The Tactical Life

[idaho]

Thought for the day: Warning,this is a profanity laced rant that is not PC. I would suggest jumping ahead to the Wednesday’s weapon.

The fucking piece of shit killer of children:

The weapon:

The Victims:

Thoughts:

Yesterday I was in the Wazir Akbar Khan area, when one of the local Afghans decided to engage in the most popular sport for radical (?) Muslims, which is blowing yourself up to kill others. Very popular sport, better than soccer, since you can be either Sunni or Shiite and still have all the reasons and targets you need. The last count I got was 14 dead and 17 wounded, but, in all honesty this was just another day of killing and didn’t really register on my radar, since, I have seen much worse. Got to be faithful to this religion of peace.

I had an early flight to HKIA this morning so I was up at 0330 am, which is 1900/7:00 pm EST in the states and turned on AFN to get some states news, well, what I heard was another terror attack in NYC, committed by another ISIS/Radical/ Muslim piece of shit. Fuck, just Fuck, another piece of shit screaming his love for Allah, someone that our glorious Department of State let in the country on one of their fucking special visa programs. Fuck the DoS; they will kiss another county’s ass until their lips bleed.

Then I hear from the breathless commenters, that this asshole was targeting children that had just been released from school, on Halloween for God’s sake, that’s right ,you filthy piece of cowardly shit, let’s be a true warrior of ISIS and kill kids and people on bikes. Run over and break children in half for your glorious caliphate. You should have been attacked by the crowd of survivors and had your fucking head cut off and displayed on the fucking school bus you attacked.

Did you see the asshole walking between the taxis, carrying his little pellet and paint gun pistols? Did you see him point those guns at numerous victims? Did you see ANYONE with any type of weapon try to stop him while he was waiting for “death by police”? Of course you didn’t, because the state and local politicians wipe their ass with the 2th Amendment. Did you see that cop hating, ultra-liberal piece of shit Bill Blasio, standing at the podium saying “we will prevail”? Fuck you.

What if the guns had been real? What if he got out walked over to that school bus and systematically shot each one of those children? Do you think that bus driver or anyone near was armed? Fuck no. Better dead kids than the right to protect yourself. POS Blasio would already been screaming for more gun control, when NYC is as close to a totalitarian city as you can get. Fuck you.

Our country is a fucking mess, we have lost the will to protect our own, and we have lost the will to stand up to anything that is against our values. Example: I actually heard a CNN commentator tell Anderson Cooper that “we should not actually call him a terrorist, we don’t know that yet” What the fuck? are you so PC whipped you cannot tell the fucking truth? Wake up, you stupid fucking moron, we are at war. I am sick and fucking tired of the USG ( my employer ) telling me on a monthly basis that Islam is a religion of peace, that we must work with our devout brothers, give me a fucking break, call it like it is, a religion of death.

[idaho]

Wednesday’s Weapon: The Fairbairn-Sykes Fighting Knife:

When I was about 8 years old, I attended a military air show outside of London. The Royal Marines were there (I guess providing security) and I was standing next to one of them. I was fascinated by the knife he had attached to his molle gear. I guess, it was pretty obvious, because he took it out and let me hold the blade. I was overjoyed as an 8 year old can be. That was my first, but, certainly not last, experience with the Fairbairn-Sykes fighting knife.

Some History:

The Fairbairn–Sykes fighting knife is a double-edged fighting knife resembling a dagger or poignard with a foil grip developed by William Ewart Fairbairn and Eric Anthony Sykes in Shanghai based on concepts which the two men initiated before World War II while serving on the Shanghai Municipal Police in China.

The F-S fighting knife was designed exclusively for surprise attack and fighting, with a slender blade that can easily penetrate a ribcage. The vase handle grants precise grip, and the blade’s design is especially suited to its use as a fighting knife. Fairbairn’s rationale is in his book Get Tough! (1942).

_In close-quarters fighting there is no more deadly weapon than the knife. In choosing a knife there are two important factors to bear in mind: balance and keenness. The hilt should fit easily in your hand, and the blade should not be so heavy that it tends to drag the hilt from your fingers in a loose grip. It is essential that the blade have a sharp stabbing point and good cutting edges, because an artery torn through (as against a clean cut) tends to contract and stop the bleeding. If a main artery is cleanly severed, the wounded man will quickly lose consciousness and die. (Fairbairn)

The F-S fighting knife was made famous during World War II when issued to British Commandos, the Airborne Forces, the SAS and many other units, especially for the Normandy landings in June 1944. With its acutely tapered, sharply pointed blade, the F-S fighting knife is frequently described as a stiletto, a weapon optimised for thrusting, although the F-S knife is capable of being used to inflict slash cuts upon an opponent when its cutting edges are sharpened according to specification. The Wilkinson Sword Company made the knife with minor pommel and grip design variations.

Because of the success of the Fairbairn-Sykes Knife in World War II and in the wars in Korea and Vietnam, many companies made their own versions of the F-S fighting knife, such as the 1966 Gerber Mark II.

Almost two million of the British knives were made. Early production runs were extremely limited and demand was high, with many British troops attempting to buy their own.

[s_afsoc]

As usual, @idaho is right on the money with these comments. And fuck PC - it’s for pussies

[idaho]

Thought for the day:

The problem is that terrorists – those whose perverted view equates God’s greatness with acts of bloodshed – know how clueless we are, and exploit our assumption that nothing bad can happen to us. And it is that careless confidence that makes us easy prey, soft victims for determined killers.

All my respect to Officer Nash for putting a bullet where it belongs, the NYPD and FDNY , and all the first responders and civilians who answered the call for help. This is for you:

All my respect and sincere thanks to all the firefighters in California and other western states who have fought a prolonged battle to save many lives and property. This is for you:

And for the individuals in our country who refuse to take responsibility for their own safety or that of their family. This is for you:

[idaho]

Flashback Friday: The Great War-1917

Flash Forward Friday: The War that never ends: 2017

[idaho]

Thought for the day: Lady Luck is a capricious bitch.

On Tuesday of this week, three of us had just turned down this street when a suicide bomber decided to find his virgins. 3 more minutes and we would have been in the blast zone. When it comes to suicide bombers and IED’s, it doesn’t matter who you are, or how good you are, Lady Luck rolls the dice on whether you live or die.

[Irishman92]

Shit man, did any of your guys get injured? Do you guys have a discussion after this type of close encounter about vigilance and the ‘what ifs’?

[batman730]

Glad you’re safe Brother. Some days it’s better to be lucky than good I guess.

[idaho]

No, we were outside the blast radius, no injuries. Thanks for asking. We always have a “hot wash” or after action report / meeting. I will write some thoughts on that this week, I have to catch a bird this morning.

[idaho]

Thanks brother, I will take lucky any day. You be safe out there, dangerous times for all LEO’s.

[idaho]

Thought for the day (1):

My sincere condolences and sympathy to the victims and familes of the Texas Shooting. My sincere respect to the armed citizen who stepped up and saved the lives of so many others and the first responders who took over and did whatever they could. warriors all

Some of the comments I read from the main stream media:

"A local citizen confronted the gunman, “grabbed his rifle and engaged that suspect,” he said.

“He was confronted by an armed nearby resident who chased after him”

“The gunman dropped the rifle and then fled the scene with the local citizen in pursuit, he said”.

Damn right, brother. Step up and take care of business. You saved so many lives. I hate active shooters like I hate ISIS.

“Sutherland Springs has a population of about 400 residents”.

“I never thought it would happen here,” Matula added. “This is something that happens in a big city. I would never have thought this would have taken place here. It’s just too tight a community. It doesn’t make sense.”

There is no “safe zone” you accept that and move forward, plan, train, and be ready.

[idaho]

Motivational Monday:

The reason we fought in the past:

is the same reasons we fight today, for the ones we are pledged to protect, for our country so it may survive.

[idaho]

Thought for the day (2): Anyone know what this is?

I was sent this to help identify if this weapon. First, I dont really know if it is a weapon, but, it appears to me to be a zip gun built along the lines of a small bang stick. The firing pin is obvious but, the metal cylinders are new to me, they appear to have a primer embedded into a wax like substance. These cylinders can either be a primer holder, muzzle flash guard, or maybe, some type of crude suppressor. I would assume since this is a zig gun, the caliber would either be .22 or .25. Anyone seen this before?

Zip Gun

[Uncle_Gabby]

The tragedy at the church in Texas reminded me of the St. James Massacre:

Saint James Church massacre

One man with a snub-nosed .38 stopped 4 men armed with assault rifles and hand grenades who were intent on killing everyone in that church.

Stay safe Idaho!

[idaho]

Thanks, same to you.

I dont know if that You Tube video loaded, since, it is not showing for me. Try it again.

Zip Gun

[Irishman92]

It loaded for me. I can’t help you though.

[idaho]

Thought for the day: What goes on around you… compares little with what goes on inside you. (Ralph Waldo Emerson)

_The Gift of Aggression: Another view**

Here is how the sheep and the sheepdog think differently. The sheep pretend the wolf will never come, but the sheepdog lives for that day. After the attacks on September 11, 2001, most of the sheep, that is, most citizens in America said, “Thank God I wasn’t on one of those planes.” The sheepdogs, the warriors, said, “Dear God, I wish I could have been on one of those planes. Maybe I could have made a difference.” When you are truly transformed into a warrior and have truly invested yourself into warrior-hood, you want to be there. You want to be able to make a difference.

But the sheepdog quietly asks himself, “Do you have any idea how hard it would be to live with yourself if your loved ones were attacked and killed, and you had to stand there helplessly because you were unprepared for that day?”

The warrior must cleanse denial from his thinking. Coach Bob Lindsey, a renowned law enforcement trainer, says that warriors must practice “when/then” thinking, not “if/when.” Instead of saying, “If it happens then I will take action,” the warrior says, “When it happens then I will be ready.”

Denial Kills you Twice. It kills you once, at your moment of truth when you are not physically prepared: You didn’t bring your gun; you didn’t train. Your only defense was wishful thinking. Hope is not a strategy. Denial kills you a second time because even if you do physically survive, you are psychologically shattered by fear, helplessness, horror and shame at your moment of truth.

Since 9-11 almost everyone in America took a step up that continuum, away from denial. The sheep took a few steps toward accepting and appreciating their warriors, and the warriors started taking their job more seriously. The degree to which you move up that continuum, away from sheep-hood and denial, is the degree to which you and your loved ones will survive, physically and psychologically at your moment of truth.

Something I preach all the time and I am sure people are tired of hearing me say it, but, you can never be “too ready”. Dont think it can happen to you or your family? Over the past 5 weeks or so, 2 active shooters and one terrorist attack. If you are still in denial, go back and read the Graham Killhouse 5 life rules, it certainly applies to every thing in your life.

[idaho]

Thought for the day (2): A personal bitch

I have a really limited place to workout, which is one of the reasons I do so many loaded carries. It gets me away from people and I dont have to see some state department geek walking on a treadmill wearing lifting gloves or doing tricep kickbacks with a band. Anyway, twice a week I have to do deadlifts, so, it forces me inside, since the “crossfit area” was stripped of its bars because the weather was “rusting them”. Jesus Christ, only the state could come up with that.

Anyway, that little area is a total fucking mess, everytime I walk in, plates scattered on the floor, kettlebells laying everywhere, dumbbells laying under the benches or mismatched in the rack. Who the hell raised these people? What the hell does their personal living space look like? and these are “professionals”? Anyone not racking their weights after use just a fucking pig.

[DeadKong]

Unfortunately, I have this to post. As I said before, we can’t assume this never happens in Canada.

Murder charge laid in death of Abbotsford police officer

[idaho]

Thank you for posting and my sincere condolences to Constable John Davidson’s family and friends, all my respect to his dedication to duty. Another officer lost his life last Sunday in Illinois, Officer Jamie Cox. Hoist a mead for me in Vahalla, brothers

Having been there and done that, I can tell you this is one job that cannot be described unless you do it yourself. This former Marine officer expresses it the best:

Having been a Marine, I’m now frankly baffled by cops. I know the mindset that it takes to carry a gun; accepting that you may have to kill with it and yet have to carry on living. I know what it’s like to work in nothing but evil; to spend your days just surrounded in it, experiencing the worst of humanity and yet are ever expected to act the gentleman and professional. I know what it’s like to look across the room at your brothers and wonder whether or not either one of you will be there at the end of the day, forcing from your mind the scenario play in which you have to tell their mother, father, wife, and child just how their daddy lived and yet in that moment, laugh with each other and share each other’s dreams. I know what it’s like to be pushed to my breaking point both mentally and physically, to have to focus only on getting through that very moment because if you think beyond that, you just might break and yet as you look at the guys next to you, you find you’ve got a little more to give. I know what it’s like to lose a brother and yet ten minutes later throw on your pack, pick up that rifle, and step back outside the wire.

But what I don’t know is how, after all of that, the police officer can go home that very day and be a husband or wife, father or mother, son or daughter. I don’t know the mindset it takes to put on a gun and yet tickle your little girl to hear her giggle. I don’t know what it’s like work in nothing but evil and yet be thoughtful enough to stop at the flower shop on the way home because your wife had a rough day. I don’t know what it’s like to be pushed to the breaking point both mentally and physically, and yet spend that evening patiently helping your son with math homework. I don’t know what it’s like to lose a brother and yet stop by your mom’s house on the way home because she’s older now and needs help changing out the bathroom light bulb. And I don’t know what it’s like to wonder if murderers, gang-members, terrorists, or rapists that you’d previously arrested or hunted earlier that day followed you home.

As a former service-member, I am lucky enough, unlike those who returned from Vietnam, to get thanked a lot. While honored, I always feel a little uncomfortable about it. I’m not sure why but I do. But now when I come across a law-enforcement officer, I can’t help but thank them. I’m not sure how they feel about it. But I am genuinely thankful for what they do. And I frankly don’t know how they do it.