Rebels of Mindanao Book

Map of Yemen

National media report that US intelligence assets (HUMINT–Human Intelligence, and

SIGINT—Signal Intelligence) have confirmed that a high value target (HVT) associated with a transnational, takfiri jihadist movement is at a safe house in Yemen. The National
Security Authority has authorized a Joint Special Operations Command (JSOC) to launch a
direct action raid to kill or capture the high valve target (HVT). The HVT is a chemical weapons specialist believed to be taking part in an effort to launch an attack on Western European or
Israeli targets.
Yemen’s current state of affairs is in disarray. In the U.S, while facing a multitude of global crises, the Obama Administration must seek to mitigate instability on the Arabian Peninsula. Watch the news from Yemen.

The severity of instability around the world, Israel, Yemen, the Philippines, not to mention wars that continue in fact, although the U.S. has announced that the wars are over, presents challenges to regional stability and threats to U.S. national interests.

Yemen will face additional national disasters of consequence in the coming decades: a youth population explosion, a water shortage, and a precipitous decline in petroleum output and therefore revenue. This confluence of political, ideological, economic, and environment forces will only increase the likelihood of Yemen becoming a failed state and a more lethal breeding ground for Islamic militant groups.

By committing to a comprehensive engagement plan, many special ops books argue that the United States could deny al-Qaeda sanctuaries, prevent regional instability, and secure vital U.S. interests. But this will require a whole-of-government approach including economic incentives, diplomatic pressure, military assistance, and efforts to encourage political reconciliation. The United States should also engage its regional partners in a dialogue which will benefit both Yemen and its neighbors and work to remove Yemen from the knife’s edge.

Similar to the deteriorating situation in Yemen demands immediate U.S. attention. Faced by a growing al-Qaeda presence, a separatist movement in the South, and an active insurgency in the North, Yemen must regain control over its sovereignty. The US could enter the fray. Here’s an example of a possible mission:

A joint U.S. – host nation antiterrorist force infiltrates and from observation posts to provide real-time intelligence to provide precision fires in support of target interdiction, facilitating the assault of
direct action elements.

Next, on order, USASOC forces conduct a direct action raid on a safe house in order
to kill the high value target.

Why does this scenario sound like the plot of Tom Anthony’s “Rebels of Mindanao”? Is it coincidence? Or is it just another case of life imitating art?

Or is it a game to be played online? Or is it both?

US presence in Southeast Asia is ramping up. US Congressman Ed Royce (R-CA), Chairman of the Subcommittee on Terrorism, part of the Foreign Affairs Committee in the US House of Representatives, has called a hearing before Congress to bring attention to US relations in the area, especially the Philippines.

Another California Congressman, Dana Rohrabacher, has said:

“We got Bin Laden, didn’t we?”

and

“If we’re going to get out of Iraq, the sooner the better. I don’t understand some of my GOP colleagues & Presidential candidates.”

Rohrabacher is a member of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs and Chairman of the Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigation. He knows what’s going on in the world.

Rohrabacher knows the war in Afghanistan is over. However, local cells of al Qaeda are active in the Philippines at this moment, under the Abu Sayaf label. Rohrabacher should know what’s going on in the Philippines, he is Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee, and US foreign affairs are very concerned with what goes on in the Philippines, the oldest US ally in Asia. Do we see a shift in US interest, and combat capabilities, from the Middle East to Asia?  You bet! Other than oil, whatever happens in the Middle East doesn’t matter. Afghanistan has no meaning to the world or to the United States. China matters in the rise of real global influence.

Carnage in Syria now in the news was caused by attacks by the Syrian Army on the rebels, that is to say the citizens, in and around the city of Homs has left hundreds dead. According to reports on CNN, paid assassins, paid by the army, are used to execute civilians who have the audacity to oppose the dictatorship. The Arab Spring of 2011 is rapidly becoming the Arab Spring of 2012.

Arwa Damon, CNN reporter imbedded in Syria calls the action there a full blown war.

Does the United States perceive accurately terrorism threats in the countries bounding the South China Sea, especially as China extends it influence? Are other outside forces like al Qaeda influencing the regions stability? Tom Anthony’s book, Rebels of Mindanao, gives us an idea of what to expect.

US special ops forces are employed today in the Philippines, on “training exercises”. What does that mean? Why is it kept so quiet?

The Chief of US Naval Operations recently reported that the US has already deployed significant new assets to its bases in Singapore, Japan and Australia. Carriers are on the move today. Where will they be based?

Admiral Nimitz, when Chief of Naval Operations, wrote that “Technology in warfare, as in all else, has simplified some details but has greatly complicated the aggregate. In “Rebels of Mindanao”, I describe a sophisticated GPS technology that illustrates this point, updated to the war on terror. An iPod is modified to include GPS so precise as to track footsteps, and the integrating accelerometer feature allows each footstep to be traced, even without satellite connection,

There are more changes on the horizon along the South China Sea and the changes will be as much cultural as they are technological. Politics and religions clash. “Rebels of Mindanao” (available through Amazon) asks, “What if?”

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