Royal Laotian parachutists over Carolina

By W. Thomas Smith Jr.

Special Feature

“Get out!” jumpmaster Ronny Alley shouted at me as I sat crunched down in the so-called hot-seat of a packed Cessna 182 single-engine aircraft now throttling back to about 85 miles-per-hour some 3,500 feet above the surface of the earth.

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Violence in Iran: What the West Needs to Know

Part 1 of a series, Three Questions for Dr. Walid Phares

By W. Thomas Smith Jr.

W. Thomas Smith, Jr.The violent crackdown continues in the wake of Iran’s disputed June 12 presidential elections in which – according to The Wall Street Journal – “hard-line clerics have rallied behind Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in supporting President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's declared landslide poll victory.”

The flag of Iran contains symbols representative of martyrdom and sovreignty. This flag replaced the Lion and Sun flag that many Iranians in the US still consider valid.Hardly a “victory,” much less a “landslide,” so-say supporters of opposition candidates Mir Hossein Mousavi and and Mehdi Karroubi, who have “challenged the vote, alleging widespread vote-rigging.”

Despite restrictions on media, at least 20 people have reportedly been killed and hundreds wounded by Basij militia forces. Some sources suggest the death toll is much higher. And it doesn’t appear as if the mullahs, Ahmadinejad, and their cronies are going to let up until any hint of expressed opposition is crushed.

Additionally, according to the Kuwaiti newspaper Alseyassah, the leadership of Lebanon-based Hizballah is appealing to the Iranian regime – literally the hand that feeds Hizballah – to use all means to quash the opposition movement in Iran. Alseyassah also reports “a number of troops of the Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps [IRGC] in Kuwait, Iraq, Lebanon and Syria have been recalled to Tehran ... to join the Tha’r Allah [Vengeance of God] forces … These special forces are in charge of protecting the regime."

Saturday, I discussed Iran with Middle East expert Dr. Walid Phares – director of the Future of Terrorism Project for the Foundation for Defense of Democracies – for the initial Q&A in what will be an ongoing series of interviews, Three Questions for Dr. Walid Phares, providing timely perspective on Middle East issues and international terrorism as events unfold.

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2010 Medal of Honor Convention features living recipients of award

The Medal of Honor Society's 2010 National Convention will be held Sept. 29-Oct. 3, 2010 in Charleston, S.C. The S.C. State Guard Foundation and The Citadel will host the event.

Lt. Col. W. Thomas Smith Jr. (Joint Services Detachment, S.C. Military Dept.), senior information officer for the Medal of Honor 2010 convention project, is a former U.S. Marine rifle-squad leader and counterterrorism instructor. In addition to his convention responsibilities – including soliciting the assistance of three and four star generals and admirals – he serves as an internationally acclaimed military analyst, author, columnist, and war correspondent, having covered conflict in the Balkans, on the West Bank, in Iraq (twice) and Lebanon. His work has appeared in the New York Post, USA TODAY, U.S. News & World Report, and many others.

In April, Smith received the Maj. Gen. James E. Livingston Award "for noble service to country in peace and war, superior leadership and tireless support of the 2010 National Medal of Honor Convention."

On Tuesday, we sat down with Smith for a brief convention update.

 S.C. military officers are assisting in various ways with the 2010 Medal of Honor Convention. (L-R) Capt. Michael Graham (U.S. Army Res.), Lt. Col. Howard T. Rowell (U.S. Air Force Res., ret.; former U.S. Marine), Maj. Gen. O. Eugene Powell (Joint Services Detachment, S.C. Military Dept.; U.S. Army, ret.), Maj. Gen. Nelson Lacy (S.C. State Guard; U.S. Army, ret.), Maj. Gen. Eli Wishart (S.C. State Guard, ret.; U.S. Army, ret.), Lt. Gen. Garry L. Parks (U.S. Marine Corps, ret.), Brig. Gen. Eugene F. Rogers (JSD, S.C. Military Dept.; former U.S. Marine), and Lt. Col. W. Thomas Smith Jr. (JSD, S.C. Military Dept.; former U.S. Marine).

TUSR: Give us an update on plans for the Medal of Honor Society 2010 Convention—a couple of the high points.

LT. COL. W. THOMAS SMITH JR.: It’s going to be four days in one of the world’s most charming cities – Charleston– enjoying some of the best food, loveliest gardens, fascinating historic sites, shows with one or two of Broadway’s big stars (yes, down here for the event), a grand patriots ball, daily “breakfasts with champions,” awards ceremonies, and other scheduled events attended by various national celebrities, media personalities, generals, admirals, and every living recipient of the Medal of Honor who is able to attend, and most of them are telling us, yes.

TUSR: Tell us about the society—does each state have its own and is there an umbrella organization?

SMITH: First, the Congressional Medal of Honor Society – often billed as the nation’s most exclusive fraternity – is the official organization of the living recipients of the Medal of Honor, which is America’s highest award for combat valor. Second, the Society’s members are so few in number – only 97 living recipients, nationwide – there would be no reason to establish state chapters. For instance, in your state of Florida, you have only eight Florida-accredited living-recipients. We have fewer than that here in South Carolina. Many of the members are well above 75-years-old. We’re losing several of these heroes each year. And when the membership drops to 25, the Society will be disbanded.

TUSR: For a military expert like yourself, working on this must be a labor of love. Why is it so important to hold this convention?

SMITH: Because – and as I’ve often said – military tradition is the lifeblood of military prowess, and military prowess is what wins battles. Problem is, far too many Americans wrongly assume America wins all of its wars because we have resources, money, and technological superiority. And those things count to be sure. But military prowess – not technology – is what enabled our Marines to kick down the front door of Fallujah back in 2004, and engage and defeat hardened Al Qaeda diehards in a fierce tooth-to-eyeball slugfest that will serve as a model of how to fight and win in an urban-combat environment for maybe the next 100 years. The Marines were perhaps the best-suited fighting force on Earth for just such a fight. And they were because the Marine Corps is big on tradition, the lifeblood of Marine fighting prowess. And when we consider our living recipients of the Medal of Honor – from all services – they are the greatest living pillars of a broader American military tradition. So, yes, the Medal itself, the men who wear it, and the establishment of a greater national awareness of both the Medal and the men through grand events like our 2010 convention are absolutely essential to the continued strength of this nation.

TUSR: You’d probably agree this interview is timely—after all, one of America’s greatest challenges The Battle of Charleston, raged during April and May in 1780. Does Charleston’s historical significance figure in locating the convention there, or is it a matter of convenience for guests traveling from all over the country?

SMITH: Yes, yes, and yes. Of course Charleston’s historical significance is always a key selling point for national – even international – conventions. The city is simply one of the world’s great tourist destination spots.

TUSR: What is your greatest expectation for this convention?

SMITH: That it will be the greatest-ever gathering of military heroes in the history of this state. And that we will be able to announce something at the convention of great historic military significance to the state and the nation, which we are presently considering, but which we are not yet ready to disclose.

Ed. Note: The 2010 Medal of Honor Convention website provides additional detail about the convention and sponsorship opportunities.

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