Terminate!

This is coolbert:

Terminate with extreme prejudice!

As it was in Vietnam in 1969 as it is now in Afghan almost fifty years later?

From a variety of sources the killing of unlawful enemy combatants in captivity a hot button item:

1. "If a Green Beret Is a War Criminal, then So Is Obama"

2. "THE GREEN BERET AFFAIR 1969"

3. "Robert B. Rheault, Green Beret commander in Vietnam scandal, dies at 87" 

Additionally as it was for Robert Rheault in 1969 and Mathew Goldsteyn in 2018, so was it also for Breaker Morant in 1902!

Wars of the unconventional variety produce atrocity and tension for which the exigencies of combat often necessitate drastic measures, even if deemed illegal by the Laws of Land Warfare?

Terminate with extreme prejudice even unlawful enemy combatants forbidden? That is the question!

coolbert.

Magnetic.

This is coolbert:

Always alert for this type of subject matter. Unusual celestial phenomenon as observed and occurring in conjunction with military activity of a climactic nature. Eclipse, comet, aurora, etc.

Think Isandhlwana, Gaugamela, Battle of Delhi, etc.

The Second Indo-China War, Vietnam and the mining of Haiphong harbor too?

"Powerful Solar Storm Likely Detonated Sea Mines During Vietnam War"

"On Aug. 4, 1972, the crew of a U.S. Task Force 77 aircraft flying near a naval minefield in the waters off Hon La observed 20 to 25 explosions over about 30 seconds. They also witnessed an additional 25 to 30 mud spots in the waters nearby."

AMERICAN NAVAL SEA MINES PART AND PARCEL OF THE BLOCKADE OF HAIPHONG HARBOR SPONTANEOUSLY DETONATING FOR NO KNOWN REASON!

"Destructor sea mines [DST] had been deployed here during Operation Pocket Money, a mining campaign launched in 1972 against principal North Vietnamese ports."

"There was no obvious reason why the mines should have detonated. But it has now emerged the U.S. Navy soon turned its attention to extreme solar activity at the time as a probable cause."

Click on image to see a larger view. Previously classified report stating that the August solar storm DID result in spontaneous detonation of naval sea mines. Another September solar storm did not result in further unexplained and unwanted premature detonations.

In this particular instance an intense solar storm of biblical scale activating the magnetic triggers of the naval sea mines much unexpected by American naval military planners. Even the very forces of nature itself in opposition to the American war effort during the Second Indo-China War? You the devoted reader to the blog decide this for yourself.

coolbert.

Rescue.

This is coolbert:

Rescue!!

American combat aviators in two wars as awarded the Medal of Honor [MoH] their actions brave to an extreme; also perhaps foolhardy at best and perhaps [?] even in violation of directive, regulations, policies, rules of engagement. Even orders!

Thanks to the tip from Freeper.

1. Charles H. Hammann. World War One.

"1918: When enemy fighters shoot [sic] down Ensign George M. Ludlow’s Machhi M.5 seaplane . . . off the Austria-Hungary coast, Charles H. Hammann lands beside him and rescues the downed aviator. Hamman’s fighter is also damaged, and the winds high and seas choppy, but he manages to take off with Ludlow holding the struts behind him (the plane wasn’t designed to carry two pilots) and flies 65 miles across the Adriatic Sea to the air station at Porto Cassini, Italy."

2. Major Bernard F. Fisher, USAF. Second Indo-China War.

"During the battle [A Shau Valley], Maj. Fisher observed a fellow airman crash land on the battle-torn airstrip. In the belief that the downed pilot was seriously injured and in imminent danger of capture, Maj. Fisher announced his intention to land on the airstrip to effect a rescue."

Land! Recover your fellow airman in danger of capture!  Back into the sky! Return to friendly territory!

For such actions the MoH is awarded and justly so. But NO this sort of action is not recommended.

coolbert.

Day.

This is coolbert:

NOT the Gulf of Tonkin Incident. NOT the Tet Offensive. NOT the attack on Camp Holloway.

That most important day in the history of American involvement in the Second Indo-China war 31 August 1963? From the American Thinker and the article by Sam C. Holliday. Resolve of the top American officials made most clear. "Today" as belatedly by one day.

"Today is the anniversary of the most critical decision of the Vietnam War"

"On 31 August, 1963, the most important meeting for Americans regarding the Vietnam War took place to debate U.S. policy and the possibility of a coup against the Diem regime."

Diem or no Diem, that was the question!

Ngo Dinh Diem the President of the Republic of Vietnam [RVN] seen in Washington D.C. as the proverbial loose cannon, a leader ineffectual, the RVN counter-insurgency [COIN] effort bungled and pathetic.

American policy makers at the top echelon of government their decision to continue aiding/abetting/assisting the South Vietnamese COIN effort, hell or high water. Again, Diem or no Diem.

Diem very shortly the victim of a coup, the South Vietnamese military have gained control of the government, Diem perishing in the process.

IT HAS BEEN SPECULATED THAT U.S. OFFICIALS HAD PRIOR KNOWLEDGE OF THE COUP ATTEMPT BUT DID NOTHING TO STOP IT! NOT NECESSARILY THAT THE U.S. GOVERNMENT INITIATED THE COUP NON-INTERFERENCE PROPERLY AND BEST UNDERSTOOD AS  TACIT APPROVAL!

And in three years hence that contingent of American troops in South Vietnam having increased thirty times [30X] in number and the rest is history as they say!

coolbert.