The USMC Congressional Affairs Officer has bad news for the Commandant/Pentagon...

A few months ago I talked to a Marine Corps Captain about the budget and what the Marine Corps had in store if there was budget drama.  Well things are beginning to look like they're going South real fast (I love that analogy because he's an A&M grad but loves the East coast)....Transcript from Fox News Sunday...

WALLACE: All right. Let's do a lightning round. Quick questions, quick answers on some of the specific issues that you would if you become speaker.

President Obama announced on Friday that he will not sign another short-term spending bill when the continuing resolution runs out in December. Would you be willing to risk a shutdown to defund Planned Parenthood?

CHAFFETZ: Well, look, we're going to have that discussion internally. We're -- my job is to help put a bill on the president's desk. The president's solution is to just borrow more money from China? That's not a solution. I want to solve this problem.

So, unless we're actually solving the problem, I have a hard time putting anything over there onto the president's desk that doesn't also solve the problem. I want to solve the problem.

WALLACE: Respectfully, because you're maybe the next speaker, would you -- how far are you willing to take the fight to defund Planned Parenthood?

CHAFFETZ: I have -- the job as speaker is to unite our party in the House and we're going to hold the line, from the whole political spectrum. That's what I want to do. And then we're going to go fight and we're going to make that case to the American people.

WALLACE: What about budget caps under sequestration? Are you willing to lift the caps so you would have more spending both on defense and some domestic spending?

CHAFFETZ: I want to cut -- personally, I want to cut spending. Personally, I just don't believe we can continue to add to the deficit. So, actually, personally, I like the budget cap.

I do believe we need more money for the military, we need more money for the V.A. We ought to take care of the people who take care of us. And I do want to fight cancer that is killing 1,500 people a day.

But that's -- again, it's not my personal agenda. We're going to move forward. As the speaker, you got to take the will of our body, appreciate and respect the process and then go fight for that.

WALLACE: The government will reach its debt limit on November 5th. Would you -- what would you demand from the president and from the Democrats in order to vote to lift the debt limit? And are you willing to risk the possibility of default in that negotiation?

CHAFFETZ: Our job in the House -- we have 246 members. Our job in the house is to actually put forward a bill. I would like it to see actually cut the deficit, not continue to add to the deficit. I don't want to borrow more money from China. I actually want to fight for those things that will solve the problem and not just keep punting it down the road.

WALLACE: But are you --

(CROSSTALK)
CHAFFETZ: When President Obama took office --

WALLACE: Where would you be on -- would you demand something in return for racing the debt limit?

CHAFFETZ: Well, we've got -- we're just not going to unilaterally raise the debt limit. I don't think that's a responsible thing for our company. The debt in this country when President Obama took office was $9 trillion. We're approaching $20 trillion. We're spending more than $600 million a day in interest on our national debt.

We've got to solve that problem, not just say, oh, let's just borrow more money from the Chinese. We're not going to do that.

Yeah....That Marine Corps Captain should be shitting bricks.  I predicted that the budget hawks would beat the defense hawks and it looks like I was right.  But besides bad news for the USMC (I don't think this will affect the ACV, but it might do damage to the CH-53Ks budget/timeline) this should down right put the F-35 program office into a tail spin.

The DoD just recommended to the President that he refuse a budget trick to get them money so its a battle between gun or butter and the budget hawks will say fuck them both.

This is about to get good.  Start watching Congress cause this is gonna be entertaining!
   

General Dynamics UK - Ajax Infantry Fighting Vehicle Simulation Vid...

Personally I still think this vehicle is too big for the stated role but it can't be denied that General Dynamics UK did a great job in breathing new life into this old workhorse (ASCOD).

The Syria situation just became much easier.

Thanks to Gregory for the link!

via Jenan Moussa's Twitter Page..

Main groups in Rastan-enclave (Nusra, Ahrar &FSA) have declared "joined operation room" 2 deal with current situation

Well isn't this something.
If our leadership is smart enough, fast enough and to be honest cunning enough to take advantage of this blunder then we can settle the current Middle East drama in a matter of months.

First, if it isn't Syrian, Kurd or Iraqi govt forces you give them 72 hours to come to the peace table.  At the same time you go to the UN to get a mandate to stabilize the region by destroying rebel/terrorist forces.  Last, if they don't sue for peace and stop offensive military operations you take your mandate (which Russia and the EU will gladly approve) and you bomb the fuck outta them till they stop.

Of course there are probably many other ways to skin this problem but you get the idea.  The Free Syrian Army just went from a questionable terrorist group to outright declaring themselves as such.

This was incredibly stupid on the part of the FSA and we should take advantage of it.

Aussies finally pulling the trigger on the Hawkei Light Tactical Vehicle...

via Wall Street Journal...

Mr. Turnbull, who ousted Tony Abbott as leader last month, could announce the deal to buy the vehicles from French defense contractor Thales as soon as Monday during a visit to the southeastern state of Victoria, the people said. Talks over a binding deal have been continuing since late 2011, when Thales was named as the preferred bidder for a contract then estimated to be worth 1.50 billion Australian dollars (US$1.06 billion).
Australia is seeking to modernize its military to cope with potential threats in the Asia-Pacific region and Middle East. Australia’s air force recently began targeted airstrikes in Syria, and its troops have been part of a U.S.-led coalition fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan. In addition to buying light-armored military vehicles, Australia has been readying defense contracts for jet fighters, warships and submarines together worth almost A$270 billion over the coming decades.
An A$89 billion program of warships and submarines will be at the heart of a defense strategy paper to be released within weeks, along with a separate A$10 billion project to replace a range of armored troop carriers for the army, although some defense analysts expect that could be dialed back to help contain spending.

This was long expected so no further comment on the Hawkei purchase is necessary.

What does deserve a bit of discussion is the part I highlighted...the warship, sub and armored troop carrier programs are expected to be dialed back to contain spending?

This is directly out of the Amos playbook.  He tossed the infantry the M27 and talked up the JLTV (that we don't need and doesn't fit our ships) to take eyes off the ball of the F-35 gobbling up funds.

Everything must die so that the F-35 can live.  Add Australia to the list of countries that's gutting its defense so that it can buy a plane that won't deliver what it promises.  

Modest Proposal. Dept of Homeland Security buy ACVs for flood rescue.

During the 1930's Donald Roebling witnessed the destruction wrought by hurricanes and major floods.  He watched with horror the loss of life that occurred because public service agencies had no way to save the poor souls that got caught unaware to rapidly rising waters.

Fast forward to today and what do we see...

The pics are from 2013 but its being repeated today in S. Carolina.  Flooding on a massive scale.  First responders unable to save those trapped by high flood waters.


So what is the response to this yearly drama we see play out all over the country?  Our police are buying MRAPs.

That's the wrong answer.  I've spent a little time this morning looking at police response to active shooters.

It's always the patrol guys that get there first and have to defend the public from a rampaging monster.  MRAPs are a SWAT tool that might be used for barricaded persons but outside of that they have little utility and for the issue that causes the most fear for the general public, are totally useless.

This all brings me to my modest proposal.  When the USMC finally does a down select to its Amphibious Combat Vehicle, the Dept of Homeland Security should do its job (finally) and piggyback on the USMC's buy.  De-tuned vehicles with bench seats (so they can carry the max number of people when rescuing people), no need for the weapons station....you get the idea.

How would it work?  DHS would piggy back buy the de-tuned vehicles and would send them to communities all over the country.  When the next flood hits we would have vehicles that can go anywhere and not worry about them getting stuck or swamped.  It would be a throwback to the Roebling but good ideas should never die.

Its time for America to stop being frightened of the boogeyman in the corner and start dealing with real issues again.  Hurricanes and floods are real issues that first responders aren't equipped to handle.  Its time to deal with the real stuff that affects the majority instead of dealing with the fantasy nightmare scenarios.

UPDATED.  Yeah.  What do you think the citizens need.  MRAPs or ACVs?

16 Air Assault Brigade & 11e Brigade Parachutiste at Exercise Eagles Amarante...Photos by Cpl Andy Reddy

British and French paratroopers have jumped into action together as part of a major training exercise to improve their ability to operate together.On Friday (2 Oct), more than 500 paratroopers from Colchester-based 16 Air Assault Brigade and 11e Brigade Parachutiste jumped onto the STANTA training area in Norfolk. Exercise Eagles Amarante is challenging the joint force - built around 2nd Battalion The Parachute Regiment and 1er Regiment de Chasseurs Parachutistes - to restore stability to a troubled region.
The soldiers jumped from RAF C130 Hercules and French Armee de l'Air C160 Transall transport aircraft to capture a foothold in hostile territory. Over the coming days, extra troops and equipment will arrive on the area to build up combat power, before the joint force attacks key enemy positions.

China News. By 2017 they can shut down Kadena AFB...

Remember my short story I never finished?  I predicted that a massive missile barrage would take out our forces on Guam.

Looks like I was right.  Check this out from Rand...

The researchers modeled Chinese missile attacks against U.S. forward air bases in two scenarios at varying distances from the mainland: a Chinese invasion of Taiwan and a campaign to occupy the Spratly Islands. Inputs included Chinese missile inventories, PLA missile reliability and accuracy, the presence or absence of U.S. defenses, Chinese battle-damage assessment capabilities, the number of cuts necessary to close runways, and U.S. runway repair times.
Two types of attacks were modeled, with runways targeted in the first case and aircraft parked at the air base targeted in the second. The discussion here is limited to runway attacks, with the major output being the number of days that U.S. air bases would be closed. These results are not intended to represent fully developed or precise predictions. But given the consistency of the methodology applied over the period considered, they provide a good indicator of trends over time, as well as an idea of the general scale of the challenge at any given point in time.
The analysis of the Taiwan case focuses on attacks against the Kadena Air Base, which is the only major U.S. air base within unrefueled range of the Taiwan Strait. Using baseline assumptions,[1] the analysis indicates that China would have been able to close Kadena to fighter operations in a Taiwan scenario for four to ten days in 2010. Closure times increase with the expansion and improvement of China's missile inventory: In 2017, China might shut down operations at Kadena for 16–43 days, though the latter figure would imply a single-minded focus on Kadena at the expense of striking other targets or holding missiles in reserve. Missile attacks against U.S. air bases would have significant spillover effects into the air superiority contest. And given the importance of airpower in Asian scenarios, the tertiary effects on other parts of the battle could also be significant.
Chinese attacks on air bases would cause relatively less disruption — and have fewer consequences — in the Spratly Islands scenario. As in the Taiwan case, however, the challenges posed to air base operations by Chinese missiles are growing. In the Spratly Islands scenario, bases on Guam and Mindanao would be as important as Kadena. These bases are farther from China, and, in 2010, Chinese attacks on them would have been limited to bombers firing ALCMs. In such attacks, some portion of both the shooters and missiles might have been brought down in flight. The likely future addition of IRBMs, however, will give China the ability to attack relevant bases with less warning and greater effect.

Note.

They're broadcasting this in the clear.  Secret findings are probably much more dire.  Although I'm sure this is timed to influence the Congressional debate about the military budget and is being used to protect big ticket items like the F-35 and the LRSB, I don't doubt its validity.

By 2020 China will have REGIONAL superiority.  Especially if we keep chasing the stupid dream of making the Middle East work (better to allow the natural evolution to occur...let strongmen come into power to put down the sectarian violence).

Sidenote:  Is it time to reconsider our entire approach to dealing with threats in the Pacific?  I'm becoming more convinced that forward basing is no longer an advantage...at least in this particular theater.  Perhaps we should consider reconstituting the Rapid Deployment Force and have our units surge to the theater in question from the continental United States.  As things now stand we have penny packets of units all over the place and by doing so diminish our combat power.

F-35 News. More on the sea trials...

Its been my contention that the F-35 Program Office sending the plane out to the carrier for its sea trials is a sign of desperation...a desire to generate positive news about the plane and the program...a hail Mary toss to get support from Congress Critters to work a deal to prevent sequestration (or at least get the plane a waiver...never forget that everything must die so that the F-35 can live!).

Many have pushed back and said that everything was operating normally.  I present the following (clink on the links to be taken to the stories)....

Military bracing for Hurricane Joaquin

National Guard activates ahead of Hurricane Joaquin

Navy Preparing Ships to Head to Sea Ahead of Hurricane Joaquin

Navy sets Sortie Condition Bravo due to Hurricane Joaquin

Kearsarge ARG, 26th MEU departure delayed by storm

Langley F-22s head for safety, while military bases prep for storm

Guys!  The military doesn't play with hurricanes!  Don't you know this is the official get drunk out of your mind and do stupid shit in the barracks?  Don't you know this is an unofficial holiday on base?  Head over to the Base Exchange and all you'll see are Marines carrying out cases of beer, hard alcohol and the gym rats turning over bunks because the gym is closed, they can't go outside so they make improvised pull up bars in their rooms!

Equipment is sheltered, planes flown to other bases..etc.  Gear damaged in combat is forgivable, under any other circumstances unexcusable...and that includes hurricanes.

So you tell me.  Why would the F-35 program office go against common military practice to send the plane out to sea unless it was for public relations?  It damn sure wasn't/isn't a military necessity so why do it?

Big Army. Fix yourself!

via CNN.

Sergeant 1st Class Charles Martland, the Green Beret being separated involuntarily from the U.S. Army for kicking and body slamming an Afghan police commander he describes as a “brutal child rapist,” began telling his side of the story Monday.
Martland is under a gag order imposed by the Pentagon, but at the request of Rep. Duncan Hunter, R-Calif, he wrote a statement detailing his actions on Sept. 6, 2011, which was obtained by CNN.
“Kicking me out of the army is morally wrong and the entire country knows it,” Martland writes. Last week the Army rejected his appeal.

This is wrong on so many levels.

The Pentagon imposing a gag order?  How is that legal when its a personnel matter involving the person in question?  The protection of a child molester (and yeah...those bastards are so twisted that they think raping boys is cool) at the expense of a Special Forces soldier?

Its just wrong.

But ya know what.  The military blogosphere isn't talking about it.  Is it because everyone knows and we have personally failed the test when it matters and this guy stood up and did the hard thing?  Is it because some want to protect contacts in the Pentagon so they don't want to be critical?  What about the General's club?  What about rank and file soldiers?

This is fucked up beyond comprehension but instead of confronting it head on, we turn away.  Big Army.  Pentagon.  FIX YOURSELF!

Russian SU-30s sporting a pure air to air loadout in Latakia?

Thanks to MicMac80 for the pic!

The SU-30s operating out of Latakia are sporting a pure air to air loadout?  INTERESTING!  My guess is that this is aimed more at the US rather than Israel.

We still haven't heard news of an agreement to deconflict Syrian air space and we have the usual Senators (NeoCons that refuse to understand that no one is listening anymore) making noises about flying CAP missions to protect the Free Syrian Army (I still don't get those guys....are they terrorists...if not then why haven't we been sending them weapons before all this kicked off...our Middle East policy is a muddled mess).

Yeah.  My guess is that this is a warning shot across the bow of our commanders in the region...and to the White House.

Putin has taken the measure of Obama and he knows that the US president will back down.