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Self-Defense Zone: Crime Prevention & Self-Defense Forums
Self-Defense Zone: self defense discussions, forums on crime prevention
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Forum |
Topic |
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| General Category |
Defensive Weapons |
LIGHTS USED FOR DEFENSE OR LAW ENFORCEMENT |
LIGHTS FOR CCW AND LAW ENFORCEMENT
Hi guys,
I have about 200 lights between flashlights and tactical lights, and also this idea of taking beam shots, so members can compare between them.
First, lets take a look at some lights that are used by police for traffic stops, search and even clearing houses.
These are not for CCW, but good to have in the car or truck to take care of big illumination needs.
This post will try to show how different lights used in law enforcement compare with each other, and will clarify the difference between the lumen ratings used in Luxeon (LED) lights and incandescent lights.
In short, I will show (through pictures) how Luxeons lack definition when used at increased distances.
I have maintained for a long time that LED Luxeons don’t have the range over the incandescent to really be helpful for law enforcement. They are excellent lights to use inside the house; their beams are very clean, white and with substantial flood, and in the average house, that is all you need. However, when taken outside to the backyard, woods, or large structure and the distance to the target is 25 yards or more, they lack definition (as they lack the red spectrum of light), and their poor penetration of fog or rain makes them inefficient to clearly identify what you are seeing at that distance.
Moreover, when the subject being illuminated is an animal with a light-drinking fur (depth of texture), the blending effect of the LED’s (against the background) will cause the observer to lose perspective.
LOW LIGHT FOR WRITING
As I am in contact with police officers that tell me what they really need to perform their functions at night, I think that I know more than the average guy what is needed for those officers.
What those experienced officers want are three lights that will cover specific illumination chores.
First, when writing a ticket at night, or looking for a dropped pencil in the floor of their own car or any other close up chore, they want a flood light in LED form: small and with an output of 20 lumens or less (LED lumens), and preferably with a clip incorporated to free both hands for holding the pad and writing.
LEO’s that have used the Fenix LOP (1 AAA) consider this light ideal (except for the lack of a clip). Another favorite is the ARC AAA. These lights can be held in the mouth without any discomfort.
Fenix has put out a bigger light (1 AA) with two stages output, and the lower output will be also ideal for these chores.
THE BELT LIGHT
Those same officers want to have a good light on their belt. Some prefer the two cell 123’s lights like the Surefire 6P, G2, or C-2 for their better flood beam over the more tightly focused Streamlight Scorpion, TL-2 and Night Fighter II (it is important for them to be able to cover an average room with the light, without the need of panning it).
They look for a run time of one hour and an output of 65 lumens.
Some opt for more intense lights like the Surefire 9P or the C-3 with their 105 lumens and one hour run time.
The Streamlight TL-3 is a little too tightly focused for clearing rooms, but it will do fine in an average backyard.
In LED form (Luxeon V), the Surefire L-4 is a good contender due to the excellent flood light that it puts out at medium range inside a house.
The main thing is that the officers want to avoid losing precious seconds by panning a light when entering a room. That is why the Surefires are preferred over the tightly focused others brands.
HERE IS A PICTURE OF SOME OF THE CONTENDERS, FROM LEFT TO RIGHT; THE MAGCHARGER 200 LUMENS AND 6 VOLTS BATTERY STICK, THE STREAMLIGHT ULTRA STINGER 295 LUMENS AND 6 VOLTS BATTERY STICK AND THE BOREALIS 1050 LUMENS (TWO MILLION CANDLEPOWER) AND ROLLS ROYCE BATTERY CARRIER WITH 12 VOLTS SYSTEM
THE CAR LIGHT
These police officers wear a light holder in their belt (a plastic and leather ring). On exiting their cars, they slip in the ring one of the powerful rechargeable lights, most commonly the Magcharger (200 lumens) or the Ultra Stinger (295 lumens) and sometimes a BOREALIS 1050 lumens.
Those are ideal lights for search, clearing houses, backyards, warehouses etc. Being rechargeable, they are always used with a maximum run time (taken out of the charger at start of the shift), a thing that you can not do with 123 batteries unless you are willing to dump half-used batteries at the start of a shift.
Their large diameter (2 inches) reflectors put more light at a longer distance than any of the belt lights. Even though some of the belt lights approach 200 lumens, they do it with reduced run time and much reduced throw, due to their small diameter reflectors.
A Magcharger will put a spot of light at 150 yards, as will the Ultra Stinger and a BOREALIS, which has the capability of illuminating the whole road for 250 yards.
Those lights are ideal for traffic stops, accident sites and the ones with major lumen output can even illuminate through heavily tinted windows, which makes them ideal car’s lights or for using in an emergency situation.
Lets start with the popular Surefire G-2 (or 6 P) at 65 lumens, the target is the 8 by 12 tool shed at 30 yards.
We are going to pit the Surefire G-2 65 lumens $35.00 against the Surefire Digital Lumamax L-4 (also 65 lumens and with a price tag of $160.00).
Surefire G-2 65 lumens
Surefire L-4 Luxeon V, LED, 65 lumens
And now we are going to pit the Surefire 6 P with the P-61 120 lumen lamp (20 minutes run time) against the best Luxeon LED thrower that I have (similar to the cree LED).
This is a Mc Gizmo PR T head with a TWOJ bin Luxeon doing 120 plus lumens.
Surefire Centurion C-2 (same as the 6P) with the P-61 lamp, 120 lumens.
And the PR T with TWOJ bin Luxeon, (LED) @ 120 lumens
And now we are going to show a belt light of 200 lumens (The Surefire Centurion III with the P-91 lamp, 200 lumens, 20 minutes run) and three cars' lights of 200 lumens plus and beyond.
Surefire Centurion C-III, 200 lumens P-91 lamp.
And here the Magcharger also 200 lumens, with its bigger reflector and tighter focus will throw the light at 150 yards, while the Centurion III range will stop at 45 or 50 yards.
Magcharger 200 lumens (40,000 candlepowers)
And here is the Ultra Stinger, the most powerful of the Stingers rechargeables from Streamlight with 295 lumens and 75,000 candlepower, although this figure is largely inflated when you consider that is about “bulb” lumens and not torch or “real” lumens.
And now the BOREALIS, with the format of a 3 D (12 1/2 inches long) outputting 1050 lumens (two million candlepower) for 50 minutes.
Do I need to say anything about the importance of a powerful light for police use when clearing a backyard or wooded area?
As you well can see the capabilities of each light from these pictures.
Best regards,
Black Bear |
| Replies: 29 |
Last Post |
| General Category |
Primary Self-Defense |
Some recommended Martial arts training |
| There are a lot of systems to choose from in the world of martial arts. Many of them claim to be good for self-defense purposes but it is just a few that actually are useful. Your system should contain defense against armed attacks, multiple assailants training, stress training, and include verbal de-escalation, proper mindset, sparring, contact training and it should contain few but good techniques.
Krav Maga: A hardcore military system from Israel. It contains a lot of the above attributes. It's major advantage is the weapon use (replicas) in early stages of the training and that the proper mental mindset is trained from the beginning. The biggest drawback is that it is a bit technique focused at times but scenario training occurs.
Reality based self defense (RBSD): Much but not all of the training is scenario based. Your goal is to solve a mission under the most dangerous of all possible situations.
Sport based systems: Like boxing, Brazilian jiujitsu, shootfighting, judo and thaiboxing. Sport based systems gives you the advantage of being really good fighting unarmed against a single opponent. |
| Replies: 22 |
Last Post |
| General Category |
Street Fighting, Martial Arts |
What is the best form of self defense |
| I would like to start taking self defence classes, however i'm not quite certain but to begin with. From what I heard, Krav Maga is of the best form of self defence. Could you guys confirm this? |
| Replies: 11 |
Last Post |
| General Category |
Women's Self-Defense |
Please, help me choose a program. |
| Okay, I have Fibromyalgia. Basicly I feel like a walking bruise. Can anyone give me any suggestions for a self defense program?
Oh, and BJ girl, thank you for the reference to Dr. Ruthless on Utube you gave to another lady. That was cool. |
| Replies: 8 |
Last Post |
| General Category |
Terrorism |
Terrorism |
| Heck where I live it's like the state has a revolving door. Just a few weeks ago the local LE boys took down an excaped fellon from Mexico. Now the way I see it if this guy can get here so can any other BG. This time I don't think they will hit a large building or similar place but that they will do the same thing that happened in Russia but in a small town and many of them at the same time(Hit a School). If you think about it what better way to break the moral of a nation. All we can do is hope it never happens. Just my 2 cents. Be Safe Out There |
| Replies: 8 |
Last Post |
| General Category |
Primary Self-Defense |
Florida self defense question? |
| First time poster and here's the deal. My fiances 24yr old son moved in with us a year ago for about a month. Every week he partied and got drunk. One night he called his mom to pick him up at a bar. When he got home he decided he was going to drive compelety drunk. His mom woke me up and asked me to help stop him. I stood behind his vehicle, he got out and blasted me in the face twice. I stood there and stared at him and called the cops at the same time. He was arrested on domestic battery, plead guilty and just got off a year of pre-trial intervention to include anger management and AA. I agreed to the PTI because I thought the kid had some problems and I wanted to see him get help. (history of alcohol abuse) I have a history in boxing and some BJJ, 6'1" 250lb. It took a lot for me to get over being hit in the face without knocking him out. Well I did now he's drinking and starting crap again. He showed up at our business three weeks ago and got into it with one of best employees over nothing. I told him to leave then he started in on me again. Verbally assaulting me in front of customers. He also said he wants to fight me sober now. I said we didn't fight last time you hit me in the head as hard as you could twice and I stared at you, didn't that teach you something. Then he ranted on and on with every cuss word in the book in front my employees and customers before he left. Before you ask my fiance is done with him and stated I will never ask you to be around him again ever. For the last year I tolerated him at family functions and get togethers for the benefit of their family. Thats over now! We will run into each other our town is small. He will never raise a hand to me again and I've had it with his mouth too. If he even puts his hand on me and I react is it considered self defense and do I have to make absolute sure he touches me first? I won't have any weapons involved it will be all hands. |
| Replies: 0 |
Last Post |
| General Category |
Defensive Weapons |
New ASP baton problems |
| Hello everyone, I just purchased a new ASP 21 inch baton, but It seems to have a few problems with it. Im sure some of them, or maybe even all of them are just natural parts of the product itself but I'd still like to make sure If anyone can offer some help on the matter.
The first seems to stem from the fact that my baton measures in at 19.75 inches exact from tip to end when expanded, and measures 7.75 inches when not expanded (Which is correct as far as I know). Why its 1.25 inches shorter then it claims to be I dont know..
Also the paint on the black chrome model I have seems to be coming off in some way, I dont know if its just the left over paint mixed with residual grease or what it is, but that obviously worries me.
And as a final note I just thought I'd mention that having to close the damn thing against a hard surface, concrete being the only one I have found to reliabily do it each time is already peeling the paint off the front tip after only a few strikes.
Though Im sure some of these things like I said just comes with the territory, any help on the matter would be appreciated.
Thanks again. |
| Replies: 1 |
Last Post |
| General Category |
Primary Self-Defense |
Instructor credentialing and training |
| We function in a wholly unregulated industry. This has its benefits and its pitfalls. I am uncomfortable with the idea that someone would try and impose certain standards, which I might not agree with, on who should be teaching self-defence, and how it should be taught. At the same times, I cringe at the really poor quality stuff that's out there, knowing that the public is usually unable to differentiate between the good stuff and the crap.
So as it stands, self-defence instructors come from a variety of backgrounds, with different ideas as to what they think qualifies them to do this work.
Some folks are just martial arts teachers who don't know the difference between self-defence and martial arts, and so they hold these mini seminars where they pick a few techniques, and jumble them up with some platitudes like "you have the right to protect yourself" "don't use excessive force" and "be aware of your surroundings".
What arts do you think best prepare a trainer to teach sd? Kickboxing? WW2 combatives? Should they have submission grappling experience? Should they have blade weapons knowledge? Shooting experience?
What about communication and teaching skills? sociology/criminology? health sciences, or human kinetics?
Do you think a person with a policing/corrections background will be more qualified? A medical/allied-health background? An education or phys ed background? Or do a lot of these people have sort of wonky perspectives that would be as much a liability as an asset? Melissa Soalt, who produced the highly-acclaimed Dr. Ruthless tapes, was a psychologist before she got into this line of work, and was just sick and tired of treating these traumatized women--so she decided to do something pro-active.
What about basic requirements? Obviously no matter a person's "style" or "profession", they should have some basic skills to do this stuff: athletic first aid is the first obvious one that comes to mind, but surely you can think of others?
There are a lot of instructor training programs that are out there, but does anyone know of any program that they would trust to accredit truly qualified teachers that you would unreservedly recommend to anyone? |
| Replies: 18 |
Last Post |
| General Category |
Primary Self-Defense |
5 Primary Targets |
| There are 5 primary targets that should attempt to attack during an assault. What makes them primary targets?
They are primary because a successful attack upon them will almost instantly end the fight- or at least pave the way for further attacks. They are primary because anyone can attack these targets to good affect- you do not have to be a powerhouse or a highly skilled fighter to get good results.
The 5 targets are-
1. The Eyes
2. The Throat
3. The Solarplexus
4. The Groin/Testicles
5. The Knees
It is important to note that no matter what type of "guard" someone utilizes at least 1 of those primary targets is always available. Attack the target that is open and it will pave the way for you to get at the others. |
| Replies: 6 |
Last Post |
| Additional Section |
Miscellaneous |
cali gun laws |
| can your petition to restore your gun rights early? its supposed ot be ten but its only been 3 lol..the case has been expunged and im graudating college in a couple of months and want to be a correctional counselor but you have to be able to own a gun.. what can i do? i cant wait 7 more years to start my damn career :( |
| Replies: 1 |
Last Post |
| General Category |
Defensive Weapons |
knifes |
| whats everyones fixed blade for self defense?I have a crkt first strike 5'' blade and I like it but am looking for another. |
| Replies: 14 |
Last Post |
| General Category |
Defensive Weapons |
Nonlethal self-defense weapons |
| My fiance, as a part of her new job, has to walk alone at night in a bad part of town to get to her car. Consequently, I want to get her something to use for self-defense.
I've been looking at mace and stun-guns- how are these? Is one more effective than the other?
And with stun guns, they range in voltage from 100,000 to 8 or 900,000. Are the higher ones overkill? Is the difference in effect as big as the difference in those numbers? Will a lower voltage even be effective? The last thing I want is for her to use something that just pisses off an attacker without enabling her to get away.
I'd greatly appreciate any knowledgable feedback that anyone can give me. |
| Replies: 9 |
Last Post |
| General Category |
Defensive Weapons |
Tazer Law |
| What is the California age limit on tazers and tazer guns? |
| Replies: 3 |
Last Post |
| General Category |
Defensive Weapons |
Weapons for the home, backyard, street, car and public areas |
| Inside your home you can have machete,axes, spears , hammrs, guns,etc. to protect yourself. You can buy extendable batons from collectors shops. like real ones.
I think the loophole is you call them collectables. Which means you cant carry down the street but surely you would hit a home invader in the head with one.
In your yard you can carry machete,axes, hamemrs,etc. pretend you are a handyman looking for jobs to do as your alibi as you check the perimeter.
In cars the wheel lock on the passenger sid with a hammer fist strike out the window is probably the most legal.
Down the street it is more difficult. we cant carry guns down the street in ccw zones as easily or legally. You can carry an unbreakable umbrella. I think you might be able to get a cheaper version of it at lowes for $30. The original costs 200$ but imo if you carry an umbrella someone is less likely to punch you in the mouth and give you dental bills of over $200. You can carry sharpened pencils, pens, hard boots, torches if you are out at night. a small metal torch maybe in your pocket during the day. You could also carry a tennis racquet and pretend you are always en route the tennis court or you like to practice your swing as you go for a walk. You can also wear chunky rings. Also iif you got a crew of men all walking around in boots and umbrellas it woudl be even better. |
| Replies: 0 |
Last Post |
| General Category |
Defensive Weapons |
Walking the dog... |
| Recently when my auntie who was out walking a couple of dogs for her friends, a couple of teenage girls let their pet pitbull attack one of the dogs she was walking.
The dog that got attacked was some small breed of dog, obviously the pitbull thought it would be a good play-thing to bite around the head.
None of the other dogs helped(you know the nice tame domesticated dogs, some were quite large, (if she had her boxers with her)).
My auntie tried to get the dog off of course, I think she tried kicking it, but she couldn't deter it, the pitbull probably let-go after the small dog stopped whelping or struggling or something.
The small dog was rushed to the vets with a crushed skull.
The girls were never caught because they gave fake names and addresses to my aunt, obviously they didn't care.
If I was there I probably would have dug my thumbs into its eye-sockets, do you think that would get it off?
Now for my question...
I live in the U.K, what would be a good weapon I could carry while walking the dog which would allow me to get a dog that was attacking mine? and would also allow me to fend off the so called "tough-guy" owners that like to own violent breeds of dogs (if they had a problem with me killing their pet?)(I have a Jack Russel for all you dog-lovers out their...).
Ideally I would like a swordcane because its hard enough hitting to fend off a large dog and I dont really want to have to get my hands close to one(so range is good)... but these are illegal (which isn't the problem its the OBTAINING one that is the problem). Its also kinda dorky to carry a walking stick when your 25...
A Teloscopic batton would be second choice... (however is illegal aswell).
So I'm wondering what other options do you guys think would be good? |
| Replies: 0 |
Last Post |
| General Category |
Defensive Weapons |
REAL life self defense story anyone? |
| I'm interested in real stories where a self defense non lethal weapon, such as stun gun or pepper spray actually prevented crime or saved a life. Does anybody have a story they would like to share? |
| Replies: 3 |
Last Post |
| General Category |
Primary Self-Defense |
power to the people Pavel Tsatsouline |
| has anyone else read these ebooks? they are supposed to be the best way to build strength and fitness for martial arts/street defense available and many people swear by them. however I have just downloaded them and some of the ideas are a bit unorthodox to say the least! What does everyone think?
By the way if you have not got the ebooks they can be downloaded free at
http://rapidshare.com/files/117286839/Pavel_Ebooks.rar.html
and
http://mihd.net/kvn7yjl
I would appreciate it if you could have a read and let me know if you agree with these training concepts as I dont want to waste my time, thanks |
| Replies: 1 |
Last Post |
| General Category |
Primary Self-Defense |
Defense against dogs |
| I know that there are a lot of things you can use on dogs. Everything from firearms, sticks, pepper spray and so on. I am curious as to how you would defend yourself if you were suddenly attacked by a big attack dog, if you were unarmed?
I have taken several bites from a police dog while I was wearing arm protection and have thought a lot about this. I think I have come up with a few good answers but I am curious if one, this has ever happened to you and two if you have any ideas on what you would do if attacked by a big mean dog? |
| Replies: 1 |
Last Post |
| General Category |
Women's Self-Defense |
i Need a help in Women Self Defense |
| Hi everybody, i'm new to this forum, iam very much interested in Women Self Defense programs and new information, i have my one site related to women self defense, i like to update my site content, so i requested you people, you can help me, i need a new and latest information about this, i don't want huge content, little bit is enough, but it should be valuable and woth. Hope you people will reply me soon, thank you :) |
| Replies: 9 |
Last Post |
| Additional Section |
Miscellaneous |
Defence & Security Report UAE |
| Independent 5-year Defence and Security industry forecast for the UAE.
Original Defence and security market research and the defence & security sector trend analysis for the UAE Defence and Security industry.
Competitive intelligence, UAE defence & security company rankings and SWOT analyses on international and domestic defence & security companies in the UAE.
The UAE Defence & Security Report has been researched at source in 2007, and features latest-available data covering all headline indicators; 5-year industry forecasts for the UAE through end-2012; company rankings and competitive landscapes covering national and multinational arms and components manufacturers, electronic and software producers, and companies providing defence solutions, as well as analysis of latest industry developments, trends and regulatory changes in the UAE.
UAE Defence & Security Report provides professionals, consultancies, government departments, regulatory bodies and researchers with independent forecasts and regional competitive intelligence on the UAE defence & security industry.
Key Benefits of Report
Benchmark It’s Independent 5-Year Defence & Security Industry Forecast on the UAE to test other views - a key input for successful budgetary and strategic business planning in the UAE defence and security market.
Target Business Opportunities & Risks in the UAE Defence & Security Sector through reviews of latest industry trends, regulatory changes, and major deals, projects and investments in UAE
Exploit The Latest Competitive UAE Defence & Security Intelligence & Company SWOTS on your peers and competitors through company rankings by sales, market share, investments and leading products and services.
Coverage
SWOT Analysis
Snapshot evaluation of the major issues affecting security, the defence sector, economy and politics, with issues subdivided into ‘strengths’ ‘weaknesses’ ‘opportunities’ and ‘threats’.
Political Risk Assessment
Drawing on It’s twenty-year heritage of Country Risk analysis, this comprehensively evaluates the key risks to domestic politics and
foreign relations, focusing on issues most likely to affect either domestic security or the defence sector.
Security Risk Analysis
It’s proprietary Security Ratings provide a reliable – and country comparable – guide to conflict, terrorism and criminal risk, backed up by our analyst’s latest assessment of each component. Furthermore, drawing on our Country Risk expertise, we assess the state’s vulnerability to a serious – or prolonged – terrorist campaign.
Defence Industry Assessment
Overview of industry landscape and key players; public/private structure, size and value of industry sector; assessment of business operating environment and latest regulatory developments; indepth review of recent procurement trends and developments.
It 5-Year Forecasts
Historic data series and 5-year forecasts to end-2011 for key industry indicators, supported by explicit assumptions, plus analysis of key downside risks to the main forecast. Defence expenditure (local currency and US$bn); defence expenditure (% of total budget); defence expenditure (% of GDP); defence expenditure per capita, US$; defence budget (local currency and US$bn); employment in arms production (‘000s); employment in arms production (% of labour force); arms imports (US$mn); arms imports (% of total imports); arms exports (US$mn); arms exports (% of total exports)
It 5-year forecast and analysis of all headline macroeconomic indicators, including real GDP growth, inflation, fiscal balance, trade balance, current account and external debt.
Company Profiles
Company profiles, including senior executives and full contact details, business activity, products and services, foreign direct investments and projects.
Executive Summary
The United Arab Emirates (UAE) is arguably the most politically stable country in the Arab world. It is currently edging towards reforms, largely at the behest of the US' limited agenda to introduce popular participation in the Gulf States, but these will be symbolic and will not cause any fundamental shifts in the power dynamics.
The UAE has few explicit security threats. However, its inauspicious geo-strategic location dictates a permanent state of insecurity. Minor territorial disputes with Iran continue to put a low-level security pressure on the Emirates, while instability in nearby Iraq and political uncertainties in the wider region provide reason for caution. The security threats to the UAE in terms of insurgency and terrorism are thus far not significant.
The UAE's 10-year modernisation programme has created a military with the potential to challenge Iran and Saudi Arabia for regional dominance. The confluence of strategic imperative and immediate wealth contributed to the UAE's establishment as a procurer, not a producer, of arms. The UAE lacks an established local defence industry and its forces are almost entirely reliant upon foreign procurement, training and expertise. The Offsets Group Programme mandates that foreign contractors establish joint ventures with local firms, providing the opportunities for technology transfers and the establishment of local maintenance and manufacturing facilities.
A number of indigenous firms are however making limited progress in strengthening their position within the industry. Strong support for advanced military procurements and upgrades drive the industry for the medium term. Coming to the end of a 10-year US$15bn defence modernisation programme, the UAE is the most rapidly developing military power in the Gulf region. The UAE engages in a brisk arms trade with a variety of international suppliers. Regional security imperatives mean that the UAE is consistently looking to maintain its credible deterrent force by importing the latest technologies. To dilute the potential political effect of heavy reliance of foreign arms producers, the UAE consciously aims to diversify its suppliers among the four main global suppliers of arms: the US, France, the UK and Russia. The UAE does not export arms to any significant degree.
It seems the Emirates have little to worry about for the time being – a stable political system, a strong economy, limited security threats, and a military with technology that can, in some aspects, rival the best in the world.
For more information, kindly visit:
http://www.bharatbook.com/detail.asp?id=16498 |
| Replies: 0 |
Last Post |
| General Category |
Street Fighting, Martial Arts |
Where to start. |
| Hey guys, I bumped into these forums via google. Ive been looking for a decent place to talk about and discuss fighting and defence, as the universe of competing styles and schools is confusing the hell out of me and I dont know many people with the knowledge or interest that I can go to.
Im not from a rough area but I have had a fair number of encounters which turned nasty. Luckily I was able to deal with the aggressor when things turned violent. Saying that however, I try to prevent situations from getting to that level whenever possible.
I have yet to get into a situation where I feel truely out of my depth but I feel I should equip myself in case that ever happened.
Locally, trouble usually rises from multiple aggressors in gangs. I admit I would be lost if a large number of people jumped me or if they were using weapons (which I know of and have seen in my neighborhood).
So what would people recommend? I've been looking into Krav Maga, the street fighting emphasis looks good. Other mainstream MAs such as Karate seem somewhat limited on their own and more sports based but that may just be my inexperienced novice view point.
I realise one system is never going to be 100% effective but something such as Krav Maga seems like a good starting point from which to build on as well as bringing my fitness level back up. |
| Replies: 0 |
Last Post |
| Additional Section |
Miscellaneous |
Out of Obscurity and Going International |
| The history of the Mafia and cinema portrayal---some comparisons and comments: 8)
___________
GOING INTERNATIONAL: OUT OF OBSCURITY
During 77 days in 1971 while I was getting ready to come to Australia, flying to Australia from Canada and settling in to a teaching job in a primary school in Whyalla South Australia, The Godfather was filmed.1 By 1971 the Mafia had been reported on in the print and electronic media on a number of fronts while a vast Mafia-connected international heroin trafficking network was developing.2 The narrative base of The Godfather spanned the years 1945 to 1955, the pre-narcotics phase of the post WW2 resurgence of the Mafia. Also in 1971 another Mafia-related film, The French Connection, the first R-rated movie in cop genre to win an academy award, took cop movies into a grittier, faster and more violent direction. The storyline in The French Connection was the world’s largest narcotics seizure in 1962, the year I began my pioneering for the Canadian Baha’i community. This film was released in October 1971, three months after I arrived in Australia from Canada as an international pioneer.
During these post WW2 years from 1945 to 1979 in the history of the Mafia, I grew from early childhood well into the years of early adulthood, that is, from the age of one to thirty-five. In those years, too, I knew little to nothing of the Mafia and took little interest in it when it was mentioned in the media. Even the FBI took little interest in the Mafia until November 1957. Illegal heroin involving the Corsican Mafia was first discovered in 1937 in France right at the start of the Baha’i Seven Year Plan, an international pioneering venture of significant magnitude. Like the Mafia, the Baha’i Faith was an organization, a movement, that held little interest to the print and electronic media. It was virtually unknown then in popular or academic culture. -Ron Price with thanks to 1Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia, 25 March 2008; and 2 A.W. McCoy, The Politics of Heroin in South-East Asia, 1972.
It took many years before
any public recognition came
our way or your way even
though our histories were
drowned in blood all the
way back to the middle of
the 19th century....yes.......
.....murder, rape, prisons,
executions, crimes—they
traversed sombre skies with
bitter hostilities: vindictive,
relentless, heated, prolonged
controversy, betrayal, discipline,
toughness, nerve, streets running
with blood, severed heads, horrors
of unimaginable dimensions.........
And when we and you went into
international arenas the horrors
went on in our homelands, although
on the international front very few
knew anything about us or you.....
As the 1960s became the 1970s
and on and on into the millennium
our public profiles gradually escaped
the obscurity in which they languished
for a century and a half since their origins
as far back as Darwin who had told us
our world went far back beyond 4004 B.C.
on 31 October at 7:35 in the morning.
Ron Price
26 March 2008 |
| Replies: 1 |
Last Post |
| General Category |
Defensive Weapons |
What should I use? |
| Some man got out of his car at a red light and started to harass me while i was in my car, then started to chase me while i was driving home. First time i really felt threatened, so now i carry a skinner knife in my poket at all times, but i hear its illegal in my state (CA).
Well so what are my options? just leave a bat in my car? buy some pepper spray? need some ideas |
| Replies: 9 |
Last Post |
| General Category |
Street Fighting, Martial Arts |
A close call |
| Hello there,
Yesterday, I nearly got mugged, but fortunately due to an amazing set of lucky circumstances, it didn't happen. What happened was as I was leaving work, before getting the train home, I went to the restrooms, to answer a "call of nature" :oops: . I was inside a shopping centre, and as I walked towards the bathrooms, I noticed a bunch of teenagers hanging around outside. I hesitated for a moment, they looked at me, I looked at them, and then I decided to go to another bathroom instead. Thinking back, it was a bit strange to see a bunch of teenagers haging around outside a parking lot bathroom at 7.30 pm. But during the time I was more concerned about not soiling myself and getting home :roll: .
The next day at work, one of my work mates tells me that some young woman got mugged out there, around the same time I just left. Anyway what happed was, the poor lady was hit, my mate chased after him. After he ran into the other teenagers, he quickly ran back into the other direction.
Thinking back, I wondering, what if that was me there :shock: !. I mean, even if was was ambushed while doing a number 2, I think I was confident of being able to fight them off. At them time, I was carrying a Cree LED Tactical light with a striking bezel and a kubotan on me and had a 3C cell maglite in my bag. But still, it does scare me just thinking about what happed if I didn't go to a different bathroom. |
| Replies: 1 |
Last Post |
| Additional Section |
Admin Feedback |
Hi |
| I am new here, but not new to martial arts or self defense. Quick resume from me. I have a second degree blackbelt in jujitsu, black belt in Hapkido, geen belt in Judo, brown belt in Tae-kwon-do, and have taken boxing lessons. I maintain an interest in various other martial arts.
I currently work as an undercover narcotics detective, SWAT Operator and firearms instructor. I have worked as a jailer and a patrol officer in the past. I am a country boy and enjoy hunting, backpacking, fishing and working out.
I am 28 years old, married with three young kids, so that keeps me pretty busy. I am looking for a few good forums where I can post and learn something from other people. I hope this is one of them.
P.S. I know people don't usually post this much information on an introduction thread, but I felt is was important because; I want you guys to know where I am coming and what I am about. I am not going to pretend like I don't know anything about theses topics, or make you think I am a ninja/navy seal either. I am somewhere in between, and I hope their is a place for me here. Thanks. |
| Replies: 1 |
Last Post |
| General Category |
Defensive Weapons |
ugly billy? |
| After being robbed recently i feel i need some protection, as I am an avid fisherman i have a "shakespeare" ugly billy club. For those of you who dont know what it is, its an 18inch solid fiberglass club used to beat large game fish from flopping around on your boat(tuna,marlin, shark). I plan on keeping it in my car, however if Im pulled over and for some reason and an officer implements a search can i be charged for having this in my car?
btw i reside in Massachusetts[/img] |
| Replies: 1 |
Last Post |
| General Category |
Street Fighting, Martial Arts |
Avoiding neighborhood "scrapes".... |
| Hi everyone,
34-year-old hispanic-american, married male, here. Hope that someone can somehow relate to what I'm writing about ( so please bear with me if this is too long.....I just gotta vent). It all started with a verbal confrontation with some neighbors who live next door to my mom's house. Both households happen to live under the same landlord, by the way. One day, the neighbors-in-question were throwing away some rubbish out in the backyard/lot. There isn't a defined boundary between both houses in the back, so my mom complained about it to the neighbors from her little side balcony; by yelling at them. The old lady and what appeared to be her grandson, yelled back to her, telling her that they got permission to throw their crap out onto this rubbish pile, (which happened to be on our side), and to basically mind her business. The scrawny punk,(about 16-17), all thugged-out, told her to shut her mouth.
I happened to be home watching tv when this happened, and HAPPENED to listen to him talk to my 70-year-old mom in this way; I naturally reacted by running out to the balcony of her 2-story rented apt. and yelled back to that thug punk that NOBODY talks to my mom like that. He talked some shit back..........and we left it at that......telling him I'd meet him anytime, anywhere.... Thing is........the "WORD" on the (pretty reliable) street around here, as-a-matter-of-fact is that I said what I said to the son of a local area drug-dealer, with pretty long and wide connections, arms, etc..., as well as a family history of pretty hard time and notoriously solid street "cred". Anyhow, this punk naturally thinks that he can talk like that to anyone he wants, given his background.(and his "backup").
I recently got married and moved in with my wife, about 10 minutes away, in the same little backwater town that my mom lives in. Everyone's pretty rural out here so word gets out fast, (I'm a city boy, so country living is a contrast). Apparently, this kid has friends in my new neighborhood and I've seen him drive back and forth on occassion. Ever since the incident (about 3 or 4 months ago), we don't even have eye contact, so it struck me as to why he keeps on coming around our house with his little scrawny goons, looking hard and giving dirty looks. I can't help but to think that he might actually want to take me up on my original offer as to "anytime and anywhere" that I gave him. I'd be more than happy to accomodate him, if it's only him and a few other of his fellow goons.........but I think it may be a few more than that, given his "network".
I don't want to sound paranoid, or anything, but lately, I seem to be followed home from my mom's house, (his uncle has a small business next door to my mom's.....it's a small bar/pool joint....in other words, a DIVE. This is in a relatively good neighborhood, however; so it sticks out like a sore thumb. The kid and his friends are always using cell phones with each other; that's why it would probably be of no suprise to me if they were keeping tabs on my in's and out's from my mom's to my wife's house. Could they be staking me out, for some reason? In this area, the people here are NOTORIOUSLY inclined to gang up one person, in case there's an altercation of some kind, involving only two people. I just want to prepare myself, in case that may come to pass..... I only plan to use a simple expandable baton. I don't wish to use deadly force on anybody.........only temporarily incapasitate them. I could be surrounded by up to 8 guys of my height and close to my proportions. I don't have any backup of any kind, other than my own self-defense. How do I avoid this from happening, or how can I prevent it......if I possibly can? Could they be just hounding me, probably showing their numbers and potential force...........against me, one average joe guy???
This is the shit that I have to contend with in the area of which I live......I'm not originally from this area........only family obligations keep me here, instead of moving back to New Jersey, where I'm originally from. The worse that could happen is that I would probably receive a pretty hard beating by these punks, or their associates.........I would doubt that they would want to use deadly force on me....... :? (being that it would not be good for business, you know). They wouldn't want the unnecessary attention........that is, if they were smart. Anybody here got any suggestions :?: ? I would be much oblidged to whomever would like to post...........thanks. |
| Replies: 11 |
Last Post |
| General Category |
Defensive Weapons |
Hollow handle survival knives |
| Hello there, I'm new to this forum so please forgive me if this is in the wrong place.
Recently I bought this hollow handle survival knife which was on sale (it was quite cheap which is why I bought it). I blades is is good and the handle is aluminum. the only thing I am worried about is the blade to handle connection. I was just wondering, has anyone else had any experience with hollow hjandle survival knives and if so, how do they compare with solid sheath knives. |
| Replies: 2 |
Last Post |
| General Category |
Women's Self-Defense |
Kicking men's testicles???? |
| Wat do u girls think abt kicking a man in the balls as self-d? I asked my girl-friends about this and 95% of them said they'll aim for the balls if attacked by a guy. |
| Replies: 49 |
Last Post |
| General Category |
Defensive Weapons |
Are you a knife person or a gun person? |
| I am a knife person. |
| Replies: 3 |
Last Post |
| Additional Section |
Miscellaneous |
TheMilitaryForums |
| TheMilitaryForums is a website that specializes in Military, Defence & Security Forces but just lacks a few members/moderators as it is only a few weeks old, You can find us at www.themilitaryforums.com, Plus the registration is free if anyone wants to join. |
| Replies: 0 |
Last Post |
| General Category |
Defensive Weapons |
Your favourite shotgun |
| Hi, everybody!
Here we're gonna discuss your favourite shotgun models.
What is your favourite shotgun?
What type of shotgun do you prefer for home defense purposes (pump-action, semi-auto...)?
How long do you own the shotgun? |
| Replies: 23 |
Last Post |
| General Category |
Primary Self-Defense |
What do you do |
| Anticipating a possible fight that could break out any day, I've been brushing up on some old karate techniques that I learned years and years ago. And (I know this sounds lame) I've analyzed every possible attack he might throw on me, and thought a lot about how I would react. That way, even though I hardly remember a lick of martial arts, I'll still be somewhat prepared. However, one thing they never taught us was what to do if the attacker decides to just charge at you. I highly doubt that in that situation, a simple front kick would overpower a man pummeling you at full force. |
| Replies: 2 |
Last Post |
| General Category |
Defensive Weapons |
Deploying Weapon While on Your Back |
| Forgive me if you see this same post at a bunch of different sites, I'm trying to get everyone's opinion.
Has anybody worked on deploying a tactical folder, fixed blade, or some other weapon after being taken down to the ground? I was working on some striking techniques on my back today and realized if I had a blade in my front or back pocket, it might be really difficult to get to if a guy was on top of me. I could carry it on the side, but then it's out in the open and civilians and/or cops might not be thrilled to see that.
Has anybody thought about this? Better yet, has anyone trained doing it? |
| Replies: 3 |
Last Post |
| Additional Section |
Miscellaneous |
Want to surprise your man? |
| Surprise your guy on a special occasion with an incredible blowjob! :D Learn through DIRECT PRACTICE in a CONFIDENTIAL SETTING how to give the ULTIMATE KISS! He'll love you forever! :girl:
blowjoblessons@gmail.com |
| Replies: 8 |
Last Post |
| General Category |
Defensive Weapons |
Self defense strategies |
| Hi when I go outside i carry with me a pepper mace but when i go to the store at night by myself in my purse i carry a switch blade ,you know even if i had my switchblade and mace on me at the same time and some guy came up behind me and said crazy stuff for me to do,i wouldn't be able to use them i would be scared and i dont wanna hurt someone ,at that time i would feel my weakness probley,i know i should stomp on his foot then bring my heel real hard into his kneecap hopeing to break it then as he feel i would knee him in the face but again since i know how to do things to try to protect my self i feel like o my god this is happing and i would frezze because i never had it done before wheer i could defend my self,i know men are stronger when it comes to standing battle with women but laying down on the back side gives more power to women i feel,different moves to make ,any advice i am knew here could use tips,thank you |
| Replies: 29 |
Last Post |
| General Category |
Women's Self-Defense |
Improvised weapons |
| Hi there
I was wondering if anyone could advise me on what items I could keep on myself so ward off an attacker...I don't want to carry actual weapons as they are illegal here...was thinking more along the lines of keys, hair spray to use as mace etc Thanks |
| Replies: 28 |
Last Post |
| General Category |
Defensive Weapons |
Video |
| Nice training!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RcioAv0dW7U |
| Replies: 2 |
Last Post |
| General Category |
Women's Self-Defense |
Teacher's back after fending off would-be rapist |
| Teacher's back after fending off would-be rapist
By Mareva Brown -- Bee Staff Writer
February 18, 2005
Police detectives don't believe the attempted rape of a student teacher at Hiram Johnson High School this week is part of a series of school attacks, but a spokesman said Thursday they are concerned that the suspect may try to harm someone else. "It's unusual," said Sacramento Police Sgt. Justin Risley. "But it seems to be isolated at this point."
The victim, a 25-year-old student teacher who placed seventh last year in the U.S. Olympic trials for women's free-style wrestling, returned to teaching physical education classes on Thursday. She was alone in an office inside the women's locker room at 7:10 p.m. Tuesday when someone rattled and knocked on the door. When she opened it, a young man entered, grabbed the woman - cutting her lip - and tried to take off her pants. The victim, who is not being named by The Bee, said she was stunned when she realized the assailant was trying to rape her rather than steal her computer.
"The whole time he was attacking me, I was thinking, 'If he only knew what he was getting himself into,' " she said.
She practices martial arts, including Brazilian jiu-jitsu, five nights a week. And once the attack began, she said she pulled him closer so he couldn't punch her and used her martial arts training to kick him. "He totally gave up and ran away," she said. "I was kind of pissed because I wanted to choke him out so the police could come and get him."
She described her assailant as an African American youth about 17 to 20 years old, about 5-foot-10 and 180 pounds with a thin build, brown eyes and black, curly hair. He was wearing knee-length shorts and a black "puffy" jacket, officials said. Sacramento City Unified School District spokeswoman Maria Lopez said an additional security officer was assigned to the campus Wednesday and schedules have been rearranged to ensure staff members work in pairs. Thursday, police officials put together a composite sketch of the attacker in hopes of identifying him. "We're making headway," Risley said.
Detectives don't believe the would-be rapist is a student at Hiram Johnson, but officials are looking into whether he may have been a student athlete from another school because of his athletic attire. A basketball game was going on in a nearby gymnasium at the time of the attack, Risley said. Detectives are uncertain whether the victim was specifically targeted or whether the assailant just saw her there alone and decided to act. The victim did not recognize him.
"There's nothing she told us that indicates she had problems with anyone, or that anyone looked at her inappropriately," Risley said. "And it wasn't unusual for her to be there that late. She coaches and teachers. Her hours are all over the place."
http://www.sacbee.com/content/news/education/story/12386286p-13242586c.html |
| Replies: 4 |
Last Post |
| General Category |
Primary Self-Defense |
How to choose a folding knife! |
| What type of folding knife is ideal for everyday carry and use? I receive this question almost daily and I am publishing this article in hopes of helping to guide the first time knife buyer or a seasoned knife collector who might be interested in gaining a new perspective on the factors that go into making a wise decision.
The first question that you should consider is what you will be using your knife for. If you will be using your blade for hunting, you will want it to have a drop point. A drop point knife has an appearance similar to a spear in some ways. These are ideal for skinning animals because of the angle at which the blade is ground. If you will be using the knife for self defense, you should lean towards a long, serrated style blade. Most plain or serrated knifes will do just fine if they are used to open boxes all day, but the plain edge knife might require sharpening more often. If you work in law enforcement or public services, you should consider at least a partially serrated blade due to the possibility of encountering a self defense or emergency situation.
Once you have decided what your knife's primary function will be, it is important to decide whether you want a plain or serrated edge. Plain edge knives have several advantages over serrated edges. They are able to make more precise cuts, are easier to sharpen and the edge will not break or crack as easily. Serrated knives are ideal if you are going to use your knife for self defense or if you are experienced in knife sharpening. While sharpening a serrated-edge knife can be a bit tedious, most people should have little trouble keeping them sharp with some practice. Several manufacturers sell knife sharpeners that are specifically made for serrated edges.
Many knife companies offer black, powder-coated blades on their folding knives. This feature is popular with a lot of knife buyers and is practical in some ways. The Black coating not only looks nice, but also serves as an anti-reflecting sealant that can protect you in a situation where you need to hide from an attacker or sneak up in a self defense situation. Before you purchase a knife with a black coating, be aware that the coating will wear off after enough use and you will basically be left with a silver blade. |
| Replies: 4 |
Last Post |
| General Category |
Primary Self-Defense |
what justifies self defense? |
| I was wondering what justifies self defense in this days society? Do you have to be swung on or hit first to not be aressted, and when or at what point do weapons become acceptable if ever?
I'm a big guy which genrally keeps people from doing more than talking crap, this has kept me from gettin in fights I just take the insult and walk off. At times I'm in areas of town where it can get hairy ( bars, night clubs etc.) where decent people make stupid desisions.
I know that not fighting is always the best but at some point you have to stand up for your self. Also if someone comes in your home or vechicle what justifies use of a gun? I live in Kansas where concelied carry is legal. |
| Replies: 13 |
Last Post |
| General Category |
Terrorism |
Bush and terror |
| I think Bush has done a great job with protecting America. He comes under constant fire for his policies but in the end he has done a great job. |
| Replies: 4 |
Last Post |
| Additional Section |
Miscellaneous |
Scrubs |
| Does anybody like this show? It is a great comedy show about doctors.
Sadly they are on the last season. |
| Replies: 4 |
Last Post |
| General Category |
Defensive Weapons |
Penalties for Knife vs. Baton in a fight? |
| Hi,
I'm in California, USA, and wondered if the brandishing and use of a knife in a fight exacted a more severe penalty than using a baton. Is that true? Supposedly it is more life-threatening to stab someone than to break his bones?
I suppose too there's the factor of bloodletting. You can lose a lot more blood from a stab wound...and maybe die?
However, if the possible penalty is the same I would sooner go for the knife.
Anyway, a friend of mine swears that cops are "way more" understanding of baton use than a knife. But I don't think that's true. |
| Replies: 7 |
Last Post |
| General Category |
Street Fighting, Martial Arts |
Sport vs. survival |
| In the never ending debate over sport vs. survival I'll offer up a few more
thoughts. Many people claim that if it works in the ring against a conditioned opponent then it will work in the street. I suppose this is true at some level- if your a good ring fighter then you'll probably have some firepower for the street. I have no doubt that Mike Tyson or Evander Holyfield could mess up most people's faces.
But the abilites of champions should not be of concern to us. How should the average man or woman train? Should they compete in Thai Boxing, or NHB's fights?
Many people point to the small size of Royce Gracie and his father Helio- these small men fought men much bigger then themselves and won. People seem to overlook the fact that despite their small size they have a lifetime of training behind them. They didn't study an art for a few years and then fight. Royce had 20+ years of training behind him when he entered the UFC.
Here's some more things to consider. The street is different from the ring because in the ring your prepared for the fight - the street is almost always sudden violence. Therefore you have no time to develop a strategy or reflect on what's working or what's not - you have to get
into action.
The goal of the ring is to win - decision, ko, sumbmission. The goal on the
street is to survive! Knocking someone out of the way and escaping can achieve that survival goal, however it will never allow you to win a competition.
All sports forbid certain techniques ( for the safety of those competing) - if
you want a good system of survival get the rule sheets and learn to break all the rules - now you have a system of street defense.
While sport techniques can be used to good effect on the street (by a competent person) they are not the best way to deal with survival-defense situations. |
| Replies: 11 |
Last Post |
| General Category |
Terrorism |
Earth Liberation Front continues to operate |
| The Patriot Act has thwarted many of Al Quida's USA operations but it hasn't slowed down the ELF http://www.earthliberationfront.com Tre Arrow is still in Canada fighting extradiction for allegedly sabotaging logging and cement trucks. :roll: |
| Replies: 2 |
Last Post |
| Additional Section |
Admin Feedback |
Hi |
| Ok I'm new here> This site looks new. I do have some knowledge in self- defence. Mostly kickboxing and some other self-defence. I'll try my best here. |
| Replies: 6 |
Last Post |
| General Category |
Street Fighting, Martial Arts |
How much pain can you take? |
| Hi all,
I’m new here. great forum!
I’ve been practicing for 20 over years and I have come to believe that pain and injuries, and the ability to endure them may be a big factor in deciding the outcome of a fight/match? anyone agree? most of the time, the emphasis it seems is to focus on one's skills/abilities/technical proficiency etc.
but the fact and reality of fighting remains - however good one is, if one does not have a high pain threshold, one will succumb quickly at the first sign of pain/injury/blood. so the question is, how does one handle pain?
is there a mental/physical training to withstand pain? how would you react to, say, a broken nose, teeth, a kick to the groin/ribs, a broken arm(amber)?
The question is, will you/should one carry on fighting despite a bloodied face or simply surrender? |
| Replies: 3 |
Last Post |
| General Category |
Primary Self-Defense |
Knife defense |
| It is difficult to disarm an opponent of a knife despite a common belief
to the contrary. A knife is a light and dangerous weapon which can be
wielded rapidly and in successive strikes. Consequently, the essence of
this action is to avoid close contact with the enemy. The action described
below has been tested and proven successful under various circumstances.
You are facing an opponent armed with a knife.
1. Twist your body to the left or to the right, bending in the same
direction. Shift your body weight to one leg, the other bent as high as
possible, ready to deliver a kick.
2. Drive your bent leg into opponent's knee with all the force you can
command. This should succeed in breaking your enemy's leg. The least this action will do is to knock your opponent to the ground, thus granting you an opportunity to proceed to other holds. |
| Replies: 25 |
Last Post |
| Additional Section |
Miscellaneous |
Best joke ever ;) |
|
Sorry for this offtopic but it's damn funny :))) I could not hold it!
Why it is good to be a man?
1. Your ass is never a factor in a job interview.
2. Your orgasms are real. Always.
3. Your last name stays put.
4. The garage is all yours.
5. Wedding plans take care of themselves.
6. You never feel compelled to stop a friend from getting laid.
7. Car mechanics tell you the truth.
8. You don't give a rat's ass if someone notices your new haircut.
9. Hot wax never comes near your pubic area.
10. Same work .. more pay.
11. Wrinkles-add character.
12. You don't have to leave the room to make emergency crotch adjustments.
13. Wedding Dress $2000; Tux rental $100.
14. If you retain water, it's in a canteen
15. People never glance at your chest when you're talking to them
16. New shoes don't cut, blister, or mangle your feet
17. One mood, ALL the damn time
18. Phone conversations are over in 30 seconds
19. A five-day vacation requires only 1 suitcase
20. You can open all your own jars26. You can quietly watch a game with your buddy for hours without ever thinking "He must be mad at me."
27. No maxi-pads
28. If another guy shows up at the party in the same outfit, you just might become lifelong friends29. You are not expected to know the names of more than five colors30. You don't have to stop and think of which way to turn a nut on a bolt
31. You are unable to see wrinkles in clothes
32. The same hairstyle lasts for years, maybe decades
33. Your belly usually hides your big hips
so fuunnyy :))
|
| Replies: 3 |
Last Post |
| General Category |
Primary Self-Defense |
Can anybody help me write a book on bullying? |
| Hi iv just joined this site and i have rwally enjoyed reading the posts and im looking forward to reading more.
just asking here though, im writing a book on bullying as there dosnt seem to be many knocking about. im just after some personal stories of victims or people who would discuss if they have been a bully?
all info is completly confidential and no names are needed, just info, im setting up a web site for people to go on for advice and need all advice i can get.
i was a victim myself until i learned psychology now i just play with their heads which is more fun than spending a night in a cold cell for gbh.
my email is ptski98@yahoo.co.uk
thank you |
| Replies: 3 |
Last Post |
| Additional Section |
Miscellaneous |
Wed Design |
| Does anybody here own a website of their own? I have been making websites for about 4 years. I have owned gaming sites and now I own a website service site. I am lookiing for staff so if anybody is interested in a paid job I am looking. Just PM me. |
| Replies: 0 |
Last Post |
| Additional Section |
Miscellaneous |
Hola |
| Spanish is the new English. Anyways hey everybody. I am new here and I just want to get to know some of you. This seems like a nice place. |
| Replies: 2 |
Last Post |
| Additional Section |
Miscellaneous |
Travel To Russia |
| Please help.
Somebody travelled across Russia? How There?
I Am going to go here, advise, what route is better for choosing? Of what agency to take advantage? On the internet it is a lot of sites offering these services (gotorussia.com, russia-travel.com, 3btours.com, russia.com, etc.), but it were would be desirable to hear opinion of people which already there.
Thanks |
| Replies: 2 |
Last Post |
| General Category |
Terrorism |
War on Terror 2011 |
| "War on Terror 2011"
January 29, 2005
A leading expert on counterterrorism imagines the future history of the
war on terror - 10 years after terrorists struck on September 11, 2001.
Richard Clarke, former White House terrorism tzar and author of Against
All Enemies, paints a picture of a country still at war in 2011.
2001-2004: THE RESPONSE
Having ignored al-Qaeda until September 11, 2001, President George Bush
responded to the attack in three ways. First, he ordered an end to the
terrorist sanctuary in Afghanistan. For the next five years a token US
military force assisted the Kabul government in its attempts to rule
the warlords and suppress the Taliban and al-Qaeda. Second, he moved to
strengthen US domestic law enforcement with the first Patriot Act (a law
that civil libertarians would find benign from today's perspective) and
the Department of Homeland Security, which in those early years of the
war on terror was largely ineffectual. Third, Bush ordered the
ill-fated invasion and occupation of Iraq, which effectively turned his
Administration into an active recruiting office for al-Qaeda and other jihadi
groups around the world.
The move against Afghanistan did set al-Qaeda and the jihadi movement
back. Although regional affiliates were able to stage spectacular
attacks in Riyadh, Istanbul, Bali, Madrid, Baghdad, and elsewhere, and
although there were twice as many attacks worldwide in the three years after
9/11 as there had been in the five years before that day, no
al-Qaeda-related attacks took place in the US in the years immediately following
9/11.
The several years without an attack on US soil lulled some Americans
into thinking that the war on terror was taking place only overseas. Few
corporations increased security spending. Americans increasingly
questioned Bush's security policies, the Patriot Act, and Secretary of
Homeland Security Tom Ridge's ridiculed colour codes. In the 2004
presidential election Bush won a second term in part by dismissing such issues as
whether the mishandling of the Iraq War had made us less secure,
whether we had paid enough attention to al-Qaeda, and whether we were
adequately addressing our vulnerabilities at home.
The US attack on Iran in 2007 brought that country's full power to bear
on American people, with tragic results.Then the second wave of
al-Qaeda attacks hit America. Since then we have spiralled downward in terms
of economic strength, national security, and civil liberties. No one
could stand here today, in 2011, and say that America has won the war on
terror. To understand how we failed, and exactly what has been lost
along the way, I want to look at the past seven years in some detail.
2005: RETURN TO THE HOMELAND BATTLE
The US Government had predicted that future attacks, if they came,
would likely be on financial institutions, noting that Osama bin Laden had
issued instructions to destroy the US economy. Thus when the casinos
were attacked, it was a surprise. It shouldn't have been; we knew that
Las Vegas had been under surveillance by al-Qaeda since at least 2001.
Despite that knowledge, casino owners had done little to increase
security, not wanting to slow people down on their way into the city's
pleasure palaces. Theme park owners were also locked into a pre-9/11, "it
can't happen here" mindset, and consequently were caught off guard, as New
Yorkers and Washingtonians had been in 2001. The first post-9/11
attacks on US soil came not from airplanes but from backpacks and Winnebagos.
They were aimed at places where we used to have fun, what we then
called "vacation destinations". These places were particularly hard to
defend.
Peter and Margaret Rataczak, of Wichita, Kansas, were the first to die
on June 29, 2005, in a new wave of suicide attacks launched against the
United States in retaliation for the killing of Osama bin Laden that
spring, and for the continuing presence of US troops in Iraq. These
attacks were every bit as well planned as those of 9/11 and, in typical
al-Qaeda fashion, used low-technology means to achieve maximum public
impact.
What we know about the attacks' planning and execution comes in large
part from tourists who provided photos and video from their travels.
Without these images we might never have known that the Rataczaks' killers
were non-Arab. It would also have been harder to discover that they
seem to have entered the United States by driving across the border from
Canada.
In order to save money for the poker tables that night, Peter chose to
stay at an RV campground, parking his Winnebago at about 4pm. Shortly
thereafter a casually dressed Asian couple approached the Rataczaks'
secluded campsite with a map unfolded in front of them. Only the birds
heard the silenced shots. The first murders by the group calling itself
al-Qaeda of North America had been carried out.
With the bodies in the back of the darkened camper, the Asian couple
drove back toward a safe house they had quietly rented in the hills. The
man quickly backed into the garage and loaded an ammonium nitrate
device into the van. His leader had said the device would force the
unbelievers in "Sin City" to realise that even in their ignorance they were
guilty of conspiring with the Zionists to destroy Islam. After a good
night's sleep and his morning prayers, the man carefully helped the woman
into her vest and belt before leaving her to finish dressing and
praying.
It was only an hour's drive to the city limits, and the man was careful
never to exceed the speed limit. State troopers at the exit ramp to the
city ignored the van. At 3pm the streets were packed as crowds wandered
the Strip. On Tropicana Avenue the man stopped briefly to let his
partner out with an exchange of nods and a whispered statement: "God is
great". The woman blended seamlessly into the flow of people walking into
the Florentine casino, looking like one of the millions of annual
visitors to Las Vegas from the Pacific Rim. She seemed a little heavy for her
frame, and the jacket she wore seemed a little out of place in the
heat, but the doormen, as security videos later showed, didn't even give
her a second look. She had been there many times before.
The woman never hesitated. She walked to the roulette table, 20 metres
from the front door, and pushed a detonator, blowing herself up. The
explosion instantly killed 38 people standing and sitting at nearby
tables. The nails and ball bearings that flew out of the woman's vest and
belt wounded more than a hundred others, even though slot machines
absorbed many of the miniature missiles. Eighteen of the hundreds of elderly
gamblers in the casino suffered heart attacks that proved fatal when
they could not be treated fast enough amid the rubble.
Just seconds later, the man drove his van into the lobby of the Lion's
Grand and detonated his cargo. This bomb was designed to wreak
tremendous damage that would remain in the consciousness of the American people
for years to come. Whereas the damage done to the Florentine casino was
repaired in just under a month, the billion-dollar Lion's Grand was
closed for more than a year while security enhancements and structural
improvements were made. Losing the use of 5034 rooms, plus casino gaming
and concerts and other special events, cost the Lion's Grand a million
dollars a day, and damaged its bond rating.
The long-term economic effects continue today: tourism in Las Vegas has
never returned to its pre-2005 level, and unemployment in the city is
at 28 per cent.
The attacks in Nevada occurred at almost the same time as the ones in
Florida, California, Texas and New Jersey. Two women strolling
separately through Mouseworld's Showcase of the Future detonated their exploding
belts in the vicinity of tour groups in the "Mexican Holiday" and
"Austrian Biergarten" exhibits. Similar attacks took place at WaterWorld, in
California; Seven Pennants, near Dallas; and the Rosebud Casino, in
Atlantic City. By the end of the day, 1032 people were dead and more than
4000 wounded. The victims included many children and elderly citizens.
Among the dead were only eight terrorists, two each from Iraq,
Indonesia, Pakistan and the Philippines.
The next morning CNN's Los Angeles bureau received a video purporting
to be from al-Qaeda of North America. On the tape the group claimed
responsibility for the incidents and pledged that attacks would continue
until America left the Middle East. We can all recall the soft, steely
voice in which the chilling words were delivered: "We are not terrorists.
We are patriots trying to throw off the mantle of an oppressive
society. We do not look like you think we do. And we will kill you until you
leave our holy lands."
The social effect of the attacks was widespread. In Detroit, northern
New Jersey, northern Virginia, and southern California armed gangs of
local youths attacked Mosques and Islamic centres. At the request of
local clerics, the governor of Michigan ordered National Guard units into
the city of Dearborn and parts of Detroit to stop the vigilante violence
against Islamic residents.
The reaction from the White House and Congress was swift. Patriot Act
II, which had been languishing on Capitol Hill, passed in July. As more
evidence was made public, it became increasingly clear that the attacks
had been perpetrated by terrorists who were in the United States
illegally, either on false passports or having overstayed their visas. Two
were Iraqis pretending to be South Africans, using passports that had
been stolen in Cape Town the year before. Others had actually been picked
up before the attacks for being "out of visa status", but had been
released because immigration detention facilities were full.
The attorney-general sought broad emergency powers to impose extended
pre-arraignment detention, investigative confinement, broader
material-witness authority and expanded deportation authority.
After the passage of Patriot Act II, federal agents conducted
large-scale roundups of illegal immigrants and members of ethnic groups that
were suspected of hiding terrorists in their midst. Many citizens who had
been forcibly detained were held "with probable cause" for allegedly
"planning, assisting, or executing an act of terrorism". Many detainees,
if they failed to produce proof of citizenship or immigrant status,
were moved to new DHS illegal-immigration detention facilities for further
investigation and possible deportation.
The camps were in remote areas, including one in Arizona that ended up
holding 42,000 suspected illegals.
Although the American Civil Liberties Union vigorously condemned these
roundups, most of the public accepted them as a suitable precaution
against possible future attacks and a brake on further vigilante violence.
The fear that follow-on attacks were likely was enough to satisfy the
judiciary that state and federal law enforcement should be allowed to
begin broad sweeps of communities suspected of harbouring sympathisers.
In short, "the gravest imminent danger to the public safety," which had
justified the internment of Japanese-American citizens during World War
II, was invoked again to support the widespread use of pre-trial
detentions and material-witness warrants.
Over the objections of the Pentagon, Congress had in 2004 created a
cabinet-level director of national intelligence and given the position
budgetary control of all intelligence agencies and operational control
over all agencies except the Defense Intelligence Agency and the armed
services' individual intelligence branches. By this point most Americans
were well aware of the lapses in US intelligence produced by a lack of
spies in the Middle East. Not long after 9/11 George Tenet, then the
director of the CIA, had suggested that it would take at least five years
to raise the CIA's human-intelligence capacity to where it needed to
be. Tenet turned out to have been right: it took more than five years to
train even a fraction of the new field agents needed for a global war
on terror.
One price the United States has paid for security is a significant
decrease in foreign students at our colleges and universities, effectively
preventing young people from all over the world from meeting one
another and building bridges between warring ideologies. Foreign attendance
is now down by more than a third from what it was in 2001, resulting in
the closure or consolidation of some graduate programs in science and
engineering, and producing severe budget cuts in others.
On December 2, 2005, the Mall of the States became a victim of a
low-tech terrorist attack. In the preceding years malls in Israel, Finland,
and the Philippines had been attacked; so far, American malls had been
spared. As security professionals knew, this was partly luck; such
targets are difficult to protect.
In June of 2004, after learning of intelligence reports indicating that
the Madrid train bombers had originally planned to strike a suburban
shopping area, Charles Schumer, a Democratic senator from New York,
called for increased funding to secure US shopping centres and malls.
Congress chose instead to focus on defending other targets against more
sophisticated terrorist acts.
The 4.2 million-square foot mall, located in Minnesota, was globally
recognised as the largest entertainment and retail complex in America,
welcoming more than 42 million visitors each year, or 117,000 a day.
On this day neither the 160 security cameras surveying the mall nor the
150 safety officers guarding it were able to detect, deter or defend
against the terrorists. Four men, disguised as private mall security
officers and armed with TEC-9 submachine guns, street-sweeper 12-gauge
shotguns and dynamite, entered the mall at two points and began executing
shoppers at will.
It had not been hard for the terrorists to buy all their guns legally,
in six different states across the Midwest.
A year earlier, Congress had failed to reauthorise the assault weapons
ban. Attorney-General John Ashcroft had announced a proposal, on July
6, 2001, to have the FBI destroy records of weapons sales and background
checks the day after the gun dealer had the sale approved. This meant
that if a gun buyer subsequently turned up on the new Integrated Watch
List, or was discovered by law-enforcement officials to be a felon or a
suspected terrorist, when government authorities tried to investigate
the sale the record of the purchase would already be on the way to the
shredder.
By the time the smoke had cleared, more than 300 people were dead and
400 lay wounded. In the confusion of the firefight, the SWAT team had
killed six mall guards and wounded two police officers.
At the same moment at the Tower Place, in Chicago, the Crystal Place,
in Dallas, the Rappamassis Mall, in Virginia, and the Beverly Forest
Mall in Los Angeles, the scene was much the same: four shooters and
hundreds of dead shoppers. America's holiday mall shopping effectively ended
that day, as customers retreated to the safety of online retail.
2006: MOBILISING THE HOME FRONT
Well before the end of the first quarter of 2006 the economic effects
of the previous year's attacks were clear. The closing of casinos and
theme parks around the US had increased only regional unemployment, but
the national effect on the already ailing airline industry was
significant. The pre-Christmas attacks on shopping centres had been the most
damaging of all. Economic indicators in the first quarter of 2006 showed
the dramatic ripple effect of the collapse of retail shopping on top of
the earlier economic devastation of recreational travel: GDP growth was
negative, and unemployment hit 9.5 per cent in January.
When the president delivered his State of the Union speech in January,
he called for immediate passage of Patriot Act III. "We are a nation at
war," he said. "We need to start acting that way. We can no longer be
in denial. We must mobilise the home front."
To that end he proposed four things: adding 200,000 soldiers to the
army, to compensate for National Guard shortfalls; deploying three
squadrons of new unmanned aerial vehicles to conduct reconnaissance in the US;
suspending the 1878 Posse Comitatus Act (which had prevented the
military from conducting arrests in the US); and modifying the charter of the
National Security Agency to permit "unfettered use of its capabilities"
in support of the FBI and the Department of Homeland Security. Several
senators denounced the plan as the militarisation of America, and vowed
to filibuster to stop the law's passage. Polls showed that 62 per cent
of Americans believed the president knew best what was needed to defend
the nation.
Then came Subway Day. Public transport in Atlanta, Boston, Baltimore
and Philadelphia were all struck at 8.15am on a Monday in April. Unlike
the previous year's attacks, these strikes did not appear to involve
suicides. The bombs were apparently hidden on trains while they sat in
rail yards, or placed in newspaper racks and ticket machines. "We knew
something was up," the homeland-security secretary said, in a remark that
many believe led to his resignation a week later. "We hesitated to
raise the alert level to red again because we lacked actionable
intelligence and we didn't want an increase in the terror alert to tip off the
terrorists." More than 200 people died and more than 3,000 were injured.
Thursday was Railroad Day. Improvised explosive devices, or IEDs,
popularised by Iraqi insurgents after the American invasion exploded as
interstate trains passed by or over them in Virginia, Colorado, Missouri,
Connecticut, and Illinois. The five charges resulted in almost 100
deaths. Among the fatalities was the national rail service itself, as
terrorists finally broke congressional will to fund the money-losing venture
any further: 23 kilograms of explosives had accomplished what no
appropriations committee could. The service suspended operations that day and
went into liquidation the next month.
Most analysts now agree that Subway Day and Railroad Day not only
caused the Senate filibuster to end, permitting the passage of Patriot Act
III, but also finally triggered the withdrawal of some 40,000 troops
from Iraq. The army was needed in the subways.
In announcing the Reaction Enclave Strategy, the CENTCOM commander
acknowledged, "Our goal now is just to prevent Iraq from becoming a series
of terrorist training camps. If the new Iraqi army can't keep the peace
among the factions, that's its problem." The strategy, also adopted in
Afghanistan, has reduced the US force deployment to those troops
necessary to sanitise the area around the US Counter-Terrorism Reaction Force
camps.
Although some have criticised military and political leaders for
allowing Iraq and Afghanistan to become "failed states" again, our reaction
forces s do at least retain the ability to strike terrorist facilities
whenever they are detected. Improved intelligence collection and
analysis have increased the success rate of these forces and limited
collateral damage.
The attacks in April of 2006 finally made possible the creation of the
National Transportation Security Identity Card, or SID, as we now call
it. Recall that before 2006 each of the 50 states actually issued its
own card, in the form of a driver's licence. The SID is a biometric
smart card with the owner's photo, retinal signature, fingerprints, Social
Security number, birthday, and address encoded on it. It has (so far)
proved foolproof. Today a SID is required for passage through
card-reader turnstiles at train stations and airports. Soon all cars and trucks
will be equipped with SID readers connected to their ignition systems.
Even Harvard Law School professor Alan Dershowitz, whose wariness of
unnecessary government intrusion is well known, acknowledged several
years earlier that a national ID card would offer some benefits. Just a few
weeks after 9/11, Dershowitz wrote:
"Anyone who had the card could be allowed to pass through airports or
building security more expeditiously, and anyone who opted out could be
examined much more closely. As a civil libertarian, I am instinctively
sceptical of such trade-offs. But I support a national identity card
with a chip that can match the holder's fingerprint. It could be an
effective tool for preventing terrorism, reducing the need for other
law-enforcement mechanisms, especially racial and ethnic profiling, that pose
even greater dangers to civil liberties."
The American Civil Liberties Union had disagreed, arguing not only that
the government would misuse ID cards but also that corporations would
be allowed to learn more about our private habits, and that
foreign-looking people would still suffer more discrimination. The National Rifle
Association made common cause with the ACLU, noting that requiring gun
buyers to use the card would create a de facto gun registry. For several
years the ACLU, the NRA, and their supporters helped prevent the
introduction of a national ID card. After the mall massacres, perpetrated
with assault rifles, Congress finally broke ranks with its NRA donors.
Not only has the SID card increased identity security, but it could
ultimately yield billions of dollars in savings by reducing bureaucracy.
Local governments are using it to improve the delivery of state services
and to cut down on waste and fraud by adding other information (gun and
fishing licences; welfare, unemployment, and insurance information) to
the card.
The SID uses the same technology that has been put in place on all
shipping containers, which now have tags that can provide location data
when swept by a radar beam. Radar beams from towers, unmanned aerial
vehicles and even satellites cause a SID to emit a signal that goes to the
transceiver on the return beam. That signal gives the card's number, and
a processor computes its location. The signal is no stronger than that
used for years at airports and in police speed traps. It is almost
certainly safe, according to studies by the National Institutes of Health.
The suspension of rail transport for parts of 2006, along with the
collapse of the national rail service and some of the airlines, exacerbated
economic problems that had emerged in 2005 and caused unemployment to
reach double digits by December. The GDP declined again, as the
manufacturing and retail sectors suffered. The federal deficit as a percentage
of GDP reached a new high, because the government needed to pay for
additional security measures but, with the economy in such poor shape,
didn't dare raise taxes.
2007: IRAN AND SAUDI ARABIA
At the beginning of the year, three decisions demonstrated the
differences between America and Europe yet again.
First, Chuck Hagel, a Republican senator from Nebraska, sponsored a
resolution calling on the Administration to reach out to the Islamic world
with a number of specific proposals and to join the proposed EU
Tolerance and Reconciliation Initiative. For several years Hagel had been
articulating a foreign-policy strategy based on the "humble" approach
promised by President Bush before 9/11. Early in 2007 the Administration
rejected the Hagel resolution as "buckling under to terrorists". The plan
went down to defeat in the Senate.
Second, the European Union reached a compromise on the issue of
admitting Turkey. The EU President claimed that Turkey's membership would
destabilise the "Christian EU" and flood Europe with Muslim immigrants.
Turkey agreed to a limit on immigration and was admitted. The EU passed
the Tolerance and Reconciliation Initiative and opened talks with the
nations of the Islamic Conference.
Third, the US and Europe parted ways over what to do about "definitive
intelligence" showing that Iran had six nuclear devices ready to be
mounted on mobile long-range missiles. The war on terror had distracted US
national security officials from dealing with Iran and nuclear
proliferation generally.
We had suspected that Iran had assemble | |
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