Crosshairs - Military Matters in Review by Fred Edwards

Crosshairs
Military Matters in Review

by Fred Edwards

The mission of Crosshairs - Military Matters in Review is to enhance the military defense of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic. This ambitious goal covers every aspect of U.S. and foreign military matters. It has filled my agenda with more than two dozen topics from which I draw to write my columns, such as:

* U.S. Armed Forces

* Iraq, Afghanistan, and Iran

* Pakistan

* China

* Russia

* Western Pacific

* Latin America

* Cyberwar

* Energy

* Space

* Special operations

* WMD

* Radical Islam

* Problem regimes such as Syria, North Korea, Hamas, Hezbollah, Al Qaeda, and the Taliban

The latest Crosshairs column is to the right. To see previous columns click here for the online archives.

My book: The Bridges of Vietnam: from the Journals of a U.S. Marine Intelligence Officer

Buy from Amazon.com $39.95 (hardcover), $18.95 (softcover)

For a special softcover copy of The Bridges of Vietnam autographed by the author. $18.95 plus $2.00 shipping and handling. Click here.

My book: The Buffie Brigade. Big Ugly Fragile Elephants, glazed, crazed and grazed in Vietnam.

Buy from Amazon.com $10.95

For a special copy of The Buffie Brigade autographed by the author. $10.95 plus $2.00 shipping and handling. Click here.

My book: Sailors are Reasonable (SAR): The Saga of Foredeck Fred

Buy from Amazon.com $9.95

SAR cover Click here to order a special copy of Sailors are Reasonable (SAR) autographed by the author. $9.95 plus $2.00 shipping and handling.

Special from the publisher of Armed Forces News

"Fred Edwards has proved himself on the battlefield as an effective military leader and in the newsroom as a talented writer, superb reporter and keen-eyed columnist. As our Senior Associate Editor, retired Marine Lt. Col. Fred Edwards is an insightful observer of the military, whose global perspective provides readers with a deeper understanding of the issues that both divide and separate us in today's world."
Don Mace
Publisher
Armed Forces News

Armed Forces News provides military personnel with the latest news to inform them about their pay and benefits, as well as to alert them to developments in their military careers.

Letters to the Editor
From M.C. in California: "Fred: I am in continued admiration of your efforts to bring perspective, depth and balance to the complex world that is swirling around us but so poorly reported and badly understood. Our public is woefully uninformed and complacent, in part because we have done such a good job defending the nation. Two oceans don't hurt either -- and where we don't have an ocean, problems intensify -- Mexico pertains. But, that said, not a column goes by that I do not learn something new, gain a new insight, or better appreciate a problem that you have selflessly reported on.

From C.G. in Virginia: "Fred: I have to tell you that your reporting is way better than anything I can read in such rags as the NYT or WP. Great explanation."

From J.X.L. in Arizona: "Thank you for your great Crosshairs. I read and appreciate them with relish. Please keep me on your list.

From W.F.G., a retired U.S. Air Force colonel living in California: "Fred, Your columns are always topical and right on target."

From M.C., a retired U.S. Air Force general living in California:
"It is nothing short of astounding that you find time to do so much for our country . . .a towering contributor. You have a grand touch in helping us all tell our public about the commitment and sacrifice of our current generation in defending the national security interests of this nation. Warmest regards"

Letters regarding the Dec. 19, 2008 issue, "Purging the Pirates."

From D. M. in Virginia. "In a word, Fred: Brilliant. I have followed this issue in detail for many weeks and I think your idea is spot on. It is a very difficult problem and all these armchair Rambos don't have a grasp of how really tough the problem is. I think it will take first the international political will and then land attacks and indefinite occupation in the Somali lands and harbors to bring things under reasonable control. But even then it might be too late. Militant Muslims are about to grab Somalia for themselves. But we have to do something."

From A.T. in Florida. "Fred. I'm glad that you put in print what so many may be thinking. My first thought when I first heard about the most recent spike of piracy in that area was "Blackhawk Down" . I only hope that no one lets a fiasco like that happen again. Perhaps some of the other powers that aren't involved in our current wars can be made to take the lead."

To receive future columns by e-mail click here.

American traitors: Radical Islamists

by Fred Edwards

July 30, 2010 - Even though the Obama administration hasn't clearly identified the enemy as radical Islamism, that is exactly the threat we face. Furthermore, the enemy has become a wolf in American clothing. Consider the following.

Anwar al-Awlaki, who was born in New Mexico and lived in the United States as an imam, is reportedly now in Yemen. He is seen as a mentor and an instigator of U.S. Army Major Nidal Malik Hasan's shooting rampage at Ford Hood in November, and Nigerian Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab's failed attempt to blow a Detroit-bound airliner out of the sky on Christmas.

A security and intelligence report by Scott Stewart of STRATFOR states that American counterterrorism officials say that Awlaki works for al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula, and that he is recruiting for agents to make attacks against the United States and overseas Americans.

Meanwhile, American-born Adam Gadahn has released a videotape in English titled "A Call to Arms," in which he praises Hasan, and says that jihad is a personal, religiously mandated duty for every able-bodied Muslim. He calls upon all Muslims to emulate Hasan, and "don't wait for tomorrow to do what can be done today, and don't wait for others to do what you can do yourself."

He exhorts Muslims to attack symbols of capitalism in order to "shake consumer confidence and stifle spending." This parallels what Osama bin Laden has been preaching for years, that attacks by al Qaeda must "bleed America to the point of bankruptcy." Gadahn points out that even minor attacks on Western mass-transportation systems can create chaos and cost billions of dollars.

He gives individual jihadists a three-step scenario for selecting targets: (1) Select one you are familiar with; (2) Choose one that is feasible to hit, and (3) Be sure it is a target that will create a major impact when hit. He advises his viewers that Hasan set the precedent with all three criteria.

Stewart of STRATFOR concludes that Gadahn's incitement of lone-wolf jihadists indicates that the core movement of al Qaeda is weakening and becoming decentralized. After nine years of counterattacking al Qaeda's Islamism, this is good news. The bad news, however, is that lone-wolf Americans are being encouraged to place their concept of jihad ahead of their loyalty to their country. Stewart reminds us of the recent cases of three other American citizens; Colleen LaRosa ("Jihad Jane"), Jamie Paulin-Ramirez and Sharif Mobley, who allegedly were involved in jihadist plots. And he raises the question of stereotyping jihadists when LaRose and Paulin-Ramirez are blonde Caucasian women.

The United States government has Anwar al-Awlaki on its hit list, and Adam Gadahn on its most-wanted list. Hasan will soon be tried for multiple murders. It's sad that, although these traitors have seen the essence of freedom that abounds in our country, they have chosen to put America on their own hit list.

This article may be forwarded or republished on your website with attribution to Crosshairs - Military Matters in Review at www.milmat.net by Fred Edwards.

Other content of Crosshairs - Military Matters in Review may be copied or retransmitted for information purposes, but may not be used for any commercial purpose without my written permission. Please credit the source as "Crosshairs - Military Matters in Review" at www.milmat.net by Fred Edwards.

To receive future columns by e-mail click here.

Fred Edwards is a military columnist and journalist. He has contributed articles to more than two dozen periodicals and has written eight books, including The Bridges of Vietnam: From the Journals of a U.S. Marine Intelligence Officer, The Buffie Brigade, Sailors are Reasonable (SAR): The Saga of Foredeck Fred, and his latest, It's My Story and I'm Stuck With It! A Boy Trades His Superman Cape for Manhood

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