Wednesday, July 3, 2013
Ecuador says it found a hidden microphone at its London embassy
Ecuador has found a hidden microphone inside its London embassy, where WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange is living, and will disclose on Wednesday who controls the device, its foreign minister said.
Obama photo-op FAIL: “Door of No Return” actually a garbage chute
Via Angry Mike
They call it “optics.”
The White House has a team of people – you taxpayers foot the bill, of course – that spends its days thinking of the best way to portray the president in the most favorable light.
(“Maybe we should snap him riding a bike in Hawaii?” “Let’s snap him playing hoops!” “His 122nd round of golf? No cameras please.”)
But sometimes, they snooze. Like last week, when The Team let the president step out – for the cameras – at the Door of No Return.
Now, President George W. Bush stood at the very same spot in 2003, but at a different place entirely – stunning party pickups in the 2002 midterms, majority in the House and Senate, headed to re- election, on the top of the world. It was a picture, nothing more.
Thursday, though, was some very bad “optics.” President Obama, standing alone, morose, looking down, sullen, mock contemplative, within the Door of No Return. Below him, rust-stained cinder blocks, craggy rocks of a shallow port, the Atlantic Ocean.
At another time, meaningless. But at this precise moment, a few frames that encapsulate the president, now, and his plight in millions of ways – far beyond the few million megapixels.
First, the scene wasn’t what it seemed. While the Huffington Post called it “very powerful moment” – the president standing at a doorway in Senegal from which Africans were said to have been shipped across the ocean into American slavery – it was not that at all.
He was, in fact, standing at a garbage chute.
They call it “optics.”
The White House has a team of people – you taxpayers foot the bill, of course – that spends its days thinking of the best way to portray the president in the most favorable light.
(“Maybe we should snap him riding a bike in Hawaii?” “Let’s snap him playing hoops!” “His 122nd round of golf? No cameras please.”)
But sometimes, they snooze. Like last week, when The Team let the president step out – for the cameras – at the Door of No Return.
Now, President George W. Bush stood at the very same spot in 2003, but at a different place entirely – stunning party pickups in the 2002 midterms, majority in the House and Senate, headed to re- election, on the top of the world. It was a picture, nothing more.
Thursday, though, was some very bad “optics.” President Obama, standing alone, morose, looking down, sullen, mock contemplative, within the Door of No Return. Below him, rust-stained cinder blocks, craggy rocks of a shallow port, the Atlantic Ocean.
At another time, meaningless. But at this precise moment, a few frames that encapsulate the president, now, and his plight in millions of ways – far beyond the few million megapixels.
First, the scene wasn’t what it seemed. While the Huffington Post called it “very powerful moment” – the president standing at a doorway in Senegal from which Africans were said to have been shipped across the ocean into American slavery – it was not that at all.
He was, in fact, standing at a garbage chute.
More @ GOP USA
Some Thoughts on the Snowden Fallout
Via Wes
The Guardian just published new revelations on past and ongoing data sniffing by the National Security Agency on foreigners as well as U.S. citizens. For now I do not have time to go into those and will leave it to emptywheel and others to comment on them.
But lets think a bit of what all these revelations mean for the NSA and for Snowden's future.
Snowden had system administrator access to a whole bunch, if not all, of network and server equipment at the NSA. Sysadmin access means being in total control of the machine. While a typical Unix computer like those the NSA uses, typically logs all access events a sysadmin can hide that he accessed a machine, loaded stuff up and down or started or stopped this or that process.
Unless the NSA is using some unknown super-tool to supervise and log what its sysadmins do (and who would system administrate that tool?) it will have no clear idea what systems Snowden actually accessed or what he did to those machines.
It is the worst case any Chief Information Officer can think about. What did Snowden take? Did he leave some virus? Did he leave some logic time bomb that could wipe out anything it reaches.
The NSA's damage assessment team will also have lots of questions. What papers or files does Snowden have? What does he know additionally to what is in those files? Who might he have given those files to? Only the Guardian and the Washington Post? What about the Chinese and the Russians? They sure would love to have copies. What about the encrypted "insurance files" Snowden gave to "some people" who will be able to open and publish them should someone capture or kill him?
There are so many questions to ponder. Even if Snowden did not talk with the Chinese and Russian secret services the NSA will have to assume that he did and that they now have access to all the material Snowden acquired including, possibly, secret U.S. communication codes.
In short: For the next years at least the NSA is.......
The Guardian just published new revelations on past and ongoing data sniffing by the National Security Agency on foreigners as well as U.S. citizens. For now I do not have time to go into those and will leave it to emptywheel and others to comment on them.
But lets think a bit of what all these revelations mean for the NSA and for Snowden's future.
Snowden had system administrator access to a whole bunch, if not all, of network and server equipment at the NSA. Sysadmin access means being in total control of the machine. While a typical Unix computer like those the NSA uses, typically logs all access events a sysadmin can hide that he accessed a machine, loaded stuff up and down or started or stopped this or that process.
Unless the NSA is using some unknown super-tool to supervise and log what its sysadmins do (and who would system administrate that tool?) it will have no clear idea what systems Snowden actually accessed or what he did to those machines.
It is the worst case any Chief Information Officer can think about. What did Snowden take? Did he leave some virus? Did he leave some logic time bomb that could wipe out anything it reaches.
| Where? |
The NSA's damage assessment team will also have lots of questions. What papers or files does Snowden have? What does he know additionally to what is in those files? Who might he have given those files to? Only the Guardian and the Washington Post? What about the Chinese and the Russians? They sure would love to have copies. What about the encrypted "insurance files" Snowden gave to "some people" who will be able to open and publish them should someone capture or kill him?
There are so many questions to ponder. Even if Snowden did not talk with the Chinese and Russian secret services the NSA will have to assume that he did and that they now have access to all the material Snowden acquired including, possibly, secret U.S. communication codes.
In short: For the next years at least the NSA is.......
More @ LRC
Guilty of Being Southern
Via Terry
Over the years, my African-American friends have shared with me stories of the senseless traffic stops they’ve endured for nothing more than driving while black. There’s an acronym for it: DWB. They admit it happens less than it used to, but it’s wrong, it’s bad, and Americans should not face a presumption of guilt for being who they are.
Which is why Paula Deen and the recent U.S. Supreme Court case involving the Voting Rights Act make for an interesting counterpoint. Both stories involve what’s perhaps the last socially acceptable form of bigotry left in America: bigotry against the South. It’s a brand of bigotry reinforced by our nation’s biggest media outlets — and by justices on the Supreme Court.
Let’s start with Paula Deen,
Over the years, my African-American friends have shared with me stories of the senseless traffic stops they’ve endured for nothing more than driving while black. There’s an acronym for it: DWB. They admit it happens less than it used to, but it’s wrong, it’s bad, and Americans should not face a presumption of guilt for being who they are.
Which is why Paula Deen and the recent U.S. Supreme Court case involving the Voting Rights Act make for an interesting counterpoint. Both stories involve what’s perhaps the last socially acceptable form of bigotry left in America: bigotry against the South. It’s a brand of bigotry reinforced by our nation’s biggest media outlets — and by justices on the Supreme Court.
More @ NRO
III to III – Affordable body armor plates
Via WiscoDave
Patriot Plate
What’s offered: Full sets of Mil-A-46100 NIJ III plate armor to include 2 10×12 front/back plates and 2 6×8 side plates. You will also get a 4×5 test plate for your shooting amusement. Angle cuts made on front/back plates to facilitate weapon usage. (REMEMBER that all sizes and dimensions are nominal – they’ll be close but…)
How this came about: I was looking for a set of armor for myself. I was looking at $400.00 and trying to figure out how to explain that to my wife. I’ve been in the metals analysis testing/foundry field for over 30 years and figured there had to be a less expensive way to do this.
Research showed me that I could purchase and cut armor from .25″ 4×8 sheets and significantly reduce the armor cost. Two types of plate came to mind: Mil-A-46100 and AR500. Both are good materials. Mil spec is about $200 more per sheet but I feel that it is a better material for this application.
Pricing: I want to be open and honest about this so no one can feel that they weren’t dealt with on a reasonable basis.
Patriot Plate
What’s offered: Full sets of Mil-A-46100 NIJ III plate armor to include 2 10×12 front/back plates and 2 6×8 side plates. You will also get a 4×5 test plate for your shooting amusement. Angle cuts made on front/back plates to facilitate weapon usage. (REMEMBER that all sizes and dimensions are nominal – they’ll be close but…)
How this came about: I was looking for a set of armor for myself. I was looking at $400.00 and trying to figure out how to explain that to my wife. I’ve been in the metals analysis testing/foundry field for over 30 years and figured there had to be a less expensive way to do this.
Research showed me that I could purchase and cut armor from .25″ 4×8 sheets and significantly reduce the armor cost. Two types of plate came to mind: Mil-A-46100 and AR500. Both are good materials. Mil spec is about $200 more per sheet but I feel that it is a better material for this application.
Pricing: I want to be open and honest about this so no one can feel that they weren’t dealt with on a reasonable basis.
More @ Knuckledraggin' My Life Away
Gettysburg — Another day for Yankees to wallow in anti-South hate
Via SHNV
ANALYSIS/OPINION:
BOCA GRANDE, FLA. — Since the beginning of time, the spoils have always gone to the victors. And they get to write history, too.
So here, on the 150th anniversary of Gettysburg, Southerners are once again reminded how badly it sucks to lose.
To hear it told today, the Confederacy was nothing more than a hotbed of racist slavers and murderers. The gallant Yankees were nothing short of a pristine band of heroes laying down their lives to set men free. The whole ordeal was about nothing other than putting an end to the abomination that was slavery.
Add in the farcical state of education in the U.S. today — especially the lack of teaching of actual history that actually happened — and you have a perfect storm of pollyannish fantasy that condemns yet another generation to ignorance and gives today’s social engineers yet another false parable to advance their goofy and twisted agendas.
The Gettysburg specials on the History Channel are, of course, told exclusively from the Northern perspective. This is neither new nor surprising. To the winners go the spoils.
But the truly barbaric caricature of the Confederate soldiers is appalling. Great focus on the rebel yell cries. Cameras zoom in on jumbled, yellowed teeth for full screen shots while guttural, animalistic shrieks play at full-volume.
ANALYSIS/OPINION:
BOCA GRANDE, FLA. — Since the beginning of time, the spoils have always gone to the victors. And they get to write history, too.
So here, on the 150th anniversary of Gettysburg, Southerners are once again reminded how badly it sucks to lose.
To hear it told today, the Confederacy was nothing more than a hotbed of racist slavers and murderers. The gallant Yankees were nothing short of a pristine band of heroes laying down their lives to set men free. The whole ordeal was about nothing other than putting an end to the abomination that was slavery.
Add in the farcical state of education in the U.S. today — especially the lack of teaching of actual history that actually happened — and you have a perfect storm of pollyannish fantasy that condemns yet another generation to ignorance and gives today’s social engineers yet another false parable to advance their goofy and twisted agendas.
The Gettysburg specials on the History Channel are, of course, told exclusively from the Northern perspective. This is neither new nor surprising. To the winners go the spoils.
But the truly barbaric caricature of the Confederate soldiers is appalling. Great focus on the rebel yell cries. Cameras zoom in on jumbled, yellowed teeth for full screen shots while guttural, animalistic shrieks play at full-volume.
More @ The Washington Times
The Grand Fabrication: Fort Pillow
This was originally posted on the 37th Texas along with many, many other excellent ones on Black Confederates. Evidently, "The Colonel" sold it to a Yankee who scrubbed everything, so I'm posting this in its entirety as an additional safeguard both here and on NamSouth. Wish all his other stuff had been saved or maybe it will surface somewhere on the Internet.
SHNV
VERBATIM
VERBATIM
Fort Pillow Attack
It is almost as difficult to find consistent information about the incident at Fort Pillow as it is to determine the moral significance of its outcome. Scholars disagree about exactly what transpired on April 12, 1864 at Fort Pillow, when General Nathan Bedford Forrest captured the fort with his 1,500 troops and claimed numerous Union lives in the process (Wyeth 250).
It became an issue of propaganda for the Union, and as a result the facts were grossly distorted. After close examination it is clear that the ³Fort Pillow Massacre² (as it became known by abolitionists) was nothing of the sort. The 1,500 troops under the command of General Nathan Bedford Forrest acted as men and as soldiers in their capture of Fort Pillow.
It is first necessary to understand what happened in the battle before any judgment can be made. A careful study performed by Dr. John Wyeth revealed the following information: from April 9-11, 1864, troops under the command of Ben McCulloch, Tyree Harris Bell, and Brig. General James Chalmers marched non-stop to Fort Pillow to begin their assault under the command of General Nathan Bedford Forrest. Confederate sharpshooters claimed the lives of several key Union officers during the morning assault on the fort. The losses included the commanding officer Major Lionel F. Booth and his second in command shortly after that. These losses created a complete breakdown of order and leadership among the Union troops within the fort. (251)
During the morning engagement, the gun boat the New Era was continually attempting to shell the Confederate forces from the Mississippi, but with minimal success. The Union forces fought back heartily until around one o¹clock in the afternoon, when both sides slowed down. Around that time the New Era steamed out of range to cool its weapons. It had fired a total of 282 rounds, and its supplies were almost totally exhausted. During this hiatus in the firing, while Confederate troops waited for supplies that would arrive around three o¹clock, Forrest was injured when his horse fell on him after being mortally wounded (252).
When the supplies arrived, Confederate troops under a flag of truce delivered a message from Forrest that said, ³My men have received a fresh supply of ammunition, and from their present position can easily assault and capture the fort,² (253). Forrest demanded ³the unconditional surrender of the garrison, ² promising ³that you shall be treated as prisoners of war² (253). This agreement was refused by Major William F. Bradford using the name of Major Booth, and Forrest was left with no option but to attack (Long & Long 484).
Without a word, Forrest rode to his post, and a bugle call began the charge. The soldiers stormed the fort under the cover of sharpshooter fire. The Union spent their rounds on the charging mass, and the second wave was to all intents and purposes a ³turkey shoot.² As hordes of soldiers came over the wall, a considerable number of Union lives were lost to point blank fire, an action that was deemed murder by the northern press. (255) However, it must not be forgotten that those Union troops who died were in the process of reloading their rifles. Even knowing that they were severely outnumbered, they had demanded the fight (Henry 255).
By this point most of the Union officers in the fort had been killed, and the remaining troops fled the fort toward the river where they had provisions waiting. There was also a plan for the New Era to shell the Confederate troops in the fort with canister, but the shelling never happened. (Confederate troops were waiting at the bottom of the fort to prevent access to the supplies by the Union forces. With the Union flag still flying upon the fort and Union forces still firing on the run, Confederate troops claimed many more lives on the river bank.
It was reported by Colonel Barteau that they made a wild, crazy, scattering fight. They acted like a crowd of drunken men. They would at one moment yield and throw down their guns, and then would rush again to arms, seize their guns and renew the fire. If one squad was left as prisoners ... it would soon discover that they could not be trusted as having surrendered, for taking the first opportunity they would break lose again and engage in the contest. Some of our men were killed by Negroes who had once surrendered (256).
The report of Lieutenant Daniel Van Horn, Sixth U. S. Colored Heavy Artillery confirmed this in which he reported: "There never was a surrender of the fort, both officers and men declaring they never would surrender or ask for quarter."
With this type of activity, it is understandable how a superior force could claim so many casualties. However, the issue is not so clear to Civil War historians. The first and biggest problem has to do with the information that different historians base their opinions on.
For example, in a historical account written by Carl Sandburg it is reported that Forrest¹s troops stood 6,000 strong. This is slightly inflated from the actual 1,500 that were present. In this same account Sandburg claims that the ³battle ended as a mob scene with wholesale lynching² (Sandburg 247).
It was distorted information such as this that was used by the Union as propaganda against the South. After the incident General Kilpatrick was quoted saying Forrest had
³nailed Negroes to the fences, set fire to the fences, and burned the Negroes to death² (Hurst 321). With reports like this, it is understandable why abolitionist were outraged.
The Congressional Committee released a summary after the event. It stated ³that the rebels took advantage of a flag of truce to place themselves in ³position from which the more readily to charge the upon the fort²; that after the fall of the fort ³the rebels commenced in an indiscriminate slaughter sparing neither age nor sex, white or black, soldier or civilian²; that this was ³not the results passions excited by the heat of conflict, but of a policy deliberation decided upon and unhesitatingly announced²; that several of the wounded were intentionally burned to death in huts and tents about the fort; and the ³the rebels buried some of the living the dead.² (Henry 260)
LT Van Horn reported that "Lieutenant John D. Hill, Sixth U. S. Heavy Artillery, was ordered outside the fort to burn some barracks, which he, with the assistance of a citizen who accompanied him, succeeded in effecting." This accounts for the barracks allegedly burned by Confederates in which wounded Union soldiers were supposed to have perished.
Union officers were in charge of burials and made no such report of living burials.
In the intensive studies performed by Dr. John Wyeth there were more than fifty soldiers that were present at this battle who gave sworn testimonies contradicting these findings.(260) This suggests that the Union fabricated the truth to aid in its own cause. The fact is that most of what was said about Forrest¹s unethical actions were false accusations.
Testimonies from several different sources (both Union and Confederate) claim that there were no movements under the flag of truce, but that they had their positions hours before. (Henry 260) It is true that the losses were huge in this battle, but that is typical of many significantly unbalanced battles. According to Wyeth there was only one incident of force against the Union after the Union flag came down, and that resulted in an on the spot arrest.
LT Van Horn's report makes no mention of any "massacre" or misconduct on the part of Forrest or his men and was for a time a prisoner himself, reporting "I escaped by putting on citizen's clothes, after I had been some time their prisoner. I received a slight wound of the left ear"
This entire incident was blown totally of proportion. It is tragic to lose even one life, but on a battle field, death is inevitable. This event became a monumental point in the war because of exaggeration and lies told by Union supporters. These lies strengthened the Union cause and further blemished the reputation of Confederate forces. Morally, there is no fault in Forrest¹s actions.
Reference Materials:
Henry, Robert Selph. "First the Most"-Forrest. . New York: The Bobbs-Merrill Company, 1944.
Hurst, Jack. Nathan Bedford Forrest-A Biography. New York: Alfred Knoph, 1993.
Lee, Guy Carleton. The True History of the Civil War. Philadelphia: I.B. Lippincott, 1903.
Long, E. B. and Barbara Long. The Civil War Day by Day-An Almanac. New York: Doubleday, 1971.
Sandburg, Carl. Storm over the Land--A Profile of the Civil War. New York: Harcourt Brace: 1939.
Wyeth, John Allan. That Devil Forrest -The Life of Gen. Nathan Bedford Forrest. New York: Harper & Brothers Publishers, 1959.
Federal Official Records, Series I, Vol. 32, Part 1, pp. 569-570
Report of Lieutenant Daniel Van Horn, Sixth U. S. Colored Heavy Artillery, of the capture of Fort Pillow
Student Essay - Cal Poly
Numbers 16. Report of Lieutenant Daniel Van Horn, Sixth U. S. Colored Heavy Artillery, of the capture of Fort Pillow – Federal Official Records, Series I, Vol. 32, Part 1, pp. 569-570
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
HDQRS. SIXTH U. S. HEAVY ARTILLERY (COLORADO,
Fort Pickering, Memphis, Tenn., April 14, 1864.
COLONEL: I have the honor to submit the following report of the battle and capture of Fort Pillow, Tenn.:
At sunrise on the morning of the 12th of April, 1864, our pickets were attacked and driven in, they making very slight resistance. They were from the Thirteenth Tennessee Cavalry
Major Booth, commanding the post, had made all his arrangements for battle that the limited force under his command would allow, and which was only 450 effective men, consisting of the First Battalion of the Sixth U. S. Heavy Artillery, five companies of the
Thirteenth Tennessee Cavalry and one section of the Second U. S. Light Artillery. (Colorado, Lieutenant Hunter.
Arrangements were scarcely completed and the men placed in the rifle-pits before the enemy came upon us and in ten times our number, as acknowledged by General Chalmers. They were repulsed with heavy loss; charged again and were again repulsed. At the third charge Major Booth was killed, while passing among his men and cheering them to fight.
The order was then given to retire inside the fort, and General Forrest sent in a flag of truce demanding an unconditional surrender of the fort, which was returned with a decided refusal.
During the time consumed by this consultation advantage was taken by the enemy to place in position his force, they crawling up to the fort.
After the flag had retired, the fight was renewed and raged with fury for some time, when another flag of truce was sent in and another demand for surrender made, they assuring us at the same time that they would treat us as "prisoners of war."
Another refusal was returned, when they again charged the works and succeeded in carrying them. Shortly before this, however, Lieutenant John D. Hill, Sixth U. S. Heavy Artillery, was ordered outside the fort to burn some barracks, which he, with the assistance of a citizen who accompanied him, succeeded in effecting, and in returning was killed.
Major Bradford, of the Thirteenth Tennessee Cavalry, was now in command. At 4 o'clock the fort was in possession of the enemy, every man having been either killed, wounded, or captured.
There never was a surrender of the fort, both officers and men declaring they never would surrender or ask for quarter. [Emphasis added, ed.]
As for myself, I escaped by putting on citizen's clothes, after I had been some time their prisoner. I received a slight wound of the left ear.
I cannot close this report without adding my testimony to that accorded by others wherever the black man has been brought into battle. Never did men fight better, and when the odds against us are considered it is truly miraculous that we should have held the fort an hour. To the colored troops is due the successful holding out until 4 p. m. The men were constantly at their posts, and in fact through the whole engagement showed a valor not, under the circumstances, to have been expected from troops less than veterans, either white or black.
The following is a list of the casualties among the officers as far as known: Killed, Major Lionel F. Booth, Sixth U. S. Heavy Artillery (colored); Major William F. Bradford, Thirteenth Tennessee Cavalry; Captain Theodore F. Bradford, Thirteenth Tennessee Cavalry; Captain Delos Carson, Company D, Sixth U. S. Heavy Artillery (colored); Lieutenant John D. Hill, Company C, Sixth U. S. Heavy Artillery (colored); Lieutenant Peter Bischoff,* Company A, Sixth U. S. Heavy Artillery (colored). Wounded, Captain Charles J. Epeneter, Company A, prisoner; Lieutenant Thomas W. McClure, Company C, prisoner; Lieutenant Henry Lippettt, Company B, escaped, badlywounded; Lieutenant Van Horn, Company D, escaped, slightly wounded.
I know of about 15 men of the Sixth U. S. Heavy Artillery (colored) having escaped, and all but 2 of them are wounded.
I have the honor to be, very respectfully, &c.,
DANIEL VAN HORN,
2nd Lieutenant Company D, Sixth U. S. Heavy Artillery (colored).
Lieutenant Colonel T. H. HARRIS,
Assistant Adjutant-General.
Destruction and Reconstruction: Personal Experiences of the Late War; Richard Taylor, Lieutenant-General in the Confederate Army. New York: D. Appleton and Company, 549 and 551 Broadway,1879, pp.200
I doubt if any commander since the days of lion-hearted Richard has killed as many enemies with his own hand as Forrest. His word of command as he led the charge was unique: "Forward, men, and mix with 'em!" But, while cutting down many a foe with long reaching, nervous arm, his keen eye watched the whole fight and guided him to the weak spot. Yet he was a tender-hearted, kindly man. The accusations of his enemies that he murdered prisoners at Fort Pillow and elsewhere are absolutely false. The prisoners captured on his expedition into Tennessee, of which I have just written, were negroes, and he carefully looked after their wants himself, though in rapid movement and fighting much of the time. These negroes told me of Mass Forrest's kindness to them.
"Was There a Massacre at Ft. Pillow?" John L. Jordan, Tennessee History Quarterly VI (June 1947), pp 99-133:
"...burial details were composed of Union troops under Union officers, a fact which clears Forrest's men of the charges that they buried Negro wounded alive...Union casualties may have amounted to less two hundred killed, wounded, and missing
It is almost as difficult to find consistent information about the incident at Fort Pillow as it is to determine the moral significance of its outcome. Scholars disagree about exactly what transpired on April 12, 1864 at Fort Pillow, when General Nathan Bedford Forrest captured the fort with his 1,500 troops and claimed numerous Union lives in the process (Wyeth 250).
It became an issue of propaganda for the Union, and as a result the facts were grossly distorted. After close examination it is clear that the ³Fort Pillow Massacre² (as it became known by abolitionists) was nothing of the sort. The 1,500 troops under the command of General Nathan Bedford Forrest acted as men and as soldiers in their capture of Fort Pillow.
It is first necessary to understand what happened in the battle before any judgment can be made. A careful study performed by Dr. John Wyeth revealed the following information: from April 9-11, 1864, troops under the command of Ben McCulloch, Tyree Harris Bell, and Brig. General James Chalmers marched non-stop to Fort Pillow to begin their assault under the command of General Nathan Bedford Forrest. Confederate sharpshooters claimed the lives of several key Union officers during the morning assault on the fort. The losses included the commanding officer Major Lionel F. Booth and his second in command shortly after that. These losses created a complete breakdown of order and leadership among the Union troops within the fort. (251)
During the morning engagement, the gun boat the New Era was continually attempting to shell the Confederate forces from the Mississippi, but with minimal success. The Union forces fought back heartily until around one o¹clock in the afternoon, when both sides slowed down. Around that time the New Era steamed out of range to cool its weapons. It had fired a total of 282 rounds, and its supplies were almost totally exhausted. During this hiatus in the firing, while Confederate troops waited for supplies that would arrive around three o¹clock, Forrest was injured when his horse fell on him after being mortally wounded (252).
When the supplies arrived, Confederate troops under a flag of truce delivered a message from Forrest that said, ³My men have received a fresh supply of ammunition, and from their present position can easily assault and capture the fort,² (253). Forrest demanded ³the unconditional surrender of the garrison, ² promising ³that you shall be treated as prisoners of war² (253). This agreement was refused by Major William F. Bradford using the name of Major Booth, and Forrest was left with no option but to attack (Long & Long 484).
Without a word, Forrest rode to his post, and a bugle call began the charge. The soldiers stormed the fort under the cover of sharpshooter fire. The Union spent their rounds on the charging mass, and the second wave was to all intents and purposes a ³turkey shoot.² As hordes of soldiers came over the wall, a considerable number of Union lives were lost to point blank fire, an action that was deemed murder by the northern press. (255) However, it must not be forgotten that those Union troops who died were in the process of reloading their rifles. Even knowing that they were severely outnumbered, they had demanded the fight (Henry 255).
By this point most of the Union officers in the fort had been killed, and the remaining troops fled the fort toward the river where they had provisions waiting. There was also a plan for the New Era to shell the Confederate troops in the fort with canister, but the shelling never happened. (Confederate troops were waiting at the bottom of the fort to prevent access to the supplies by the Union forces. With the Union flag still flying upon the fort and Union forces still firing on the run, Confederate troops claimed many more lives on the river bank.
It was reported by Colonel Barteau that they made a wild, crazy, scattering fight. They acted like a crowd of drunken men. They would at one moment yield and throw down their guns, and then would rush again to arms, seize their guns and renew the fire. If one squad was left as prisoners ... it would soon discover that they could not be trusted as having surrendered, for taking the first opportunity they would break lose again and engage in the contest. Some of our men were killed by Negroes who had once surrendered (256).
The report of Lieutenant Daniel Van Horn, Sixth U. S. Colored Heavy Artillery confirmed this in which he reported: "There never was a surrender of the fort, both officers and men declaring they never would surrender or ask for quarter."
With this type of activity, it is understandable how a superior force could claim so many casualties. However, the issue is not so clear to Civil War historians. The first and biggest problem has to do with the information that different historians base their opinions on.
For example, in a historical account written by Carl Sandburg it is reported that Forrest¹s troops stood 6,000 strong. This is slightly inflated from the actual 1,500 that were present. In this same account Sandburg claims that the ³battle ended as a mob scene with wholesale lynching² (Sandburg 247).
It was distorted information such as this that was used by the Union as propaganda against the South. After the incident General Kilpatrick was quoted saying Forrest had
³nailed Negroes to the fences, set fire to the fences, and burned the Negroes to death² (Hurst 321). With reports like this, it is understandable why abolitionist were outraged.
The Congressional Committee released a summary after the event. It stated ³that the rebels took advantage of a flag of truce to place themselves in ³position from which the more readily to charge the upon the fort²; that after the fall of the fort ³the rebels commenced in an indiscriminate slaughter sparing neither age nor sex, white or black, soldier or civilian²; that this was ³not the results passions excited by the heat of conflict, but of a policy deliberation decided upon and unhesitatingly announced²; that several of the wounded were intentionally burned to death in huts and tents about the fort; and the ³the rebels buried some of the living the dead.² (Henry 260)
LT Van Horn reported that "Lieutenant John D. Hill, Sixth U. S. Heavy Artillery, was ordered outside the fort to burn some barracks, which he, with the assistance of a citizen who accompanied him, succeeded in effecting." This accounts for the barracks allegedly burned by Confederates in which wounded Union soldiers were supposed to have perished.
Union officers were in charge of burials and made no such report of living burials.
In the intensive studies performed by Dr. John Wyeth there were more than fifty soldiers that were present at this battle who gave sworn testimonies contradicting these findings.(260) This suggests that the Union fabricated the truth to aid in its own cause. The fact is that most of what was said about Forrest¹s unethical actions were false accusations.
Testimonies from several different sources (both Union and Confederate) claim that there were no movements under the flag of truce, but that they had their positions hours before. (Henry 260) It is true that the losses were huge in this battle, but that is typical of many significantly unbalanced battles. According to Wyeth there was only one incident of force against the Union after the Union flag came down, and that resulted in an on the spot arrest.
LT Van Horn's report makes no mention of any "massacre" or misconduct on the part of Forrest or his men and was for a time a prisoner himself, reporting "I escaped by putting on citizen's clothes, after I had been some time their prisoner. I received a slight wound of the left ear"
This entire incident was blown totally of proportion. It is tragic to lose even one life, but on a battle field, death is inevitable. This event became a monumental point in the war because of exaggeration and lies told by Union supporters. These lies strengthened the Union cause and further blemished the reputation of Confederate forces. Morally, there is no fault in Forrest¹s actions.
Reference Materials:
Henry, Robert Selph. "First the Most"-Forrest. . New York: The Bobbs-Merrill Company, 1944.
Hurst, Jack. Nathan Bedford Forrest-A Biography. New York: Alfred Knoph, 1993.
Lee, Guy Carleton. The True History of the Civil War. Philadelphia: I.B. Lippincott, 1903.
Long, E. B. and Barbara Long. The Civil War Day by Day-An Almanac. New York: Doubleday, 1971.
Sandburg, Carl. Storm over the Land--A Profile of the Civil War. New York: Harcourt Brace: 1939.
Wyeth, John Allan. That Devil Forrest -The Life of Gen. Nathan Bedford Forrest. New York: Harper & Brothers Publishers, 1959.
Federal Official Records, Series I, Vol. 32, Part 1, pp. 569-570
Report of Lieutenant Daniel Van Horn, Sixth U. S. Colored Heavy Artillery, of the capture of Fort Pillow
Student Essay - Cal Poly
Numbers 16. Report of Lieutenant Daniel Van Horn, Sixth U. S. Colored Heavy Artillery, of the capture of Fort Pillow – Federal Official Records, Series I, Vol. 32, Part 1, pp. 569-570
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
HDQRS. SIXTH U. S. HEAVY ARTILLERY (COLORADO,
Fort Pickering, Memphis, Tenn., April 14, 1864.
COLONEL: I have the honor to submit the following report of the battle and capture of Fort Pillow, Tenn.:
At sunrise on the morning of the 12th of April, 1864, our pickets were attacked and driven in, they making very slight resistance. They were from the Thirteenth Tennessee Cavalry
Major Booth, commanding the post, had made all his arrangements for battle that the limited force under his command would allow, and which was only 450 effective men, consisting of the First Battalion of the Sixth U. S. Heavy Artillery, five companies of the
Thirteenth Tennessee Cavalry and one section of the Second U. S. Light Artillery. (Colorado, Lieutenant Hunter.
Arrangements were scarcely completed and the men placed in the rifle-pits before the enemy came upon us and in ten times our number, as acknowledged by General Chalmers. They were repulsed with heavy loss; charged again and were again repulsed. At the third charge Major Booth was killed, while passing among his men and cheering them to fight.
The order was then given to retire inside the fort, and General Forrest sent in a flag of truce demanding an unconditional surrender of the fort, which was returned with a decided refusal.
During the time consumed by this consultation advantage was taken by the enemy to place in position his force, they crawling up to the fort.
After the flag had retired, the fight was renewed and raged with fury for some time, when another flag of truce was sent in and another demand for surrender made, they assuring us at the same time that they would treat us as "prisoners of war."
Another refusal was returned, when they again charged the works and succeeded in carrying them. Shortly before this, however, Lieutenant John D. Hill, Sixth U. S. Heavy Artillery, was ordered outside the fort to burn some barracks, which he, with the assistance of a citizen who accompanied him, succeeded in effecting, and in returning was killed.
Major Bradford, of the Thirteenth Tennessee Cavalry, was now in command. At 4 o'clock the fort was in possession of the enemy, every man having been either killed, wounded, or captured.
There never was a surrender of the fort, both officers and men declaring they never would surrender or ask for quarter. [Emphasis added, ed.]
As for myself, I escaped by putting on citizen's clothes, after I had been some time their prisoner. I received a slight wound of the left ear.
I cannot close this report without adding my testimony to that accorded by others wherever the black man has been brought into battle. Never did men fight better, and when the odds against us are considered it is truly miraculous that we should have held the fort an hour. To the colored troops is due the successful holding out until 4 p. m. The men were constantly at their posts, and in fact through the whole engagement showed a valor not, under the circumstances, to have been expected from troops less than veterans, either white or black.
The following is a list of the casualties among the officers as far as known: Killed, Major Lionel F. Booth, Sixth U. S. Heavy Artillery (colored); Major William F. Bradford, Thirteenth Tennessee Cavalry; Captain Theodore F. Bradford, Thirteenth Tennessee Cavalry; Captain Delos Carson, Company D, Sixth U. S. Heavy Artillery (colored); Lieutenant John D. Hill, Company C, Sixth U. S. Heavy Artillery (colored); Lieutenant Peter Bischoff,* Company A, Sixth U. S. Heavy Artillery (colored). Wounded, Captain Charles J. Epeneter, Company A, prisoner; Lieutenant Thomas W. McClure, Company C, prisoner; Lieutenant Henry Lippettt, Company B, escaped, badlywounded; Lieutenant Van Horn, Company D, escaped, slightly wounded.
I know of about 15 men of the Sixth U. S. Heavy Artillery (colored) having escaped, and all but 2 of them are wounded.
I have the honor to be, very respectfully, &c.,
DANIEL VAN HORN,
2nd Lieutenant Company D, Sixth U. S. Heavy Artillery (colored).
Lieutenant Colonel T. H. HARRIS,
Assistant Adjutant-General.
Destruction and Reconstruction: Personal Experiences of the Late War; Richard Taylor, Lieutenant-General in the Confederate Army. New York: D. Appleton and Company, 549 and 551 Broadway,1879, pp.200
I doubt if any commander since the days of lion-hearted Richard has killed as many enemies with his own hand as Forrest. His word of command as he led the charge was unique: "Forward, men, and mix with 'em!" But, while cutting down many a foe with long reaching, nervous arm, his keen eye watched the whole fight and guided him to the weak spot. Yet he was a tender-hearted, kindly man. The accusations of his enemies that he murdered prisoners at Fort Pillow and elsewhere are absolutely false. The prisoners captured on his expedition into Tennessee, of which I have just written, were negroes, and he carefully looked after their wants himself, though in rapid movement and fighting much of the time. These negroes told me of Mass Forrest's kindness to them.
"Was There a Massacre at Ft. Pillow?" John L. Jordan, Tennessee History Quarterly VI (June 1947), pp 99-133:
"...burial details were composed of Union troops under Union officers, a fact which clears Forrest's men of the charges that they buried Negro wounded alive...Union casualties may have amounted to less two hundred killed, wounded, and missing
IRS' Lois Lerner Demands Immunity For Her Testimony
Oh, boy. She better have good protection, because I am sure the PTB do not want her to talk.
IRS official Lois Lerner has a price for her testimony before the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee: Immunity.
"They can obtain her testimony by doing it the easy way … immunity," her attorney, William Taylor told Politico Tuesday.
Earlier in the day, the committee passed a resolution declaring Lerner waived her Fifth Amendment rights on May 22, when she delivered a statement denying she did anything wrong before she refused to answer questions that could incriminate her, reports Human Events.
The committee vote was along a straight 22-17 party line split, with House Democrats disagreeing that she should have to testify about her role in one of the largest scandals to hit the Obama administration to date.
More @ Newsmax
Egyptian Army Overthrows President in Coup
Egypt's military has ousted the nation's Islamist president, replacing him with the chief justice of the Supreme Constitutional Court, calling for early presidential election and suspending the Islamist-backed constitution.
Army chief Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi, in a televised address to the nation on Wednesday, said a government of technocrats will be appointed to run the country during a transition period he did not specify.
An aide of ousted President Mohammed Morsi, Ayman Ali, said the former leader has been moved to an undisclosed location. He gave no details.
Morsi's Facebook page quoted him on Wednesday as saying he rejected measures announced by the army as a "military coup." It was unclear whether Mursi has access to his own Facebook page or if the statement was posted by an aide.
Cheers erupted among millions of protesters nationwide who were demanding Morsi's ouster. Fireworks lit the Cairo night sky.
Supporters of Morsi who have gathered in a Cairo suburb reacted angrily to an announcement by the army that it had suspended the constitution and appointed a new, interim head of state.
Some broke up paving stones, forming piles of rocks. Muslim Brotherhood security guards in hard hats and holding sticks formed a cordon around the encampment, close to a mosque. Men and women wept and chanted.
Denouncing military chief General Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, some shouted: "Sisi is void! Islam is coming! We will not leave!"
Earlier Wednesday, Egypt's army deployed tanks and troops close to the presidential palace in Cairo after a deadline for Morsi to yield to street protests passed without any agreement.
More @ Newsmax
Crash rocket "Proton-M" with 3 Glonass spacecraft
Via Terry who said: Sent this link to my brother. He was the artillery officer/forward
observer in Nam in '68. I have mentioned him to you before. His reply "Pretty good but not as good as walking a 155 HE
round in close in a fire fight." Just thought you might get a kick out of that.
“Southern Knights.” 150 Years of Memories
Via LH
150 years ago today, around 3 PM, some 12,000 Confederate soldiers, “stepped off” on a death march into a hailstorm of lead and canister shot poured into their ranks from well dug-in Union positions and artillery batteries on the outskirts of a little Pennsylvania town called Gettysburg.
Those doomed Confederate troops would walk nearly three-quarters of a mile — over open ground — with no cover of any kind, while the union forces poured lead into their ranks toppling bodies like a scythe in a wheat field.
The Confederates were slaughtered. It was the turning point of The War Between the States.
Gen. James Longstreet was unhappy with Gen. Robert E. Lee’s command to attack the Union positions. When it came time for him to issue the order for George Pickett to take his men across that great killing field, he simply could not bring himself to say the words. He merely nodded with bowed head. Pickett ordered his men into the sluice of death, in line abreast, extending nearly a mile in breadth.
In less than an hour it was over. That field was littered with Confederate dead. Over half of Pickett’s Division lay dead upon the field… over three thousand men. All 15 regimental commanders, including two Brigadier General’s and six Colonel’s were dead. Their skill, their experience, gone forever.
When George Pickett finally made his way to Lee, Lee ordered him to prepare his Division for a possible Union counter attack. Pickett replied to Lee: “Sir. I HAVE no Division!”
Pickett never forgave Lee.
Union forces did not counter attack — their commanders not wishing to face the still formidable Confederate forces nor the Confederate artillery dug-in on Seminary Ridge.
The next morning, the morning of July 4th, 1863, dawned dark and foreboding with skies that soon opened with torrents of rain. Lee seized the opportunity and retreated.
It still hurts.
Some few years ago, I stood in the cemetery of a small, rural, southeastern North Carolina church and helped to dedicate six granite Confederate Veteran Grave Markers for six “Heroes of the South” who were veterans of the Confederate Army.
As the exceedingly bright September afternoon sunlight shone down upon those gathered for this solemn ceremony, three flags snapped in the strong fall breeze as it danced it’s way across the cemetery embracing each stone in turn, and forcing our flags to flutter and, at times, stand straight out with their halyard as taunt as a bow string.
At the top of the flagstaff was the Stars and Stripes, the flag of our country, the United States of America. Just below “Old Glory” was the state flag of our state, the state of North Carolina, and directly below that was the Confederate Battle Flag, the flag of no country, and no state, just a battle field ensign, but… it was the flag under which the men we honored had marched and fought and died.
As I spoke to those assembled on that sacred ground, I let my eyes drift casually over the onlookers. I saw one child, a little sandy-headed boy, about 4 maybe 5 years of age. He was the only youngster there.
I thought, that young man needs to hear this, he needs to have his parents tell him what all this color and honor means. He needs to be told… before it is too late.
150 years ago today, around 3 PM, some 12,000 Confederate soldiers, “stepped off” on a death march into a hailstorm of lead and canister shot poured into their ranks from well dug-in Union positions and artillery batteries on the outskirts of a little Pennsylvania town called Gettysburg.
Those doomed Confederate troops would walk nearly three-quarters of a mile — over open ground — with no cover of any kind, while the union forces poured lead into their ranks toppling bodies like a scythe in a wheat field.
The Confederates were slaughtered. It was the turning point of The War Between the States.
Gen. James Longstreet was unhappy with Gen. Robert E. Lee’s command to attack the Union positions. When it came time for him to issue the order for George Pickett to take his men across that great killing field, he simply could not bring himself to say the words. He merely nodded with bowed head. Pickett ordered his men into the sluice of death, in line abreast, extending nearly a mile in breadth.
In less than an hour it was over. That field was littered with Confederate dead. Over half of Pickett’s Division lay dead upon the field… over three thousand men. All 15 regimental commanders, including two Brigadier General’s and six Colonel’s were dead. Their skill, their experience, gone forever.
When George Pickett finally made his way to Lee, Lee ordered him to prepare his Division for a possible Union counter attack. Pickett replied to Lee: “Sir. I HAVE no Division!”
Pickett never forgave Lee.
Union forces did not counter attack — their commanders not wishing to face the still formidable Confederate forces nor the Confederate artillery dug-in on Seminary Ridge.
The next morning, the morning of July 4th, 1863, dawned dark and foreboding with skies that soon opened with torrents of rain. Lee seized the opportunity and retreated.
It still hurts.
Some few years ago, I stood in the cemetery of a small, rural, southeastern North Carolina church and helped to dedicate six granite Confederate Veteran Grave Markers for six “Heroes of the South” who were veterans of the Confederate Army.
As the exceedingly bright September afternoon sunlight shone down upon those gathered for this solemn ceremony, three flags snapped in the strong fall breeze as it danced it’s way across the cemetery embracing each stone in turn, and forcing our flags to flutter and, at times, stand straight out with their halyard as taunt as a bow string.
At the top of the flagstaff was the Stars and Stripes, the flag of our country, the United States of America. Just below “Old Glory” was the state flag of our state, the state of North Carolina, and directly below that was the Confederate Battle Flag, the flag of no country, and no state, just a battle field ensign, but… it was the flag under which the men we honored had marched and fought and died.
As I spoke to those assembled on that sacred ground, I let my eyes drift casually over the onlookers. I saw one child, a little sandy-headed boy, about 4 maybe 5 years of age. He was the only youngster there.
I thought, that young man needs to hear this, he needs to have his parents tell him what all this color and honor means. He needs to be told… before it is too late.
More @ The Constitution Club
PVT BRYAN JACKSON BUCK # 1769 Peletier NC June 2013 SCV Meeting Program
Our program for the SCV meeting was presented by Gary Riggs, a member of our camp.
He displayed a 2nd National, a LeMat Revolver (Army Model), a very low serial number Kenansville Sabre that was made in Wilmington, NC prior to the move of the Confederate States Armory Sabre Manufacturing Plant to Kenansville. Also displayed was a sniper rifle of the type used by Berdan's Sharp Shooters.
Mr. Riggs is a highly respected WBTS Medical Officer Reinactor. He is currently appearing at Gettysburg.
He displayed a 2nd National, a LeMat Revolver (Army Model), a very low serial number Kenansville Sabre that was made in Wilmington, NC prior to the move of the Confederate States Armory Sabre Manufacturing Plant to Kenansville. Also displayed was a sniper rifle of the type used by Berdan's Sharp Shooters.
Mr. Riggs is a highly respected WBTS Medical Officer Reinactor. He is currently appearing at Gettysburg.
FL Prosecutor indicted for falsifying arrest warrant against George Zimmerman
Roundabout via WiscoDave
How sweet it is!
The indictment accuses Corey of allegedly withholding photographs of Zimmerman’s head after the incident. Also, Corey allegedly falsely signed an arrest warrant under oath without including the pictures as evidence. Critics claim that Corey rushed the arrest warrant through because activists were rallying around the Trayvon Martin shooting, demanding that Zimmerman be charged with murder. Critics argue that Corey was attempting to secure a reelection with the support of the activists.
Harvard Law Professor Alan Dershowitz stated that Corey’s actions were unethical and illegal.
More @ Opposing Views
Mandela's passing & looming threat of race war against South Africa's whites. Widow mourns latest murdered Afrikaner farmer.
Via Matthew
Roelof du Plessis, 46 shot on his farm outside Pretoria by gang of black intruders
Fears rise that killings are part of a systematic bid to drive white people out of South Africa
President Jacob Zuma known to sing 'struggle song' about killing white AfrikanersThe horror started just before midnight on Wednesday this week.
After listening to the latest television news about the health of Nelson Mandela, a South African family living not far from the former President’s hospital unit turned in for the night.
But Roelof and Laura du Plessis, a married couple with four children who live on a heavily fortified farm outside Pretoria, did not have a peaceful night’s rest.
In fact they were about to become the latest victims of what white pressure groups in this troubled nation say is nothing less than a savage war against them.
Hearing noises outside their home, Mr du Plessis, 46, got out of bed and ran outside.
To his horror, he found his 19-year-old son being held with a gun to his head by a gang of five armed black attackers.
Father and son were ordered to lie on the ground. The invaders did not ask for money or the keys to the expensive vehicles in the drive. They were there only to terrorise and kill.
Hearing voices outside, Laura, 44, came out of her bedroom to investigate — and her torch illuminated an awful scene as the gang pointed guns at her husband.
Her son managed to get up and sprint off into the darkness when the men were confused by the flashlight. But Du Plessis was not so lucky.
The intruders opened fire at once, shooting him six times through the throat, lungs and abdomen.
As he writhed on the ground in agony, the men ran off into the night leaving empty bullet cartridges littering the yard.
After listening to the latest television news about the health of Nelson Mandela, a South African family living not far from the former President’s hospital unit turned in for the night.
But Roelof and Laura du Plessis, a married couple with four children who live on a heavily fortified farm outside Pretoria, did not have a peaceful night’s rest.
In fact they were about to become the latest victims of what white pressure groups in this troubled nation say is nothing less than a savage war against them.
Hearing noises outside their home, Mr du Plessis, 46, got out of bed and ran outside.
To his horror, he found his 19-year-old son being held with a gun to his head by a gang of five armed black attackers.
Father and son were ordered to lie on the ground. The invaders did not ask for money or the keys to the expensive vehicles in the drive. They were there only to terrorise and kill.
Hearing voices outside, Laura, 44, came out of her bedroom to investigate — and her torch illuminated an awful scene as the gang pointed guns at her husband.
Her son managed to get up and sprint off into the darkness when the men were confused by the flashlight. But Du Plessis was not so lucky.
The intruders opened fire at once, shooting him six times through the throat, lungs and abdomen.
As he writhed on the ground in agony, the men ran off into the night leaving empty bullet cartridges littering the yard.
More @ Mail
The Brotherhood Isn't Backing Down
In what may be Egyptian President Mohamed Morsy's final day in office, Muslim Brotherhood officials continued to strike a defiant note against their civilian and military opponents.
The Egyptian military's deadline for all political forces to reconcile -- a possibility that seems more remote than ever -- will expire around 5 p.m. in Cairo. After that time, the country's top generals have promised to lay out a political roadmap that reportedly includes plans to suspend the constitution, dissolve the Islamist-dominated Shura Council, and set up an interim council to rule the country. But Egypt's Islamist elite have vowed to defy the ultimatum, even at the risk of bloodshed.
Essam el-Erian, a Brotherhood leader and vice chairman of the movement's political party,said that wise men should convince the army to back down lest it "meet the same fate as the Syrian Baathist army," according to the Egyptian daily al-Ahram.
Morsy himself has also showed no signs of backing down. In a speech last night, he harped on the concept of his legitimacy -- repeating the word a total of 57 times -- which he said was conferred by his democratic election and made it unthinkable for him to step down from power. "If the price of preserving legitimacy is my blood, I am prepared to pay it," he said.
Other Brotherhood leaders have also made comments seemingly preparing their supporters for violence. Brotherhood leader Mohamed el-Beltagy told a pro-Morsy crowd gathered in Cairo's Raba'a el-Adaweyya Square on Monday, "We swear to God, we won't allow any coup against legitimacy, except over our dead bodies."
More @ Foreign Policy
Talk About Strange Bedfellows
The photo above shows a Russian Snowden supporter outside the airport holding a sign that reads "Resist the new world order."When Hollywood finally decides to make a film about the National Security Agency (NSA) leaker Edward Snowden's secret life in a Moscow airport, they'll need to be sure to include Russian politicians discussing his fate. From the very first day Snowden's plane landed in Sheremetyevo airport from Hong Kong, both pro- and anti-Putin political figures have agreed on one thing: he shouldn't be turned over to the Americans. Politicians and oppositionists alike have argued that Snowden should be allowed to stay and work in Russia rather than ending up behind bars in his home country.
On Monday, after it emerged that Snowden had made an official application for asylum in Russia, President Putin issued a remarkable statement: "If he wants to stay here, there is one condition: he must stop his activities aimed at inflicting damage to our American partners, no matter how strange it may sound on my lips." (At the same news conference Putin made a point of comparing Snowden with the Soviet-era dissident Andrei Sakharov.)
Russia, of course, isn't the only country that Snowden has turned to for help; altogether he's applied to 19 countries for asylum, according to WikiLeaks. The Kremlin now says that Snowden withdrew his Russian asylum request after hearing about Putin's condition. Some Duma deputies, however, are proposing a compromise: instead of working publicly, they say, Snowden ought to share all of his secret data with the Russian intelligence services. His evidence that Americans spy not only on American citizens, but also on their European allies, would surely be of interest.
More @ Foreign Policy
2013 Fall NC PATCON UPDATE: One month to go. Wednesday October 2nd to Monday October 7th
Updates below with more coming.
Under 7, free
7-12, $10
13 and up, $20
Includes world famous East Carolina Pig Pickin' on Saturday! :)
If you are planning to attend the October PATCON, please remit your fees ASAP, but NLT 20 September. $20 plus classes. You can write one check for the PATCON and the classes. Please subscribe to this post, so you will be kept up to date.
Brock Townsend
319 Holly Lane
Cape Carteret, NC 28584
319 Holly Lane
Cape Carteret, NC 28584
The funds will be used for seating,
tables, Eastern North Carolina Barbecue with all the trimmings,
equipment and the tent. We would like to encourage company sponsors to
donate money for this event. Any company donating $50 or more will be listed as a
sponsor on the website and at the PATCON.
Camping available Wednesday - Sunday.
No animals, please, as my Peacock is more than sufficient to annoy all but us.:)
The PATCON will be held at *94 Roberson School Rd
The PATCON will be held at *94 Roberson School Rd
Tarboro, NC 27886
*The map above shows the front entrance for only those camping. As
you cross the second set of cattle guards, camp to the right in the area
with fruit trees alongside the fence and a fire pit in the middle. For
those not camping, use the map **below. It shows the entrance by
the graveyard and parking will be in the area of the two tobacco barns.
******************************************
Sponsors
CADD Graphics
III Arms
America's Remedy
****************
Sponsors
CADD Graphics
Dr. Dan's Freedom Forum
Trust In Freedom Foundation
America's Remedy
****************
We will be offering an 8 hour ICAC class on Thursday, an 8 hour CQB class on Friday and a 4 hour medical class on Sunday.
ICAC Course
Thursday October 3rd 2013
10 - 6
Course description:
The condensed Intelligence Collection & Analysis Course (ICAC) is a
foundational level course that will teach you some necessary collection
and analysis skills. The ICAC helps Patriots make sense of their
communities and operating environments, with a focus on post-SHTF.
After this course, you’ll be able to build your Analysis and Control
Element (ACE) team and run a rudimentary, overt and/or surreptitious
collection network.
Collection
- Fundamentals of Human Intelligence (HUMINT)
- Open Source Intelligence (OSINT) Collection
- Collection Plans
- Interviewing and Tactical Questioning
Analysis
- Intro to Intelligence and Critical Thinking
- Intelligence Preparation of the Battlefield (*time dependent*)
- HUMINT Source Rating and Feedback
- Actionable Intelligence
- Intelligence Gaps & Collection Requirements
- Analysis and Control Element (ACE) Team Building
- Fundamentals of Human Intelligence (HUMINT)
- Open Source Intelligence (OSINT) Collection
- Collection Plans
- Interviewing and Tactical Questioning
Analysis
- Intro to Intelligence and Critical Thinking
- Intelligence Preparation of the Battlefield (*time dependent*)
- HUMINT Source Rating and Feedback
- Actionable Intelligence
- Intelligence Gaps & Collection Requirements
- Analysis and Control Element (ACE) Team Building
Course cost: $100
Five annual III Magazine digital subscriptions will be donated for the raffle and the winners will receive an email link to download each issue (for 12months) in .pdf and .epub formats for offline reading on computer, iPad, or Kindle.
Sam Culper
Five annual III Magazine digital subscriptions will be donated for the raffle and the winners will receive an email link to download each issue (for 12months) in .pdf and .epub formats for offline reading on computer, iPad, or Kindle.
Sam Culper
Friday October 4th 2013
9 – 6
Lunch 1– 2
III CQB at Brock's Fall PATCON
On Friday, October 4th at Brock's PATCON I will teach two III CQB courses. The first is my "Fight to your Weapon" course. For 8-hours you will learn how to immediately break, put to sleep, or kill a man who manages to get into your personal space and would dare put his hands on you, and techniques that will earn you 1-3 seconds so that you can either deploy your weapon or escape. Then I will teach a modified 3-hour "GroundFighting 101" course, which will involve sparring for those who choose to do so. Most fights go to the ground. The ground is an equalizer. It takes strength and size and sex and age out of the equation. It allows the 98-pound lass to break the man built like a bull. The "Fight to your Weapon" course is the same - the techniques taught are deliberately selected so that age, size, sex, strength are not factors in the fight.
To enroll in the course for Brock's PATCON, simply hit the PayPal button at my site III Percent Patriots that is specifically for his event. You'll find it on the right-hand column under Brock's Free North Carolina flag. The cost is $210. (You can also include the fee in one check to me when you pay for the PATCON. BT) I am NOT charging extra at Brock's for the GroundFighting module. Also, I am donating 1/2 of all fees to Brock so he can continue to host these fantastic events that bring Patriots together. There is no maximum number for enrolling at this event - Holly will be with me and we can easily train a large group. We train rain or shine.
IIIGear will donate several items again this year to be raffled, with all proceeds going to Brock, again to help finance his outstanding events.
On Friday, October 4th at Brock's PATCON I will teach two III CQB courses. The first is my "Fight to your Weapon" course. For 8-hours you will learn how to immediately break, put to sleep, or kill a man who manages to get into your personal space and would dare put his hands on you, and techniques that will earn you 1-3 seconds so that you can either deploy your weapon or escape. Then I will teach a modified 3-hour "GroundFighting 101" course, which will involve sparring for those who choose to do so. Most fights go to the ground. The ground is an equalizer. It takes strength and size and sex and age out of the equation. It allows the 98-pound lass to break the man built like a bull. The "Fight to your Weapon" course is the same - the techniques taught are deliberately selected so that age, size, sex, strength are not factors in the fight.
To enroll in the course for Brock's PATCON, simply hit the PayPal button at my site III Percent Patriots that is specifically for his event. You'll find it on the right-hand column under Brock's Free North Carolina flag. The cost is $210. (You can also include the fee in one check to me when you pay for the PATCON. BT) I am NOT charging extra at Brock's for the GroundFighting module. Also, I am donating 1/2 of all fees to Brock so he can continue to host these fantastic events that bring Patriots together. There is no maximum number for enrolling at this event - Holly will be with me and we can easily train a large group. We train rain or shine.
IIIGear will donate several items again this year to be raffled, with all proceeds going to Brock, again to help finance his outstanding events.
*********************************************************
Saturday's Schedule
Meet and Greet: Until 11:00
John Ainsworth: 11:00 = 11:45: A Moral and Just Cause
11:45 = 12:15: David DeGerolamo: Communications in a grid down/Internet down scenario
Communications between people is the most important security measure for survival in an economic collapse. You may be prepared with food and firearms but advance information will be the key to survival. This talk will outline how to install a WI-FI bubble independent of the Internet, over a small geographic regions of several square miles.
Pig Pickin': 12:30 = 1:30
1:30 = 2:15: John Ainsworth: The Face of a Freedom Fighter
Saturday's Schedule
Meet and Greet: Until 11:00
John Ainsworth: 11:00 = 11:45: A Moral and Just Cause
11:45 = 12:15: David DeGerolamo: Communications in a grid down/Internet down scenario
Communications between people is the most important security measure for survival in an economic collapse. You may be prepared with food and firearms but advance information will be the key to survival. This talk will outline how to install a WI-FI bubble independent of the Internet, over a small geographic regions of several square miles.
Pig Pickin': 12:30 = 1:30
1:30 = 2:15: John Ainsworth: The Face of a Freedom Fighter
2:15 = 2:45: Dr. Dan Eichenbaum: "What we can learn from the horse whisperer."
2:45 = 3:15: Sam Kerodin: Subject TBA
3:15 = 3:45: Hans Mentha: In Search of Mr. Jefferson’s Liberty
4:15: Raffle
4:30? = On: Moderated round table of current events.
4:30? = On: Moderated round table of current events.
Later: As always, converse around the campfire
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Saturday's Raffle
5 copies of "A Failure Of Civility" donated by the authors through Peter White
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Five annual III Magazine digital subscriptions donated by Guerrilla America
**********
IIIGear will donate several items again this year to be raffled.
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Maingun will donate one set of WiscoDave's plates and possibly two.
III Plate
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Open
Spring 2013 NC PATCON
Pictures: 2013 Spring NC PATCON
Grand Prize: "Too Good for Eric Holder to Gunwalk"
**********5 copies of "A Failure Of Civility" donated by the authors through Peter White
********
Five annual III Magazine digital subscriptions donated by Guerrilla America
**********
and one
Generously donated once again by
********
IIIGear will donate several items again this year to be raffled.
**************************************
Maingun will donate one set of WiscoDave's plates and possibly two.
III Plate
*************************************************
Sunday
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Pictures: 2013 Spring NC PATCON
Cheerios 'comes out of closet'
Did the Supreme Court’s recent decision to unleash same-sex marriage on America leave you hungering to celebrate lesbian, “gay,” bisexual and transgender pride? Well, look no further than your cereal bowl!
General Mills, the company that introduced the nation’s children to characters like the Honey Nut Bee, the silly Trix rabbit and Lucky the Leprechaun, has come out in support of the “gay” community by filling boxes of their cereal brand Lucky Charms with rainbow-colored marshmallows. The “magically gaylicious” cereal is serving as the face of the new #LuckyToBe campaign which encourages people “lucky enough to be different” to use the hashtag #LuckyToBe when tweeting and posting online.
More @ WND
Snowden's choice: Cuba or Zimbabwe?
Admitted NSA documents leaker Edward Snowden is believed to have fewer than six countries still considering his campaign for asylum, among them Cuba and Zimbabwe.
With Russia and China all but closing their doors, WND has learned that Snowden apparently is now concentrating his efforts on Cuba, Venezuela and Zimbabwe.
The Venezuela effort appears to have stumbled when newly elected president Nicolas Maduro, who was visiting Moscow on unrelated issues, and was transiting through the same airport where Snowden is believed to be hiding, left without him.
WND has learned that the Obama administration was prepared to exert financial pressure on CITGO, a U.S. energy refiner and marketer owned by Venezuela, if Caracas gave Snowden sanctuary.
Diplomatic sources at the United Nations in New York believe the options open for Snowden are rapidly dwindling.
The most likely “safe havens” at this point would appear to Cuba and Zimbabwe, sources said.
Cuba’s U.N. mission has refused official comment, but the Castro government has a long record of accepting U.S. fugitives.
More @ WND
Conservative Heritage Times quoted: Conservatives Cheer Dismal Box Office Showing of ‘White House Down’
Via Red
“If you spend one damn cent on this crap, you’re spitting on our troops,” wrote Kurt Schlichter atTownhall.com on Monday. “Repeat after me, conservatives: Not one damn cent.”
Schlichter, a veteran of Desert Storm and the NATO Kosovo campaign of the 1990s, reminded readers that Foxx once compared President Barack Obama to Jesus. He wrote that White House Down is evidence that, “In the eyes of Hollywood, the military is an all-white, all-male organization so dedicated to unfocused imperialism that it is willing to commit mass murder of fellow Americans for the chance to die in some Middle East hellhole.”
Angered by the film’s perceived liberal bias, some conservative commentators are urging audiences to boycott it.
As Sony analyzes the disastrous box-office performance of White House Down, one interest group is celebrating the studio’s pain: conservative commentators who have been attacking the film as thinly disguised left-wing propaganda. Some, in fact, have been encouraging their audiences to boycott the movie, which stars Jamie Foxx as a liberal president under attack from pro-military types who object to the commander-in-chief’s plan to withdraw troops from the Middle East.“If you spend one damn cent on this crap, you’re spitting on our troops,” wrote Kurt Schlichter atTownhall.com on Monday. “Repeat after me, conservatives: Not one damn cent.”
Schlichter, a veteran of Desert Storm and the NATO Kosovo campaign of the 1990s, reminded readers that Foxx once compared President Barack Obama to Jesus. He wrote that White House Down is evidence that, “In the eyes of Hollywood, the military is an all-white, all-male organization so dedicated to unfocused imperialism that it is willing to commit mass murder of fellow Americans for the chance to die in some Middle East hellhole.”
More @ Box Office Daddy
Sports culture in America: There was a time........
Via WiscoDave
........ when mythologized caricatures of Babe Ruth, Joe Louis, Joe DiMaggio, Jackie Robinson, Muhammad Ali, Hank Aaron and Johnny Unitas were the most important influencers of American culture. There was nothing cooler and more respected than being a red-white-and-blue sports star.
Movie stars and singers wanted to be in the company of America’s best and bravest athletes.
Celebrities mimicked celebrity athletes.
Athletic culture trumped Hollywood culture.
This is no longer the case. Jay-Z, a rapper who glorifies his former life as a drug dealer, has far more cultural influence than LeBron James. Jay-Z is this generation’s Joe D, and Beyonce is Marilyn Monroe.
Al Capone is a bigger deal than Babe Ruth.
........ when mythologized caricatures of Babe Ruth, Joe Louis, Joe DiMaggio, Jackie Robinson, Muhammad Ali, Hank Aaron and Johnny Unitas were the most important influencers of American culture. There was nothing cooler and more respected than being a red-white-and-blue sports star.
Movie stars and singers wanted to be in the company of America’s best and bravest athletes.
Celebrities mimicked celebrity athletes.
Athletic culture trumped Hollywood culture.
This is no longer the case. Jay-Z, a rapper who glorifies his former life as a drug dealer, has far more cultural influence than LeBron James. Jay-Z is this generation’s Joe D, and Beyonce is Marilyn Monroe.
Al Capone is a bigger deal than Babe Ruth.
More @ Fox
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