Time to Get Tough With Iran

By Gen. Paul Vallely (ret.), Fred Gedrich

 - FOXNews.com

Team Obama must shelve its idealistic, naïve and dangerous “open-hand” diplomacy in favor of “bold and aggressive” action against Iran.

The Obama administration, clearly exasperated that Iran’s terrorist state hasn’t reciprocated its public and private engagement overtures, took a new tack during U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton’s recent Mideast tour. The secretary declared that the Islamic Republic’s Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) is supplanting the country’s clerical and political leadership and moving the nation toward a “military dictatorship.” And it seeks another U.N. Security Council resolution as a remedy.

Newsflash to Team Obama: Iran’s theocratic rulers, president and their IRGC protectors share the same nuclear weapons and terrorism goals and are the driving force behind the regime’s 31-year one-sided “Death to America” war. Collectively they have managed to successfully thwart all previous economic sanctions imposed by the United States and the United Nations.

There are plenty of reasons why the Iranian regime (dating back to Reagan administration) and the IRGC (during George W. Bush administration) have been labeled “terrorists” by the United States. With the consent of the Iranian regime, IRGC members participated in seizing the American embassy in 1979 and holding 52 hostages for 444 days – in violation of international law and centuries of diplomatic protocols. Its Quds Force used Hezbollah proxies to target and bomb the U.S. embassy and the Marine Barracks in Lebanon, bomb U.S. residences in Saudi Arabia, and kidnapp and murder American captives (such as William Buckley and USMC Lt. Col. William Higgins). The Quds Force now manufactures and supplies lethal roadside bombs (IEDs) to Shi’ite militias in Iraq and the Taliban in Pakistan and Afghanistan that kill and maim American troops.

If that isn’t bad enough, the U.N.’s nuclear watchdog (IAEA) recently said the regime, with IRGC leading the way, may be on the verge of producing a nuclear warhead, to go along with their long-range missiles, which many believe will further threaten regional and global peace and security. Others believe Iran already possesses a nuclear capability and is in the process of achieving the capability of matching warheads to missiles.

Surprisingly, many Americans know little about the IRGC although it wields considerable security, political and economic clout in Iran. Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini created the IRGC in 1979 primarily to safeguard the ideal of his Shi’ite Islamic Revolution, protect his regime from domestic and foreign enemies, and export his brutal brand of Islamic fundamentalism, influence and terrorism to neighboring states.

The IRGC operates independently from Iran’s regular military – reporting directly to Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. It currently has about 200,000 members assigned to special army, air force, navy and intelligence units in all 30 of Iran’s provinces. At the behest of the Supreme Leader during the past year, the IRGC cracked down on innocent Iranians protesting the questionable reelection of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and the Islamic Republic’s 31st anniversary celebration.

The IRGC exports the revolution through their notorious Quds (Jerusalem) Force. This force has about 20,000 highly trained personnel specializing in international terrorism, armed conflict and support of proxies in Afghanistan, Iraq, Lebanon, the West Bank and Gaza.

Former and current IRGC members occupy 14 of 21 cabinet positions, about 90 of 290 parliament seats, and a host of local mayor ships and council seats. Past and present IRGC members include President Ahmadinejad, ambassador to Iraq Hassan Kazemi-Qomi and parliament speaker Ali Larijani. IRGC is also a business conglomerate controlling some 500 companies active in a wide range of industries including nuclear power, banking, insurance, and recreation.

IRGC and Quds Force headquarters are located in Tehran, the latter in the former U.S. embassy. The IRGC oversees at least seven nuclear facilities including those at Isfahan, Natanz, and Qom. And the IRGC/Quds Force operates at least 20 terrorist training centers including the Imam Ali Training Garrison, Tehran; Bahonar Garrison near Karaj Dam; and the Abouzar Garrison, Ahwaz, Khuzestan Province. Lethal roadside bombs are produced by Sattari Industries in Tehran’s Lavizan District.

The IRGC and Quds Force are currently led by Maj. Gen. Mohammed Ali Jafari. He was appointed by Supreme Leader Khamenei in 2007. His portfolio includes command of Iran’s nuclear weapons and missile programs, relations with countries like Venezuela and terror proxies like Hezbollah and Hamas, and liaison with intelligence organ Ministry of Intelligence and Security.

One cannot fault Secretary Clinton for putting the well-deserved spotlight on the IRGC. However, her declaration about it becoming an emerging “military dictatorship” misses the mark. In reality, it doesn’t matter whether Iran is ruled by clerics, if the country has a card-carrying IRGC member as president, or if the IRGC it will still continue developing nuclear weapons, engaging in terrorism, oppressing millions of freedom-seeking Iranians, ignoring Team Obama’s rapprochement overtures and economic sanction threats, and dismissing another worthless U.N. Security Council resolutions watered down by Iran’s security council veto-wielding friends in Russia and China.

The time has come for Team Obama to shelve its idealistic, naïve and dangerous “open-hand” diplomacy in favor of “bold and aggressive” action against Iran and to support the Iranian opposition organizations. The best way to get the Iranian regime’s attention would be to inform them that President Obama will (1) ask Congress to pass a resolution making Iranian regime change a U.S. policy (similar to what Congress and President Clinton did in passing and signing the 1998 Iraq Liberation Act; (2) direct, under executive authority or with congressional permission, precise military strikes on Iranian nuclear development sites as well as regime targets like terrorist training facilities, IRGC and Quds Force headquarters if Iran doesn’t cease its nuclear weapons program and supporting radical Islamic/global caliphate activities; and (3) overtly and covertly encourage and support all Iranian opposition and freedom seeking groups to foster regime change.

Let’s “hope” President Obama makes these policy “changes” before it’s too late. Global peace and security depends on it.

Paul E. Vallely, U.S. Army Maj. Gen., retired, is chairman of Stand Up America, a Iran Policy Committee member, and a co-author of “Endgame.” Fred Gedrich is a foreign policy and national security analyst who served in the Departments of State and Defense.

Fox Forum is now on Twitter. Follow us @fxnopinion.

Report on Soldiers

This Cindy Williams is NOT the "Laverne & Shirley" Cindy Williams. She is a Assistant Director for national Security in the Congressional Budget Office.....


Military Pay 

This is an Airman's response to Cindy Williams' editorial piece in the Washington Times about MILITARY PAY, it should be printed in all newspapers across America 

Ms. Cindy Williams wrote a piece for the Washington Times, denouncing the pay raise(s) coming service members' way this year citing that she stated 13% wage increase was more than they deserve. 

A young airman from Hill AFB responds to her article below. He ought to get a bonus for this. 


"Ms Williams: I just had the pleasure of reading your column, "Our GIs earn enough" and I am a bit confused. Frankly, I'm wondering where this vaunted overpayment is going, because as far as I can tell, it disappears every month between DFAS (The Defense Finance and Accounting Service) and my bank account. Checking my latest earnings statement I see that I make $1,117.80 before taxes per month. After taxes, I take home $874.20. When I run that through the calculator, I come up with an annual salary of $13,413.60 before taxes, and $10,490.40, after. 

I work in the Air Force Network Control Center where I am part of the team responsible for a 5,000 host computer network I am involved with infrastructure segments, specifically with Cisco Systems equipment. A quick check under jobs For Network Technicians in the Washington , D.C. Area reveals a position in my career field, requiring three years experience with my job. Amazingly, this job does NOT pay $13,413.60 a year. No, this job is being offered at $70,000 to $80,000 per annum........... I'm sure you can draw the obvious conclusions. 

Given the tenor of your column, I would assume that you NEVER had the pleasure of serving your country in her armed forces. Before you take it upon yourself to once more castigate congressional and DOD leadership for attempting to get the families in the military's lowest pay brackets off of WIC and food stamps, I suggest that you join a group of deploying soldiers headed for AFGHANISTAN ; I leave the choice of service branch up to you. Whatever choice you make, though, opt for the SIX month rotation: it will guarantee you the longest possible time away from your family and friends, thus giving you full "deployment experience." 

As your group prepares to board the plane, make sure to note the spouses and children who are saying good-bye to their loved ones. Also take care to note that several families are still unsure of how they'll be able to make ends meet while the primary breadwinner is gone obviously they've been squandering the "vast" piles of cash the government has been giving them. 

Try to deploy over a major holiday; Christmas and Thanksgiving are perennial favorites. And when you're actually over there, sitting in a foxhole, shivering against the cold desert night; and the flight sergeant tells you that there aren't enough people on shift to relieve you for chow, remember this: trade whatever MRE (meal-ready- to-eat) you manage to get for the tuna noodle casserole or cheese tortellini, and add Tabasco to everything. This gives some flavor. 

Talk to your loved ones as often as you are permitted; it won't nearly be long enough or often enough, but take what you can get and be thankful for it. You may have picked up on the fact that I disagree with most of the points you present in your op-ed piece. 

But, tomorrow from KABUL , I will defend to the death your right to say it. 

You see, I am an American fighting man, a guarantor of your First Amendment rights and every other right you cherish. On a daily basis, my brother and sister soldiers worldwide ensure that you and people like you can thumb your collective nose at us, all on a salary that is nothing short of pitiful and under conditions that would make most people cringe We hemorrhage our best and brightest into the private sector because we can't offer the stability and pay of civilian companies. 

And you, Ms. Williams, have the gall to say that we make more than we deserve? You can kiss my royal red a**!!! 

A1C Michael Bragg Hill AFB AFNCC 

Unconventional Warfare Now

Contact: standupamerica1@gmail.com

Unconventional Operations to the Rescue
(Part One of the Lily Pad Strategy)

Paul E. Vallely, MG US Army (Ret)

Most Americans desire an effective change in the US war strategy and the wider global war against Islamic extremists and nations supporting them. President Obama, Secretary, Robert Gates and the Generals and Admirals must deliver it by placing experienced unconventional warfare leaders in charge of the war effort. 

Since forcibly removing Al Qaeda and the Taliban in just 34 days in the Fall of 2001 with 100 Special Op Forces and Air Power and Saddam Hussein removed from power in 2003, the U.S.-led coalition Forces has been unable to achieve a take home Victory. 

While many Americans recognize the conflict in Afghanistan is not going well and changes need to be made, there is substantial disagreement at the national level on a military strategy. The U.S. is seriously considering adding more conventional forces. Sending an additional 40,000 U.S. troops to Afghanistan under current military strategies will be unlikely to make much difference. Excessive and restrictive rules of engagement must be lifted and rules for engagement built into the local Commander’s Operational plan to allow maximum power to be brought to the battle. As well, “Boots on the ground in Afghanistan” really mean Afghan boots on the ground.

Unlike US/NATO troops, the adversaries in this war do not carry arms openly, wear uniforms or insignias, and abide by other laws and customs of wars specified in Geneva conventional and protocols. They instill fear in military opponents, village leaders and local populations through use of suicide bombings, improvised explosive devices, kidnappings and beheadings. And they disguise themselves as civilians and hide among civilian populations with weapons stored and discharged from mosques, schools, hospitals, market-places, private residences and public roads. 

To prevail, the U.S. has to transition from a conventional to an unconventional war footing and make the enemy pay a heavy price for their despicable tactics. The US must use “proxy forces”. "If you support me, I will destroy the Taliban and al Qaeda," Gen. Abdul Rashid Dostum told The Washington Times in an interview at his northern stronghold. "I don't want to be a minister, not even the defense minister. I need to be with my soldiers. Give me the task and I will do it." Other ethnic leaders have made similar offers, but their support is problematic. Gen. Dostum is one of Afghanistan's most notorious warlords -- a Russian-educated former defense minister who turned against the Soviet Union in the 1980s but became a key figure in the Russian-backed fight against the Taliban a decade later. The tribal leaders with support are the only ones that can turn the tide of the war and not the central government in Kabul. As well, there can be no sanctuaries in Pakistan for the Taliban and Al Qaeda.
In Iraq and elsewhere, traditional troops, weapons and tactics are less useful than tools of influence, covert operations, and intelligence brought to the battlefield by special operators working harmoniously with indigenous forces and local populations. The prime objective is to create a climate of fear within enemy ranks that breaks their will to continue the armed insurrection.

Joint special operators (from all military branches) are also trained in local cultures and languages making it easier for them to embed in local populations and Afghan security forces and collect information which in turn may be used to “hunt and kill” hostile forces. 

Forget about Nation Building until the enemy is defeated.

The action continues to meet resistance throughout DOD’s conventional warfare ranks, their industry partners, and congressional allies. The U.S. active duty military force consists of 1.4 million troops of which only about 50,000 are elite special operators, with only several thousand deployed to Afghanistan. Many military professionals prefer to have special operators continue in a supporting, not leading role. 

Immediately after recently assuming his new post, Gates correctly stated that the U.S. must win in Iraq or face a “calamity” that would “endanger Americans for decades to come.” Since the fall of Baghdad, the U.S. has had the will to win but not the right strategy. It’s imperative that the U.S. transition quickly to an unconventional war strategy the war will be lost. The new “Lily Pad Strategy” must evolve now. There will be more published on this new out-of-the-box- global war-fighting strategy…….

Paul Vallely, MG U.S. Army (Ret) is Chairman of the Stand Up America USA and Save Our Democracy Now Projects and co- author of “Operation Sucker Punch” and “Endgame.

See www.standupamericaus.com

H/T to the Stand Up America USA Facebook Group and MG Vallely. The group also has a new blog as well.

Hizbullah and the Threat from Venezuela

From the Stand Up America USA Facebook Group

Report: Hizbullah Setting Up Camp in Venezuela - Shimon Shiffer (Ynet News)
Venezuela has become Hizbullah's major terrorist outpost in South America, according to a senior Israeli official.

Intelligence assessments warn that Hizbullah is investing significant efforts to carry out terrorist attacks against Israeli targets and Jewish institutions in Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay, Paraguay, and Peru, and are collecting intelligence to this end.

Western counter-terrorism experts warn that Hizbullah and the Iranian Revolutionary Guards have established special units to kidnap Jewish businessmen from Latin America and to bring them to Lebanon.

See also Hizbullah Sleeper Cells in South, Central America Ready for Action - Ronen Bergman (Ynet News)

Hizbullah's cells in Venezuela are part of its apparatus dedicated to attacks overseas known as the "Special Operations Command."

For years, this apparatus operated under Imad Mugniyah's command and was responsible, among other things, for the bombing of Israel's embassy in Buenos Aires in March 1992 and the bombing of the Jewish community center there in July 1994.

Today, the apparatus is headed by Mugniyah's deputy, Talal Hamiyeh.

The cell that carried out the attacks in Argentina was one of dozens of sleeper cells deployed by Hizbullah and the al-Quds force of Iran's Revolutionary Guards worldwide, including in the U.S. and Europe.
Some of these cells have been disguised as community centers or charity organizations.

In Venezuela, according to Western intelligence officials, Hizbullah cells are mostly found in the centers of the oil industry, which brings in workers from the Middle East.
__________________________

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Gaza PM: "Hamas Will Never Recognize the Zionist Entity" (IMEMC-PA)
Gaza Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh stated Thursday that Hamas will never recognize "the Zionist entity," and would continue the resistance until liberating the land and the holy sites.
Haniyeh said that Hamas will never recognize Israel and "will remain steadfast, protecting the blood of the martyrs."

"The resistance will prevail until liberating the land, until liberating Jerusalem," Haniyeh stated.

From MG Vallely and the Stand Up America USA Facebook Group

We, the people, have had enough of this current government. We are on a socialist suicide march in this country. We, the people have watched our President, Congress and other bureaucrats defile our founding documents and sacred principles for months now with no end in sight. In 1789 Thomas Jefferson was overheard saying to Madison, "Every government degenerates when trusted to the rulers of the people alone. The people themselves, therefore, are its only safe depositories." While no Leader can ever be perfect and certainly much criticism could be said of past Administrations, it is with great sadness and disappointment but we must address the present political leaders and political appointees and their actions that are in violation of the Laws and Constitution of this United States of America.

From the Stand Up America USA Facebook group and MG Vallely:

California

To members of Stand Up America USA

Pay attention to this and you might understand why California is broke !!
Published on 07/25/09
From the L. A. Times

1. 40% of all workers in L. A. County ( L. A. County has 10.2 million people)are working for cash and not paying taxes. This is because they are predominantly illegal immigrants working without a green card.

2. 95% of warrants for murder in Los Angeles are for illegal aliens.

3. 75% of people on the most wanted list in Los Angeles are illegal aliens.

4. Over 2/3 of all births in Los Angeles County are to illegal alien Mexicans on Medi-Cal , whose births were paid for by taxpayers.

5. Nearly 35% of all inmates in California detention centers are Mexican nationals here illegally

6. Over 300,000 illegal aliens in Los Angeles County are living in garages.

7. The FBI reports half of all gang members in Los Angeles are most likely illegal aliens from south of the border.

8. Nearly 60% of all occupants of HUD properties are illegal.

9. 21 radio stations in L. A. Are Spanish speaking.

10. In L. A. County 5.1 million people speak English, 3.9 million speak Spanish. (There are 10.2 million people in L. A. County . )

(All 10 of the above are from the Los Angeles Times)

Less than 2% of illegal aliens are picking our crops, but 29% are on welfare. Over 70% of the United States ’ annual population growth (and over 90% of California, Florida, and New York ) results from immigration. 29% of inmates in federal prisons are illegal aliens.

This post comes from the Stand Up America USA site on Facebook. It was sent to us from Major General (Ret) Paul Vallaley. I highly recommend you click on the group link below and join this group. Gen. Vallaley puts out some great information on a regular and timely basis.

Nuc Site Iran

To members of Stand Up America USA

test site east of Tehran

Special Report
July 18, 2009, 11:18 AM


Military sources reveal that Iran is in the last stages of construction of a nuclear test site in the Kavir Lut desert between Tehran and its eastern border with Afghanistan. The work is managed by the Iranian experts invited to attend North Korea's nuclear test this year. reported June 27 that Iran has opened the way for a nuclear test.)

Two of the diplomats attached to the UN nuclear watchdog agency in Vienna confirmed to the Associated Press Saturday July 18 that Iran now has the means to test a weapon within six months. One said more specifically: "Iran has the capacity, if not the intention, to set off a test explosion in six months."

Speaking on condition of anonymity, the two diplomats emphasized there were no indications of plans for a nuclear test and in their opinion Iran is unlikely to risk heightened confrontation with the West and chances of an Israeli attack with such a course.

For the last six months, intelligence sources have all stressed that this supposition is wishful thinking having confirmed that Iran is squarely on the fast track for an N-test. Once preparations are complete, its leaders will not hesitate to conduct one, following the North Korean model.

And indeed the two diplomats in Vienna admitted the Iranians were blocking UN nuclear agency attempts to upgrade monitoring resources.

As recently as July 9,military sources reported: "The US, Europe - and even the Binyamin Netanyahu government - appear to have adopted the same strategy for North Korea and Iran. It is a combination of harsh oral rebukes coupled with a refusal to address North Korea's violations and Iran's race for a nuclear bomb in any practical way, even though sanctions are clearly of no effect at all.

A blind eye is equally turned to the close collaboration between Pyongyang and Tehran on their missile and nuclear development programs. The two rogue states are also clearly in tune on their nuclear diplomacy and timetables.

According tointelligence sources, North Korea shared the results of its latest missile launches with Iran, exactly as it did after its nuclear and ballistic tests. But neither Washington nor Jerusalem has raised a hand. Both nuclear transgressors are getting away with the gross, ongoing proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and making a mockery of international law and UN resolutions."

Therefore, the diplomat's estimate Saturday that the Iranians will not risk confrontation with the West or chance an Israeli attack is completely unfounded, as are the theories that the Iranian leadership is in too shaky a position at home to go forward with a nuclear test. As soon as the test site is ready, supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad will not be deterred from taking the nuclear plunge by the unrest at home, any more than grave illness has stopped Kim Jong-II flouting international prohibitions.

Still, the US and Europe will not fall out of their chairs because they have given the ayatollahs all the time they needed to attain a nuclear weapon.