Harm -
The AGM-88 High-Speed Anti-radiation Missile (HARM) is an air-to-surface tactical missile designed to seek out and destroy enemy radar-equipped air defense systems. The AGM-88 can detect, attack and destroy a target with minimum aircrew input. The proportional guidance system that homes in on enemy radar emissions has a fixed antenna and seeker head in the missile's nose.

Speed: 760+ mph

Range: 80+ nautical miles

Warhead: 150 pounds

Harpoon -
The AGM-84D Harpoon is an all-weather, over-the-horizon, anti-ship missile system. The Harpoon's active radar guidance, warhead design, and low-level, sea-skimming cruise trajectory assure high survivability and effectiveness. The missile is capable of being launched from surface ships, submarines, or (without the booster) from aircraft.

Speed: High subsonic

Range: 60+ nautical miles

Warhead: 488 pounds

Hawk -
Homing All-the-Way Killer (HAWK) Missile System is an American low to medium altitude air defense against a variety of targets, including jet and rotary wing aircraft, unmanned aerial vehicles, and cruise missiles. The Shah’s air defense system was built around the Hawk and Rapier air defense systems. Once the Shah was gone and the Tehran Ayatollahs were more interested in jerking Uncle Sam’s chain, spare parts and technical assistance dried up. The Iraq/Iran war provided the impetus for the Tehran to negotiate an arms-for-hostage deal during the 1980s.

Speed: Supersonic.

Range: 15 miles

Warhead: 300 pounds

Hellfire –
Hellfire is an air-to-ground, laser guided, subsonic missile with significant antitank capacity. Hellfire can be used as an air-to-air or an air-to-ground missile. The Air-to-Ground (AGM)-114 provides precision striking power against tanks, structures, bunkers and helicopters. The Hellfire missile is capable of defeating any known tank in the world today. It can be guided to the target either from inside the aircraft or by lasers outside the aircraft.

Speed: Subsonic

Warhead: Shaped charge and blast fragmentation

Hezbollah -
Hezbollah is a Lebanese group of Shiite militants that has evolved into a major force in Lebanon's society and politics. It opposes the West, seeks to create a Muslim fundamentalist state modeled on Iran, and is a bitter foe of Israel. The group's name means “Party of God.” Hezbollah receives the majority of its support from Iran and Syria. It was organized by Iran in response to the Israeli invasion of Southern Lebanon.

Hillbilly Mafia –
A loose affiliation of gangsters and crooks extending through parts of the old Confederacy.

HMMWV -
High Mobility Multi-purpose Wheeled Vehicle (HMMWV) is the replacement vehicle for the M151 series jeeps. The HMMWV's mission is to provide a light tactical vehicle for command and control, special purpose shelter carriers, and special purpose weapons platforms throughout all areas of the modern battlefield.

Hole –
My term for the USSTRATCOM war room located at Offutt AFB outside Omaha, Nebraska.

Hong 5 –
In the late 1940s following many unsuccessful designs, Iliushin developed a fast and maneuverable medium bomber, the IL-28, designed to replace the obsolete TU-2 bomber. The aircraft had a circular section fuselage with a glass nose, tapered upper wings and swept fin and stabilizer. The new aircraft had a crew of three. The Chinese version was called the Hong-5. At present, the only country still flying these planes is China.

Hong Kong International Terminals Limited –
HIT is an alias for the Panama Ports Company.

Howard Air Force Base –
Howard is located in the Panama Canal Zone. This base was the SOUTHCOM HQ. It was closed down in July 1999 as part of the handover of the canal to Panama.

HP-9000 –
This is Hewlett Packard’s primary UNIX platform.

HRT –
The Bureau’s hostage rescue team are elite units designed to take down the bad guys. Unfortunately, they don’t seem to be accountable when they really screw up. Does Ruby Ridge or Waco ring any bells?

HTML –
Hyper Text Markup Language is what makes a web page like this one work.

HUMINT –
Human Intelligence is a euphemism for spies.

Hutchinson Whampoa Group –
International shipping terminal company that has a majority interest in the Panama Ports Company. It has a close business relationship with COSCO.

Douglas De Bono / DouglasDeBono.Com Minneapolis/St. Paul, Minnesota E-Mail readermail@DouglasDeBono.Com