Hilton Oak Park, near Midway Airport in suburban Chicago.

Our sailor. She is one awesome kid.

Here is a video of the graduation ceremony:

Sally posted this recently as a comment and I feel that it is too important to be overlooked.  Thank you Sally for bringing this to our attention.  This was Sally’s comment:

You all have probably seen this, but stepped up Homeland Security against right wing:

“WASHINGTON – A newly unclassified Department of Homeland Security report warns against the possibility of violence by unnamed “right-wing extremists” concerned about illegal immigration, increasing federal power, restrictions on firearms, abortion and the loss of U.S. sovereignty and singles out returning war veterans as particular threats….”

http://www.wnd.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=94803

The first line is underlined and says “A newly unclassified Document….”.  You only have to click on this site and read the report.  Talk about catagorizing certain Americans into a “paranoid” group!  This coming from a PARANOID government.  And this is what the government thinks about you if you subscribe to just one of these ideas.  Why can’t they be Left-Wing Extremists?

This is what Obama considers as “uniting us”?  Talk about division.  I wonder if this is how King George envisioned the colonials of America?  Doesn’t say much for the intelligence of our military either.  This read is a total abomination!

btw  Read (imagine) what is going to happen to blogging and Gore’s internet because of your discourse towards the government.

“Vengeance is mine” says our Lord and though we ought not presume to ask our Lord in what manner He ever plans to execute that vengeance, we hope He will forgive us for proffering the suggestion that in the case of Westboro Baptist Church protesters every last one of them might be swept up by the wind and thrown off a very, very high cliff.

We will leave that to the Almighty. But we will continue to hope.

For those who don’t know, Westboro Baptist Church are the people who show up at the funeral processions of American service men and women and attempt to disrupt the services by chanting and waving signs with messages like “God hates fags.” Their rationale is supposedly something like “God is punishing America for its tolerance of homosexuality by allowing our men and women to be killed in combat. Thus the deceased is not a hero to be praised but a dupe to be ridiculed.”

In reality, as our friends at Equality Loudoun point out, what the Westboro protesters accomplish is to get in a situation where they can sue people who take offense at their actions. Like, when you read the previous paragraph you probably thought “I’d like to punch them in the head.” Well, technically, it is often not against the law to disrupt a funeral, and punching people is almost always against the law, so you punching them in the head would end up with you giving them your house.

Some smart gay rights people have turned the Westboro shitheels into a fundraising opportunity, and this is what they are doing in response to the Westboro appearance at George Mason University on Monday, March 30.

I say, smart move and one that we should all support.

As many of our readers know, Equality Loudoun and I are not always on the same page, but we are on the same page with this issue. If you are ticked off about Westboro Baptist Church, please give money to the fundraising effort. They are going to send a notice afterwards to Westboro’s leader detailing how much money they raised.

If you want to see the Westboro vermin firsthand, show up at Braddock Rd and Rt. 123 Monday morning. NO PUNCHING – that is what they are trying to get you to do. Instead, bring one of those aerosol boat foghorns. Whenever the Westboro people speak, blow the horn.

If you are in the “I’d like to punch them in the head” camp but want another way to show your support to the opposition, please take a close look at the Patriot Guard Riders.

PGR is a national organization of bikers, many of whom are veterans, who show up in force at the funeral processions of our fallen heroes and line up with their bikes and American flags and, singing the National Anthem, form a screen between the Westboro protesters and the funeral procession. They have grown into a huge nationwide effort and they were formed specifically to offset the Westboro Baptist Church protesters.

Here is the Wikipedia entry.

The San Diego Patriot Guard Riders appeared at the ICCFA Convention last March – the keynote address was by a funeral director explaining all the PGR has done for the funeral profession.

If there were ever great Americans, the Patriot Guard Riders are great Americans. Click here to send them a donation.

File this under “HA HA HA HA HA HA HA.”

One of the few campaign promises Barack Obama appears posied to keep is to close the Guantanamo Bay military compound. So far so good, if you are a progressive terrorist sympathizer. However, where are those individuals previously held at Guantanamo supposed to go?

Answer: The Democrat stronghold of Alexandria, Virginia.

… news that the Obama administration might move some detainees from their highly controlled military fortress at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, to Alexandria to stand trial at the federal courthouse.

“We would be absolutely opposed to relocating Guantanamo prisoners to Alexandria,” Mayor William D. Euille (D) said. “We would do everything in our power to lobby the president, the governor, the Congress and everyone else to stop it. We’ve had this experience, and it was unpleasant. Let someone else have it.”

That’s William D. Euille, who campaigned for Obama and, well did about as much as he possibly could to help the president get elected.

More than the entertaining, buyer’s-remorse irony, which will keep us entertained quite a lot over the next few years I imagine, notice the sheer mental deficiency of this rather extreme form of NIMBYism: We welcome the terrorists to come here and enjoy fair treatment under the law … but, please don’t come RIGHT here. Come to, say, Ohio, or maybe Nevada, so our conscience is assuaged and someone else can handle the messy aspects.

Classic.

Despite insistence from our local left-wing apologists, the Democrat party is going to push censorship and call it fairness.   Orwell would be proud.  Here it comes.  From the Politico:

BILL PRESS: Yeah, I mean, look: They have a right to say that. They’ve got a right to express that. But, they should not be the only voices heard. So, is it time to bring back the Fairness Doctrine?

SENATOR DEBBIE STABENOW (D-MI): I think it’s absolutely time to pass a standard. Now, whether it’s called the Fairness Standard, whether it’s called something else — I absolutely think it’s time to be bringing accountability to the airwaves. I mean, our new president has talked rightly about accountability and transparency. You know, that we all have to step up and be responsible. And, I think in this case, there needs to be some accountability and standards put in place.

BILL PRESS: Can we count on you to push for some hearings in the United States Senate this year, to bring these owners in and hold them accountable?

SENATOR DEBBIE STABENOW (D-MI): I have already had some discussions with colleagues and, you know, I feel like that’s gonna happen. Yep.

Despite insistence that no one is talking about the Fairness doctine, Nancy Pelosi, several house members, and several senators are talking about it.  Considering the drumbeat from the left, it will be coming to a station near you, real soon.  The following screed from Common Dreams:

The necessity for the Fairness Doctrine, according to proponents, arises from the fact that there are many fewer broadcast licenses than people who would like to have them. Unlike publishing, where the tools of the trade are in more or less endless supply, broadcasting licenses are limited by the finite number of available frequencies. Thus, as trustees of a scarce public resource, licensees accept certain public interest obligations in exchange for the exclusive use of limited public airwaves. One such obligation was the Fairness Doctrine, which was meant to ensure that a variety of views, beyond those of the licensees and those they favored, were heard on the airwaves. (Since cable’s infrastructure is privately owned and cable channels can, in theory, be endlessly multiplied, the FCC does not put public interest requirements on that medium.)

is typical of what passes for thinking from the left.  From the LA Times:

Now, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and such influential Democratic senators as Barbara Boxer and Chuck Schumer are pushing for its return, or something like it. Could the equal-time provisions pull a Don Imus and make a radio comeback?

This is an idea that will be used to shut down talk radio.  Radio is the one medium that is not dominated by the left.  It appears dominence in print media such as newspapers and magazines, cabal TV, and broadcast TV.   This is not enough.  Those inconvenient voices on the right must go.  Fair?  Hardly.

UPDATE

Prester John makes an interesting point.  If broadcaste TV and Public radio and TV have provide equal time, won’t that bring balance to the airwaves?  Hardly.  Bill Moyers will be held up as a centrist.  As will the current broadcaste TV crews.  ‘MSNBC is unbiased and only reports the truth.’, will be stated with a solemnity and a straight face.  Only talk radio will be found to be in need of a fix. 

Dumb-ass watch, Day One:

The emergence of a former Guantánamo Bay detainee as the deputy leader of Al Qaeda’s Yemeni branch has underscored the potential complications in carrying out the executive order President Obama signed Thursday that the detention center be shut down within a year.

The militant, Said Ali al-Shihri, is suspected of involvement in a deadly bombing of the United States Embassy in Yemen’s capital, Sana, in September. He was released to Saudi Arabia in 2007 and passed through a Saudi rehabilitation program for former jihadists before resurfacing with Al Qaeda in Yemen.

His status was announced in an Internet statement by the militant group and was confirmed by an American counterterrorism official.

“They’re one and the same guy,” said the official, who insisted on anonymity because he was discussing an intelligence analysis. “He returned to Saudi Arabia in 2007, but his movements to Yemen remain unclear.”

The development came as Republican legislators criticized the plan to close the Guantánamo Bay, Cuba, detention camp in the absence of any measures for dealing with current detainees…

The question this evokes is, how dumb is President Obama? My guess is, not so dumb. And, therefore, GITMO will remain operational far into the future.

Which, for me, is gratifying. But for Hillary Clinton supporters, I imagine would be mildly irritating.