Interesting developments and thanks to Jeff for sending me this. -Head Jundi

Edit:  I am also hearing on news reports that US commanders are now saying that their helicopters were not fired upon. time 13:30 

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Pakistan troops ‘repel US raid’

Pakistani troops have fired warning shots at two US helicopters forcing them back into Afghanistan, local Pakistani intelligence officials say.

The helicopters flew into the tribal North Waziristan region from Afghanistan’s Khost province at around midnight, the reports say.

Tensions have risen after an increase in US attacks targeting militants.

The incident comes amid mounting security fears after a militant bomb attack on the Islamabad Marriott hotel.

Pakistan’s army has said it will defend the country’s sovereignty and reserves the right to retaliate to any border violations.

The government has said it will take targeted action against the militants, promising raids in some “hotspots” near the border with Afghanistan.

Meanwhile in the city of Peshawar, Afghan consul Abdul Khaliq Farahi was kidnapped after six unidentified men ambushed his car, officials say. His driver died in the attack.

‘Firing in the air’

Last week Pakistani troops fired into the air to prevent US ground troops crossing the border into South Waziristan.

BORDER TENSIONS

3 Sept: First reported ground assault by US troops in Pakistan - Islamabad responds furiously

15 Sept: Pakistani troops reportedly fire in air to stop US troops crossing in S Waziristan

17 Sept: Top US military chief Adm Mike Mullen visits Pakistan to calm tensions

16 Sept: Pakistan says it was not told of fresh US missile strike

22 Sept: Pakistani troops in fresh firing to deter US incursion into N Waziristan, officials say

   Thanks to Jeff for sending me this.  It is short term, but still work.  -Head Jundi 

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I have a requirement for 28 unarmed CLEARED plain clothes security detail in Maryland just inside the beltway  for a three day classified conference for a government agency. 

Pay is at a daily rate of $25 a hour for the three days, I expect we will be finished by 13:00 on Thursday, but I will be paying for all three days. I am not going to pay to fly guys in so I am looking for local or travel on your won dime. 

The requirement is for plain clothes access control to a government sponsored classified conference here in the National Command Region .  The dates 30Th Sept to 02Th October, Tuesday, and Wednesday, 08:00 to 17:00, and Thursday 08:00 to 13:00 hours. I will have a requirement for one post 24/7 for all three days as well. The times are approximate. 

 Attire is conservative professional business dress (suit and tie) such as one would expect for a government PSD detail.  Requirement of assignment is a verifiable SECRET Clearance with unarmed officers. Law enforcement officers who are required to carry off duty will be allowed to however.

To contact me, e-mail to this address or call the land line numbers below. My cell is last option as I am on the cell often and will not get your call.  You can call the office 9-5 Monday through Friday and leave a message.  I will forward you the documents you need to fill out for processing of your clearance and payroll. This assignment is a 1099 Independent Contracts position. You will be paid the full amount with no withholdings.

VR

James Mattes

Director Special Operations Branch

Metropolitan Protective Service, Inc

Phone: 301-772-8278, 772-3097, 772-2412

Cell: 301-442-2476

E Mail: mattesmps@yahoo.com

     A couple of things with this one.  I guess the street was only 30ft from the hotel itself, so this kind of attack was all dependent on the size of bomb.  And boy what a bomb.  It left a 24 ft deep, 59 ft wide crater!  That is big, and it looks like they packed the vehicle with all types of explosive and munitions–mines, artillery shells, RDX, mortars, etc.  The most interesting component of the bomb was the aluminum powder.  This was to add more of an incendiary effect, and torch the hotel.  And the succeeded.  

     If you watch this video, you will see that there was a minor explosion that took place  in the truck bomb, before the main explosive blew up.  It looks like the guards reacted to this more as an accident, and the resulting fire was treated as just some result of an accident.  Basically, draw in the emergency personnel, then detonate. Or it could be a screw up of the terrorists, but I kind of doubt it. No word on who the DOD employees belonged to, and my heart goes out to the families and friends during their time of loss.  -Head Jundi

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 Video of Truck Bomb

DOD employees killed in Pakistan blast

September 21, 2008 13:46 EDT

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan (AP) — A U.S. Embassy spokesman in Pakistan says two Defense Department employees are among at least 53 people killed in the truck bombing at the Islamabad Marriott hotel yesterday.

He says a third American, a contractor for the State Department, is unaccounted for.

Three U.S. Embassy employees and an embassy contractor were injured.

No group has claimed responsibility for the attack, but officials and experts say the scale of the blast and its high-profile target are the hallmarks of media-savvy al-Qaida.

     I want to thank Scott for sending me this.  I was never aware of this story, even though I was in the Marines and an NCO.  So this was a treat to get this in the mail the other day and read it.  In summary, it is a celebration of the man with the resolve to accomplish the mission–the soldier or grunt with the ‘can do’ attitude. 

     The other thing I want to mention is that good healthy dissent within a group is important in order for organizations to evolve and learn and be successful.  So I do not agree with companies using this type of story as a means to shut up their employees or something like that.  

     If anything, this story is about giving your people a mission and the freedom to accomplish that mission anyway they can.  Rowan was not told the how, he was just told to do, and he did.  

     This story is a celebration of accomplishing the mission, and doing what it takes to get it done.  It is also a celebration of the soldier or grunt who presses forward through thick and thin, using ingenuity and resolve to finish the job.  And like what was mentioned before in Boykin’s book called ‘Never Surrender’–resolve is a highly desired trait in a special forces soldier. Good stuff. -Head Jundi

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The American officer that Hubbard referred to was Andrew Summers Rowan, a West Point graduate of 1881. 

1899

A Message to Garcia

By Elbert Hubbard

In all this Cuban business there is one man stands out on the horizon of my memory like Mars at perihelion. When war broke out between Spain & the United States, it was very necessary to communicate quickly with the leader of the Insurgents. Garcia was somewhere in the mountain vastness of Cuba- no one knew where. No mail nor telegraph message could reach him. The President must secure his cooperation, and quickly.

What to do!

     Now I have added a Facebook and LInkedin page for Feral Jundi.  I think that is about all I will do.  Oh, and on the Facebook page, I made a Feral Jundi application for the blog.  It is pretty cool, and anyone can download it on their Facebook page if they want.

     Oh, and I also added those to the button list to the right of this post.  Just click on any of those buttons, and it will take you right to a Feral Jundi page.  -Head Jundi

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Facebook Website

Linkedin Website

     This is great news.  Task Force ODIN was amazingly successful in Iraq (2400 bombers killed, 141 captured), and I hope to see good things with Task Force ODIN-A in Afghanistan. -Head Jundi

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Danger Room Article in Wired about Task Force ODIN 

Wikipedia for Task Force ODIN

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U.S. to Expand Drone Use, Other Surveillance in Afghanistan

By YOCHI J. DREAZEN

SEPTEMBER 18, 2008

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Army is preparing to deploy a network of drones and other surveillance aircraft to Afghanistan in an expanding effort to defeat the resurgent Taliban and reverse a downward spiral in the country.

The effort, known as Task Force ODIN-A, is set to begin early next year and will coincide with the planned deployments of thousands of American troop reinforcements to Afghanistan, senior U.S. military officials said.

The officials said drones — remotely piloted aircraft — and manned surveillance aircraft will be deployed to identify insurgent targets inside Afghanistan, including on the Afghan side of the border with Pakistan. The military will use the information to launch airstrikes and ground attacks on militants.

The Army has used drones and piloted planes, including a modified version of the C-12 similar to this one, for reconnaissance in Iraq.

 I got this from Jeff, so thanks.  -Head Jundi

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     As most of you know FEMA has contracted out for security in Louisiana and Texas. here is the requirement I have. They say they will take as many bodies as I can provide.  Call me at the office so we can talk.  Feel free to share this email with your other contacts.

     Armed Security needed for post Hurricane recovery efforts in Louisiana and South Texas. Transportation provided. $1700 week Immediate requires for 30 days, billeting provided as well. Interested parties contact undersigned send me a  resume if available in softcopy. Should have a handgun permit or security license from U.S. State or municipality and driver?s license.

VR

James Mattes

Director Special Operations Branch

Metropolitan Protective Service, Inc.

5001 Forces Blvd. Suite 200 

Lanham Md. 20706

Phone 301-772-8278/3097/2412

Fax: 301-772-5099

Cell 301-442-2476

e-mail: mattesmps@yahoo.com 

     And how anyone in the world could be offended by a cartoon mouse is beyond me.  It’s not like Mickey is pretending to be Allah or something? I love the Israeli mouse with an M-4 though.  That should be a show on Robot Chicken or something. LOL  -Head Jundi 

Sheikh Muhammad Munajid warned that depictions of the creature in cartoons such as Disney’s Mickey Mouse, had taught children that it was in fact loveable. 

Mickey Mouse must die, says Saudi Arabian cleric

Mickey Mouse is a corrupting influence and must die, a Muslim cleric has declared.

By Martin Beckford, Religious Affairs Correspondent

Last Updated: 4:04PM BST 15 Sep 2008

Sheikh Muhammad Munajid claimed the mouse is “one of Satan’s soldiers” and makes everything it touches impure.

But he warned that depictions of the creature in cartoons such as Tom and Jerry, and Disney’s Mickey Mouse, had taught children that it was in fact loveable.

The cleric, a former diplomat at the Saudi embassy in Washington DC, said that under Sharia, both household mice and their cartoon counterparts must be killed.

Mr Munajid was asked to give Islam’s teaching on mice during a religious affairs programme broadcast on al-Majd TV, an Arab television network.

     And to go along with the Twitter theme of making Feral Jundi more accessible, I have decided to set up a Myspace page.  It will be interesting to see what transpires from this.  If you have a Myspace, we are located at http://www.myspace.com/feraljundi  or you can do a search for Feral Jundi.  I would be curious to see how many guys link to FJ on Myspace, who are current readers. I will also blog a little on the Myspace page, and connect that to Twitter as well.  And for the guys that purely Myspace, I set up a Feral Jundi Widget on the myspace page to check out. 

     For those that do not have a Myspace page, no worries.  It’s  not for everyone.  But in reality, Myspace is highly used by today’s troops and contractors.  It is a fun place to hang out on, for the most part.  But like I said, it isn’t for everyone and it gets kind of spammy there sometimes. LOL -Head Jundi

 Myspace Website Here 

Feral Jundi Myspace Page Here 

     Well, Feral Jundi has now stepped into the world of micro blogging.  I just signed on with Twitter as http://twitter.com/feraljundi.  I have also linked up the blog to Twitter, so not only will you be able to get instant updates from me out in the field, you will also get the latest updates from the blog when I post, if you are signed up with Twitter.  And seeing how my cellphone is connected to Twitter, I can make instant posts to Twitter with text messages. Pretty cool I say.

     Here is how it could work in the near future.  Let’s say I get a call about a job while I am at the mall or something.  If you are in my Twitter network, I could text a message through that service from my phone.  If you are one of my friends on Twitter, and your phone and computer are connected through Twitter, then you would get this message that I would send out about the job if you are signed up.  And in this industry, the faster you can apply for these last minute jobs, the better chance you have of getting in.  So that is one way Twitter can help you get the edge.