Open Thread - 28 November 2014

pl

Comments

[Haralambos]

A friend sent this along, and I found it interesting and relevant to recent issues: http://www.newstatesman.com/world-affairs/2014/11/wahhabism-isis-how-saudi-arabia-exported-main-source-global-terrorism

I found it interesting in regard to Col. Lang's reference to the Children's Crusade and the wannabe ISIS warriors studying Islam through the ". . .for Dummies" series.

By way of background, my recent interchange with the Col. on this is part of the animus of my comment as he disabused me of my ignornce:

Haralambos said...

Col., thank you for the download. I have spent most of the day skimming and reading it. I imagine there are several hundred of these current plus many past and wonder who on what staffs reads them and digests them for their superiors or those who might promote the authors or their careers. I am just an armchair philosopher and historian plus a sidewalk observer of the places I have ventured to.
Reply 26 November 2014 at 06:59 PM
turcopolier said...

Haralambos

"I imagine there are several hundred of these current plus many past" You imagine incorrectly. The reason DIA commissioned such a study of the human terrain of Anbar was that such a study did not exist. This one was widely read. pl
Reply 27 November 2014 at 08:51 AM

Please feel free to suggest corrections in the author's take.

[Fred]

It looks like the Saudi's are declaring economic war against the US:
http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/11/28/us-opec-meeting-shale-idUSKCN0JC1GK20141128

[confusedponderer]

Having discovered and learned to enjoy the universe of Bourbon and Rye I ask the informed esteemed members of this committee for recommendations of really good Bourbon and Rye.

[J]

Colonel,

It seems that one of Virginia's tribes has run into some problems with the Congress's Black Caucasus.

http://news.yahoo.com/black-lawmakers-against-recognition-va-tribe-143857445--politics.html

[Ramojus]

"What Jim Webb Will Bring to the Presidential Race in 2016" article in today's NY Times. Many embedded links to various other publications.

http://op-talk.blogs.nytimes.com/2014/11/28/what-jim-webb-will-bring-to-the-presidential-race-in-2016/?hp&action=click&pgtype=Homepage&module=c-column-top-span-region&region=c-column-top-span-region&WT.nav=c-column-top-span-region&_r=0

Does he have a chance? One can only hope...

[Haralambos]

They are burying him before the fact in the NYTimes.
Yes, one can hope, but his comment on women on the battlefield will kill his candidacy, I fear.

[Tyler]

I enjoy Bullett whiskey.

[readerOfTeaLeaves]

Ramojus and All - Great link, and related links from that article. It's interesting that Grieder at the Nation does the best job of delving into Webb's background and why it matters.

Why on earth the NYT included the fact that in 1979, Webb wrote that women should not serve in combat seems a bit of a reach. (And FWIW, I'm female; my reaction was, "Most of us have changed our minds about plenty of things since 1979 - is this the best the writer could dredge up?!)

If memory serves me correctly, 1979 was before personal computing, the Internet, Starbuck's, mega-banks, and MP3s. I think any rational person would probably cut Webb some slack for having written something - probably on a typewriter, pre-word processing - that he might not write today.

Why the National Journal would pontificate that 'the economy doesn't matter to liberals' seems daft. I'm a liberal, and the economy is key to my views. I know quite a few liberals, and I can't think of anyone who 'doesn't care' about the economy. That article strikes me as very Beltway, which is to say that it is fundamentally ignorant about the actual views of Left Coast liberals like myself. Indeed, the economy is one of the topics on which I find a lot of agreement with my more conservative friends: the mere phrase "no one went to jail (after the massive fraud leading up to Sept 2008)" prompts a visceral reaction from everyone that I know across the political spectrum.

And as a Left Coast 'liberal', I know only one person who is excited about Hillary. That's it: one person. The idea that we're being given a choice of Bush, Clinton, Bush, (Obama), and Clinton -- elicits groans of despair among the people that I know well enough to discuss politics. The term 'political dynasty' seems to evoke a sullen rebelliousness. (FWIW, this gives me some optimism about my fellow citizens, and the potential for change.)

Everyone that I know seems to be looking for competence, vision, guts -- and a track record that doesn't include foreign policy fiascos.

Webb has a chance, as do other candidates, because if what I see is at all typical, people are looking for alternatives to the status quo. It won't be simple, nor easy. But that's not to say it is impossible.

[Fred]

J,

I read that one too. Not only a failure to retroactively conform to 21st century standards but there is that casino gambling angle too.

[different clue]

J,

Any number of Indian Nations and Tribes may come to resent the Congressional Black Caucasus for that, strictly on principle.

[Charles Dekle]

My favorite also, Tyler. As for Bourbons, I like Maker's Mark, Elmer's, and Knob Creek. Woodford Reserve is very smooth and goes down nicely.
Regards,

[confusedponderer]

I am trying out Bulleit Rye atm.

I like the Georg Dickel lineup, in particular their delightful Cascade Hollow.

Wild Turkey Rare Breeed, sadly to be discontinued, also is delightful, and so is Wild Turkey Rye.

I have a bottle of Baker's on the shelf, but it won't be opened anytime soon.

I have tried Rittenhouse Rye, and that was ok, but didn't persuade me. Old Overholt is likewise ok, but it has something 'fluffy' near the finish that explains to me why it will bever become one of the really popular ones.

[Tyler]

1911 update:

Looks like I will need a Novak cut on the pistol to get the sights I want. All in all, the total is going to be about $250.

[J]

different clue, Fred,

Seems that the Black Caucasus forget that the tribes are "Sovereign" Nations.

[turcopolier]

tyler

My Norinco Hawk cost less than that with tax transportation and transfer fee. Quite a gun, better than the Remington 870 that it copied. pl

[turcopolier]

J

Yes, the Pamunkey and Mattaponi tribes live under 17th Century treaties between them as sovereign entities and the colonial government of Virginia. the US government inherited the obligations of the crown after independence. pl

[John Minnerath]

That Norinco is better than an 870?
For pumps I'm an Ithaca Model 37 guy anyway.

[turcopolier]

John Minnerath

I have handled and fired both guns and would vote for the NORINCO. It is very well built, functions beautifully, is finished to a high level of smoothness, and it cost $175 from the distributor, "Interstate." I bought it on-line it to learn how good Chinese firearms are. I am impressed. My favorite shotgun of all time was an Ithaca Centennial .12 gauge autoloader. I sure wish I had not sold that one. that was my pig hunting gun. pl

[Tyler]

Sir,

I bought a Remington 870 police special for home defense, but the big draw for me right now with firearms is tinkering with them via aftermarket mods. That's part of the reason I went with the Springfield.

Im surprised to hear about NORINCO quality: Ive always been of the mind that firearms are definitely an area where you get what you pay for.

[The Twisted Genius]

Tyler,

Just taking a break from my master bath remodel. Gotta get done by Christmas.

I have a 1911 hade by Colt in 1941 and would never modify it in any way for obvious historical reasons. I cringe when I hear about novak cuts and such, but yours is a new pistol so what ever works for you.

I never had a problem with the old combat sights on the 1911. We would let our old "arms room clunkers" carbon up for a few weeks before they would get tighter. Then we would get some nice groupings on the 50 yard range. When I was in the "Secret Army of Northern Virginia," I would pop blown up surgical gloves at 75 meters with the original combat sights.

As my sight gets fuzzier, I now see the advantages of target sights. I have an old top break 22 lr revolver with the sweetest sights I've ever seen. I get as good a sight picture with that as I did with the 1911 when I was in my 20s.

My advice would be to try the simpler sights before getting the mods done on your 1911. You might surprise yourself.

[Tyler]

TTG,

Thanks for the advice. I did put some rounds through it before I bought, and the sights weren't miserable, but I definitely prefer the utility & ease of Trijicon night sights versus the stock ones, especially considering that I plan on making this my new off duty carry. If its gotta come out of the holster in that case, I want every advantage.

That probably makes me a wet behind the ears whippersnapper who can't leave a classic alone. ;) I just like modding and building firearms. Ill have to send you pictures of my AMD 65 I've souped up.

Glad to hear the remodel is going well. Hope,the weather isn't being too miserable for you.

[SAC Brat]

Brownells has a pretty good catalog for 1911 parts. There are a lot of options for the milspec sight cuts as far as height, gap, etc.

[SAC Brat]

NORINCO 1911's have been sleepers for many years. I've actually seen Bullseye pistols made with them due to the high quality of the frame.

[turcopolier]

SAC Brat

I am working my way through the catalog of Norinco guns. they sell some light tanks. what are the other Chinese manufacturers like? pl

[Fred]

Here's an interesting link to firearms used in movies:
http://www.imfdb.org/wiki/Main_Page