To the hilt...

This post is for those III Patriots who know I will come if called.

Never let your guard down for even a moment.  Those who mean to be Masters intend that you will bend knee, go into a camp, or ditch.  They will use any means necessary to accomplish their goals.  Your most treasured loved ones are nothing but tools - sacks of meat - they will use to force you to their will.

You have allies.  Most of you have at least one person in your AO that you trust at your shoulder - someone you trust to cover your back.  That trust carries an obligation - reciprocity.  You must be forever ready to fight to the blade, and blade to the hilt.

When you and your allies get together, remind them of this trust and obligation.  Remind them never to do anything that may compromise the Tribe.  Compromising the Tribe can never be tolerated.

The Spartan Warrior was permitted to lose his spear or sword in combat.  He would even be forgiven by his allies if he lost his helm - for the spear, sword and helm were for his personal defense.

However, the Spartan who lost his shield would not be forgiven.  He would likely be stripped of Spartan Citizenship - a rebuke that any Spartan would consider the ultimate shame.

Why could the loss of his shield never be forgiven?

Because it was the shield that protected his brother in the Phalanx.

Use this information as you will.

This ain't no fucking game.

Kerodin
III

PSA: A reminder from me to thee

Somewhere in America are people who are training to kill you.

And...

Someone you probably already know is writing reports about you, your families and your friends for those murderers to use.

Just sayin'...

Kerodin
III

Russian soldiers attack Ukrainian military base in Crimea

Don't let the headline get your blood pressure up - this is not an escalation.  It is a mopping action.  Some Ukrainian soldiers chose to remain inside bunkers at a base on the Black Sea coast, and the Russians finally decided it was time for them to go. 

Reports are that no shots were even fired.  The Russians - being called, interestingly 'militia' - simply used a truck to ram the gates, then went inside to do their work.

While not an escalation one would use an exclamation point to emphasize, one could use a period.

Russia means to hold Crimea.  Period.

Here's the story.

Kerodin
III

The Appalachian Redoubt

Sandman has put together the concept of an "Appalachian Redoubt" based on the solid premise that much of the Appalachian chain is populated by strong, smart, moral people with more shared culture than differences.  The geographic area is resource-rich, defensible, and productive.

Not only are the mountains a natural, physical impediment to the genetic waste occupying most of the major metro areas of the eastern seaboard from Richmond/Norfolk to Boston, the contrast in personalities is vivid and stark.  The people and manners and morals of those who call the Appalachians home echo to the best of our Founding era, and call to us all as where we should seek to return as a people.  The people, manners and morals of those in Boston, NY, Philadelphia, Baltimore, DC, Richmond are a different breed - one we would all be wise to avoid.

Yes, I am painting with a broad brush.  No, I'm simply not in the mood to nuance this post.  Either you get it, or you don't.  While I am personally a Chesapeake lad, my parents both were born within the outline of the map above.  As were all of their parents.  And many, many others in my bloodline as well...

I do not see a downside.

Here's the discussion happening at Max Velocity's place on the topic.

Kerodin
III

You and I have seats on the 50 yard line to watch America die...

I know I am on firm intellectual ground when Pat Buchanan and I are on the same page.

I have said it before, and will again:  America lost her last chance at peaceful reclamation of Liberty, of peaceful secession, of turning the moral decay in America back into a rising tide when we failed to elect PJB to the Oval Office.

Our politicians will have a war they can't win if they keep pushing Putin and his Countrymen.  Today we have renewed calls from American politicians to bring Ukraine & Georgia into NATO. 

Whether the actions of American politicians are simply blunders that will resonate in future history books for a thousand years, or they know exactly what they are doing to get what they want - World War III.

Here is his column.

Kerodin
III

October 1962

 

I was not alive during the Cuban Missile Crisis, but I know my history and I have been lucky enough to have had first-hand reports over the years of my youth from people who were at various levels on the inside as those days ticked into history.

 

Those of you who are old enough to remember those days must be beginning to feel a sense of deja vu all over again right about now.  You probably are also feeling an added sense of dread.

 

To borrow a line and take a bit of license: Barack Obama is no John Kennedy.

 

And Vlad is harder than Khrushchev.

 

Ego and Face (Yes, Virginia, they are very different things) are very dangerous aspects of the Human animal psyche if not properly developed and controlled.  The capacity for a man who has never tasted a backfist to take a bad decision based on his own unrealistic assessment of his abilities, when the stakes are as high as World War III, is significant.

 

Scheduled or not, ordering the U.S.S. Truxton into the Black Sea on the same day the Crimean Parliament voted to remain allied with Russia is exactly the sort of bad decision I am talking about in the prior graf.  I can only imagine the reaction of the Commanding Officer of the Truxton when ordered to carry on.  He and his crew are now potentially the trigger of WWIII, and nothing the Commander and his crew do can affect the outcome.

 

Simply sending that ship into Russia's Black Sea - yes, it is Russia's - POTUS has taken a decision that no Russian can take as anything less than a national challenge, and the average Russian will look to Putin to protect Russian national pride.  Yes, the Russians are a proud people, whatever we think of them.

 

This was either an amateur mistake made by a POTUS who has never tasted a backfist, or it is something even more sinister - a lamb being sent to slaughter.

 

I don't care what you think of our President, the Russian President, the people of Russia or Ukraine, our US Military, or anything else.  Tonight, think about the men and women aboard the U.S.S. Truxton.

 

History is rhyming, right now.

 

As an ally reminded me: Remember the BRIC alternate financial market.

 

And here is the analysis from the Economic Collapse Blog.

 

Patriots: You have protocols.  Be ready.

 

Kerodin

III

Oh, and there's this - 30 Russian Bombers perhaps being outfitted with nukes...

 

According to Turner Radio Network, Russia has amassed 30 nuclear bombers at an airfield adjacent to Russia's Borisoglebsk national level nuclear weapons storage facility and US satellites have seen "numerous transfers from the storage facility to the aircraft."

For those who don't remember the real Cold War, let me translate: Russia and America are posturing and both sides are doing so very publicly with very, very serious machines of war.

This latest move by Russia is designed for public consumption as well as for the 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue Situation Room.  It is also meant for the Russian populace, who want and need to know Putin has them covered and is not weak.  Russians despise weakness - with a revulsion and disgust that is visceral.

Make no mistake - putting payload on 30 Russian bombers at a known nuclear facility is serious business.  This is not a pair of long range bombers doing a fly-by in Alaska to make some radar jockeys get excited.  Nor is it - necessarily - time to jump under the desk.

The last time the US and Russians played these games - and I use the word "games" with tongue-in-cheek, because this is no f'n game - we had real men in control of our country - men who loved America (yes, even though they loved power and money, too) and men who knew what real war was all about.  Kennedy was not joking.  Reagan was not joking.

But the measure of our current POTUS and his staff has been taken by the world, and we all know, they are a joke.

When our submariners start counting coup with Russian warships today, we do not have the thinking men in power we did the last time such games were played. 

The Russians, do.  Vlad is no joke.

Here's the link.

This may all wind down.  But at the moment, it is spiraling upward and outward, at a pace not seen in many decades.  One wrong move, one over (or under) reaction, and all the wrong buttons start to get pushed...

Kerodin
III

USS Truxton entering Black Sea

The USS Truxton is a guided missile Destroyer, and she is headed into the Black Sea.

Reuters claims this is a "routine" event and was scheduled "before" the Ukraine/Crimea crisis unfolded.

I call it a trigger waiting to be pulled, if those who want war decide to pull it.  If Putin decides to say FU - he puts Truxton down.  If POTUS or some warhawk idiot in America decides they want to thumb Putin in the eye (or just start the next world war) they will order Truxton to do something stupid.

I ask you this: How long would the United States Navy tolerate a Russian or PRC Destroyer in Chesapeake Bay?

Very Bad People are making certain that all the right pieces are in place in case they decide it is time for war.

I hope you are paying attention.

Here's the Reuter's piece.

Kerodin
III

Essential Hand Tools for the Patriot

Forgive the quality of the picture - I'm in no mood to shoot it again.

I recommend that every Patriot have a small selection of hand tools in your kit.  That is a statement, unqualified.  Even if you think your operations may be entirely in the deep forests, what if you run across an enemy vehicle that you want to make work - or make not work?  What if you run across an old cabin, and need to do X or Y?

What is in the picture: First, is the Gerber multi-tool.  It is opened to show the basic pliers, which serve as needle nose, it also has curved teeth and a wire cutter/stripper.  This is a basic model.  In the handles are a couple of pocket-knife blades, screwdriver tips, etc.  The brand of multi-tool you purchase is up to you.  The number of widgets is up to you.  Just make sure at a minimum, you get pliers, wire strippers, and basic screwdriver heads.

Starting at the left of the picture is a red screwdriver with a black rubber (insulation from electricity) handle.  This isn't a simple one-tip screwdriver - it is actually a 6-way.  At the end is the flathead tip, you can pull the tip, flip it and re-insert for a smaller flathead tip.  You can pull the entire chrome shaft and re-insert into the handle, and then you have 2 Phillips tips.  Finally, you can remove the Phillips and flat driver bits, and you will have 2 hex-head "nut drivers" - 1/4" and 5/16".  When you buy this tool, spend a little extra money.  The cheapies at Home Depot (and elsewhere) are made of metals that will fail you far too soon.  The shaft and the tips need to be made of good, hardened metal or they will strip out.

Next is a 6" adjustable wrench.  Again, buy one made with good metal so the jaws don't give way under real torque - but even a good one is only $20.  When you need a wrench, especially in a hurry, there is no faster way to Cluster Foxtrot the entire process by trying to turn that nut or bolt with your pliers.  If you are trying to break loose a nut/bolt combo - put the wrench on the bolt head, and use your pliers on the nut.  If you need more leverage, slip some sort of hollow pole (maybe a piece of pipe, maybe  the hollow end of an e-tool if yours is metal) over the end of the wrench.

The final item is an electrical multi-meter.  Mine is more of a tool than most people will need.  You need an electrical meter that can measure AC electricity, DC electricity, and continuity.  You can buy a cheapie from Home Depot (an analog or digital meter) for under $20.  Of course, you need to learn some basics about electricity to use it to your advantage (which may also simply include making sure you are safe - as a booby-trap, electricity is a sweet tool).  Electricity is your friend, and you can make it a savage weapon if you study just a bit.  Find an electrician buddy to show you how to measure AC/DC/Continuity (you can learn that much online, safely.)  Then get your electrician buddy to show you a few ways to surprise the snot out of a careless bad guy, how to completely facock electronic gear (without a hammer), et cetera.

These are the basic hand tools I recommend you carry.  I have plenty of gear I can use as a hammer if needed.  But with the gear above I can break a lot of sh*t, I can fix a lot of sh*t, I can make a home/building too hot or too cold, I can make an old woman's water heater work, I can make the hot water not work, I can shut down potable water systems, I can make a car almost useless, I can make a genset work or die.

So can you.

If you only think in terms of violence, you'll probably lose your Liberty. 

Kerodin
III

Oh, splendid! Russia To Propose Freezing US Assets And Confiscate Foreign Owned Property...

There isn't much to say, really.

The current path leads to only one place, and it is a very ugly place.

Will something, or someone, intervene to delay things a bit longer - or are these the final steps on the last piece of the walk?

Read it here.  Watch what happens.  Be ready for whatever.

Kerodin
III

How do we hide the fact that we stole all the money in the world?

What happens when everything the Progressives have pushed for is about to fail? When economic collapse is all but imminent? What do the elitists do when their bag of tricks is emptied? Their last trick, the last card up their sleeve is the war card. Historically predictable… it always comes to this. Enter Hillary Clinton. - Terresa Monroe-Hamilton

Read the rest here.

It's comforting to find others who get it.  It was also posted at Trevor Loudon's place.

Kerodin
III

J.C. Dodge: 3D Camo DIY

J.C. Dodge of Mason Dixon Tactical shows how to improvise the advantages of ghillie camo to your kit.  This is practical, inexpensive, and I think offers much of the advantage of a full ghillie without the down-sides.

Read the How-To, here.

Make sure you check out his upcoming training schedule.  Train now in whatever time remains before all training will be on-the-job.

Kerodin
III

John Mosby: The ability to locate, interdict, and/or destroy hostile forces, before they land on your front porch, is the surest way to protect your family...

Patrolling, as a means of projecting force outwards, is the defining factor of security in WROL scenarios. The ability to locate, interdict, and/or destroy hostile forces, before they land on your front porch, is the surest way to protect your family, your home, and your community. - John Mosby

Why did I copy this particular pair of sentences from Mosby's latest?

Because it is the perfect articulation of why the One Week premise will work, if executed properly: ...ability to locate, interdict, and/or destroy hostile forces, before they land on your front porch, is the surest way to protect your family, your home, and your community... [underline & bold are mine - K]

Do not get it twisted - I did not say that JM endorses my One Week plan.  I'm not asking anyone to endorse it.  I'm not in any mood to debate it - either you like it or you don't.  I do hope people will read it, apply what will work for them, and when the world goes sideways, use those parts to full effect.

One more time, just so there is zero confusion:  The ability to locate, interdict, and/or destroy hostile forces, before they land on your front porch, is the surest way to protect your family, your home, and your community. - John Mosby

Now, my question to each Patriot, and especially our III 300 Patriots, how intimately do you know your AO?  Meet your neighbors.  Meet your community watch volunteers.  Walk their routes with them.  Go into those nooks and crannies where people don't usually go, like the patches of woods that often separate different subdivisions and the drainage culverts that handle rain overflow, like those quiet little places teenagers go to do teenager things. Follow every single footpath you can find in your AO - these are the trails people use, and will use, when things get sporty.

It is not enough to do this by yourself, if you have Tribe.  Get your entire Team doing this with you.  There is a militia unit in the West Virginia/Ohio area that shows up places when neighbors need help.  I won't name them, not sure how low they want their profile right now - but consider the concept.  A tree falls during a storm at a neighbors place.  They are low-information cubicle workers - decent people but politically clueless.  But you and your guys show up and help them cut up that tree, maybe even help them split the wood and stack it.  One of our Patriots and a few of his buddies made a game of this (learning the AO intimately), with low-risk counting coup at the same time.  If he posts about how it works, I'll be sure to link it.

You want Hearts & Minds?  That's how you do it.  You simply go out and earn it by having a heart.  Then when the time comes to locate, interdict and/or destroy those hostile forces, you've got eyes and ears loyal to you and your Team because you built that network.

My writing of Hearts & Minds will surprise most of my readers.  Most people who have met me won't be surprised, though.  My goal on this blog is not to win Hearts and Minds.  My goal on this blog is to build morale and cohesion among III Patriots, to help more people self-identify as III Patriots - the right sort of people.  My goal is to make sure III Patriots, especially III 300 Patriots, stand tall and take point and help to lead your community.  My goal is to help my allies connect dots where I am able.  My goal is to try and get a sufficient number of III Patriots on the same strategic and tactical page, so that when that dreaded moment comes and communicating becomes dangerous and hostile forces are to be faced in all of our AOs, we have a shared goal and methodology that doesn't require top-down micro-management.  My goal is that III Patriots from Miami to Pennsyl-tucky to West Virginia and Ohio, Maine, Michigan, Texas, California, Seattle, Idaho, and everywhere else we have a beating III Patriot heart, we have our people pulling the rope in the same direction.

CA says there is going to be a fight.  I believe him.  I intend to win.  I will do everything in my power to help ensure you win as well.  Hearts & Minds is an on-the-ground activity for you and your Tribe in your AO.  It is not for this blog.

I write hard.  I write from a place that I consider realistic.  I do not suffer fools.  I am not trying to make friends, though I have as a natural by-product of this work.  I say what I mean, and I mean what I say.  I do not lie.  I refuse to hide.  I refuse to compromise my ideals.  I hope that when SHTF that I may have helped even one American choose to stand tall and do the right thing, the hard things, not the easy things.  I have earned enemies.  I have earned death threats that I generally dismiss as cowards talking shit - but I keep my guard up.  I have earned threats from people who promise to rape my wife.  I don't talk about these things much.  When some fucking idiot challenges me to write about my Patriot "Street Cred" on the blog I know I am dealing with a provocateur or an idiot. 

Some of the best people I have ever met in my life are III Patriots.

Please read John Mosby's advice once more: Patrolling, as a means of projecting force outwards, is the defining factor of security in WROL scenarios. The ability to locate, interdict, and/or destroy hostile forces, before they land on your front porch, is the surest way to protect your family, your home, and your community. - John Mosby

When the time comes, III Patriots must go to work, all at the same time, all on the same mission: Deny the Enemies of Liberty the means and/or desire to project force.

When in the absence of orders, go find something Evil, and kill it. 

If each of us operates off that page in the book, we are covering one another's backs from dozens, hundreds, or even thousands of miles away.  Patriot Teams who find themselves keeping the Enemies of Liberty unable and/or unwilling to do Evil, you help to keep the enemy spread thin, unable to concentrate resources and power.  You make it possible for just a few hundred men and women to kill the machine of tyranny.  Chaos will ensue.  But without the ability to project force according to the Powell Doctrine, those who mean to be our Masters will be neutered.

Then we can begin the hard work of deciding if we will choose to remain united.  Some States may choose to secede, which I will support, for it is a Natural Law recognized by our Founding Documents.

Our mutual enemy is Communism and all of its practitioners, even those who are simply Useful Idiots and have no idea what they are doing.  Both of my Grandfathers killed Communists.  Several of my uncles did the same.  One of my grandfathers also killed Nazis.  That was good American policy then.  It remains a good policy to save Liberty, even if those Communists are among us.

Malum in se is never acceptable.  Countervalue is the proper course.  Counterforce is the death of Liberty.

Killing Communists is not malum in se.  Fuck Political Correctness.  Communists in America today should leave now.  Communists in America should be motivated to leave.

Here's how.  

Securing the ground beneath your feet for Jeffersonian Liberty, here is how: Patrolling, as a means of projecting force outwards, is the defining factor of security in WROL scenarios. The ability to locate, interdict, and/or destroy hostile forces, before they land on your front porch, is the surest way to protect your family, your home, and your community. - John Mosby

Here is the link.

Kerodin
III

Opera, non verba... - Concerned American.

Overwhelm your opponent’s ability to concentrate mass at any decisive point. - Concerned American

Why would a tyrant believe anything that FREEFOR says?
Without credibility based on actions, words are just that. - Concerned American

Find a Patriot who is more than
talk - stick with that Patriot through Hell

Fighting Knives Primer

The knife you choose to carry into combat is an intimate choice.  More so, in my opinion, than even your firearms.  Why?  Because when you are forced to kill with a knife you are usually in physical contact with your enemy.  You can feel the blade doing its work, you can feel how his body twists in agony when you twist your blade and extend the wound, you can feel and smell his body react to the invasion.  Often you can see his eyes which may show surprise, anger, fear.  You can smell the blood and feel it on your hand(s) and clothing.  If you must ensure silence during the act, the event will be even more personal, as you must embrace a man as he dies, until he is dead, and your first attack may be insufficient, requiring a second plunge for the heart or deep slash across the carotid and windpipe.

Yet, your knife is also just another tool in your toolbox.

Most of you know my go-to blades are Cold Steel.  As primary combat knives (fixed blade) my first - my only - choice is the Cold Steel Tanto shown above.  My personal preference is the 12" blade, which is too long for most people (and no longer available).  My recommendation for most people is the 9" blade.  Nine inches is the proper length of a primary Fighting Knife, in my opinion, whatever shape you like best.  There are many things to consider when choosing your primary Fighting Knife, and I don't want this to be a full-blown White Paper.

One important point: My Fighting Knives are for fighting.  They are NOT field knives.  They do not cut saplings.  They do not pound tent stakes.  They do not open boxes, open cans of peaches, cut cordage, or serve any purpose but one: They are cherry until they cut my enemy.  Some people are not so persnickety about their knives.  I am.  I'll carry the weight of an extra blade to ensure that when my fighters are deployed, the blades are ready to cut.  My two primary defensive folders are the same - the blades do nothing but wait.  I have a separate knife for pocket knife chores.


H&K KA-BARs - we each have one on a Go Bag

I also like my KA-BAR Tantos (also discontinued by KA-BAR).  My pair were engraved by the great guys at CADD.  One lives on one of my Go Bags, and the other lives on one of Holly's Go Bags.  When you need a knife in a CQB setting in full kit, you need a knife that can get through webbing, push aside magazines filled with cartridges, maybe even through Kevlar.

Here is what I recommend for most people: 9" blade in the tanto blade shape.  I like the superior penetration you get from a tanto point in tough materials.  Your blade must have a handguard, not only to protect your hand if the other guy gets his knife into the fight, but also to prevent your hand from sliding down a blood-slickened handle to the blade.  I demand a pointed pommel - you have to be able to score on defense.  Handle texture is whatever feels best for you.  Just make sure you can still maintain an effective fighting grip when it gets slick with blood.  If you have the opportunity to test a few different knives, put some heavyweight motor oil on the hilt, then see how well you can continue to handle the blade.

Drop Point - too small for duty, but a good sample

Metal is important - but you don't need to be a metallurgist.  There is a lot of junk metal out there from China.  There is a wide selection of specialty alloys out there from excellent knifemakers - most do the job just fine, but there is no such thing as the perfect metal.  Whether you buy 440 stainless or a good carbon steel, or an exotic alloy, just remember the weakest point on a knife is the tip, then the sharpened edge, and finally is the blade just above the hilt.  Many good knives can be snapped with a sharp block just above the hilt, when struck properly at a 90 degree spine block.

A quick word about actual fights with knives and swords: What you see in most movies is just like the CQB you see in most movies - it's a movie.  In a sword or knife fight when you hear the clanging of steel because blades are hitting blades at right angles, cutting edge hitting cutting edge, you know you are in fantasyland.  When you block with a blade you do not try to cut the other guys blade - you intercept the path of his blade, you turn your blade so that contact is made along the spine of your blade (the back/backbone) - NOT the sharp edge.  When you intercept, you redirect the energy, let the blade slide away, you do not seek to stop it abruptly.  Blades break much easier than one may think.  Practice using the spine of your knife to block and land your blows on the flat of the enemy's knife just above the hilt.  It sucks to play defense in a knife fight, but make the most of it.  (CQB note: If you are in a position and find yourself blocking a knife with the spine of your knife, you are probably in perfect position to put your elbow in his face.)


Kukri

If you just aren't a tanto guy, the kukri is awfully hard to beat if you are headed into hardcore melee.  It is big and well-suited for chopping.  Primary Fighting Knife?  Not in my book, because it isn't great for thrusting - but an awful lot of Gurkhas and dead Brits would disagree.  A drop-point blade is a good middle-ground between the kukri and tanto - it is curved in a manner that suits those times you need to chop, has decent weight, at 9" it is ideal for penetration.

I'm not a dagger guy - but I do own the iconic Gerber MKII - because everyone needs at least one.  ;)

Why the primer on knives?  Because I can't write a single sentence worth reading about how to play a violin.  But I know a bit about blades and fighting with them.  The best advice I can give you about knife fighting - shoot that SOB. 

I also have found that I am simply not satisfied with the knives available on the market - both production and custom.  Don't get me wrong, there are outstanding production blades out there, and there are many custom bladesmiths who turn out magnificent Fighting Blades.  But I can't find what I want.  Even my Cold Steel can be improved.

Today most blades are 1/8 inch thick at the thickest point - hilt and base of the spine.  Most blades taper as they go forward to the point.  Gil Hibben has a monster out there, more machete than knife (and featured in the last Rambo flick), but as a chopper, I guarantee if you want to split a man's head right down the middle, the Hibben IV will do it.  I think one of the Patriots I'd suit up to cover won one of the Hibben's at Brock's last PatCon.  It isn't practical for most combat applications, it's too heavy, has no thrust capacity - but the bad boy has one asset that I want on my 12" Tanto - weight.  Strength.  The Hibben has a 1/4" spine.  That weight and strength applied to my Cold Steel 12" design would make my perfect pair of Fighting Blades for my rig. 

When I get set up in Idaho and find some shop time, I'm going to have to build my own set.

Choose your primary Fighting Knife carefully.  You don't have to spend a fortune, but put enough money away to get the knife you want.  In the upcoming North American Liberty Games, it will probably be called upon to save your life.

Kerodin
III

Still think the Ukraine Affair is hyperbolic nothing and Putin will fold? Can you spell I.C.B.M.?

Putin decided to launch an ICBM, just for kicks.  He doesn't mean anything by it.  No worries.

It's a bluff.

Here's the story.

But don't bother reading it.  You know, because all it'll take is an open letter to a mid-level petty bureaucratic functionary to really show 'em all who's boss.

Nietzsche was right.  Man is something to be surpassed.  I will add that Man is destined to destroy himself.  The species is defective.  Personally, I'm ready for it - this tedium is tedious.

Kerodin
III

Realistic Ukraine/Kremlin Analysis from a real Professional: PJB

**UPDATE**  Susan Duclos is reporting that Europe's largest oil refinery - located in Tatarstan, Russia, is on fire.  As Ms. Duclos concludes - if any proof ever comes to light that the US did it, knew about it, facilitated it, encouraged it, WWIII has begun.  And as we all know in politics "proof" doesn't really matter usually...

~~

The only rational move for America over Crimea is to keep our big honkin' noses out of Putin's grill, because the man will fuck us the fuck up.  Sorry for the F-bombs, but sometimes they help make a point that needs to be made and understood 5 x 5.

Do not screw with his money.  Do not screw with his trade.  Do not screw with his Ego.  And do NOT put ANY f'n .mil assets anywhere near the Black Sea as the WSJ is demanding.

He can hurt our economy at least as bad as we can hurt his.

He can screw with our trade (particularly via third-parties, he could certainly crash the European economy with nothing more than his phone and his pen, and turn the heat off - literally - for millions of people) almost as much as we can screw his.

His Ego is far more earned than the NPD Ego our POTUS possesses. 

Putin is the real deal, he will go there.  He will win.

And if we do anything with .mil - even a RIB with a USO chorus aboard entering the Black Sea - some part of this planet will glow a pretty shade of colors and turn to glass, and be uninhabitable for a long, long time.  Count on it.

This is big-boy-pants stuff, folks.  Whatever your thoughts or emotions regarding the people involved in the scrum centered at Maidan, this is simply not a fight for the USA, this is no time for Mutual Defense Agreements with nations we physically can not protect short of nuclear detonations.

...unless, of course, you somehow think WWIII can work to your personal benefit.  Such as hiding trillions and trillions of wealth theft, and turning the USA Soviet Communist Red.

I am no fan of Vladimir Putin.  You know my position on Communists - it's pretty clear.  But make no mistake, he is an enemy with real power, an enemy you'd better f'n respect. 

He deserves the same respect you would give a cobra you find sharing your daughter's crib...

Here's the PJB piece.

Kerodin
III

Gee, haven't seen anything like this here. How 'bout you Citadel guys? III Arms guys? What hooey! Hooey I say!

Among the core self-identified purposes of JTRIG are two tactics: (1) to inject all sorts of false material onto the internet in order to destroy the reputation of its targets; and (2) to use social sciences and other techniques to manipulate online discourse and activism to generate outcomes it considers desirable. To see how extremist these programs are, just consider the tactics they boast of using to achieve those ends: “false flag operations” (posting material to the internet and falsely attributing it to someone else), fake victim blog posts (pretending to be a victim of the individual whose reputation they want to destroy), and posting “negative information” on various forums.

Silly rabbits, just connect the dots and believe your lying eyes. 

Oh, wait - here's my favorite:  "Stop fussing, it's bad for us!"

Yep.  Damned sure glad none of this sort of foul play was ever seen or tolerated in this-here part of the internet...

Heh...

Kerodin
III

Population of London: 8.1+ millions...

The mayor of one of the most populous First World cities on the planet believes the State has the moral authority to take children from parents based on the political beliefs of the parents.  A specific example of such radicalized parents who should have their children seized by the state: Parents who are against immigration.

It takes a village, you know.

Hillary 2016 - if there is actually an opening at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue.

You will see this again.  If we survive that long...

Here's the story.

Kerodin
III

IIIGear Update

IIIGear is a bit disconnected at the moment, as I warned folks it would be during the transition to Idaho.  Since Holly and I have now decided to completely walk away from our DC home, we are forced to stick around longer than we want to get the house ready for sale, and all of our possessions to home in Idaho.  I have been deliberately vague from time to time regarding our exact location - a few death threats from cowards who refuse to choose a time and place make such security necessary until I get Holly safely into the mountains.

Troy: Your Messenger Bag is en route.  I'm waiting for the other items on your order to be routed back to me here in DC - then I'll get them right out to you.  We'll throw an extra in for you, just for being so cool and patient.

Everyone else who has placed III Gear orders: Fortunately there are only about a dozen at the moment, most will be going out on Wednesday (we just got blasted with snow, or I'd do it tomorrow).


HK251

For everyone else: I am placing a final fresh order to Condor TONIGHT at 3AM Eastern that will be delivered to me here in DC.  Check IIIGear.com and explore the Condor Gear we have available there.  You can also go to the Condor site here, send me an email with the ITEM NUMBER of the widget you want, and I'll zip you a price in time to get it into this order.



HK221 Nomex


One item I am going to push tonight because it is important: Tactical Gloves.  When you get into a CQB scrum and start putting your hands on people, you MUST protect your hands.  If you have ever punched anyone in the face or head you KNOW your hand hurts the next day.  If you are lucky, you won't break any bones that make weapons handling a nightmare for a few weeks.

I have extensively tested 2 Condor variations of Tactical Gloves, and I commend both to you.  I have trained in these gloves - they hold up to the stress, they protect the important parts of your hands, and they fit well so your hands do not slip and slide inside the glove.   If you already own good tactical gloves, you're covered.

If you do NOT own good Tactical Gloves, consider either set of Condor below.  Just click either picture and you'll land on the IIIGear Condor page.  Order by 3AM Eastern tonight and we'll get you into this order.

Future orders: H and I will not be able to process IIIGear orders once we hit the road in a few weeks.  We have a few stops along the way, and the Studio is being remodeled by some great folks - so we'll open for classes soon after getting to town.  If you are coming to the summer PatCom, you are free to come to the Studio for training - it sure beats the stones on the mountain.

Kerodin
III



Time for a new party...

From Emperor Misha I, here.

Can't find much to quibble about.

Kerodin
III