Discover My Adopted Home Town, Chiang Rai, Thailand Redux

In other words, some of you will have seen this OP before. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Not the larger and better known city of Chiang Mai, but Chiang Rai, in Northern Thailand deserves your attention. I am a retired USMC infantry officer and have seen more than a few interesting places, some of which I even liked. One … Continue reading Discover My Adopted Home Town, Chiang Rai, Thailand Redux →

Preface: LtCol S.x MacTemplar -Shadow Warrior

Where to begin? It seems that war is just too big of a topic for Hollywood to handle in 90-110 minutes. Go figure. I know I can’t do it justice in 300-plus pages, either, but it will be more accurate than anything Hollywood can dish up. I suspect what people want from Hollywood is to … Continue reading Preface: LtCol S.x MacTemplar -Shadow Warrior →

“Avignon, the rose of the world”

…wrote Lawrence Durrell, and I agree. We just kinda lazed around this morning, enjoying being on the river…then spent the afternoon walking around the city. It’s like how Paris must’ve been before Emperor Louis Napoleon and Haussmann got at it, eliminating all the narrow, twisting little alleés and opening up the broad boulevards. It is … Continue reading “Avignon, the rose of the world” →

By Request, “Introducing… Simon Templar!”

My Inspiration for this post. Greetings ST, 'Ettes, 'Sieurs, and All! His Graciously Unleashedness/Unwokeness has asked yours truly to reflect on his transformation from an "international man of mystery" (IMOM) to an instantly recognizable man of action/raconteur known as: "Simon Templar". Therewith comes a tale. Let me say at the outset that simplicity suits the … Continue reading By Request, “Introducing… Simon Templar!” →

Preface: LtCol S.x MacTemplar -Shadow Warrior

Winning the Peace (Ch. 4) Redux

Winning the Peace (WTP and/or WP – Willy Pete?), and the FAOs in the program are organized within each partner nation similarly to an infantry platoon reinforced. Platoon commander (O-5), platoon sergeant (E-8), corpsman, radio telephone operator (RTOs), squad leaders (O-4), fire team leaders (O-3), and grunts (enlisted advisors). The total number of individuals deployed … Continue reading Winning the Peace (Ch. 4) Redux →

Discover My Adopted Home Town, Chiang Rai, Thailand Redux

Winning the Peace (Ch. 3) Redux

Past being prologue, it is not likely that either the Department of State or CIA is going to beat back the onslaught of Salafism. The intent here is to provide leadership with a notion of the type of Foreign Area Officer (FAO) required to develop and implement strategy. The current “strategy,” whatever it may be, … Continue reading Winning the Peace (Ch. 3) Redux →

By Request, “Introducing… Simon Templar!”