Archive for May, 2010
The Wagah Crossing Ceremony
Posted by: | CommentsThe Wagah Crossing along the India-Pakistan border is host to maybe the most bizarre sight on all of the earth. It is at this small point on a map, the only border crossing between nuclear rivals India and Pakistan, a daily evening ceremony has been performed for the previous sixty-three years and counting. It’s the closing of the gate, and as laughable as it is solemn.
Solemn isn’t the word one would first think of when surveying the boisterous crowds on either side, seated on bleachers waving flags and eating snacks while roaring with babies and children in tow. The evening retreat ceremony, when official flags on each side of the bitter border are reduced, is a showcase in pomp and rite that ends in a handshake.
For all of the strutting and chest-thumping, complete with screams and vicious glares, the occassion has managed to end on a handshake for all these years a quick pro formal one, to be certain, terse and machine-like to go along with the staccato tempo of the martial parade.
The army tattoo involves what seem to be individual guards breaking ranks to rush at the opposite side in intimidating goose-steps, but they always stop short of an invisible dividing line, leaving uniformed men to glower at one another through thick mustaches and, in the case of the Pakistani Rangers, full-on beards.
The action is generally terribly fast paced, until the actual retreat portion when each side takes as much time as possible to withdraw with their flags. Everyone observes this well-liked rite with a good nature and high spirits, though every few years a marginally ugly incident arises, for example the time in 2007 when some Indian spectators roared at a Pakistani passenger bus working it’s way across just before the gates closed, Stop terrorism! or in 2001 when a Pakistani Ranger directed his rifle at Indian spectators.
United States Military – Conditioning Soldiers To Carry Orders
Posted by: | CommentsIt may seem entirely natural to kill, but long-time evidence implies otherwise. While aggression is usual to the human species, so are altruistic impulses born of self-awareness and identification with The Other. This is why armies from ancient Roman legionnaires to modern-day infantrymen must steadily drill their recruits and continue to condition even lots of their combat vets in murderous behaviors.
For instance, as far back as Roman times it was noted that men had a natural aversion to stabbing, preferring to cut with their swords instead. Stabbing, intentionally and forcibly thrusting a blade into an opponent, was usually avoided by most amateurs to war because, we may surmise, folks simply have an almost instinctual wish not to inflict fatalities at least not at such close ranges.
After World War II, to cite another instance, studies conducted by the United States military found that less than 50% of all infantrymen actually fired their weapons, even when fired upon themselves. This is why the primary mission of basic training in the military any military, since time immemorial has been conditioning the psychology of recruits to kill on command.
Indeed, such conditioning masks the killing act, the killing behavior, not as killing but as the obeying of a command; psychologically, one no longer kills per se but only replies to orders by pulling a trigger or pushing a button.
And the more of an interface there is between attacker and victim the less complicated it is to kill. This makes sense, of course it’s much more hard to kill someone face to face than to kill him remotely via a videolink. It is also much more dire for the killer. And so it is that armies concentrate their efforts on securing obedience, for military operations involve teamwork and it is the one feeble link which will break the chain.
How a Hand-Grenade Works
Posted by: | CommentsHow a Hand-Grenade Works
The hand-thrown grenade is one of the most ideal anti-personnel weapons ever designed. Etymologically, ‘grenade’ originates from the shape of the weapon which resembles a pomegranate. Grenades have been deployed in combat since it was discovered by the Byzantines that Greek Fire could be contained in glass or ceramic jars and it would explode when thrown.
By hollowing out small cannon-balls and filling with an explosive mixture, the chinese developed the grenade further – and were pioneers in this particular type of grenade. Perhaps the most easily recognizable grenade of all time is the Stielhandgrenate or ‘potato masher’ which the Wehrmacht used throughout World War Two. Many improvised and homemade grenades have been created for rebel militias and in civil wars using contempory grenade design, but replacing a fragmentation outer with an explosive mixture laced with steel bbs
Current grenades are much more complicated than these earlier designs. This article will review how the popular American-made M67 Fragmentation Grenade can best be thrown and the way in which it works.
When deploying, the thrower assumes the ‘throwing position’. This means that the M67 grenade is held about the user’s waist with the user’s feet spread shoulders-width apart. After assuming this stance, the right-handed user removes the safety clip and then places his/her left index finger into the pin of the grenade, making sure of a firm grip on the main body of the grenade and safety lever with the right hand. In order that the lever doesn’t merely fly off and ignite the fuse when the pin is pulled, it’s vitally important to follow the instructions carefully.
If the pin is pulled for any reason, it can be put back safely as following this method ensures your safety. For added safety, the pin is shaped to prevent an unwanted fuse ignition and the user must pull hard enough to straighten the pin so it comes out. The lever is released and a spring-loaded firing pin ignites the fuse when the pin is pulled and the grenade is deployed. The explosion will cause high levels of localized collateral damage, an intensely bright flash, a loud bang and a strong concussion wave.
On average, the four hundred gram M67 can be tossed about thirty yards. It has a five-second fuse that ignites the one hundred and forty grams of Composition B inside a round steel body. The casing immediately disperses as tiny pieces of hot steel shrapnel when the explosives ignite. Having a kill radius of five meters, the weapon has a casualty radius of fifteen meters. As fragments can fly as far as two hundred and thirty meters, it is important to be very careful to throw the grenade from cover.
The M67 Fragmentation Grenade is a lethal weapon which can be and has been deployed in many combat situations.
Wagag Crossing – 63 Years And Counting
Posted by: | CommentsThe Wagah Crossing along the India-Pakistan border is host to maybe the most bizarre sight on all of the earth. It is at this small point on a map, the only border crossing between nuclear rivals India and Pakistan, a daily evening ceremony has been performed for the previous sixty-three years and counting. It’s the closing of the gate, and as laughable as it is solemn.
Solemn isn’t the word one would first think of when surveying the boisterous crowds on either side, seated on bleachers waving flags and eating snacks while roaring with babies and children in tow. The evening retreat ceremony, when official flags on each side of the bitter border are reduced, is a showcase in pomp and rite that ends in a handshake.
For all of the strutting and chest-thumping, complete with screams and vicious glares, the occassion has managed to end on a handshake for all these years a quick pro formal one, to be certain, terse and machine-like to go along with the staccato tempo of the martial parade.
The army tattoo involves what seem to be individual guards breaking ranks to rush at the opposite side in intimidating goose-steps, but they always stop short of an invisible dividing line, leaving uniformed men to glower at one another through thick mustaches and, in the case of the Pakistani Rangers, full-on beards.
The action is generally terribly fast paced, until the actual retreat portion when each side takes as much time as possible to withdraw with their flags. Everyone observes this well-liked rite with a good nature and high spirits, though every few years a marginally ugly incident arises, for example the time in 2007 when some Indian spectators roared at a Pakistani passenger bus working it’s way across just before the gates closed, Stop terrorism! or in 2001 when a Pakistani Ranger directed his rifle at Indian spectators.
Priest prepares to cycle across France for Help For Heroes
Posted by: | CommentsA CATHOLIC priest and Army veteran is set to join a fundraising cycle ride across the battlefields of France.
Oxford University’s Catholic chaplain Roger Dawson has been asked to act as chaplain for the Big Battlefield Bike Ride, which is expected to raise tens of thousands of pounds for forces charity Help for Heroes.
The Jesuit priest, who took orders after a nine-year stint in the Royal Green Jackets, will join 300 cyclists at HMS Victory on Monday to cross the Channel, then cycle 350 miles across France, stopping at historic sites along the way to remember those who fought and died there.
Fr Roger, 50, who lives in Campion Hall, Oxford, was asked to join the ride by Help for Heroes founder Bryn Parry, whom he served with in the Green Jackets.
He said: “I am styling myself the pedalling padre.
“So many soldiers are having life-changing injuries and we have a responsibility to those who go to war in the name of this country to take care of them when they come back.
“Help for Heroes does just that.”
He said he anticipated finding the ride quite challenging.
He said: “I cycle round Oxford but I am rather counting on there being injured soldiers who will be finding it even more difficult than I am.”
Each of the riders has to raise at least £2,200, and so far Fr Roger has about £1,300.
Along the way, he will lead services at each of the memorials and wreath-layings, as well as being available to talk to any of the riders, many of them wounded servicemen themselves, throughout the eight-day trip.
He will also say Mass most days for those who wish to celebrate it with him.
He said: “I am very much looking forward to it, although I wish I was fitter.
“I think it will be incredibly worthwhile. I have been to the Normandy battlefields and war graves, although not as a chaplain, and they are incredibly moving places – beautiful, with an extraordinarily peaceful atmosphere.”
The ride will start with a parade in Portsmouth, before the cyclists take the evening ferry to Caen.
They will then cycle up to 75 miles each day to reach Dunkirk, returning on a naval ship on May 31.
- To sponsor Fr Roger, visit bmy charity.com/ peddlingpadre or helpforheroes.org.uk for more information about the charity.
Source: Oxford Mail (http://www.oxfordmail.co.uk/news/8172211.Priest_prepares_to_cycle_across_France_for_Help_For_Heroes/)