New 4G Cell-Phone Networks May Jam GPS Signals; If This is True, They Need to Delay 4G Until This Problem is Resolved

As an avid GPS user, I’m very concerned about reports that some of the 4G network frequencies that are being looked at for use are too close to Global Positioning System (GPS) frequencies, and that the GPS signals might be jammed.

We need GPS more than we need 4G at this stage.   GPS is “critical need” and 4G is still in the “nice to have” category, in my estimation.

Commercial air traffic, ground-based delivery trucks, emergency responders and other critical agencies use GPS to get to their intended destinations, not to mention millions of families and individuals who navigate all over the place using GPS for critical and non-critical travel.

I think that if they just move some of the frequencies further apart that will take care of the issue.  The frequency being proposed for use by LightSquared is in the 1525MHz-1559MHz range, while GPS kicks on at 1559Mhz-1610MHz.  Cell phone towers send out their signals which are orders of magnitude stronger than the incoming satellite signals.

A recent test by Garmin showed that the GPS signal was lost after they sent a GPS unit into an area where a 4G signal was active on the proposed frequency.  At various ranges, the GPS unit was way off its target, then lost the signal completely when it was in proximity to the test transmitter.

Is this problem limited to ground-based GPS units, or will it affect commercial airliners, military aircraft and other kinds of aircraft that rely on GPS?  What about enhanced 9-11 systems?

LightSquared, Garmin, and other experts in the GPS and cell phone fields are looking at the problem.  Hope they solve the issue quickly.

al-Qaeda IS Active in Libyan Civil War: Is Anyone Getting a REALLY Bad Feeling About Arming Them to Fight Qaddafi?

With confirmation that al-Qaeda is actively involved in the Libyan civil war, some questions need answering.  This is a huge problem, though one that was not a surprise, as Libya had the second largest contingent of al-Qaeda fighters in Iraq in recent years.

As far as I’m concerned, the rebels can do without American arms or ammunition or air cover if they’re accepting aid from al-Qaeda.  There have been reports that the Libyan al-Qaeda fighters left the field in Iraq to return to their homeland to join the fight against Qaddafi. 

I have a real issue with arming people who may well take (or send) those arms to Iraq and use them against American soldiers, once Libya’s dictator is gone.  al-Qaeda is our enemy, not our ally. Not under ANY circumstances!  And especially not with the blood of American soldiers and the victims of 9/11 on their hands.

Our Administration needs to decide where its priorities lay.  I think it erred in getting us involved in the first place.  Listening to requests for help from some of the murderous Arab League membership was a huge mistake, and one that will haunt us for a long time to come.

Why Do News Organizations Read Too Much into a Military Code-Name? “Odyssey Dawn” is Just As Good as “Enduring Freedom”, “Operation Iraqi Freedom”, “Desert Shield”, “Desert Storm” and “Desert Fox.”

The press seems to be getting bored with criticizing the President’s ill-advised foray into a military confrontation with Libya, and is now ridiculing the military code-name for the operation as well.

I don’t seem to see any reference in the article to the Libyans fighting for their own freedom over the long haul in Fox News’s forensic analysis of the code-name.  That was what I perceived the code-name to be referencing. 

The military follows the orders of the politicians, and the politicians are solely responsible for getting us into another mess.   That’s who the press needs to be focusing on.

Half the Nations in the Arab League are Facing Their Own Protests: What Business Do They Have Requesting a No-Fly Zone Over Libya to Protect Libyan Citizens While FIRING On Their Own Citizens Back Home??!

Let’s take a look at the members of the Arab League, and what is happening in their territory, as compared to what’s going on in Libya:

Egypt—government fell to protestors. Military running the country.

Sudan—just split in two after a civil war. South Sudan set to become independent in July 2011. Genocide in Darfur. Sudanese President indicted by ICC for crimes against humanity for his actions in Darfur, and South Sudan.

Algeria—just lifted a 19 year long state of emergency following popular protests. Government killed 3, wounded 800 in the latest round of riots.

Morocco—very stable country; a U.S. ally since 1777. One of the first nations on earth to recognize the United States after the American Revolution. Opposition took office following peaceful elections in 2002; the very first change of government like this in the Arab world. Currently fighting an al-Qaeda chapter within its territory that has targeted several north African countries.

Iraq—U.S. and international troops are still there; government is still trying to get its act together.

Saudi Arabia—Saudi king is attempting to buy off protestors with cash and with shows of overwhelming force. “Day of Rage” in Saudi capital cancelled after tens of thousands of police were deployed first. Saudi King Abdullah gave asylum to exiled Tunisian President after he was thrown out of office by Tunisian protestors. Saudi “virtue police” treat citizens harshly and violently if they are perceived as doing something illegal under Sharia law, although King Abdullah has put more moderates into the religious police.

Yemen—One of the most heavily armed nations on the planet, there are three guns per every man, woman and child there. Sliding rapidly toward civil war; government is attempting to put down protests there. President is pulling a Mubarak, wanting to stay on until after elections. Protestors want him gone ASAP. Heavy al-Qaeda presence. Government is firing on protestors, who are returning fire. Recent fighting left forty dead; government officials and military leaders have begun switching sides as a result. President expected to resign.

Syria—First pro-democracy protest of some size in decades began recently; four dead, hundreds injured by some accounts. Government and Syrian intelligence service has been using violence to influence events in neighboring Lebanon, including assassination of Lebanese politicians who want Syria out of their politics. The Syrian government shows no mercy to protestors or people around them; in 1982, the Syrian government attacked a Syrian town (Hama) that rebelled with their full military might, and left no survivors. As many as 40,000 civilians perished.

Tunisia—Government fell to protestors. Dealing with refugee crisis with incoming Libyan civilians fleeing Qaddafi’s mercenaries. Protestors in other Arab nations were inspired by the Tunisian protests, which were successful in overthrowing their government.

Somalia—Ongoing civil war. No central government from 1991-2009; pirate strongholds on the coastline; several African nations have intervened militarily with no conclusive results. Charges of genocide in the civil war. New government is getting stronger, building up a Somali military and attempting to wrest the countryside from militants.

Libya—Ongoing civil war, currently has the attention of the world. Qaddafi brought in mercenaries to deal with his own people. Heavy civilian casualties.

Jordan—Stable Arab country. Leads the Arab world in political reforms, though they still have a ways to go. Practices torture of political prisoners, application of the death penalty being questioned by Amnesty International. Peace treaties with all of its neighbors, including Israel. Protests began in January 2011 over food prices and unemployment and against the Prime Minister of Jordan. King of Jordan fired the cabinet and the Prime Minister in a nod to the concerns of protestors.

United Arab Emirates—Protest leaders were arrested and deported after leading a 3,000 man work strike over wage increases, and is threatening legal action against the rest. Liberal Arab country. Protestors appeared a few days ago to protest the Israeli airstrikes on Gaza.

Lebanon—Under the control of Hezbollah and Syria. People who protest against this arrangement are assassinated by bombs or bullets, or simply disappear, never to be heard from again. Got dragged into a Hezbollah-Israeli war a few years ago, and is likely to be dragged in again if the terror group decides to start bombarding northern Israeli towns again with Iranian rockets.

Kuwait—Protests have been waged by non-citizens over citizenship issues and the arrest of other non-citizens at previous protests. Protestors clashed with security forces. Thirty people have been wounded. The Emir of Kuwait is an American ally.

Mauritania—Military coup in 2008; the leader of the coup ran for President in 2009 and won the election. Protests are currently underway. They’ve been relatively peaceful protests so far, and the authorities have allowed the protests, arresting some for getting out of hand.

Oman—Protests over wages and government reform. Some protestors got violent, and other protestors wrote to the Sultan of Oman, apologizing for the violence. One person was killed, twenty were wounded. Hard to see which direction this situation might go.

Comoros—An Arab island chain in the Mediterranean, it has a small military, numbering 500 men and 500 police officers. Naval protection is provided by France; the French also have a base there. They are a multi-party “federal presidential republic” that is a working democracy, after decades of dictatorship. Power changed hands peacefully in 2006. Laws are based on a mix of Islamic law and Napoleonic codes.

Qatar—A protest scheduled on Facebook to confront the country’s problems with corruption of government officials was cancelled. Then rumors of a coup in progress started circulating around the country. A major U.S. ally in the region; American troops are stationed there. They also have some kind of a defense treaty with Iran.

Bahrain—A Sunni king rules over a Shiite majority here; there was an explosion of bloody violence between government forces and civilian protestors in the last few weeks. The Sunni king has called for foreign troops to enter his country and assist in suppressing the Shiites. Saudi troops entered the country and are currently assisting in doing so. Also a U.S. ally, and the forward operating base of the U.S. Fifth Fleet. This one’s going to bite us when we least expect it. Iran is already stirring up trouble here.

Palestine—They’ve always got protests going on, and usually it’s over what Israel’s doing to them. With Hamas in charge of Gaza, there will be no peace. And Fatah’s control of the West Bank against Hamas is tenuous at best. Violence is mostly between Fatah and Hamas, and Hamas and the Israelis. The majority of the news coverage report on the fighting between Israel and Hamas.

Djibouti—Protests are underway against their President, who won against his main rival in the last election with 100% of the votes going his way. Election was denounced by international monitors. Clashes have turned violent since February 3rd, and the opposition appears to have been knocked out by the killing of many protestors, and the arrest of their leaders.

I have a hard time swallowing the fact that we’re entertaining requests from this group of nations, in particular the ones who are violently suppressing pro-democracy movements in their own countries, to protect pro-democracy protestors in Libya.

The truth is that these nations are using Libya to throw attention onto Gaddafi and off of THEM!

And our leaders are bowing to their wishes to present the public picture of a united response involving Arab and Western nations, when the Western alliance is fragmented, and only a few of the Arab nations in the Arab league are contributing aircraft or support personnel. And Arab nations are NOTORIOUS for changing their tunes at the drop of a hat.

They suckered us in good.

Arab League Declares Libya Has “Lost Its Sovereignty” and Asks For No-Fly Zone, Then Changes Its Mind When It Happens: That’s The LAST Time We Should Listen to Those Idiots!

The Arab League has apparently gotten cold feet in regards to the suppression of Libya’s air defense system, and the defense of Libyan civilians, after begging the West to help set up a no-fly zone.

They are now talking about withdrawing their ill-considered motion, or providing aircraft with all kinds of stipulations on how they are to be used.

What did those Arab League idiots think was going to happen? As soon as the first Tomahawk was fired, and the first Western aircraft entered Libyan airspace, people were going to start dying. These are not toys that the West is dropping on Libya.

We need to hand this operation over to the Arab League ASAP, and pull NATO out of this misbegotten adventure, and tell the Arab League to go screw themselves.

The next time they want a no-fly zone, they can DO IT THEMSELVES without Western help. They’re a bunch of weak-willed hypocrites that some very smart people over here said would jump ship as soon as military action began.

They were right.

U.S. Following the Correct Course in Libya: NATO Takes the Lead in Sending Their Air Forces into Libyan Skies

Following declarations from the Arab League and the U.N. Security Council that allow for a no-fly zone to protect the Libyan people from Col. Qaddafi, the French Air Force is in action over Libya, presumably shooting down Libyan military aircraft, and bombing government and mercenary forces who have been attacking Benghazi.  The Italian Air Force is also in action.

There has been a lack of U.S. leadership on this issue, and for once, I am in agreement with it. 

The U.S. has two wars ongoing already, with a potentially explosive Korean situation waiting in the wings.   That’s enough for us to be getting on with. 

The majority of the American people are opposed to our getting involved in Libya.  Many polls of the American public have opposition to American involvement ranging from 66-75%. 

I hope this conflict doesn’t last long, and there’s no expansion of the NATO role beyond what is already stated.

People Need to Calm Down About Japanese Nuclear Problem: Even if Reactors Go into Full Meltdown, the Radiation Will Not Reach California

I think some people need a geography lesson.  Finland is not next to Japan.  Nor is the continental United States.  Yet people in both countries are rushing out to buy potassium iodine tablets, and some in their idiot governments are inciting a panic, like the Surgeon General of the United States.

A news article in California blasting the Surgeon General’s ill-conceived political statements said that if a nuclear reactor in California was to go into full meltdown, the authorities would only give out potassium iodine to people living within 10-12 miles of the reactor.  From Tokyo to Los Angeles, it is roughly 5,478 miles.  From Tokyo to Helsinki it is 4,878 miles.  

This is not like a nuclear warhead going off and throwing up billions of tons of dirt into the upper atmosphere, and radioactive dust raining down around the entire world over weeks and months.  By the time any radiation from Japan reaches Los Angeles or Helsinki, it will have mostly blended into the background.

At its worst, Chernobyl’s nuclear accident contaminated 125,000 square miles.  The airspace above the Pacific Ocean between Japan and the West Coast is in the neighborhood of 18,000,000 square miles.  Radiation from Japan won’t make it.  The other thing is that the Soviets had no containment for their reactors, other than the housing for the nuclear cores themselves.  And the graphite used in the Soviet reactors were like candy to an out of control nuclear reaction.

Settle down, people.  Just stay cool.

Three Danish Soldiers Captured By Forces Loyal to Qaddaffi, Eight British Soldiers Captured By Libyan Rebels: NATO Needs to Keep Boots Off the Ground

NATO isn’t doing so good in Libya so far.   Three Danes and eight British soldiers have been captured by both sides in the Libyan civil war.   Is NATO planning on attacking both sides now, and turning this into a three-way dance?

This is a no-win situation for the West. 

By all means, NATO aircraft should airdrop food and medicines into rebel-controlled areas, but the West should not be involved in combat operations.   And they shouldn’t be sending soldiers in…both sides are saying they don’t want a Western military presence in Libya. 

Why doesn’t NATO listen?  STAY OUT of Libya! 

NATO should be flying supplies and transports into Tunisia to relieve the humanitarian nightmare taking place there, instead of trying to push Qaddaffi out.   I think he’ll be betrayed by one of his own men in the end, and forcibly removed from the picture in a hail of gunfire.

That can’t happen soon enough.  However, this is a Libyan and an Arab problem until then, not an American or NATO one.  If they want us in there, they’ll ask for it.

But if the reception that both sides have given NATO soldiers so far is any indication, they won’t.  And now NATO has a really complicated hostage situation to deal with too.

Libya “May Be” On Verge of Civil War? Not! They ARE in a Civil War

The media is playing catch-up on the terminology that they’re using to describe the strife in Libya.

Since there are clearly defined lines of battle, and two sides are vying for control of the government, all the conditions exist for the term “civil war” to apply.  A Twitter user by the name of Iyad El-Baghdadi has put together these maps of the current military situation in Libya.

Judging from the reports coming out of Libya, Qaddafi is using mercenaries, government troops, heavy artillery and other heavy weapons to attack towns held by the National Transitional Council.   Libyan Army units have defected to the rebels and are fighting Qaddaffi’s mercenaries and troops loyal to him.

Sounds like a civil war to me.

We Need to Keep Boots Off the Ground in Libya at ALL Costs: Libyan Rebels Can Handle Things Themselves

Libya seems to be lunging toward a civil war, and the West is making noises about establishing a no-fly zone over Libya to keep Qaddafi from launching air strikes against protestors who want him GONE.

I think the U.S. needs to sit this one out. 

France and Britain and Australia are making a lot of noises; let them take the lead this time.  The best thing the U.S. can do is not get involved militarily in Libya.  We have quite enough on the plate already, with Iraq and Afghanistan, and all the saber rattling going on in Korea.

The rebels have indicated that they do not want a foreign military presence on Libyan soil; I think that’s a piece of advice that the West should heed. 

But will the rebels help downed NATO pilots?   Or will NATO also have to have search and rescue (SAR) units on standby to rescue them from Gaddafi’s supporters?  Where would the SAR birds be stationed?  No Arab nation publicly wants Western troops on their soil.

Before a no-fly zone is established, they really need to take this into account.  Libya has massive stockpiles of anti-aircraft weapons, many of which are still under Qaddafi’s control, so there may be some aircraft losses, and pilots who will need to be rescued.   He could send his Air Force after ships in the Gulf of Sidra.

This is a mess we don’t want to get entangled in.  The Libyan people need to fight for themselves, rather than having us send in the Marines.

And I’m not sure about referring to Qaddafi to the International Criminal Court (ICC) either.  Libya has never signed the ICC treaty.   If Qaddafi’s regime falls to the rebels, does anyone think he will be taken alive?  Or that his countrymen would allow him to face an international tribunal without a possibility of a death penalty, as he would face under Libyan law? 

Let the Libyans judge him themselves.  They don’t need the West sticking their noses into that too.