AMERICA AT WAR

54 HOURS OF VALOR

First Lieutenant Rebecca M. Turpin was leading a convoy to resupply Marines in Afghanistan when it came under attack by the Taliban. The fighting would go on for 54 hours – and at the end of the battle, the Taliban would find out what it was like to have their butts kicked by a woman.

By Lance Corporal Alesha R. Guard, Marine Corps Base Hawaii

MARINES INVESTIGATE INSURGENTS’ UNDERGROUND HIGHWAY

Afghanistan has been a challenge for American forces. One of the challenges is the fact that in one part of the country, Taliban and al-Qaeda forces have found a means of travelling that UASs cannot detect.

By Gunnery Sgt. Chris W. Cox, Regimental Combat Team 3

WARRIOR’S RAGE

One of the major ground battles in Operation Desert Storm was the Battle of 73 Easting, pitting elements of VII Corps against the Republican Guard. While the most famous name to emerge from the battle was that of H.R. McMaster, the commander of Eagle Troop, 2nd Squadron, 2nd Cavalry, other units were involved. This extract tells of the fight of Ghost Troop, 2-2 Cavalry.

By Doug MacGregor

AFRAID TO KILL: FIGHTING TERROR WITH WISHFUL THINKING

While it doesn’t kill or maim people directly, and doesn’t destroy buildings on its own, political correctness is probably as big a threat to American security as anything else. Ralph Peters points out why in a column that shows just what absurdities are countenanced as a result of political correctness.

By Ralph Peters

(Exclusive to the Print Edition)

FEATURES

EXECUTIVE OUTCOMES: AGAINST ALL ODDS – FIREFIGHT WITH UNITA, Part One

In the first of a three-part series, Eeben Barlow describes assembling the team for the first mission of Executive Outcomes – a company that would become legendary in the world of mercs. Here, when conflict in Angola places a company’s valuable equipment at risk – they need someone to protect the workers who are sent to retrieve it.

By Eeben Barlow

HOW CHAVEZ LOST HONDURAS

When Manuel Zelaya, a protégé of Venezuelan dictator Hugo Chavez, tried to extend his tenure in office as President of Honduras, that country’s other institutions stood up for the constitution and removed him from office. Rather than being the end of it, the events of 28 June, 2009 would trigger a struggle for the Central American country – one in which the future of constitutional government would be at stake.

By Harold Hutchison

WHY ARE WE FIGHTING?

Fundamentally, it is about our freedom to choose – what type of gun to own or whether to own a gun at all, and we need to respect the choices of others in that regard as well.

By Harold C. Hutchison

TARGET: FIVE-SEVEN

The latest “boogey-gun” of the anti-gunners is the Five-seveN from Fabrique Nationale. Their campaign of distortion, used to enact the 1994 ban on certain semi-automatic firearms, was turned on this firearm. Will it succeed?

By Harold C. Hutchison

THE THIN BLUE LINE AT SEA: THE UNITED STATES COAST GUARD

They have to secure six times the length of the U.S.–Mexico Border. They number less than 42,000 full-time personnel. Yet their duties extend from the war on terror to maintaining navigation aids. A look at the United States Coast Guard, one of America’s armed forces.

By Harold C. Hutchison

THE WILD BUNCH TESTS THE LATEST GEAR IN THE COLORADO HIGH COUNTRY

SOF Editor/Publisher Robert K. Brown and a bunch of friends went out to test a lot of new gear, hang out, and shoot the breeze (as well as a fair number of firearms). Sadly, the elk didn’t have the courtesy to put in an appearance (again).

By Lt. Col. Robert K. Brown, USAR (Ret.)

FIGHTING WITH LIGHT

The key to winning a fight is to blind your enemy, then take him out. Gary Paul Johnston discusses the use of fighting lights, and some of the latest in fighting lights for use with pistols or carbines.

By Gary Paul Johnston

COP TALK: GO TO “L”

Cross-fires are dangerous – no matter which side you are on. In this latest installment of SOF’s “Cop Talk,” Gary Paul Johnston outlines how going to “L” will make life much more difficult for the bad guys on the street.

By Gary Paul Johnston

COLUMNS

COMMAND GUIDANCE

The Montana Firearms Freedom Act

By Steve Schreiner

FLAK

On Contractors; The Duty of American Citizens to the Troops; Finnish Vietnam Veterans; Who Are the Hmong?

BULLETIN BOARD

New Firepower for the Marines; Dolphin Does It Again!; Securing the Border from Phony Barbie Dolls; Terrorists in the Heartland?; 1,000 Missions

TERRORISM SITREP

Finally Al Qaeda operatives arrested for drug trafficking that enriches terrorists. More Americans involved in Islamist terror training and attacks abroad. Iran releases British yachtsmen but charges American hikers. India and Iran test long range missiles successfully, while Russian missile fails. Russia sells submarines and buys carriers. Terrorist bombings in Iraq, Pakistan, and Russia kill scores.

By Dr. Martin Brass

ADVENTURE QUARTERMASTER

Safariland Re-launches Protech-Tactical, DSA Arms AR-15 Upper, Springfield Armory XDM 3.8, Mossberg Tactical LightMount, Cass Creek Electronic Calls, NCStar Rifle Case/Shooter’s Mat, OPSGEAR Infidel Poster

COMMON SENSE

Mission Impossible

By Lt. Col. Oliver North, USMC (Ret.)