Gulf War Syndrome

It been more than eighteen years since the first Persian Gulf War began, but the hurt and pain lives on. The United States and other coalition forces moved into the gulf fast and furious. A victory for the coalition forces, which took place in very short time and casualties were relatively low at that time. Those it been eighteen years, the casualties continues to grow and seems to never end.

Among other coalition forces, the overwhelming majority of the military forces participating were from the United States and the United Kingdom. As a result, these two counties prove to have had the highest rates of illness.

The beliefs that US and UK were more exposed to chemicals and use of the anthrax vaccine. It is still not fully picture clear that the anthrax and the anti-gas vaccinations contributed greatly to the outbreaks of Gulf War Illness.

GWI is refer to as wide range to unexplained symptoms and health issues displayed in military forces that served in the Gulf war. Some of the symptoms includes rashes, headaches, fatigue, muscle/joint pains, lowered immunity cancer, and birth defects in children. Some even experience what they be called Chronic multi symptom illness.

After becoming ill or as their children were being born with birth defects, some began to file claims the miltary for compensation and health benefits. They were being advised that further studies needed to be done in order to determine the nature of these problems. Sometime in between 1994 and 1996,
Dr. Boaz Milner associated the problems with five syndromes, by radiation, experimental medications, environmental contaminants, chemical weapons and compounds. During this time frame more than 69,000 veterans and their dependents claimed to have suffered from health issues linking to the Gulf war.

Invasion of Iraq Justified or Not Justified?

Was the invasion of Iraq justified?
The Middle East is so rich in history dating back many decades. This area is known to have had many major conflicts and being in constant turmoil. The whole world is tied to the Middle East in such an extraordinary way. From the very first book of the Bible the Middle East is being connected to mankind in a unique way. It has been prophesied that the Middle East is where mankind's beginning started and where it will end.

Maybe the invasion was to liberate the Iraqis and to bring peace to the land. Sure the leadership might has been oust and a lot of peace talks taking place in that part of the world. Have the people been truly liberated and is there any sign of peace?

Another possibility was to put an end to terrorism after the 9/11 attack on America. If in deed this was reason, Is this a case of revenge? According to The Theory of Just War, "revenge does not justify a just war."

The Middle East is plentiful in crude oil. And Iraq is rank the third in numbers with the oil reserves. Was it to take control of their oil?

The are many more questions than answer.

Pros:

1. The invasion of Iraq was necessary to protect the world from further terrorism.
2. The war against Iraq was to disarm them of weapons of mass destruction.
3. To free the Iraqis and world from the government of Saddam Hussein.

Cons:

1. The use of power, strength, and toppling a government doesn't necessary reduce terrorism.
2. There is no evidence to support weapons of mass destruction was ever found.
3.The goals were to control the oil and to have military presence in the area.

Have the time arrived to pull troops out of Iraq?

There is some controversial between political parties when the troops should be pulled from Iraq. According to the President Obama the troops will be pulled from Iraq by August 2010.

Say no!! To another War

North Korea is planning to launch a rocket the early part of April. They revealed this launch to be a part of their space developmental program. And the launch is not for military purposes, but a peaceful testing of the rockets. However some government fear that the launch will be use to test the capacity of these long-range missiles. These missiles have the possibilty of reaching and striking in Alaska. The outcome of such a strike will not be accepted lightly and peaceful. The Secretary of State has warned that this would be a "provocative act" and a violation of the UN resolution. And the way the U.N. might respond to this act has not been make known. Some countries are making preparation in case a rocket might be launched.

Two U.S. ships docked in South Korea (USS John S. McCain and USS Chafee)will began sail Monday, to monitor the North Korean launch.

South Korea is also sending a ship (Sejong the Great Destroyer) to monitor North Korean launch.

And Japan is sending two warships into a position and ordered the military to prepare to shoot down any debris that could fall on Japanese territory if the rocket launch doesn't go as planned.

The world will embrace for a peaceful outcome if the rocket launch takes place. There is no place for another conflict and more wars. Say No!!!!

Fighting Machines

Tupolev Tu-95 (RUS)
Max. speed:575 mph

B-52 (USA)
Max. speed:650 mph

Tiger I (Germany)
Speed:38 km/h (24 mph)


Challenger II(UK)
Speed:59 km/h (37 mph)

M1 Abrams (USA)
Speed:42 mph (67.7 km/h)

Stridsvagn 103 (Sweden)
Speed: 38 mph (60 km/h)

Leopard 2 (Germany)
Speed: 45 mph (72 km/h)

Merkava (Israel)
Speed: 40 mph (64 km/h)

Centurion (UK)
Speed: 21 mph (34 km/h)

Now Hiring

This must be great news "now hiring" as we doesn't see this much in the classified these days. During these difficult economic times, jobs and job security virtually invisible. Each day around the globe the demand for employment is much greater than the crippling job market. Instead of seeing "now hiring" we are faced with downsizing, layoffs, and companies closing their doors forever. Thus far I have not said anything positive, and I wish I could, but we know this is the today's job market. Even in spite of all this, there is still hope especially for Generation Y and some Generation X at this present time. On the other hand, like myself, being between the Baby Boomers and Jones Generation this probably not an option.

This military might be an option. And there is much to gain, virtually nothing to lose. Of course, there is a great adjustment to military life, mainly the structured and disciplined outfit. Military can be dangerous in peacetime and wartime. Let's look at it from this point of view, this is dangerous world for everyone. Sometimes I ask myself. "Which is the dangerous military or civilian life"? Lately, I seem to come up with the same answer BOTH.

Enough said there. Look at all the possibilities.

1. Job advancement - Desire to go ahead
2. Job security - Despite the economy
3. Medical care - no cost to you
4. Dental care - no cost to you
5. Three meals a day
5. Living quarters
6. Inexpensive life insurance
7. Travel - not just a job, but an adventure
8. 30 days vacation annually
9. Pension after 20 years of service
10. Good pay w/great benefits
11. Financial aid to further education
12. Housing allowance
13. And much more!!!!

Non-lethal Weapons

Is it possible to engage in a war where only few or none gets killed?

The concept of non-lethal weapons is to take out enemy soldiers without killing them and disabling fighting equipment without it being destroyed.

Nonlethal weapons has long been in existence more than some 2,000 years. But on recent decades, as the military prepares for modern warfare, many are in favor of intergrating the use of nonlethal weapons into that arena. The research and development of nonlethal weapons has sharply increased during the last decade.

Some of the new weapons being researched, developed and/or deployed:

Foam-"Sticky foam" to bog down soldiers or equipment and a lubricant to end enemy vehicles spinning. These are called "stick-ems" and "slick-ems."

Calmative Agents-Chemical substances designed to temporarily incapacitate people.

Malodorants-Chemicals that mimic the most revolting smells (rotting food and human waste) and can disperse enemies like a skunk.

Supercaustic-Acids that corrode and degrade structural materials.

12-gauge shotgun shell filled with rubber pellets.

Stun grenades.

Disposable hand and ankle cuffs,

Pepper spray. (my favorite)

However, there are downsize and risks with the use of nonlethal weapons.

1. Time it take for it to affect.........Opponents can do major damages in that time.

2. The elderly, small children, and persons w/certain illness can be injuried severly or killed.

3. What about these two fatal incidences?

a) Last year when 700 hostages were seized in Moscow, an opiate gas was used to clear the way for them to be rescued. As a result, 117 of the hostages were killed by chemical agent used.

b) Seven years ago, another seizure took place in Moscow. Again an opiate gas was used and with same result. This time over 100 hostages and their capitors were killed.

The leading experts in arms control have argued that, "There is no known way in medical science how to put a large number of people to sleep without killing
a sizeable amount of them."

Non-lethal weapons are only optional to lethal weapons, and not be considered a replace for the lethal weapons.

What time is it

The military is a society within a society. Therefore, the military society operates in somewhat of a different way. Even the way time is given in a unique way considering most societies. Whereas, most places operate on a 12-hour clock. They operate on a 24-hour clock. The time pattern begin from 0000 hours to 2300 hours. For example 2:00AM is said to be: "zero two hundred" or "0200", 2:00 PM is "fourteen hundred" or "1400" and so on as such:

Midnight (12:00 AM) -- 0000 hrs
1:00 AM -- 0100 hrs
2:00 AM -- 0200 hrs
3:00 AM -- 0300 hrs
4:00 AM -- 0400 hrs
5:00 AM -- 0500 hrs
6:00 AM -- 0600 hrs
7:00 AM -- 0700 hrs
8:00 AM -- 0800 hrs
9:00 AM -- 0900 hrs
10:00 AM -- 1000 hrs
11:00 AM -- 1100 hrs
12:00 PM -- 1200 hrs
1:00 PM -- 1300 hrs
2:00 PM -- 1400 hrs
3:00 PM -- 1500 hrs
4:00 PM -- 1600 hrs
5:00 PM -- 1700 hrs
6:00 PM -- 1800 hrs
7:00 PM -- 1900 hrs
8:00 PM -- 2000 hrs
9:00 PM -- 2100 hrs
10:00 PM -- 2200 hrs
11:00 PM -- 2300 hrs