Wednesday, August 25, 2004

A major liquid gas pipeline near Basra was blown up this morning.  The fire still burns. 7:16:37 PM    Comment_ Trackback []

Some good analysis from Frank Richter.  "The reason the Islamist terrorists have not attacked America again at home is that bin Laden believes that Al Qaeda is winning the war. Because of American military responses to 9/11 in Afghanistan and Iraq, the Muslim world is nearly united in its anti-American attitudes." 7:02:25 PM    Comment_ Trackback []

I've given up trying to get XPSP2.  Too many attempted downloads that broke off.  What a mess. 1:11:02 PM    Comment_ Trackback []

Document archive for a privatizing warfare conference in the Netherlands. 10:40:11 AM    Comment_ Trackback []

WSJ.  New army helmet offers less protection in critical areas to the rear of the head (important to surviving IED explosions). I am continually surprised that protection to the motor/sensory areas in the rear of the head isn't more robust.  The Romans understood this: 8:41:07 AM    Comment_ Trackback []

AP.  Iraq holds and oil investment conference in Jordan (due to security concerns).  Estimated losses due to GG sabotage are $80 m a day.  Tariq Abdul-Mushin, director of the state South Gas Company, called for a multinational force to protect Iraq's oil industry, particularly from pipeline sabotage blamed on insurgents. "When America entered Iraq, it was clear that it had the responsibility to protect the oil wealth that affects not only the citizens of Iraq, but he whole world," he said. "We need mutinational forces because they have the expertise, the means of safety, planes and mobile patrols to protect Iraqi oil industry." 7:06:28 AM    Comment_ Trackback []

WP.  Russians worry that Aslan Maskhadov and his Chechen guerrillas are to blame for yesterday's double plane crash south of Moscow.  It may be only a matter of time before he adopts global guerrilla methods over ineffective traditional terrorist tactics.  If he does switch, the capacity limited Transneft pipeline system would be the target of choice. $10 to $20 billion in lost oil revenue later -- which would require only a small series of attacks over a relatively short time period -- and we could well see Russia give Chechnya independence. 6:43:55 AM    Comment_ Trackback []

The downfall of civilized states tends to come not from the direct assaults of foes, but from internal decay combined with the consequences of exhaustion in war. - Sir Basil H. Liddel-Hart 6:18:59 AM    Comment_ Trackback []