Open Comment Post. 6 Nov 24

 

Reports of a military coup in Israel????

 

Thanks to Moebius2249 for the link!

Breaking: The situation is now exploding in Israel, with reports of a potential military coup against Netanyahu following Gallant’s dismissal. pic.twitter.com/agqRugDWIR

— SilencedSirs◼️ (@SilentlySirs) November 6, 2024

Got Damn It!

I always felt that the push into Lebanon was a horrible move.  I always believed that the IDF was not built for prolonged combat.

Now?

Now it appears that I might UNFORTUNATELY be right.

I'll be monitoring this shit. 

It hurts to say but the IDF is overextended. The latest evidence is Netanyahu firing his defense minister...

 via CNN

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has fired Defense Minister Yoav Gallant after months of clashes over domestic politics and Israel’s war efforts.

In a recorded statement Tuesday evening, Netanyahu said that “trust between me and the minister of defense has cracked.”

Israel Katz, currently the foreign minister, will become defense minister. Gideon Sa’ar will replace Katz as foreign minister, the prime minister’s office said Tuesday. Neither has extensive military experience, though Katz has served in the cabinet throughout the war.

The move came as voters in the United States, Israel’s most important ally, voted for their next president. Gallant is a close interlocutor for the US administration, and has been said to have daily conversations with US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin.

The reshuffle happened at a crucial moment for Israel, which is fighting bloody wars in Gaza and Lebanon while awaiting a potential retaliatory attack from Iran.

Gallant responded to the decision shortly after it was made public, posting on X that the “security of Israel has been and will always be my lifelong mission.” In a televised statement, he said his dismissal was the result of a dispute over three things: the issue of ultra-Orthodox military services, the abandonment of hostages in Gaza, and the need for an official inquiry into Hamas’ October 7 attack.

Here 

I know I'm in the minority here but Gallant raises issues that have bugged the hell outta me for the longest and had me questioning what Netanyahu's master plan for this war really is.

1.  The ultra-orthodox issue is beyond me.  I don't know the issue.

2.  The issue with the hostages has me PUZZLED.  The IDF has been fighting this war as if they really didn't give a fuck about them.  I find that crazy.  Additionally the IDF is not built for extended combat.  It's built for short sharp action.  That's why they have such a large special ops force (along with the army being made up of most conscripts).  When they pushed into Lebanon I knew that Netanyahu had basically lost his mind.  THAT MADE NO SENSE!~  Gaza isn't even pacified and he brings Hezbollah full force into the fight?  MAKE IT MAKE SENSE!

3.  Oct 7.  This one.  This has me thinking conspiracy theory.  We can track when Iran is about to launch missiles.  Mossad has Hamas penetrated completely and our ISR on their activities is intense.  THERE IS NO WAY THEY DIDN'T SEE THIS COMING!  SOMEONE SOMEWHERE DECIDED TO LET THE ATTACK HAPPEN!

No one remembers but Netanyahu was in serious political and criminal trouble before this kicked off.

I can't help but think those troubles played a part in this but then I think that's just too pathological.  No one can be that cruel to be a leader of their country and let their citizens be killed, maimed, horribly raped and taken hostage...could they.

I'm a big supporter of Israel but Netanyahu is making me wonder about his motives.

In this case I separate the leader from the country.  Just like I will do if Kamala steals the election.  

Just kidding.  Sorta...

Public service announcement...vote

Politics is the only place where the news media will allow both sides to have rooms setup to lie but re-label it as spin.

Don't care who you vote for but vote.

Oh and pray for the country.  I get the feeling things are gonna get goofy no matter who wins.

Open Comment Post. 5 Nov 24

The first official picture of the Chinese J35

 

The first official picture of the Chinese J35 [1080 × 608]
byu/88888human inWarplanePorn

Most important lesson from the F-35? Common avionics/electronics, not airframes. The idea that they could build a naval, air force and vertical landing airplane based off the same airframe sounds good in theory but failed so badly. I also believe that evolution rather than revolution should be the goal. Everything except stealth is now found on frontline fighters. In other words next time lets follow the F-16 model and evolve a damn near perfect airframe that turned into a jack of all trades instead of doing one from the design board forward.

1st Recon Bn. participates in night raid...Photos by Cpl. Jaye Townsend

Note. The Marine Corps has a "elite unit" problem. With talk of MARSOC wanting to re-integrate with conventional USMC then that means you have MARSOC, Force Recon, Recon, Radio Recon, ANGLICO and a few others I can't name all running around basically doing the same mission...especially if the Marines orient towards the Pacific and continues to ignore the rest of the planet. There are no easy answers either. You start shuttering some of those units and streamline things then the other services are gonna have a field day picking off Marines to come to their house. If you don't then you have a weird mix of elite units fighting each other for limited mission sets. Cutting conventional forces is easy. Go after these boys and shit gets hard. Oh and notice in the picks that the 160th is out with Recon. When it comes to SOCOM integrating with conventional forces you have that whole force trying to link up.

Those type Chinooks are only flown by the 160th right???

Open Comment Post. 4 Nov 24

If you can't feel good for this young guy then you have no heart..

 

Heartwarming: Blaze Mayes was born with Down Syndrome and all he wanted was to suit up for his high school football team.

He finally got to play, in the state championship no less.pic.twitter.com/hIgRWapsqD

— Dov Kleiman (@NFL_DovKleiman) November 2, 2024

Is it just the terrain in Ukraine or is mobility trumping armored protection (OFF ROAD MOBILITY!)...Sweden’s PBV 302 Armored Vehicles Roll into Ukraine, Thrilling Troops with Off-Road Power

 via Kyiv Post

Troops have highlighted the PBV 302’s maneuverability on difficult off-road terrain. With its wide tracks and light ground pressure, this vehicle can traverse soft soils, swamps, sand, and even water obstacles, providing much-needed versatility in the field.

Following a green light from the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense in August, the PBV 302 has been deployed to aid the Ukrainian Armed Forces.

Initially designed in the 1960s by Hagglund & Söderqvist, the PBV 302 features a robust build with a welded steel body and dual-layer side armor plates that can withstand hits from 20mm artillery shells

It’s equipped with a powerful 20mm HS804 automatic cannon and a 7.62mm KSP 58 machine gun.

Weighing over 13 tons, the PBV 302 is propelled by a 280-horsepower diesel engine, reaching speeds above 60 km/h, making it a formidable asset in various terrains.

Here 

I know this is covered in propaganda.  I know that Ukraine is pushing the donation of additional armored vehicles to its forces from the West.

But this is one of many articles that seem to highlight the mobility of this vehicle.  Note that this vehicle is in the same generation as the M-113.  

What does that mean?

VERY LIGHTLY armored, but amazing mobility.  In other words it can scoot.  It can cross alot of "impassable" terrain due to its light weight.

A long time ago and I'll have to find it, there was a drastically rebuilt M113 that was simply AMAZING.  The powertrain was upgraded, it was given rubber tracks...all sorts of shit and it was a performer.

If distributed forces is the new "hotness" does that mean that mobility trumps armor now?  

If that's the case then we're wasting money and can simply upgrade all those M113's we have in storage and make it work...oh and they easily fit in C-130s and you can get tons of them aboard ship.

Open Comment Post. 3 Nov 24

 

Might be a replay but I luv this illustration...is that a reflexive "stop" or is he a magic wielder??

North Korean Troops in Russia - North Korean Shells, Troops & Russian Offensives...a Perun video

 

It just means more in the SEC!

Some are gonna see this and lose their shit. WTF are the cops doing. I simply say that you should go to an LSU football game on a fall Sat night. I can't afford the tickets but from what I've been told, the fans are drinking since MORNING of the day of the game. Visiting teams have their buses rocked when pulling up to the stadium. Beer and other "liquids" are poured on them when they go to the locker room. If we get a lead then you hear a song (still wondering who came up with it) called "SUCK THAT TIGER DICK BITCH". So don't wail. Don't pity the fools getting handled. Rowdy (good natured but there are always a few that go overboard) is the middle name of an SEC game. I mean it really should though. It just means more in the SEC!

The ballad of P'Nut...

He will be remembered in songs.

Democrats are evil. pic.twitter.com/aMhCAHL5Mh

— Thomas Musket ⓒ (@ThomasMusket) November 2, 2024

A quick map showing the reach of JASSM vs JASSM-ER in East Asia

We need longer ranged missiles...and planes with bigger magazines (thinking B-1, B-52 and B-21). If you're attacking an armada at sea then you need I don't know how many missiles to knock out a ship equipped with electronic countermeasures and close in weapon systems. Oh! We need alot more missiles too!

 

A quick map showing the reach of JASSM vs JASSM-ER in East Asia: The original JASSM doesnt offer much stand off range nor maneuvering margin to avoid defensive sites. From Kadena it appears mostly innefective. Note this does not include IFR. pic.twitter.com/UdQB7vmZIP

— CIGeography (@CIGeography) June 15, 2024

Attend those public "events" at your own risk...

 

I'm jaded. I put that out in front. But when it comes to public "events", unless I'm working them then I'm not going. Too many nutty ones walking around. If I do then I vet the hell out of it. Luv air shows. Luv SOME of the fairs. Others? Ain't no way in hell.

(October 31, 2024)-
Orlando, Florida📍

17-year old opens fire on a crowd killing two people downtown. 🕊️🕊️ pic.twitter.com/2meLCD1A7Q

— Gang Hits (@GangHits) November 2, 2024

Open Comment Post. 2 Nov 24

 

Weekend reading material...

 The news and info of interests goes thru ebbs and flows.  Sometimes there is nothing.  Other times its off the chain.  This is a time of plenty.  Check out the articles below if you get bored and need some good reading...Personally I found them all VERY interesting.  Hope you do too...

The Marine Corps and Army Must Integrate Armor in Amphibious Ops

“Goodbye Mr. President”: History Shows How EABO Can Go Wrong

MarSOC Marines Are Still Marines

I found this particular article a bit surprising.  I don't know how it is now but my little time with MARSOC gave me the impression that they wanted NOTHING to do with the Marine Corps and just wanted to be all SOCOM all the time.  Moves recently (like adopting Marine Corps type uniforms) makes me wonder what's going on behind the scenes. 

Russia gave US the sonar signature of Yasen-class Kazan submarine

Compass Points - Broken Window Theory

Compass Points - Bright Future

Open Comment Post. 1 Nov 24

 

Can you believe this is a sign on a freaking church? A CHURCH!!! No wonder belief is going down. So many churches are involved in everything except what they're supposed to be doing.  Am I alone or does that sign give the vibe that Negro is not the "N" word they actually wanted to use?

Life goes from awesome to shitty in seconds...via Army Reddit

Going through it.
byu/TheOGltG inarmy

Didn't post this for any other reason except to let many of my readers know how lucky they are. This soldier's life went from awesome to shitty in an eyeblink. I wish him well and this serves as a reminder. Enjoy the ride. That dude is coming for us all...