Your Lyon Eyes

This morning we all walked the plank off of our ship, boarded a bus  headed for Vienne, which is a suburb of Lyon.  It has a huge Roman temple ( yes Roman not Romanesque!) in the center of town. Then on to Lyon, which is France’s second largest city.  We went for lunch to a restaurant … Continue reading Your Lyon Eyes

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”

Pope Culture

We were back in Avignon today for more extensive exploration; went through the Palais des Papes this morning. It’s the largest medieval palace in all Europe, made of the local custard coloured soft limestone, just like the Gothic crenelated walls of the city.  As you know the Popes were here 1309-1377, sometimes called the Babylonian … Continue reading Pope Culture

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

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

Winning the Peace (Ch. 5) Redux

A feel good but secondary mission is to promote life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness for the citizens of the various Partner Nations. Winning the Peace (WtP) Foreign Area Officers (FAOs) may support when feasible, freedom of religion with the end-state being that a Muslim could convert to Christianity and not face death for … Continue reading Winning the Peace (Ch. 5) 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

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

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