tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-83278949875194165062024-02-18T18:47:14.119-07:00 ORDER OF BATTLEThe Black Rosehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00415593307291388087noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8327894987519416506.post-7062342291612046022021-08-10T02:05:01.059-06:002021-09-24T04:55:03.006-06:00<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: #ffa400;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><b> ===========================</b></span></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: #ffa400;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><b> ~ ~ THE FALL OF KABUL ~ ~<br /></b></span></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: #ffa400;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><b> <u>Classical Asymmetric Warfare <br /></u></b></span></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: #ffa400;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><b> </b><b> Reminiscent</b></span></span></span><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #ffa400;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;"> of <br /></span></b></span></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #ffa400;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;"> </span></b></span></span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/V%C3%B5_Nguy%C3%AAn_Gi%C3%A1p"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: #ffa400;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><b>General </b></span></span></span></a><b><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: #ffa400;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/V%C3%B5_Nguy%C3%AAn_Gi%C3%A1p">Võ Nguyên Giáp</a>:</span></span></b></span></b></span><br /></div><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: #ffa400;"> @ the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Dien_Bien_Phu">Battle of </a></span></span></b></span></b></span><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: #ffa400;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Dien_Bien_Phu">Diên Biên Phu</a><br /></span></span></b></span></b></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: #ffa400;"> (13 March – 7 May 1954), & <br /></span></span></b></span></b></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: #ffa400;"> @ </span></span></b></span></b></span><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: #ffa400;">the "<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fall_of_Saigon">Fall of Saigon</a>"</span></span></b></span></b></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: #ffa400;"> (29 April 1975)</span></span></b></span></b></span><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: #ffa400;"><span style="color: #01ffff;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span><b><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></b></span></span></span></span></span></b></span></b></span></p><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"></span></b></span><p></p><span style="color: #ffa400;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEw7UfO55aZAVaS1WILwLedA-E9MTvS0ePwQPOmpd_CA967AzuoaNXIQrfjNb6ABoYK9dkqQMoSfkEpZGukcZxW97FJJcS8P9upE-x69KDh8ThyphenhyphenBp0gxRW9Nu8nr5hmSHlwWXUCWNDQS0/s2048/14+Aug+2021.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1541" data-original-width="2048" height="482" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEw7UfO55aZAVaS1WILwLedA-E9MTvS0ePwQPOmpd_CA967AzuoaNXIQrfjNb6ABoYK9dkqQMoSfkEpZGukcZxW97FJJcS8P9upE-x69KDh8ThyphenhyphenBp0gxRW9Nu8nr5hmSHlwWXUCWNDQS0/w640-h482/14+Aug+2021.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmqEpSsBfU7GdrX69vy3yNJORMbiYXLkPHCFQVwXrIxP_eymeY3HuaBUBZ7NmkPMumUqudsgT-RtpJZEHLkSBR1sw8RP1VzMMi76wAdBg90pyx8qvUxWxt2X8iDXD1s3pGrMTour1dihA/s2048/Assault+on+Afghanistan.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1713" data-original-width="2048" height="536" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmqEpSsBfU7GdrX69vy3yNJORMbiYXLkPHCFQVwXrIxP_eymeY3HuaBUBZ7NmkPMumUqudsgT-RtpJZEHLkSBR1sw8RP1VzMMi76wAdBg90pyx8qvUxWxt2X8iDXD1s3pGrMTour1dihA/w640-h536/Assault+on+Afghanistan.jpg" width="640" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><span style="font-family: verdana;"> <span style="color: #ffa400;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i><u>Public Opinion of the War in Afghanistan</u></i></span><br />"88% of Americans Approve of the Military Action"<br />October 31, 2001 Gallup Poll<br />Frank Newport</span></span></b></span></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFs2FqI4zJHOSaCENvx7nuF789h5E0xx6F-C4AmYFl4AT4UyeReNJs_1_quuw3wyYB2o0cQKIAPb23pJJHrV9rbfSuYGMbu7Wt6hsH8bI_j27HmB-Tm3_-_VzSHdd3XR1XFWQOM64CSBQ/s2048/THE+GRAVEYARD+OF+EMPIRES+-+14+Aug.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1889" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFs2FqI4zJHOSaCENvx7nuF789h5E0xx6F-C4AmYFl4AT4UyeReNJs_1_quuw3wyYB2o0cQKIAPb23pJJHrV9rbfSuYGMbu7Wt6hsH8bI_j27HmB-Tm3_-_VzSHdd3XR1XFWQOM64CSBQ/w590-h640/THE+GRAVEYARD+OF+EMPIRES+-+14+Aug.jpg" width="590" /></a></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">IMPOTUS3 ORDERS AFGHANISTAN "<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2020/02/29/world/asia/us-taliban-deal.html">BUG-OUT</a>"</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"> (For an </span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><span>asymmetrical </span> campaign, the spring thaw </span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">is the beginning of a spring offensive.)</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">Meanwhile, the "West" will be focused on securing the Afghan Government in Kabul</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">(while securing, concentrating & supplying</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">the outlying cities & towns.)</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">Meanwhile,</span></span>the Taliban insurgents will begin to control the roads,</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">and "capture the hearts & minds" of the rural peasants,</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">while leaving the urban areas alone, excepting</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">Offensive #1: </span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">Harassment tactics of sporadic urban violence<br />keeps the U.S. & Afghan army / Police concentrated in fortified camps and the populace in a state of perpetual angst; and,<br />Offensive #2: Sporadic attacks & IED's on the highways & by-ways will continue to pressure the urban areas into a siege mentality,</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">while gaining mobility for the insurgents themselves.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"> </span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">"The guerrilla must move amongst the people</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">as a fish swims in the sea."<br />Mao Zedong<br /><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"> </span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">1 May 2021: Taliban Offensive Begins<br />In the first three months of the offensive, the Taliban<br />made significant advances in the countryside,<br />increasing the number of districts it controls from<br />73 to 223, progressively isolating urban centers.</span></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><br /></span></span><p></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: red;"><span> 06 Aug 2021 Operations:</span></span><br /><span>1) 06 Aug - Zaranj captured, controlling<br /> border-crossing from Iran ...</span></span></span></span></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span>Starting on 6 August, the Taliban captured twenty-six of<br />Afghanistan's thirty-four provincial capitals,<br />including Kandahar and Herat, and by 10 August,<br />the Taliban controlled 65% of the country's area.<br />The Taliban are skirmishing around the approaches to the cities of Herat, Kandahar and Lashkar Gah. The United States has increased airstrikes in recent weeks to help prop up Afghan government forces, and has been particularly intense in the southern province of Helmand, where the capital of Kandahar is besieged.</span></span></span></span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://www.afcent.af.mil/News/Article/2595407/additional-b-52-aircraft-arrive-at-al-udeid/">Additional B-52 aircraft arrive at Al Udeid</a><br />04 May 2021 - U.S. Air Forces Central</span></p><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://worldview.stratfor.com/situation-report/afghanistan-taliban-claims-kabul-attack-targeting-afghan-defense-official?page=sitrep?age"><span style="font-size: large;">Afghanistan: Taliban Claims Kabul Attack</span></a><br /><a href="https://worldview.stratfor.com/situation-report/afghanistan-taliban-claims-kabul-attack-targeting-afghan-defense-official?page=sitrep?age"><span style="font-size: large;">Targeting Afghan Defense Official</span></a><br /><span style="font-size: large;">04 Aug 2021 - Stratfor</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"> <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2021/08/06/afghanistan-taliban-nimruz/">Taliban Fighters Overrun an Afghan Provincial Capital<br />for the First Time Since Withdrawal of Foreign Forces</a><br />06 Aug 2021 - WaPo</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://worldview.stratfor.com/situation-report/afghanistan-taliban-kills-government-s-top-media-officer-kabul?page=sitrep?age">Taliban Kills Government’s Top Media Officer in Kabul</a><br />06 Aug 2021 - Stratfor</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span>07-10</span></span></span></span></span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: red;"><span><span style="font-size: large;"><span><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span> Aug</span></span></span></span></span> 2021 Operations:</span></span><br /><span><span>1) 07 Aug - Sheberghan captured, controlling<br /> the Western terminus of Highway AH76 ...<br />2) 08 Aug - Sar-e-Pol captured, helping to secure<br /> the North-West between Herat and Kabul ...<br />3) 08 Aug - Kunduz & Talogan captured, controlling<br /> the Northern terminus of Highway AH7<br /> and the border-crossing into Tajikistan ...<br />4) 09 Aug - Aybak captured, controlling Highway AH76<br /> North of Kabul to Mazar-i-Sharif ...<br /></span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span><span><span style="font-size: large;"><span><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><span style="font-size: large;">5) 09 Aug - Lashkar Gah captured, controlling<br /> Highway AH71 from Zaranj to<br /> the Highway AH1 Junction ...</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span><span style="font-size: large;"><span><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">Taliban fighters now control large portions<br />of territory along Afghanistan’s northern border<br />with China, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan.<br />The aim of the operation was to “get hold of financial hubs,<br />and the main commercial trade routes connecting<br />Afghanistan with central Asian countries, emphasizing<br />Afghanistan’s main port with Uzbekistan<br />and crossing with Turkmenistan.</span></span><div style="text-align: left;"><span><span style="font-size: large;"><span><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span><span><span style="font-size: large;"><span><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><span style="font-size: large;">6) Herat under attack, controlling Highway AH1<br /> at its North-Western terminus.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span><span style="font-size: large;"><span><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span><span><span style="font-size: large;"><span><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><span style="font-size: large;">These three engagements effectively cut off Kandahar,</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span><span style="font-size: large;"><span><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span><span style="font-size: large;"><span><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><span style="font-size: large;">isolating the Western 1/3 of Afghanistan...</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span><span style="font-size: large;"><span><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span><span style="font-size: large;"><span><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span><span style="font-size: large;"><span><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><span style="font-size: large;">7) Continued skirmishing South of Kabul<br /> controls Highway AH1 at its North-Eastern terminus,<br /> potentially placing Kandahar in a pocket...<br />8) Mazar-i-Sharif is in a pocket.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span><span style="font-size: large;"><span><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span><span><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span>The next Taliban objective in the West may be to<br />cut Highway AH1 between Kandahar and Kabul,<br />which could place both cities in separate pockets<br />... however, the Taliban ... may ...take a day-or-two<br />to consolidate the North & West beyond the Kandahar-Kabul Corridor.</span></span></span></span></span> </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"> <br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"> <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2021/07/07/afghanistan-taliban-surge/">Taliban’s Rapid Advance Across Afghanistan<br />Puts Key Cities at Risk of Being Overtaken</a><br />07 Jul 2021 - WaPo </span><br /></div><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://nypost.com/2021/08/07/b-52s-lead-new-us-airpower-onslaught-to-stop-taliban-advances-in-afghanistan/">B-52s Lead New US Airpower Onslaught to Stop Taliban Advances</a><br />07 Aug 2021 - New York Post</span><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"> <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/biden-diego-garcia-mauritius/2021/08/08/38977c3a-f497-11eb-a49b-d96f2dac0942_story.html">Tiny Mauritius Learns the Limits of Biden’s</a><br /><a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/biden-diego-garcia-mauritius/2021/08/08/38977c3a-f497-11eb-a49b-d96f2dac0942_story.html">Invocation of the International ‘Rules-Based 0rder’</a><br />08 Aug 2021 - WaPo</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"> <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2021/08/08/taliban-kunduz/">Pace of Taliban Advance Quickens as<br />Militants Overrun Three Major Cities in a Single Day</a><br />08 Aug 2021 - WaPo</span> <br /></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://www.rawstory.com/biden-unmoved-on-afghan-exit-as-taliban-sweep-provinces/">Biden Unmoved on Afghan Exit as Taliban Sweep Provinces</a><br />09 Aug 2021 - Raw Story <br /></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/2021/08/10/afghanistan-intelligence-assessment/">U.S. Officials Warn Collapse of Afghan Capital</a><br /><a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/2021/08/10/afghanistan-intelligence-assessment/">Could Come Sooner Than Expected</a><br />10 Aug 2021 - WaPo</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><span><span>On Tuesday (10 Aug), the Taliban overran the capitals of Badakhshan in the north, Farah in the west and Baghlan.</span></span></span></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: red;"><span>11-12 Aug 2021 Operations:</span></span><br /><span><span>1) Pul-e-Khumri, Capital of Baghlan province captured,<br /> controlling the junction of Highways AH76 & AH7<br /> thus giving control of the North to the Taliban.</span></span><span><span><span> </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span><span><span>The next Taliban objective in the North may be to<br />press South along Highway AH76 to the junction<br />of Highway A77 at Charikar & Mahmud-i-Raqi,<br />securing the entire Northern 1/3 of the country,<br />and also controlling the Herat-Chaghcharan-Charikar road</span>.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span><span>2) Capture Herat ...<br />3) Siege or Capture Kandahar.</span></span></span></span></span></span> <br /></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"> <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2021/08/11/hundreds-afghan-forces-surrender-kunduz-taliban-consolidates-hold-countrys-north/">Hundreds of Afghan Forces Surrender in Kunduz</a><br /><a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2021/08/11/hundreds-afghan-forces-surrender-kunduz-taliban-consolidates-hold-countrys-north/">as Taliban Consolidates Hold on Country’s North</a><br />11 Aug 2021 - WaPo</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/aug/10/taliban-fighters-capture-afghan-city-at-strategic-junction-north-of-kabul">Taliban Fighters Capture Afghan City</a><br /><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/aug/10/taliban-fighters-capture-afghan-city-at-strategic-junction-north-of-kabul">at Strategic Junction North of Kabul</a><br />11 Aug 2021 - The Guardian</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://worldview.stratfor.com/situation-report/afghanistan-finance-minister-resigns-leaves-country-security-situation-worsens?page=sitrep?age">Afghanistan: Finance Minister Resigns,</a><br /><a href="https://worldview.stratfor.com/situation-report/afghanistan-finance-minister-resigns-leaves-country-security-situation-worsens?page=sitrep?age">Leaves Country as Security Situation Worsens</a><br />11 Aug 2021 - Stratfor</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"> <a href="https://apnews.com/article/middle-east-afghanistan-taliban-26d485963b7a0d9f2107afcbc38f239a">Taliban Take Kandahar and<br />Herat in Major Afghanistan 0ffensive</a><br />11 Aug 2021 - Associated Press <br /></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"> <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/afghanistan-additional-troops-embassy-kabul/2021/08/12/ac243f1a-fb97-11eb-b8dd-0e376fba55f2_story.html">U.S. Sending Thousands More Troops to Afghanistan to<br />Bolster Security as Some Embassy Staff Are Withdrawn</a><br />12 Aug 2021 - WaPo</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span>The U.S. embassy has advised nonofficial<br />Americans in Afghanistan to leave “immediately”<br />and noted that flights are limited.</span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2021/08/12/taliban-takes-ghazni-afghanistan/">Taliban Fighters Capture 10th Provincial Capital<br />After Days of Sweeping Gains</a><br />12 Aug 2021 - WaPo</span></p><span style="font-size: large;">Ghazni has been under siege by the militants for over<br />three months, and is the 10th provincial capital<br />to fall to the Taliban in less than a week.<br />The province’s governor was arrested while fleeing.<br />Taliban fighters pushed farther South towards the<br />city of Kandahar.</span><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/aug/12/taliban-claim-capture-kandahar-grip-on-afghanistan-grows">UK and US Send Troops to Aid Evacuation from<br />Afghanistan as Taliban Advances</a><br />12 Aug 2021 - The Guardian</span></p><span style="font-size: large;">The seizure of Kandahar and Herat marked the<br />biggest prizes yet for the Taliban, who have now<br />taken 12 of the country’s 34 provincial capitals.</span><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #01ffff;"><span style="color: red;">"Pentagon is sending a thousand troops to Qatar.<br />"4,000 additional US troops will be put on standby in Kuwait."</span></span> <br /></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/aug/12/afghanistan-taliban-lashkar-gah--army-chief-is-replaced">Taliban Tighten Grip on Approaches to Kabul<br />in Afghanistan Offensive</a><br />12 Aug 2021 - The Guardian</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span>Afghan government control has shrunk to<br />less than a third of the country’s territory.</span> </span></p><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/aug/12/afghanistan-taliban-lashkar-gah--army-chief-is-replaced"><span style="font-size: large;">Taliban Tighten Grip on Approaches to Kabul</span></a><br /><span style="font-size: large;">12 Aug 2021 - The Guardian</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"> <br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span><span style="font-size: large;"><span>The night of 12th Aug., the fall of Ghazni, 90 miles south<br />of the capital, and which sits on Highway 1 connecting<br />Kabul and Kandahar, means the Taliban control the main<br />strategic approaches t<span>o</span> Kabul from the north and south<br />after the fall of Pul-e Khumri two days ago.</span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="font-size: large;">12-15 Aug 2021 Operations:</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span>"A famous NOE (Noncombatant Evacuation Operation) mission<br />was Operation Frequent Wind, during which more than<br />7,000 Vietnamese civilians were evacuated from Saigon<br />on April 29 and 30, 1975 by helicopter." 13 Aug - Aljazeera</span></span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span> <div style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuVLsjm1Ib4tJVo04-1_AnH-1TSulmpDqLSogs7OVj_2bkqxBSvP9VD-9MKQDjd23vXJmwh71P8sWMFUT7pbP8-988Pav7jioOoJ8zRsvViYkJTS1jVZwguYxWO1y-rsGzXHhRaU_YfKQ/s1165/30+Apr+1975+-+U.S.+Embassy+Saigon.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="781" data-original-width="1165" height="429" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuVLsjm1Ib4tJVo04-1_AnH-1TSulmpDqLSogs7OVj_2bkqxBSvP9VD-9MKQDjd23vXJmwh71P8sWMFUT7pbP8-988Pav7jioOoJ8zRsvViYkJTS1jVZwguYxWO1y-rsGzXHhRaU_YfKQ/w640-h429/30+Apr+1975+-+U.S.+Embassy+Saigon.jpg" width="640" /></a><span style="font-size: large;"><span><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span><b><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"> 30 Apr 1975 - U.S. Embassy Saigon</span></span></b></span></span></span></span></span></div></span></span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span><b><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></span></b><br /></span></span></span></span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span><span><span style="font-size: large;">1) To secure the Hamid Karzai International Airport in Kabul in</span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span><span><span style="font-size: large;"> order to evacuate U.S. troops and U.S. and </span></span><span><span style="font-size: large;">Afghani civilian ... </span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span><span style="font-size: large;"><span>2) To secure Highway AH1 / Highway M-1,the</span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span><span style="font-size: large;"><span> Kabul-to-Islamababad refugee-highway corridor.</span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span><span style="font-size: large;"><span>3) Captured;</span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span><span style="font-size: large;"><span> A) 06 Aug - Zaranj<br /> B) 09 Aug - Lashkar Gah<br /> C) 07 Aug - Sheberghan<br /> D) 08 Aug - Sar-e-Pol, Kunduz & Talogan<br /> E) 09 Aug - Aybak<br /> F) 11 Aug - Pul-e-Khumri<br /> G) 12 Aug - Qalati Ghilji, Tarin Kot, Herat and Kandahar<br /> H) 13 Aug - Firuz Koh<br /> I) 14 Aug - Puli-e Alim & Gardez</span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span><span style="font-size: large;"><span><br /></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span><span style="font-size: large;"><span>Kabul and Jalalabad are now encircled,<br />each in their own respective siege-pocket, <br />supported only by airstrikes.</span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span><span style="font-size: large;"><span>Contrary to our popular perception in the west, for Afghans the period of conflict started with the communist coup in 1978, followed by the Soviet military invasion on Christmas Eve in 1979.<br /> Gleaned <i>The Guardian</i></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span><span style="font-size: large;"><span>Perhaps most serious was the decision by the<br />Afghan military not to contest the countryside<br />as the Western-backed forces withdrew,<br />but to concentrate instead on defending the cities,<br />allowing the Taliban to isolate and besiege provincial<br />capitals and cut off lines of communication,<br />ultimately squeezing Kabul.</span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span><span style="font-size: large;"><span> Gleaned from <i>The Guardian</i></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span><span style="font-size: large;"><span><i> </i></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span><span style="font-size: large;"><span>The most devastating blow, was Kandahar and Herat falling to the Taliban on 12th August as Afghan and US Air Forces – including American F/A-18 Fighters, AC-130 Gunships, and B-52 Bombers failed to slow the Taliban advance.</span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span><span style="font-size: large;"><span>Arguably, the F/A-18's are flying in from both the USS Iwo Jima</span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span><span style="font-size: large;"><span>Expeditionary Strike Force's LHD-7 Assault Carrier stationed</span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span><span style="font-size: large;"><span>at the Northern end of the Persian Gulf off Kuwait City, and</span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span><span style="font-size: large;"><span>Al-Udeid Airbase in Oatar, which is also deploying</span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span><span style="font-size: large;"><span><span><span style="font-size: large;"><span>AC-130 Spectre Gunships and B-52 Stratofortress Bombers.</span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span><span style="font-size: large;"><span><span><span style="font-size: large;"><span>The B-52's are also flying in from "Camp Thunder Cove" at</span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span><span style="font-size: large;"><span><span><span style="font-size: large;"><span>on the Island of Diego Garcia from the Nuclear Aircraft</span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span><span style="font-size: large;"><span><span><span style="font-size: large;"><span>Carrier USS Ronald Reagan (CVN-76).<br /></span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span><span style="font-size: large;"><span><span><span style="font-size: large;"><span> Gleaned from <i>The Guardian</i></span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span><span style="font-size: large;"><span><span><span style="font-size: large;"><span><i> </i></span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span><span style="font-size: large;"><span><span><span style="font-size: large;"><span><i> </i></span></span></span></span></span></span><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: red;"><b><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">====================================</span></b></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span><span style="font-size: large;"><span><span><span style="font-size: large;"><span><i> </i></span></span></span></span></span></span><a href="https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/us-troops-arrive-afghan-capital-assist-evacuations-2021-08-14/"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: red;"><b><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">TALIBAN ENTER KABUL AS<br />U.S. DIPLOMATS EVACUATE BY CHOPPER</span></b></span></span></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: red;"><b><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">==================================== <br /></span></b></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span><span style="font-size: large;"><span><span><span style="font-size: large;"><div style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB7AMunwV90dcOEsgHduk-Rzvl5AoeZBKuCPBg1n0iiE3txpm2uYdvgjDf_2mEEX1ntEyNpsrCYizlCLJebYgWasfUNFiwD3r21bq-99rSudAIwWjvZfbKQ8uHVFWmtqVYDejQ-cViWEU/s1176/15+Aug+2021+-+U.S+Embassy+Kabul.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="788" data-original-width="1176" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB7AMunwV90dcOEsgHduk-Rzvl5AoeZBKuCPBg1n0iiE3txpm2uYdvgjDf_2mEEX1ntEyNpsrCYizlCLJebYgWasfUNFiwD3r21bq-99rSudAIwWjvZfbKQ8uHVFWmtqVYDejQ-cViWEU/w640-h428/15+Aug+2021+-+U.S+Embassy+Kabul.jpg" width="640" /></a><span><span style="font-size: large;"><span><span><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"> 15 Aug 2021 - U.S Embassy Kabul</span></span></b></span></span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span><span style="font-size: large;"><span><span><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></span></b></span></span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span><span style="font-size: large;"><span><span><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></span></b></span></span></span></span></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"> <a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/13185972/9158527561284505894"><b><span style="font-family: verdana;">Pentagon Halts Military and</span></b></a></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/13185972/9158527561284505894"><b><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span>Civilian Flights Kabul Airport</span></span></span></b></a></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span><span style="font-size: large;"><span><span><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi7wc9NM7CCsPMb16ezf4Mmorv6GweN8swI1JuBsMIsbXzHug_8L_0GNTp-vnt2NEqe-iigi5R-3YpmIxI1mZpMHkmx7j4bXkmAu0DE_sgZW6AKtSkzQ3HI6KIItcZiaxgB0NUailoN6U/s1200/26189446_web1_M-0818-afghan-us-out-koterba2-EDH-210817-1200x818.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="818" data-original-width="1200" height="436" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi7wc9NM7CCsPMb16ezf4Mmorv6GweN8swI1JuBsMIsbXzHug_8L_0GNTp-vnt2NEqe-iigi5R-3YpmIxI1mZpMHkmx7j4bXkmAu0DE_sgZW6AKtSkzQ3HI6KIItcZiaxgB0NUailoN6U/w640-h436/26189446_web1_M-0818-afghan-us-out-koterba2-EDH-210817-1200x818.jpg" width="640" /></a></div></span></span></b></span></span></span></span></span><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.rawstory.com/five-people-reportedly-killed-amid-mayhem-at-kabul-airport/"><span><span style="font-size: large;"><span><span><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Mayhem At Kabul Airport</span></span></b></span></span></span></span></span></a><br /><span><span style="font-size: large;"><span><span><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Common Dreams - 16 Aug 2021</span></span></b></span></span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span><span style="font-size: large;"><span><span><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></span></b></span></span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span><span style="font-size: large;"><span><span><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: large;">"The intelligence agencies' assessments of the Afghan government's ability to maintain itself became increasingly pessimistic over the course of the last six months. And there were any number of warnings that the Taliban might take over, and some that included a potential of a very rapid, the Afghan government enforces." (sic)<br />Rep. Adam Schiff (D-CA)<br />Raw Story | August 23, 2021</span></span></span></b></span></span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span><span style="font-size: large;"><span><span><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span></span></b></span></span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span><span style="font-size: large;"><span><span><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: large;"> "For others who have been working with the U.S. on their visa paperwork for months, Congress stepped in to help move the process along for those there. The problem, however, is that the Embassy staff helping with that are at the airport. People can't get through the Taliban checkpoints without the documents that they can't get unless they go to the Embassy staff at the airport."<br />Sarah K. Burris - Raw Story (18 Aug 2021)<br /><br />"Nevertheless, the right thing for America to do, insist veterans, diplomats, pundits, women and non-governmental humanitarian groups, is for massive airlifts to rescue upwards of 90,000 now-refugees at risk ...<br />"The needed forms are complicated and all in English, of course, and there is no one left in Kabul to process would-be immigrants."<br />Terry H. Schwadron - DCReport (19 Aug 2021)</span></span></span></b></span></span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span><span style="font-size: large;"><span><span><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span></span></b></span></span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span><span style="font-size: large;"><span><span><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: large;"> "<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Catch-22-50th-Anniversary-Joseph-Heller/dp/1451626657/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=Catch+22&qid=1629869779&s=books&sr=1-1">Catch 22</a>": (novel)<br />A) Catch-22 (disambiguation) - (<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Catch-22">Wikipedia</a>)<br />B) noun - (<a href="https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/catch-22?src=search-dict-box">Merriam-Webster</a>)<br /> 1) a dilemma or difficult circumstance from<br /> which there is no escape because<br /> of mutually conflicting or dependent<br /> conditions<br /> 2) A catch-22 is a paradoxical situation from<br /> which an individual cannot escape because<br /> of contradictory rules or limitations<br /> 3) a : an illogical, unreasonable,<br /> or senseless situation<br /> b : a measure or policy whose effect<br /> is the opposite of what was intended<br /> c : a situation presenting two equally<br /> undesirable alternatives</span></span></span></b></span></span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span><span style="font-size: large;"><span><span><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: large;">Catch-22 (<a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0357529/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_5">IMDb</a>)<br />Catch-22 (<a href="https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=Catch-22">youtube</a>)</span></span></span></b></span></span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0472062/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_0"><span><span style="font-size: large;"><span><span><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: large;">Charlie Wilson's War</span></span></span></b></span></span></span></span></span></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span><span style="font-size: large;"><span><span><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0120885/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_0">Wag the Dog</a><br /></span></span></span></b></span></span></span></span></span><h1 class="TitleHeader__TitleText-sc-1wu6n3d-0 dxSWFG" data-testid="hero-title-block__title"><br /></h1></div></div></span></span></span></span></span></div></div></div>The Black Rosehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00415593307291388087noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8327894987519416506.post-70576099900603240462011-05-06T02:39:00.030-06:002021-09-17T10:31:29.831-06:00POINTS OF THE SPEAR<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="http://theweek.com/articles/619455/future-americas-aircraft-carriers-floating-drone-factories"><span style="color: red;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif"><b>THE FUTURE OF AMERICA'S AIRCRA<span face=""verdana" , sans-serif">FT CARRIERS?</span></b></span></span></span></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif"><b><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif"> </span></b></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif"><b><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3AGkLiv5SbEvTAHrmEnhwm1fTodz-yrtNWCgFK81VToTSjHi7Aw7C1L3UwxJB9K7mLv_2lsU0yy5t2P3NMUANs93pzkr1Jdv9FMvFHCoUdr3YhCEDhWFF_SlOSFwtPhVpo6ysAzzgfQQ/s1115/Previous+Order+of+Battle+Sub-Header.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; 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margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1541" data-original-width="2048" height="482" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL2ojlKME4oKmJF2ZAUcTZ_YWP8v0pr6xwqm8LB5H1NhuPeK7aJZm5o7T_nFwgg_A2rqfnXTWOXCSSIQ9TqMTFkQBluCM0lHSHa6iKqMzeglGLs-u666UDBWAu2jSGpzhqJXjnr42IwxA/w640-h482/21.04.1+-+01+Apr+2021.jpg" width="640" /></a></b><span style="color: red;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif"><b><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif"> </span></b></span></span></span><b> <br /><u><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Archived Maps</span></span></u></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><span style="font-family: verdana;"> 27 Feb 2007 to 14 Mar 2012 (52)</span></b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><span style="font-family: verdana;"> 17 Mar 2011 to 28 Mar 2021 (95)</span></b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><span style="font-family: verdana;"> <br /></span></b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><span style="font-family: verdana;"> Available From:</span></b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><span style="font-family: verdana;"> sir.creighton@englandmail.com</span></b></span><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><div style="text-align: center;"> <span style="color: #9fc5e8;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="color: #9fc5e8;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b></b></span></span></span></b></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #9fc5e8;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="color: #9fc5e8;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: large;"></span></span></span></b></span></span></span></div>The Black Rosehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00415593307291388087noreply@blogger.com0