UPDATED SUN. - MARCH 30, 2008
Bush Closer To Bombing Iran
By Matthew Rothschild
The Progressive - UK
3-30-8- The odds of Bush bombing Iran have gone up dramatically this week.
- There's just no other way to rationally interpret the resignation of Admiral William Fallon as head of Centcom.
- Fallon resigned, and more likely was pushed out, after Esquire published an article on him entitled "The Man Between War and Peace." It said he was the one standing in the way of Bush bombing Iran.
- He's not standing in the way any longer.
- Actually, his rival, General David Petraeus, is now more powerful than ever. And as the Esquire article noted, Petraeus has said: "You cannot win in Iraq solely in Iraq."
- Fallon seemed to understand the risk he was taking when he took the job as head of Centcom. He told Esquire: "Career capping? How about career detonating?"
- Fallon's fate as a weathervane for war with Iran has been clear since the time of his confirmation, when he told a source that an attack on Iran "will not happen on my watch." His watch just stopped.
- He also said at the time, "There are several of us trying to put the crazies back in the box."
- But the crazies are still bounding around outside the box, and none crazier than Dick Cheney, who is off on a Mideast trip, ostensibly to deal with Israel and Palestine and also with high oil prices.
- But there are other purposes, as well. Cheney is visiting Oman, "a key military ally and logistics hub for military operations in the Persian Gulf," notes U.S. News & World Report. What's more, according to U.S. News, "two U.S. warships took up positions off Lebanon earlier this month." The Pentagon "would want its warships in the eastern Mediterranean in the event of military action against Iran to keep Iranian ally Syria in check and to help provide air cover to Israel against Iranian missile reprisals," the story said. "One of the newly deployed ships, the USS Ross, is an Aegis guised missile destroyer, a top system for defense against air attacks."
- U.S. News cited three other signs why war is more likely now: Israel's airstrike on Syria, Israel's war with Hezbollah, and Shimon Peres's disavowal of unilateral action.
- Here's one more: The director of national intelligence, Mike McConnell, testified to the Senate on February 5 that maybe in last fall's NIE he overstressed the fact that Iran had halted its nuclear weapons work. And maybe he overplayed the fact that Iran doesn't know how to design a nuclear weapon just yet.
- And maybe he should have highlighted the fact that Iran was still enriching uranium. And maybe he should have emphasized that, therefore, Iran still poses a potential nuclear threat.
- "In retrospect," McConnell said, "I would do some things differently."
- Like give Bush and Cheney exactly what they ask for.
- Something Admiral Fallon, to his credit, was not prepared to do.
- http://www.alternet .org/audits/ 80493/
WIRED MAGAZINE: 16.04
Prepare for the Worst, Because Solar Storms Are About to Get Ugly
03.24.08 | 6:00 PM 
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ITS ALL PREDICTED IN ISAIAH CHAPTER 34 - VERSE 6
"THERE WILL BE A SLAUGHTER FOR G-D IN BASRA"
(ESSAM AL-SUDANI/AFP/Getty Images)
Violence has exploded in Iraq after some months of relative quiet.
For the past three days, Iraqi troops have targeted Shiite militias in the southern port city of Basra, with militiamen reportedly using mortar shells, sniper fire, roadside bombs and rocket-propelled grenades to repel security forces. Since Wednesday, at least 56 people have been killed.
Responding to the government crackdown on Shiite militias in Basra, Muqtada al-Sadr’s Mahdi Army is pounding Baghdad’s U.S.-protected Green Zone with rocket fire. The security operation has triggered a wave of Shiite violence through southern Iraq and in Baghdad, and thousands of protestors have demanded Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Malaki resign. U.S. Embassy staff in Baghdad have been advised to wear helmets and other protective gear if they venture outside, and to sleep in blast-resistant locations. The Iraqi spokesman for the Baghdad security operation has been kidnapped and three of his bodyguards killed.
Unsurprisingly, Pentagon officials report that the weapons being used to attack the Green Zone include rockets made in Iran.
The security operation is an attempt by Iraq’s central government to gain control of the critical oil hub of the nation. Basra, Iraq’s second-largest city, is critical to the country’s oil exports, its only source of income: 90 percent of Iraqi crude is exported through the city’s infrastructure. Highlighting the vulnerability of Iraq’s oil-dependent economy was the bombing on Thursday of a major crude export pipeline in Basra, causing the main pumping station to be shut down and reducing oil production and movement by one third until the pipeline is repaired.
Basra has been under control of rival Shiite militias pretty much since the U.S. invasion of Iraq. British troops, who withdrew from Basra late last year, were never able to wrest control of the city from the militias. Now, with security in the region deteriorating, the Iraqi government has acted to gain control of the region.
In a speech broadcast on Iraqi state tv, Prime Minister al-Malaki said Iraq had become a “nation of gangs, militias and outlaws” and he was undertaking a “historic mission” in Basra to restore “the law of the land.”
Al-Malaki has ordered Mahdi Army militiamen to surrender by the weekend; as of Thursday, they were still forcefully resisting the crackdown and still controlling the streets of Basra.
Stratfor reports that the operation is in the interests both of the country’s most powerful Shiite movement, the Islamic Supreme Council of Iraq (isci) led by Abdel Aziz al-Hakim, and Iran (March 26):
Targeting the chief rivals of the isci, which seeks to establish an autonomous Shiite region in the south, gives al-Hakim’s group an opportunity to consolidate itself in what is perhaps the most important part of the Shiite south. …
Stability in Iraq’s Shiite areas also better serves Tehran’s long-term interests; a southern federal zone could help achieve such stability.
The results of this current security operation could have great impact on the future of U.S. forces in Iraq. It could help prove whether the U.S. troop surge in Iraq has, in the longer term, been a success or failure. Violence has indeed greatly decreased over recent months in Iraq; but this is largely as a result of the unilateral cease-fire of al-Sadr’s Mahdi Army seven months ago. The test is now—when the militia is starting to fight back.
If the Iraqi government demonstrates it has the ability to, at least in part, bring a festering insurgency under control, America will have the rationale it is looking for to hasten troop withdrawal from the country. On the other hand, if the Shiite militias win out, the United States will be all the more forced to rely on Shiite Iran to reign in Iraq’s Shiites. Either way, it is a situation worth watching.
We can expect Iran to try to use this as a means of furthering its influence in Iraq. Read our March 13 article “Troop Surge in Iraq: Success or Failure?” for a longer-term perspective on the Iraqi situation’s impact on America.**********************************************************************************************
FROM "DEBKA"
Exclusive: First signs of weakening in Maliki-led government Basra offensive
March 28, 2008, 5:26 PM (GMT+02:00)
Basra embattled
DEBKAfile’s military sources report: After three days of combat, thousands of troops led by prime minister Nouri al Maliki have made no headway in breaking the grip of militias and gangs on the southern oil city of Basra and the outlying towns. Friday, March 28, the prime minister softened his previous ultimatum for combatants to hand over their weapons, extending it from Saturday night to April 8, and throwing in “a financial reward” for those complying.
From a go-it-alone Iraqi venture, Maliki was reduced Friday to calling in US airplanes to bomb militia positions holding fast in Basra. Moqtada Sadr’s Mehdi army appears still in control of the densely-populated areas of Basra, Iraq’s third largest city of 2.5 million, as well as taking over the center of Shiite Nasiriyeh. The intra-Shiite clashes have also spread to the southern Shiite cities of Kut, Hilla, Diwaniya, Amara and Karbala.
DEBKAfile’s sources report that for Maliki, the intra-Shiite conflict which he has ignited in the whole of southern Iraq up to and including Baghdad is looking like a win-all, lose-all gamble for himself and his government.
In the Shiite neighborhoods of Baghdad, thousands of Sadr supporters took to the streets sparring with the US Strykers and police and calling for Maliki to resign.
After Sadr called for a political solution to the crisis, Iraq’s parliament was called into session Friday afternoon. They will meet under the three-day curfew imposed on Baghdad after repeated rocket attacks on the fortified Green Zone seat of government left two US government employees dead.
US embassy staff in Baghdad have been told not to leave reinforced structures and wear protective clothing including helmets following the rocket attacks on the Green Zone – 16 Wednesday and 12 Tuesday. The three-day curfew imposed Thursday night bans pedestrian and vehicle traffic in the city.
Two oil pipelines were hit by bombs after the fighting began - one carrying oil to an export terminal in Basra harbor. Thursday night, Maliki was praised by President George Bush, who said “normalcy was returning to Iraq.”
Beretta 92
| Beretta 92 | |
|---|---|
 Beretta 92FS | |
| Type | Semi-automatic pistol |
| Place of origin |  Italy |
| Service history | |
| Used by |
|
| Production history | |
| Manufacturer | Fabbrica d'Armi Pietro Beretta |
| Produced | 1975–present |
| Variants | See Variants and Development |
| Specifications | |
| Weight | |
| Length | |
| Barrel length | |
| | |
| Cartridge |
|
| Feed system | Detachable box magazine:
|
The Beretta 92 (also Beretta 96 and Beretta 98) is a series of semi-automatic pistols designed and manufactured by Beretta of Italy. It was designed in 1972 and production of many variants in different calibers continues to the present day. It is most famous for replacing the M1911 .45 ACP pistol as the standard sidearm of the United States armed forces in 1985 as the M9 pistol.
Although only 5000 copies of the original design were manufactured from 1975 to 1976, the design is currently produced in four different configurations (FS, G, D and DS) and three calibers:
- 92 series in 9x19mm Parabellum
- 96 series in .40 S&W
- 98 series in 9x21mm IMI
Contents |
History
The Beretta 92 pistol evolved from earlier Beretta designs, most notably the M1922 and M1951. From the M922 comes the open slide design, while the alloy frame and locking block barrel (originally from Walther P38) were first used in the M1951. The grip angle and the front sight integrated with the slide were also common to earlier Beretta pistols.
The Beretta 92 first appeared in 1976 and was designed by Carlo Beretta, Giuseppe Mazzetti and Vittorio Valle, all experienced firearms designers on the Beretta design team.
92
About 5000 copies of the first design were manufactured from 1975 to 1976.
92S
In order to meet requirements of some law enforcement agencies, Beretta modified the Beretta 92 by adding a slide-mounted combined safety and decocking lever, replacing the frame mounted manual thumb safety. This resulted in the 92S which was adopted by several Italian law enforcement and military units. The later relocation of the magazine release button means these models (92 & 92S) cannot necessarily use later magazines, unless they have notches in both areas.
92SB (92S-1)
Initially called the 92S-1 when it was specifically designed for US Air Force trials (which it won), the model name officially adopted was the 92SB. It included the changes of the 92S, added a firing pin block (thus the addition of the "B" to the name), and relocated the magazine release catch from the bottom of the grip to the lower bottom of the trigger guard.
- 92SB Compact (1981 – 1991), shortened barrel and slide (13-round magazine capacity). It was replaced by the "92 Compact L".
92F (92SB-F)
Beretta modified the model 92SB slightly to create the 92SB-F (the "F" added to denote entry of the model in U.S. Government federal testing) and, later, the 92G for French Government testing, by making the following changes:
- Design of all the parts to make them 100% interchangeable to simplify maintenance for large government organizations.
- Modified the front of the trigger guard so that one could use finger support for easier aiming.
- Recurved the forward base of the grip to aid aiming.
- Hard chromed the barrel bore to protect it from corrosion and to reduce wear.
- New surface coating on the slide called Bruniton, which allegedly provides better corrosion resistance than the previous plain blued finish.
U.S. Military use
When the U.S. Air Force (USAF) began the Joint Service Small Arms Program, Beretta entered the competition. The Beretta 92SB (92S-1) won, but the Army contested the Air Force's methods. There would be several more competitions, and Beretta refined the design of the Beretta 92SB into the Beretta 92SB-F and in slightly modified form the Beretta 92G. These designs were ultimately selected by the United States (Beretta 92F, U.S. Military designation of M9 Pistol) and France (Beretta 92G, French military designation of "PAMAS"). The M9 Pistol was intended to replace the M1911A1 and .38-caliber revolvers and pistols. Over 500,000 M9 pistols were made and the switch-over was largely achieved.
The USAF has scheduled switching over from the early model M9 (92F) to the 92FS standard, according to planning documents. In May 2005, the U.S. Marine Corps (USMC) awarded a sole-source contract to Beretta for 3,480 "M9A1" pistols (M9 with an accessory rail, also available to the public from June 2006).
Early problems
Beretta had two major contracts, about 500,000 units for the U.S. armed forces and about 230,000 units for the French armed forces. In the case of the Beretta 92G, it was agreed that the French would supply the slide steel to Italy until GIAT could start licensed production.
After a year of flawless production and testing of M9 pistols in Italy under U.S. Government supervision, testing and later production was transferred to the Beretta U.S.A. factory in Accokeek, Maryland. At the same time, the U.S. Army became responsible for providing 9 mm ammunition (called the M882 round) to support the testing. Using the new ammunition, problems with M9 test pistols began occurring. In some tests, the frames of the pistols showed microscopic cracks after being fired 5,000 rounds during durability testing. Durability tested barrels showed a concentric indentation inside the chamber and, later, reports of slides breaking during field and test usage were reported.
Early analysis of the breakages by the Army suggested that the problems experienced were due to problems with the pistols themselves. Beretta responded to these reports by requesting testing of the M882 ammunition. Dissatisfied with the progress and methodology of the Army's tests of its ammunition, Beretta obtained independent tests of the ammunition that disclosed excessive pressure levels in the rounds (average pressures exceeding 50,000 psi, compared with maximum NATO-allowed pressures of 35,000 psi).
After delays in delivery of M9 pistols while these issues were resolved, Beretta developed a safety mechanism that significantly reduced risk to the shooter should an M9 slide break. The U.S. Army also changed the propellant mix for the M882 round, after which no further pistol breakages of the types previously seen were reported.
During this same time and in years since, the U.S. Army conducted durability testing of M9 pistols at Aberdeen Proving Ground. These tests revealed an average life of the M9 frame at around 35,000 rounds, of the M9 locking block at around 22,000 rounds, and of the M9 slide at around 75,000 rounds, all well in excess of the contractually-required service life of 5,000 rounds for the pistol. In addition, Government-witnessed tests of the M9 pistol at the Beretta U.S.A. facility resulted in average reliability of the pistol at one malfunction every 17,500 rounds.
According to numerous accounts from founding members, the first US military unit to field the Beretta 92 was SEAL Team Six, however due to the extensive use of the pistol by SEAL Team Six (3-5000 rounds per week, per operator), problems that were later evident with other US military users became apparent and SEAL Team Six switched to the SIG-Sauer P226. The P226 later became the standard sidearm for all of the SEAL Teams.
Design
The Beretta 92's open slide design ensures smooth feeding and ejection of ammunition and allows easy cleaning of obstructions. The hard-chromed barrel bore reduces barrel wear and protects it from corrosion. The locking block barrel lockup provides good accuracy and operability with suppressors due to the in-line travel of the barrel. This is in contrast to the complex travel of Browning designed barrels. The magazine release button is reversible with simple field tools. Reversing the magazine release makes left-handed operation much easier.
Increasingly, it has become popular to reduce handgun weight and cost (and increase corrosion resistance) using polymers, and polymer parts have started showing up in Beretta 92/96 models too. In 2003, the first internal polymer part to be introduced was a recoil spring guide. New polymer parts include safety lever, trigger, mainspring cap, magazine floorplate, and follower. In contrast some parts have been painted black to match the included polymer parts, these include; slide release, disassembly latch, and hammer.
Variants
The Beretta 92 is available in many configurations each with a distinct model name. Combining the various options results in more than 50 different configurations, but the major variants are defined by their operation caliber (92/96/98), operation (F/G/D) and combination of optional items (Inox/Brigadier slide/Compact length):
Calibers
Each model name starts with two digits identifying the caliber:
- 92
- Chambered for the 9x19mm Parabellum.
- 96
- Chambered for the .40 S&W, introduced in 1990.
- 98
- Chambered for 9x21mm IMI. This option was introduced in 1991 for markets where it is illegal to own a weapon chambered for a military cartridge such as 9x19mm. There were also about 5000 early 98F manufactured in .30 Luger.
Operation
- F (standard)
- The current production version of the 92F has a double action first trigger pull, followed by a single action trigger pull for subsequent rounds. The "F" version has a safety lever that also functions as a decocking lever. It is this version that was adopted by the US Army as the M9 Pistol.
- G (no safety)
- This version was created for and adopted by the French Military as PAMAS ; it is simply a model 92 with a decocking lever that does not also act as safety lever.
- D (double-action, no safety)
- The double-action-only variant of the 92F or FS.
Options
- Vertec
- (2003 –)
- New vertical grip.
- Short-reach trigger.
- Thinner grip panels.
- Integral accessory rail.
- Removable front sight (can be replaced with Tritium sight).
- Beveled magazine well (to enable easier/faster reloading).
- Brigadier
- (1993 – 2006)
- 60 g (2.1 oz) heavier slide (and 1 mm (0.04 in)wider) to improve control when firing multiple shots in quick succession. It also includes removable front and rear Novak type sights.
- Elite I
- (1999 – 2001)
- Pistols with this option include the heavier Brigadier slide and some modifications to the grip and bevel of the magazine well. It was introduced in 1999 and replaced by the Elite II option in 2001.
- Elite 1A
- (2001-2006)
- This option replaced the standard grip on the original Elite with the Vertec grip but retained the Brigadier slide. A flat hammer spring cap was standard as well as the stainless barrel, decock only feature and dovetailed front sight. This model also came with an integral rail located underneath the end of the barrel. This allows for mounting a flashlight, laser sight, or other accessory.
- Elite II
- (2001 – 2006)
- This option replaced the Elite I option in 2001 and includes the same features of the heavier Brigadier slide and removable Novak type sights, but also an extended magazine release catch and skeletonized hammer. This option is available only with the stainless-steel slide.
- Inox
- (present)
- Stainless barrel, slide (frame anodized to match color).
- Compact L
- (1992 –)
- Shorter barrel, slide, and more compact frame (13-round magazine capacity).
- Compact Type M
- (1992 –)
- Similar to the Compact L, but has a slimmer grip that accepts only a single stacked 8-round magazine.
- Centurion
- (1992 – 1996)
- Shorter barrel and slide of (like "Compact"), but with standard-sized frame.
- CB
- (1992 – 1993)
- Single action only. It is designed for sport shooting and includes a front barrel bushing for improved accuracy.
- Stock
- (1994 –)
- Heavier Brigadier slide. It is also designed for sport shooting and includes a front barrel bushing for improved accuracy.
- Combat
- (1994 – 2001)
- Heavier Brigadier slide, single-action only and also designed for sport shooting, including a front barrel bushing for improved accuracy. It also came with an additional longer barrel that was weighted.
- Billennium
- (2001 only)
- A limited-edition (2000 copies) commemoritive (of the year 2000) model manufactured in the 2001, featuring the heavier Brigadier slide.
- Steel I
- (2004 – 2006)
- Stainless steel, single-action-only, collector's model. [Edit: Both single-action-only and single/double-action variants exist. Also used and desirable for competitive shooting because of its steel frame (for added weight & strength), the frame-mounted safety and/or Vertec-style grip-frame that are all found to be desirable features in a competition gun.]
Magazine Capacity
To keep in line with the introduction of laws in some locations restricting magazines that hold more than 10 rounds, Beretta now manufactures magazines that hold less than the factory standard 15 rounds. These magazines have heavier crimping (deeper indentations in the side) to reduce the available space while still keeping the same external dimensions and ensuring that these magazines can be used on existing firearms. Italian magazine manufacturer Mec-Gar now produces magazines in blue and nickel finishes with a 17 round capacity, which fit flush in the magazine well on the 92-series. Mec-Gar also produces an extended 20 round blued magazine that protrudes below the frame by a couple of inches. These magazines provide users in unrestricted states with an even higher capacity for sporting or self defense purposes.
93R
The Beretta 93R is a significantly redesigned 92 to provide the option of firing in three-round bursts. It also has a longer ported barrel, heavier slide, fitting for a shoulder stock, extra forward grip, and an extended magazine. Unlike the other Berettas in the 90 series it doesn't have a decocker and very few are around today.
Taurus
The Beretta 92 was designed for sports and law enforcement use and, due to its reliability, was accepted by military users in South America. A large contract for the Beretta 92 was with the Brazilian army, for which Beretta set up a factory in Brazil. This factory was later sold to the Brazilian gunmaker Taurus. Taurus made pistols under license from Beretta based on the original Beretta 92, calling it the PT92.
Users
Italy — Military and police (Italian Army) (Aeronautica Militare) (Marina Militare) (Carabinieri) (Polizia di Stato) (Guardia di Finanza) (Corpo Forestale dello Stato) (Polizia Penitenziaria)
United States — U.S. Military (M9) and some federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies
Algeria — Police
France — French Military (92G)
Hong Kong - Hong Kong Police Force
Indonesia — Kopassus and Detachment 88
Malaysia — 165 Intelligance Battalions Malaysian Armed Forces (92F)
Mexico - Special Forces and some federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies.
Peru — Peruvian Navy(92F) and FOES
Philippines — Armed Forces and Philippine National Police
Slovenia — Military and Police
South Africa — Military (SANDF) and Police (SAPS) (Z88 licensed copy)
Spain — Civil Guard
Turkey — Police
Canada - Vancouver Police Beretta 96
See also
*************************************************************************************************SHOCKING VIDEO YOU MUST SEE
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www.truthaboutparts.blogspot.com
www.tjofsugarland.blogspot.com
www.handgunpartsforsale.blogspot.com
www.hipowersandhandguns.comhttp://www.spw-duf.info/links.html#guns
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New upsurge of Palestinian attacks from Gaza - 16 missiles fired Wednesday injuring 3 Israeli civilians
March 26, 2008, 1:59 PM (GMT+02:00)
A heavy barrage of 7 Qassam missiles struck Sderot Wednesday night, March 26. One exploded in the old market, injuring three people and leaving 16 in shock. Of the 16 fired during the day, after a three-week slowdwon, one landed south of Ashkelon, several exploded in kibbutzim causing heavy damage to property. Israeli military sources tell DEBKAfile that Hamas is passing missiles to Jihad Islami in order to step up the attacks on Israel, without being held accountable and drawing Israeli fire – to heat up tensions for the arrival of US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice this weekend.
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G-D'S WRATH WILL BE TAKEN OUT ON OUR COUNTRY BECAUSE THIS GOVERNMENT ALLOWED THE FORMATION OF "GAZASTAN" --- KEEP YOUR EYE ON THE WEATHER AND THE ECONOMIC ISSUES AS WE ARE IMPLODING FROM WITHIN.
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Basra oil pipeline struck by bomb Thursday on third day of fightingMarch 27, 2008, 1:45 PM (GMT+02:00)  Hizballah Brigades of Iraq emblem It exploded under the Zubair-1 pipeline carrying crude to Iraq’s Gulf terminals. The blast, the second this week and the turbulence which erupted Monday, are expected to affect oil exports and drilling operations from southern Iraq. International oil prices began to rise in response. In the Shiite town of Kut, Basra’s neighbor, 44 people are reported killed in fighting between Iraqi forces and local militias Thursday. |
