This ain't Hell, but you can see it from here

Author: Operator Dan

  • My Thoughts On The Marine Killed By Pima County SWAT

    Jonn and many of our readers have already discussed this but I am going to add my two cents.

    I am admittedly very upset and disturbed by this story for a number of reasons. I understand that all the facts in the case have not been forthcoming but that is mostly because the Pima County Sheriff’s Office, which as Strike FO pointed out is run by the illustrious Sheriff Dupnik, is trying to cover their ass. Additionally, they are repeatedly changing their story, which should tell everyone following this  hat Pima County SWAT knows they have screwed up.

    With the facts that are available, I want to make the following the points:

    First and foremost this RAID SHOULD HAVE NEVER HAPPENED. PERIOD. Less than an hour of basic police intelligence work would have shown that Jose Guerena works at a mine that is in an area that is not as densely populated as a residential area.  Additionally, that would have shown that Guerena had no prior criminal record, was an honorably discharged Marine, and had a family that lived with him.  By choosing to raid the house, not only did Pima SWAT put civilians in danger by hitting Guerena’s house in the manner that they did, but they also put themselves in danger by choosing to conduct the raid at Guerena’s home. Lets assume for a second that Guerena was a bad guy who was involved in the drug trade. Despite the fact that he was an air winger, he probably had at least some combat-related training, especially if he deployed to Iraq twice. I know that he was stationed in Yuma and they have Marines there that train air wingers before they deploy in basic combat tactics, including basic CQB and MOUT tactics. He would have had at least a very basic understanding about how to setup a defensive position inside a building. So, with that possibility in mind, Pima SWAT still chose to hit the house (in daylight too), even though there were clearly other options available to them, mainly the option to detain him at work or when he was driving to and from work. This was extremely poor mission planning on the part of the Pima County SWAT team.

    Secondly, based on the information that has been released by Pima County, this is without a doubt a seriously dicked up SWAT Team. I’ve already laid out how I think they did a piss poor job of planning this mission, so now lets look at how the raid actually played out. First off, Pima County SWAT says they banged on the door for fifteen seconds and had the sirens and lights on their vehicles on. The wife of Jose Guerena claims they didn’t. I am inclined to believe the wife right now since she seems to be the only one who has kept her story straight, but this point is debatable so I am not going to focus too much on this. According to the SWAT team, as soon as they entered the house they see Guerena crouched with an AR-15 pointed at them. At that moment the SWAT team opens fire, with five shooters firing 71 shots in seven seconds. Thats two rounds every second per shooter. I don’t know what kind of weapons they were using but a standard M4 or MP5 can spit out rounds faster on full auto so I think they were just slapping the trigger on semi or maybe one shooter had a weapon on burst. Either way, that is a complete lack of fire discipline. Lets assume again that Guerena was a bad guy and his wife was involved with the drug trade with him (again there is NO EVIDENCE OF THIS THUS FAR, but I am just using  hypotheticals here). With all five shooters focused on Guerena, nobody else was covering the other sectors of the room or moving to clear the rest of the house (which they probably shouldn’t have done if they only went in with five shooters anyways). That would have left an opportunity for someone to come out and start shooting at the SWAT team, potentially wounding or killing some or all of the SWAT team during the raid. Then there is this little tidbit from an AZ Daily Star Article:

    A deputy’s bullet struck the side of the doorway, causing chips of wood to fall on his shield. That prompted some members of the team to think the deputy had been shot, O’Connor said.

    One of two things happened there. Either the deputies went in the door spraying and praying and a round struck the door or one of the deputies had a negligent discharge upon entry through the doorway and the round hit the door frame. Either way, it didn’t justify the SWAT team losing their cool and forgetting all tactical sense. Whatever happened it leads to the question of what the fuck kind of training these keystone cops went through before they went on this raid. They clearly were not prepared or properly trained to execute this mission.

    Uncle Jimbo did a series last year on how SWAT raids like this shouldn’t be happening. I encourage you to read it.

    Also one finally thing. Cpl. Guerena was a Latino killed by the police under questionable circumstances in the “mecca of hate”, Arizona. Riots have erupted over less than this. But what has been the reaction from all the lefty blogs in Arizona, and particularly Tucson? Crickets, Crickets, Crickets, and Crickets. This prominent left-wing blog’s top post actually celebrates the fact that the Dupnik recall failed. Does it surprise anyone? A gun-owning, combat veteran with no criminal record killed by members of a left-wing Sheriff’s office? Oh, but it doesn’t fit the narrative! Fuck them. Fuck them all. I wish it was one of them in the house instead of Cpl Guerena. Semper Fi Brother.

    Jonn added; An hour and twelve minutes the ambulance sat outside the home waiting for clearance from the police. An hour and 12 minutes until word came that Cpl Guerena was dead.

    You’d think the neighbor would have mentioned the sirens;

  • Moment of Truth for Democrats in Arizona

    A few years ago, AZ Republic columnist Doug MacEachern and other conservative commentators in Arizona began reporting on Tuscon Unified School District’s (TUSD) Mexican-American Studies Program (or MAS). The program was revealed to have little to do with Mexican-American history or even Mexican history but was instead being used as vehicle to promote far-left ideologies and anti-Americanism. Che Guevara and Fidel Castro (neither of whom are Mexican I might add) were glorified while the United States was routinely attacked by the teachers and activists whom were employed by the district as part of the program. The program’s directors and TUSD employees admitted as much, after being secretive about the program for a period of time. Even the Arizona Republic’s editorial board (which can’t decide whether or not to support ending the program even though it admits the program is completely nuts) calls the people who run the program “self-acknowledged Marxist activists“.

    In response, last year the Arizona legislature passed a law that would penalize school districts by cutting a portion of their funding if they taught programs of studies that: “promote the overthrow of the United States government, promote resentment toward a race or class of people, are designed primarily for pupils of a particular ethnic group, or advocate ethnic solidarity instead of the treatment of pupils as individuals.” The law was clearly targeted at TUSD and its MAS program. Arizona Democrats for the most part opposed the bill and screamed their usual battle cry of “RACISM!”. At first TUSD tried to deny that their MAS program was in violation of the new law, however earlier this year the TUSD governing board began to look into changes into the program to avoid state-imposed penalties. However, the changes that were proposed would simply make the MAS courses electives instead of courses that would satisfy core curriculum requirements. The program, for the most part would remain intact, however there was no guarantee that the Arizona Department of Education would be satisfied by these relatively minor changes to the program, especially if the core group of Marxist agitators were left in charge of the program. Regardless of whether or not the state government determined if the program was in violation of the law, it was clearly an attempt to save the program and keep it intact.

    You would think that this would make supporters of the MAS program happy. You would think that they would remain quiet and not rock the boat. You would think that they wouldn’t pull any crazy stunts to give opponents of the MAS program any more ammunition. However, if you thought any of those things you are wrong (and should probably haze yourself). More below the fold…

    (more…)

  • Panetta: A Good Pick For SecDef?

    Recently, I attended a small town hall event for Congressmen Ben Quayle sponsored by “Sun Devils for Israel”, a pro-Israel ASU student group. First of all, I want to say I was really impressed by Quayle’s knowledge of foreign policy issues. Even though the event was supposed to be focused primarily on American-Israeli relations, a lot of questions were asked about his opinions on the uprisings in the Middle East, China, and the changes to the President’s national security team. He didn’t duck those questions and delivered articulate and thorough responses. I think the guy has gotten a bad rap primarily because of his last name  and because of some stuff he posted on a trashy website four years ago. Additionally, he is building a pretty conservative voting record.

    Anyways, I asked a question about how the culture of State Department is often very left-wing and anti-American. In his response, he brought up some of the changes being made to Obummer’s national security team and mentioned he thought Panetta had done well as head of the CIA. I was surprised by this considering Quayle’s past statements about President Obama and wasn’t expecting praise for Obama’s choice for Gates’s replacement. Quayle is not the first Republican to praise Panetta either. Peter King, Lindsey Graham, John McCain, Mike Rogers of Michigan, and other Republicans (including some whom you would not consider RINOs or moderates) have jumped on board the Panetta bandwagon.

    When Panetta was nominated to head the CIA in 2009, I was initially worried that Panetta was sent to CIA to gut the organization and conduct a purge of critical personnel similar to what we saw in the 1970s. However, as CIA chief, Panetta has advocated the continuation of drone strikes, increased the number CIA paramilitary operations, and most importantly, fought against torture investigations that would have harmed the CIA. So, in short, I was wrong about Panetta.

    Today, many are making the same assumptions about Panetta at the Pentagon. Particularly, that he is being moved to the Pentagon to help implement Obummer’s defense budget cuts. But could he turn out to be a fierce defender of the Pentagon, just like he was a fierce defender of the CIA, and fight Obummer’s cuts? Or will he tow the administration line? You tell me.

  • Before He Was “The Solution” He Was “Part of the Problem”

    House Republicans today voted overwhelmingly in favor Paul Ryan’s deficit reduction plan. Ever since he released it, many in the conservative punditry world have been heaping praise on the Congressmen, calling him things like “bold” and “courageous”. Additionally, President Obama’s direct attack on his plan likewise bolstered his credibility among many fiscal conservatives and even libertarian groups like the CATO Institute. Indeed, it appears that Paul Ryan is becoming the new face of fiscal conservatism for many.

    However, even a cursory look at Ryan’s twelve-year record in the House reveals that he has been anything but a fiscal hawk. It wasn’t just one bad vote here and there either. Time after time, Ryan voted for legislation that expanded the size of the federal government and increased our debt and deficit. In 2001, he voted for No Child Left Behind and the accompanying increase in federal education spending. In 2003, he voted for the Medicare Prescription Drug Benefit, expanding the entitlement which he now seeks to rein in. In 2005, during the debate over privatizing Social Security, Paul Ryan and John Sununu proposed legislation which would guarantee that no future Social Security recipient would receive lower benefits than which the current system offered. While some argued that this would actually save money over the long run by changing the rate of growth, in reality it would make it more difficult to reform Social Security by guaranteeing an unsustainable level of benefits.  In 2008, he voted for TARP and then later for the auto-company bailouts. Most recently, he voted for caps on CEO compensation. For someone like Ryan who is a self-professed Ayn Rand fan, some of these things seem like they are straight out of Atlas Shrugged. Now, I am not naive enough to think that there are droves of Republican congressmen with perfect voting records. But for someone who is supposed to be the new face of fiscal conservatism, Paul Ryan’s voting record demonstrates that he has been anything but a fiscal conservative, especially when it comes to entitlements.

    Despite my criticisms of Ryan, I like many parts of his plan, especially the voucher system for Medicare and the block grants for Medicaid. But it appears that Paul Ryan saw the writing on the wall when it came to which way the Republican Party was moving, especially with the rise of the Tea Party. That is the motivation for his “Path to Prosperity”- not some long-held beliefs in the ideals of fiscal prudence or limited government.

  • Arizona Grants In-state Tuition for All Honorably Discharged Veterans

    It didn’t get a lot of fanfare but Governor Brewer signed a bill a few days ago that granted in-state tuition for all honorably discharged veterans. This is a win-win for the state. It makes it easier for veterans to relocate to Arizona and it will eliminate the need for most veterans with residency issues to get financial aid at one of the universities, which would save the universities money. Additionally, there won’t be a real need for the Yellow Ribbon program anymore at public colleges in Arizona so that would be an additional money saver for the universities.

    Some people need to be recognized for their work in regards to this legislation. The first is State Rep. Ted Vogt, who after leaving the Air Force struggled with residency issues when he attended the University of Arizona. He was one of the primary sponsors of this legislation and its driving force in the State House. Robert Rosinski also deserves a lot of praise. Robert is a student veteran the University of Arizona and he was really the face of the student veteran effort to get this bill passed. Additionally, the various veteran advocates at U of A, ASU, and NAU in conjunction with the veteran clubs (including veteran alumni) at the three universities all contributed to getting this bill passed.

    Good job all around.

  • Dear Woman…..I am sorry for having a penis.

    I found this at the Daily Caller. It is both pathetic and disturbing yet at times hilarious:

    I think the author of the original Daily Caller post sums it up best:

    In what my male colleagues have called an elaborate attempt to get laid, a group of feminist men has issued an apology to the world’s women for thousands of years of oppression.

  • More Silliness in Tucson (Yes, I spelled it right this time Rep. Prezelski)

    From the AZ Republic:

    TUCSON – University of Arizona students walking to class Monday were faced with a steel and barbed wire obstacle.

    A group of students erected a mock border fence right in the middle of campus making it difficult for people to get around.

    Organizer Francisco Baires tells KGUN-TV that was the point. To create an uncomfortable disruption.

    Basically what Baires is really saying is that expanding and strengthening physical barriers along the US-Mexico border is an “uncomfortable disruption” for the drug mules, human smugglers, and criminal aliens that cross through the desert. Alarmingly, there is quite a vocal “anti-fence” movement in Southern Arizona that fights against efforts to increase border security along the US-Mexico border, making silly arguments that a fence would harm the environment. Some even compare the border fence to the Berlin Wall (which as everyone here knows, was to keep people in, not keep people out).  However, when you truly understand these people’s core ideology, they are exposed as nothing more than anti-American, one-worlders who don’t even believe in the concept of borders at all.

  • Crazy Tucson Progressives Gloat About The Threat of Violence

    Krysten Sinema is probably one of the most left-wing legislators in the state of Arizona, if not the most left-wing. In fact, she used to be a Green Party member. However, since she sponsored a fairly mundane bill that would increase the penalties for running a  drop house, she has been under constant attack by a group of open-borders activists and a loony progressive blog based in Tucson called the Three Sonorans. Sinema opposed SB1070, opposed the ban on the anti-American ethnic studies program in Tuscon, opposed bills that would attempt to ban birthright citizenship and just about every other anti-illegal immigration bill that Arizona Republicans have sponsored. Yet, because of her support of this one commonsense bill, she is now being heckled at her press conferences by leftists and has to be escorted around the capitol by armed guards. And what do the Three Sonorans of Tucson (which is the home of the new “civility institute“) and other Arizona leftists think about that last point? They love it:

    Yet there was one state senator that requires armed escort when she walks by.

    Can you guess who?

    It is a Democrat, and she not only voted for two of the 26 anti-immigrant bills, she’s the only Democrat to have written her own, SB1225, that has Ron Gould and Scott Bundgaard as co-sponsors.

    The Democratic Diva herself, Kyrsten Sinema, who knows what is best for the Latino community over Latinos, ignoring our calls to kill her anti-immigrant bill, ignoring a lot of what we say because she knows what is best for us. Wanna approach her and ask her questions? The state capitol police will send you away.

    To enter the building she needed TWO armed guards, and went in the back way to avoid us. Now what fun is that?

    This was definitely the funnest event so far, what we call the Walk of Shame, or the Walk of Fame depending on how you’ve been voting lately.

    Emphasis is mine. These people have to be buying drugs from the same person as Jared Loughner, they are that sick and crazy.