Flying Mako Shark Lands In Fishing Boat

Jason Kresse, 29, from Texas, and two crew members were fishing for red snapper about 50 miles out to sea in the early hours of Monday morning.

They were throwing fish guts over the side when they heard two big splashes and "all of a sudden something hit the side of the boat".

In the dock, the mako shark is landed

It was an 8ft-long mako shark which, in a rush to start feeding, "ended up landing on the back of the boat".

The shark was thrashing around so badly that the fishermen could not get close enough to free it and put it back in the water.

Jason Kresses proudly displays his unintended catch

It died hours later, but not before doing more damage to the boat.

The crew did not have a permit to catch sharks, so Mr Kresse contacted officials on shore.

Mike Cox, a Texas Parks and Wildlife Department spokesman, said there was no violation because the shark's death was an accident.

The creature is currently on display in Freeport, about 55 miles south of Houston.

"I'm going to get a mount of it," the fisherman said. "A fish jumping in your boat, 400lb, that's unbelievable."

Election triggers gag order for officials in Afghanistan

As we work to help promote the causes and goals of Democracy once again the Canadian Government has put a gag order on the very troops that die for Afghan diplomacy and democracy.

by stopping the press from talking to soldiers sailors government offcials and diplomats you get the PMO (Prime Ministers Offfice) office controlling all information flow.  The idea that we have freedom of speech is then taken away from 30 days.


In the election of 2008 is was taken into my bosses office and shown a memo from the PMO office that I was cease and desist talking to the media during the election. When I asked for a copy they wouldn't give me one.
Soliders are always allowed to stay within their lanes and talk about what they experience and what they know, they may talk about a personal opinion but that shopuld be out of uniform.


The PMO directive takes free speech aways from the very people that allow Canada to have free speech in the first place.


The good news stories that help the world will come from diplomats and soldiers mouths... but by blanket censorship you end up with very bitter soldiers, press and diplomats.


Its just plane wrong

The Canadian Press

Date: Tuesday Mar. 29, 2011 1:18 PM ET

KANDAHAR, Afghanistan — The federal government has restricted media interviews of officials in Afghanistan, saying it is doing so to prevent them from making public comments that could influence the election campaign.

The restrictions became known after The Canadian Press requested an interview this week with Tim Martin, who serves as the federal representative for Canada in Kandahar.

The request was for a story about a transfer of command ceremony that took place today at Camp Nathan Smith in Kandahar city.

A spokesman for the Canadian International Development Agency rejected the request, saying Martin would not be granting interviews in the midst of the election.

Adam Sweet says the order is aimed at preventing federal officials from making public comments that could influence the election campaign.

The order mirrors one that was implemented during the 2008 federal election.

Transfer of Command Ceremony that Canadian government banned Canadian reporters from attending or  writing about it.

http://www.ctv.ca/CTVNews/Canada/20110329/election-triggers-gag-order-for-officials-in-afghanistan-110329/

British jihadist in Pakistan fighting with the Taliban and al Qeada forces.

ISAF identifies more 'foreign fighters camps' in Afghanistan

March 18, 2011 4:29 PM ET By Bill Roggio

Last night, ISAF noted that the Taliban was training "foreign fighters" at camps in the Sayyad Valley district in the northern province of Sar-i-Pul. In the same press release, ISAF also noted that special operations forces targeted a Taliban commander in Zabul who is linked to "insurgent foreign fighter training camps."

In Qalat District, Zabul province, yesterday, Afghan and coalition forces targeted a Taliban facilitator and detained several suspected insurgents during security operations.

The facilitator is responsible for the movement, distribution, and emplacement of IEDs along Highway 1 in Qalat District, and is directly associated with other Taliban leaders who have ties to insurgent foreign fighter training camps, where they train new recruits. He also provides financial and logistical support to the insurgent organization and is also involved in the transportation of heavy weapons systems.

Chechens with headbands are walking through a Taliban column during an attack on a US outpost in Kunar province

The shadow district governor of Kamdesh, Maulvi Abdul Zahed. His face (right side) is bandaged, wounded from the fighting at FOB Keating.  Also he is posing with an American SAW machine gun (C9).

ISAF uses the term "foreign fighters" to describe members of al Qaeda and allied terror groups operating in Afghanistan. And while all "foreign fighters" are not necessarily used by al Qaeda to carry out operations against the West (some just serve as foot soldiers in Afghanistan and Pakistan), members of this pool are often recruited to carry out operations in their home countries.

Read more: http://www.longwarjournal.org/threat-matrix/#ixzz1Hj9OcLhs

The Recent plots in Europe were organized by Osama.

A screen shot of Osama bin Laden, from his latest audiotape. Image from AP/SITE Intelligence Group.

The recent foiled plots of a Mumbai style attack were orchestrated by Osama bin Laden.  Using couriers to send messages and to organize the events showcases that almost 10 years after 911 Osama and the al Qeada group are still relevant.

 German Homegrown Terrorist Eric Breininger Believed Killed

It was unclear recently whether Breininger was still with the Islamic Jihad Union. The picture shows IJU members. Taifatul Mansura, the mainly Turkish group that reported his death, operates under the command of the Afghan Taliban and is closely linked to the IJU. Its statement says: "We, those responsible for the region Germany, regard it as important to mention that the jihad is getting increasing numbers of supporters from Europe, especially from Germany."

As al Qeada and other groups find it difficult to be completely open in their memberships and locations they rely heavily on other terrorist groups to do much of the front line work.  Al Qeada is still a force to be reckoned with but as terrorism is generally a compartmentalized operation the numbers of actual al Qeada members may be very small.

Bekkay Harrach, speaking in a markedly soft voice, the German-Moroccan swears an oath of allegiance to terrorist leader Osama bin Laden on a recently released video. 

In a more localized concern Canadian citizens have also been training in Pakistan for a similar such Mumbai style attack in Toronto or Ottawa.  Three have been arrested in Ottawa and there are two others that are wanted by the RCMP and the worry is because of their engineering backgrounds we could see an particularly harmful event in Canada.

Three Ontario men, from left to right, Khurram Sher, Hiva Alizadeh and Misbahuddin Ahmed, have been charged in connection with an alleged domestic terrorism plot. (Sarah Wallace/CBC)

The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) said the arrest warrants for Maiwand Yar and Ferid Ahmed Imam are the result of a four-year national security criminal investigation known as Project Darken.

Terrorism will always be a concern as the world moves to more openness and globalization.  The recent events in the Middle East show case how venerable some countries are to things like social media and if groups like al Qeada are able to utilize them we will new issues to worry about. 

Petraeus reveals son has served in Afghanistan

Army 2nd Lt. Stephen Petraeus looks into a box for suspicious items during a search in Chak District, Wardak province, Afghanistan. Army Gen. David Petraeus revealed that he has a special ally in his belief that U.S. war objectives are important: his son, Stephen, whose recent combat tour was kept "very quiet.

Petraeus reveals that son served in Afghanistan

The Associated Press

Posted : Wednesday Mar 16, 2011 17:33:02 EDT

WASHINGTON — Challenged by a congressman to “be honest” about how long American troops might have to fight in Afghanistan, Army Gen. David Petraeus revealed that he has a personal stake in ensuring that the U.S. war objectives are met — his son, Stephen, whose recent combat tour was kept “very quiet.”

In an emotional exchange with Rep. Walter B. Jones, R-N.C., Petraeus said “if I ever felt that we couldn’t achieve our objectives,” he would be “very forthright” not only with his superiors in the military chain of command but also with President Barack Obama and members of the Congress.

Noting that Obama has said the U.S. will have combat troops out by the end of 2014, with the Afghan government in position to provide its own security, a skeptical Jones said he could imagine a senior military leader coming before Congress in 2015 and pleading for more time and more sacrifice.

“You know, 15, 16, 17 years, for God sakes, how much more can we take, how much more can we give treasure and blood?” Jones asked.

Petraeus replied: “I may not be at this table, probably won’t be, in 2015, but I’ll tell you that my son is in uniform, and Lieutenant Petraeus just completed a tour in Afghanistan, which thankfully we were able to keep very quiet, and left in November after serving as an infantry platoon leader. We’re very proud of what he did. He thinks he was doing something very important.”

His son, 2nd Lt. Stephen Petraeus, served in Afghanistan as a member of Alpha Company, 3rd Platoon, 1st Battalion, 503rd Infantry, 173rd Airborne Brigade Combat Team.

Future Canadian Forces Close Combat Vehicle (CCV) ? CV9035 Mk III

Canadian Military Heritage Minutes

Serbian MRAP part BTR and LAV III

SUKHOI PAK-FA (T-50) Commercial

Top-secret Russian 'Stealth' fighter test flight

Chinese Stealth Fighter maiden flight

Close Air Support Canadian CF 18

Role 3-Kandahar -

Canadian Medics will be in training role.

Canada has shown its expertise not only in the battlefield but also in the concepts of Tactical Combat Casualty Care (TCCC).

Worn on the uniform to signify those that have taken the TCCC course

KANDAHAR, Afghanistan — Canada's defence minister has wrapped up a tour of Afghanistan, visiting the sites where the military could be stationed for its future training mission in the war-torn country.

Corporal Mike Gadway, a Medical Technician with Health Services unit (HSU) operating out of a remote forward installation in the Panjwa'i District, along with a Tactical Combat Casualty Care (TCCC) qualified soldier provide medical care to local Afghans on November 10th 2010

Peter MacKay visited several locations in Afghanistan this week, including Mazar-e-Sh

arif which he named as one possible place where military trainers could be once Canadian combat operations wind down this summer.  

MacKay said there will be a medical component to the training mission and efforts to strengthen the Afghan National Security Forces will continue.

Medics and soldiers in action

"As to the type of work we'll be doing, clearly the focus is on building capacity of the Afghan security forces, both army and police," MacKay said Thursday at Kandahar Airfield.  

"But in addition to that, we saw a medical facility, so there's an element of medical training that will occur as part of our contribution."

Members of the Canadian Operational Mentor and Liaison Team (OMLT) and Civil-Military Cooperation (CIMIC) personnel speak with local children and village residents while on a dismounted foot patrol in the Panjwa'i District on October 25th, 2010.  Note the TCCC patch.

He declined to give an exact figure on the number of military and civilian personnel that would be needed, but said a final decision on such details would soon come.    

"I'm able to go back now with a much more informed view and make a recommendation to cabinet, to the prime minister for a final decision, because there is some urgency," MacKay said.    

Canada's 2,800 troops stationed in Kandahar will end combat operations by the end of July, but up to 950 troops and support staff will remain in Afghanistan on the training mission until 2014.

Afghans, US Army and Canadian soldiers carry a wounded ANA soldier

MacKay concluded his Afghan tour today in Kandahar, where he met with troops in Panjwaii with Canada's top soldier, Gen. Walt Natynczyk.

The Associated Press

Mar. 17, 2011

Medics carry wounded Afghan civilian