Oh Shit! Rousey got knocked the fuck out!

Did NOT see this coming!  Rousey got knocked the fuck out!  Just plain wow.

Blast from the past. Threats to Air Supremacy

Thanks to Peter and Air Power Australia for the link!



This video was produced in 2010 for the Air Force Association gathering.  Do you think that we've corrected this situation or has it gotten worse?

Armor Up! What would boots on the ground (if we really want to win) look like against ISIS...

Consider this an open thread...

The question.  What would boots on the ground in a joint operation against ISIS look like if we're serious about crushing them once and for all?

Paralus brought this forward by stating that he believes France, the UK, Italy, Spain and the rest of the European Airborne units along with the 173rd Airborne (US) along with airpower would be enough to win.

I'm not so sure.

ISIS is fully motorized if not mechanized now.  They have captured main battle tanks, howitzers, tons of MRAPS and HUMVEES.  Additionally they've demonstrated the ability to knock down a couple of airplanes which indicates that they have a few MANPADS lying around.

My thoughts?  We're talking about anywhere form 20-50K fighters.  That's approximately 2 divisions.  It won't take a "Desert Storm" type effort but considering how small everyone has allowed their armed forces to get, it'll still take a max effort by the Western alliance.

We would need the 4th and 1st ID from the US Army.  I think a Heavy Brigade Combat Team would be necessary in this fight.  Paratroopers and SOCOM are no longer relevant.  They're too light and its obvious that the effects that they bring just aren't good enough.  To ensure success we'd need whatever the Europeans could give us and probably toss in a Marine Expeditionary Brigade.

Is it overkill?  Oh yeah.  Will it lessen allied casualties?  Definitely.  Would it stomp a mud hole in ISIS?  Without a doubt.

So what do we need to guard against?  The nation building nonsense.  The military tears stuff up....and everyone forgets the lessons of the rebuilding of Europe and Japan after world war 2.  We provided administrators but the of those countries did the heavy lifting.  The same should apply here.  We go, we fuck shit up and then we leave.

Rinse and repeat as necessary.  Being serious, if they take advantage of the upcoming summit meeting to grow a spine and the word is given on 1 Dec to go then I would imagine that it would take 3 or 4 months to ready the force.  Another month to get it into theater (max effort ... no messing around) and then a campaign that should last about 60 days.  The UN sends in peacekeepers---the handoff would take an additional month (hopefully planners are assembling it during the time that the force is getting ready to deploy) and then another month to get everyone home (politicians love to give speeches before the troops).  We can kill ISIS before the next President takes office...we just lack the will...and the guts.

Super Arrow Interceptor...Next Generation Canadian Interceptor designed from the ashes of the Avro Arrow!

Thanks to CanuckFighter for the link!

Website here.

Is it just me or does it appear that there will be pressure put on the Canadian govt to design a homegrown fighter?  Think its beyond the realm of possibilities?  I'm not so sure.  First the US Navy is doing serious work to extend the life of the Hornets already in service and the Canadians could glob onto that effort while rebuilding there industry.  Second, you have the example of the S. Koreans, Japanese and Turks.  They're all working on homegrown fighters and arguably aren't anymore advanced than Canada.  Last, do to the idiocy of the F-35 program they already have the building blocks of building new fighters already in place.  What they don't have they can partnership with industry to setup facilities.  Want a high tech engine?  Get a war going between Pratt and Whitney, Snecma, and GE to design one (modified from what's already flying) on Canadian soil.

Of course this could be a flight of fancy but it seems that at least a portion of the Canadian aviation industry is restless.

How does the West respond to terrorism? Image over substance...

Below are some pics that show the French turning off lights as a gesture of mourning while the rest of the world "turns the lights on" as a gesture of support...

What's the problem you say?

To me its another case of "image over substance".

Just like the so called war on terror after 9/11, people are acting in a baby like manner.  Just like the war on terror, no one is being asked or is even asking themselves to make sacrifices in their own lives to fight the zealots.

Somehow gestures that mean nothing have replaced the idea of doing the hard work of putting these animals back into their cages.

Singing a nation's national anthem, holding hands...doing all the Kumbaya bullshit will not win against a determined enemy.

Its past time to harden the fuck up....on a national and personal level.

Is ISIS launching a coordinated WorldWide event?

Thanks to Utahbob for the link!

via BBC.

At least 37 people have been killed and 181 wounded in two suicide bomb attacks in a residential area of the Lebanese capital, Beirut, officials say.
The bombers blew themselves up in a busy street in the southern suburb of Burj al-Barajneh, a stronghold of the Shia Islamist Hezbollah movement.
The Sunni jihadist group Islamic State (IS) claimed responsibility, but there has been no independent confirmation.
It is the deadliest bombing in Beirut since the civil war ended 25 years ago.
Prime Minister Tammam Salam condemned the attacks as "unjustifiable" and called on Lebanon's rival factions to unite against "plans to create strife".

I didn't post on it but there was a suicide attack in Afghanistan.  The event in Paris.  Now this tragedy in Beirut.

Is ISIS launching a coordinated WorldWide strike?  If true then even my dire view of things needs to be reassessed.  I've said we need to drop opposition to the Assad regime and team with Russia to kill ISIS once and for all.

Put that thought on steroids.

How we allowed a terrorist group to launch a virtual world war against us is beyond me but its past time to face the reality.  What our "brains" in the civilian and military world have proposed is failing horribly.  Its past time to GET REAL!

France declares "pitiless war on terror"....its past time to get real

via Breaking Defense.

The cowards who killed at least 150 unarmed innocents in Paris this evening have provoked the French nation, perhaps beyond endurance. America’s Defense Secretary Ash Carter called the killings “an assault on our common human dignity.”
French President Francois Hollande, who appeared grave and saddened as he first spoke of the attacks, later went to the Bataclan concert hall where at least 100 were murdered and made this stark and grim declaration:
“To all those who have seen these awful things, I want to say we are going to lead a war which will be pitiless. Because when terrorists are capable of committing such atrocities they must be certain that they are facing a determined France, a united France, a France that is together and does not let itself be moved, even if today we express infinite sorrow.”

Here.

1.  Woke up early to watch the news coverage of this event.  The president talks about "default" language after a gun violence?  You should check out the default language after a terrorist attack!

   (a)  The above extends not only to the dry useless statements made by the politicians but includes govt officials of all stripes AND the news media.  Exhibit number one is the opening line of this article.  "Cowards"???  The attackers were anything but cowards.  Remember!  HATE YOUR ENEMY TO YOUR HEARTS DESIRE but respect them too.  This was a well planned attack against vulnerable targets.

  (b)  It remains to be seen if the Hollande govt even survives till the end of this month.  I'd bet that it doesn't.

2.  How is the meme that climate change is the most important issue facing the world working  out now?

3.  This could turn into a pivot point.  America and the rest of the West has been consumed by triviality.  This COULD be an opportunity for people to focus on reality.  Will we take it?  I have my doubts.  By the end of the weekend you will see people once again ate up by consumerism, the Kardashians etc....meanwhile the terrorists will be training,living in the dirt and plotting to kill us all.  China will remain hungry and its citizens will be working to dominate the world.  Our focus will be figuring out how much Turkey we can stuff into our mouths.

How our leadership reacts to this drama could decide the next half century.  Either terrorism will be put into its cage by dramatically different thinking OR we will see this as simply a minor incident on the path to much more devastating actions by Islamic terrorist groups.  Consider this.  ISIS has 30,000 plus troops operating in the open desert and we can't destroy them after more than 3 years of war?  Something is wrong and people can't even wrap their heads around that simple fact.  Instead we believe the lie that this is a "generational" war.

Yep.  The inability to focus on "what's real" will kill us all.

European "political correctness" got their people killed....

The latest?

Terrorist are shooting hostages one by one in the concert hall and explosions have been heard.

A raid is going on as we speak.

My takeaways?  This was a predictable event.  How many times have we discussed coordinated terrorist attacks in a major city?

Europe's leaders did the politically correct thing and allowed hundreds of thousands of unvetted immigrants into their countries.  Now their citizens are paying the price.

What comes next?  I have no idea.  But a passive, politically correct Europed died along with the victims tonight.  This has changed politics in all nations.  Neo-Cons are done.  No one will want to dip a toe into the cesspool called the Middle East.

We might see a time coming where they are left to their own devices and we sit back and watch them burn.

Terrorist attack in Paris? UPDATED!

Thanks to "NO" for the link!

via CNN

Gunmen have opened fire in several places in the French capital, Paris, causing several casualties, French media report.
At least one man opened fire with an automatic gun at the Cambodge restaurant in the 11th district.
Liberation newspaper reports four deaths. It also reports shootings near the Bataclan arts centre.
An explosion is also reported to have targeted a bar near Stade de France, where France were hosting Germany.
Reports say President Francois Hollande was watching the match and has been evacuated.
A BBC journalist at the Cambodge restaurant says he can see 10 people on the road either dead or seriously injured.
He says police have now arrived.
Shooting is said to be continuing.

A few things.  If you're squeamish then turn away.  If you think I'm being racist then deal with it.

1.  This is what happens when hundreds of thousands of people are allowed into the EU without proper vetting.

2.  I wonder if Merkel is still opening her arms.

3.  This is undoubtedly a terrorist attack.

4.  The European People deserve better.

UPDATE:  This is sounding like a coordinated, complex ambush/attack.  If this was being conducted by US Marines I'd say it looked like a coordinated assault by a well trained platoon.  Explosions?  Automatic weapons fire?  Yeah.  This has ISIS written all over it.

UPDATE:  HOSTAGE SITUATION AT CONCERT HALL.  Beslan incident 
repeat?

UPDATE:  At this time French police are confirming 18 dead.

UPDATE:  Explosion at McDonald's.  Hostage situation continues.  Death toll increased to 26.  

SNAFU's Ramblings.  The Right Wing groups in Europe are about to take over.  We're about to see a govt or two fall.  Additionally we're about to see something nasty.  I haven't posted on it but gun sales, pepper spray etc...is flying off the shelves in Europe.  This is going to get nasty and all those that talk about Islam being the religion of piece are in for a rude surprise.

SNAFU's Ramblings 1.  On this day the Democrat party just lost the election next year.  On this day the EU became threatened and individual nations will see to their own defense...damn what Brussel's has to say.  One thing I find interesting.  There are more hostages than hostage takers.  Why not fight back?  

UPDATE:  French police are raiding the concert hall.

Hillary tried to join the Marines? We dodged a bullet! I need to buy that Recruiter & OSO a beer!

via Washington Post.

“He looks at me and goes, ‘Um, how old are you. And I said, ‘Well I am 26, I will be 27.’ And he goes, ‘Well, that is kind of old for us.’ And then he says to me, and this is what gets me, ‘Maybe the dogs will take you,’ meaning the Army.”–Former secretary of state Hillary Rodham Clinton, speaking at a breakfast, Manchester, N.H., Nov. 10, 2015One Clinton story that has often been greeted with skepticism is her claim, first made in 1994, that she once tried to join the Marines in 1975. On the campaign trail, she brought up the story again. (Go to the 1:35 mark.)
Can this story be confirmed?

Here.

If this story is true then WHEW!  We dodged a bullet on this one.  I think the Recruiter would have forwarded her package to the regional Officer Selection Officer since she would have been been a college graduate at this time.

So yeah.  Hillary in the Marine Corps?

We wouldn't have made it to 240!  I owe those guys a beer!