Thailand safeheaven to LTTE no more

Despite the embarrassing encounter between the Sri Lanka government and Thai authorities over the arrest of Kumaran Pathmanathan last year, the Thai government and its Security Forces seem to have curbed LTTE activities in that country to a large extent.

Sri Lankan defence sources in Thailand told DefenceWire a short wile ago that the Thais had expressed resentment over the manner in which sections of the Sri Lankan defence established last year handled a confidential communication regarding the arrest of Kumaran Pathmanathan, the God Father of LTTE's international arms procurement and money-laundering wing--The "KP Department".

Pathmanathan, who is married to a Thai woman, was connected to some high authorities in Thailand during the height of the KP Department's operations in Thailand when it was used as the hub for LTTE activities in the region.

Former Director General of Military Intelligence Ret. Maj. Gen. Kapila Hendevitharana was instrumental in curbing LTTE activities in Thailand with assistance from Thai authorities. Him and other officials thereafter had warned the Thais of emerging ties between the LTTE and Islamic Jihadists in Thailand like the Pattani United Liberation Organization.

Although the Tigers have now shifted its smuggling operations base to Indonesia, there too the Tigers encountered problems from other western intelligence organizations. This and the Sri Lanka Navy's blue-water mission eliminating Tiger floating warehouses, the Tigers are now forced to keep shifting operations from place to place.

AK-47 vs. M16 vs. the 6.5 Grendel®

One of the biggest firearms debates in history is to crown the world's best Assault Rifle. The two main rifles competing are from two former Cold-War enemies. They are the Russian AK-47 and its variants and the US made M16 and its variants.

Although the debate will never end, recent developments in ballistics and firearms design could settle the debate once and for all.

The AK-47/T-56

The Russian AK-47 with bayonet and the Chinese NORINCO Type 56

The AK-47 (Avtomat Kalashnikova-1947) and the Chinese Type 56 are perhaps the most well known assault rifles in the world. Developed during the Second World War to protect Russia, the "AK" is the most affordable and widely available light-weight rifle in the world with a devastating 7.62mm, powerfully recoiling rifle with over 400m kill range.

The gun, sold from $50-300, is a weapon of choice for many state and non-state armies. It requires minimum maintenance and pose a grave threat to those using the M16/AR15 platform of rifles due to the 7.62NATO rounds they use, which are more powerful than the common 5.56MM rounds used by the M16/AR15.

The M16/AR15

The M16 is in use in many NATO armies as the main Tactical Assault Rifle. It is a highly accurate, light-weight rifle capable of firing from 5.56mm rounds to 7.62mm rounds and even 40mm grenades when equipped.

M16-M4/AR-15

The M16 5.56mm Carbine is a lightweight, gas operated, air cooled, magazine fed, selective rate, shoulder fired weapon with a collapsible stock. The weapon is still affordable and available to terrorist groups at $586 per gun.

The 6.5 Grendel® Tactical Assault Rifle

The 6.5 Grendel® is one of the latest Tactical Assault Rifles introduced to Special Forces in NATO countries. It is giving a comparative edge to elite units over insurgents, guerrillas and terrorists alike using a basic M16/AR-15 chassis. The advantage comes from the 6.5mm round the Grendel® uses instead of the 5.56mm or the 7.62mm. Surprisingly, this new 6.5 Grendel® generates more kinetic energy than the 7.62mm.

The longer warhead and stockier 6.5mm Grendel round in the middle

The firearm, developed by a US company called Alexander Arms, is able to out-shoot the AK-47/T-56 commonly used by state and non-state actors in many of the global wars. The Grendel® shoots at supersonic speed at anything within 1200-1400 yards with half the recoil of the AK-47/T-56.

In the years to come, this weapon will provide a comparative advantage to state forces who can afford it. The Grendel®, combined with the light-weight and highly accurate M16/AR15 chassis, is a rifle here to stay. (6.5 Grendel® Video)