It was on August 2nd last year that American journalist Steven Vincent was kidnapped in broad daylight along with his friend and translator Nour Weidi. Shortly after, they were both shot. Vincent died and Weidi was seriously wounded.

This was an astounding loss for those of us trying to understand what’s happening in Iraq. Vincent’s book In The Red Zone is an indispensable resource and a must-read for anyone that wants a clue about the nature of the battle in the Long Global War On Terror’s central front.

In the month that followed Vincent’s death, many tried to blame everyone except the terrorists who committed the act. Juan Cole waited until after Vincent was dead to respond to Vincent’s criticism of his position on the war and politics in Iraq. British authorities, who had been severely criticized for basically caving in to the Shiite fundamentalists in the Basra area did the same.

The story exploded, though, when Vincent’s widow, Lisa Ramaci-Vincent, responded to Cole’s “informed commentary” but received no answer from the good professor. She posted the letter to Mr. Cole in the comments section of Murdoc Online, and I posted it in full in an entry I titled “It’s Called Courage”.

Here’s a taste of what Mrs. Ramaci-Vincent had to say:

You did not know him – you did not have that honor, and you will never have the chance, thanks to the murderous goons for whom you have appointed yourself an apologist. He was a brilliant, erudite, witty, charming, kind, generous, silly, funny, decent, honorable and complex man, who loved a good cigar, Bombay Sapphire gin martinis, Marvel Silver Age comic books, Frank Sinatra, opera and grossing me out with bathroom humor. And if he was acting in a dangerous manner, he had a very good excuse – he was utterly exhausted. He had been in Basra for 3 months under incredibly stressful conditions, working every day, and towards the end enduring heat of 135 degrees, often without air conditioning, which could not have helped his mental condition or judgment. He was yearning to come home, as his emails to me made crystal clear. But on August 2nd, two days before my birthday, he made the fatal mistake of walking one block – one – from his hotel to the money exchange, rather than take a cab, and now will never come back to me. I got a bouquet of flowers from him on August 4th, which he had ordered before he died, and the card said he was sorry to miss my birthday, but the flowers would stand in his stead until he made it home. They are drying now in the kitchen, the final gift from my soulmate….

You strike me as a typical professor – self-opinionated, arrogant, so sure of the rightness of your position that you won’t even begin to consider someone else’s. I would suggest that you ought to be ashamed of yourself for your breathtaking presumption in eviscerating Steven in death and disparaging Nour in life, but, like any typical professor, I have no doubt that you are utterly shameless.

The post attracted quite a bit of attention across the blogosphere and beyond, and if Murdoc Online helped get some awareness out there about Vincent’s work and the shameless campaign to blame him for his own murder, then I feel like I accomplished something. If I can convince you to read his book, I will feel like I accomplished even more.

In December, I noted an interview with Mrs. Ramaci-Vincent. In it she said she hopes to write Vincent’s second book using the notes he gathered before his death.

I didn’t know Mr. Vincent. But I know he will be sorely missed.

My thoughts go out especially to Lisa, who I’ve had the honor and pleasure of emailing back and forth with a bit over the course of the past year. I’m sure that the impending anniversary brings up a lot of things both great and sad, and I wish you the best.

Previous Steven Vincent-related posts on MO:

• Remember when Pres. Carter said US troops were igniting more violence?
• What do the Baathist Sunnis stand for?
• IN THE RED ZONE by Steven Vincent (Pt 1)
• IN THE RED ZONE by Steven Vincent (Pt 2)
• IN THE RED ZONE by Steven Vincent (Pt 3)
• Oh my God: American Journalist Found Dead in Iraq
• The whole “Steven Vincent is to blame for his own murder” theory
• What?: A Disgusting Smear On A Brave Man
• “It’s called courage”
• RE: The letter from Lisa Ramaci-Vincent to Juan Cole
• Juan Cole replies…well, sort of
• Marshlands in southern Iraq recovering
• Interview with Steven Vincent’s widow
• Cleanin’ up the neighborhood

A couple of days ago I noted that Polish divers had located the wreck of the Nazi aircraft carrier Graf Zeppelin. 2 Guys in Poznan, who are, um, these two guys in Poznan, note the location. One of the two guys recently vacationed in the area and wonders about other WWII incidents that the Poles would like more info about.

Go check out Like a Lead Zeppelin?

Australia’s Sunday Herald Sun (via Instapundit):

The images, obtained exclusively by the Sunday Herald Sun, show Hezbollah using high-density residential areas as launch pads for rockets and heavy-calibre weapons.

Dressed in civilian clothing so they can quickly disappear, the militants carrying automatic assault rifles and ride in on trucks mounted with cannon.

The photographs, from the Christian area of Wadi Chahrour in the east of Beirut, were taken by a visiting journalist and smuggled out by a friend.

Not that this is anything new, of course. But check out the site for a few pics.

The images include one of a group of men and youths preparing to fire an anti-aircraft gun metres from an apartment block with sheets hanging out on a balcony to dry.

Others show a militant with AK47 rifle guarding no-go zones after Israeli blitzes.

Another depicts the remnants of a Hezbollah Katyusha rocket in the middle of a residential block blown up in an Israeli air attack.

The Melbourne man who smuggled the shots out of Beirut and did not wish to be named said he was less than 400m from the block when it was obliterated.

“Hezbollah came in to launch their rockets, then within minutes the area was blasted by Israeli jets,” he said.

“Until the Hezbollah fighters arrived, it had not been touched by the Israelis. Then it was totally devastated.

Meanwhile, here’s the current MSNBC.com front page:

Hard to imagine how civilians, including children, could possibly be in the line of fire, isn’t it?
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How about a few pics? (Click on each for a larger version. Often going back to the source will get you an even larger larger version.)

U.S. Army Maj. Jennifer Bailey reads a book to Iraqi girls during a humanitarian mission near Contingency Operating Base Speicher, Tikrit, Iraq, July 23, 2006. Bailey is from the 402nd Civil Affairs Battalion. DoD photo by Staff Sgt. Russell Lee Klika, U.S. Army. (Released)

Reminds me of Without them, man is nothing.

U.S. Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Preston A Disabb, of Dam Security Unit 2, mans the .50 caliber machine gun during an early morning patrol down the Euphrates River near Hadithah, Iraq, July 13, 2006. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Brian M Henner) (Released)

An F-14D Tomcat, aircraft number 100, assigned to the “Tomcatters” of Fighter Squadron Three One (VF-31) makes a near supersonic fly-by above the flight deck of USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71). The F-14 will officially retire in September 2006, after 32 years of service to the fleet. Theodore Roosevelt is completing Joint Task Force Exercises with USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69). U.S. Navy Photo by Mass Communications Specialist 3rd Class Nathan Laird (RELEASED)

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It’s Still Not Chemical Warfare – Israeli Edition

Jason Sigger posting on Defense Tech about the Carpet minefield breaching system:

Not much imagination as to the name and its function: the armored vehicle that is the weapon platform can fire up to 20 rockets in a rapid sequence for minefield breaching. The force of the FAE blast clears nearly all mines, regardless of terrain, foliage or man-made obstacles.

Some are calling this a “chemical weapon”. I do not think that word means what they think it means…

Calling for Compact Carriers

Strategy Page has more on the subject of the latest look at small or medium-sized aircraft carriers for the US Navy with a focus on UAVs:

Work on flight control software for carrier operations is well underway. Combat UAVs (UCAVs) weight about 20 percent less than manned aircraft, and cost 20-30 percent less. They use less fuel as well.

While the navy would prefer to design and build the first generation UCAVs for use on existing carriers, these smaller and cheaper aircraft go together well with smaller and cheaper carriers. That’s because UCAVs mean you can get more aircraft on a carrier, and that creates a traffic jam type situation. Moreover, the widespread use of smart bombs means you need fewer bombers over the target. A 50-60,000 ton carrier, with three dozen F-35Bs, UCAVs, UAVs and support aircraft, can be as effective as a Nimitz with 70 F-18s and support aircraft.

While I’m not quite sure I’m buying that last sentence…okay, I admit it, I’m not buying it at all…the rest makes a fair amount of sense.

Light carries (CVLs) were quite valuable during World War II, but we must remember that they were able to operate the same aircraft that the biggies did, just not as many. That probably wouldn’t be the case with medium carriers, and certainly not with small carriers. VTOL aircraft such as the F-35B would be required for them.

Making small carriers work would require an AWACS-ish UAV, but that doesn’t seem unreasonable. Neither does an anti-sub or an EW UAV. I realize that we don’t have these things today, but the technology is advancing very rapidly.

No it wouldn’t come close to a super carrier. But it’s not meant to.

Discussed most recently on MO here. Does anyone out there have an opinion on this subject? [Murdoc: Dives for cover]

Piercing port security easy as hitching a ride

Seattle Times:

Ports appear to have left at least one gaping hole in their security — a hole so big you could ride a truck through.

We did, several times.

If you would liike to feel that that the homeland is secure, do not read the linked article. (via EagleSpeak)

Landis had positive test after Stage 17

I find this difficult to believe, but only because I cannot fathom someone doing something so blindingly stupid.

If he’s truly guilty he I hope the price he pays is steep. Every American will be shamed by this if it turns out to be right.

Zawahri tells Muslims to join Mideast conflict
Al-Qaida No. 2 says ‘the world is a battlefield’ in taped message

Uncle Z:
A Happy Camper No More

Blah blah blah:

Al-Qaida’s No. 2 leader issued a worldwide call Thursday for Muslims to rise up in a holy war against Israel and join the fighting in Lebanon and Gaza until Islam reigns from “Spain to Iraq.”

In a taped message broadcast by Al-Jazeera television, Ayman al-Zawahri said the terrorist organization would not stand idly by while “these (Israeli) shells burn our brothers.

Ooh. He’s mad.

And now the Al Qaeda Bird & Garden Club has suddenly become angry with those who support Israel. I mean, it’s not like this is a “no more mister nice guy” message, or anything. The folks who intentionally target civilians, behead prisoners, and subjugate their own followers are taking off the kid gloves?

Give me a break. I have no doubt that they intend to strike. I’m just unconvinced that there’s any relevance to this announcement. Like most of these AQ press releases, it seems targeted more to their own crowd than to anyone else.

Divers find Hitler’s aircraft carrier

A reader tips Murdoc off to this exciting discovery:

Polish divers have discovered the rusting wreckage of Nazi Germany’s only aircraft carrier, the Graf Zeppelin, solving one of the most enduring maritime riddles of the Second World War.

For more than half a century the location of the huge vessel was kept secret by the Soviet authorities. Even the opening of the Moscow archives in the 1990s failed to produce a precise bearing. The once-proud ship was simply one of dozens of wrecks that littered the bed of the Baltic Sea near the Bay of Gdansk.

The divers were conducting oil exploration when they found the wreck 250 meters down.
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