Kurdish opposition leader in Turkey visits Putin.

via Ahram English edition.

Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu on Tuesday criticised a visit to Russia by the main Kurdish opposition party leader, at a time when Ankara is at loggerheads with Moscow over the downing of a Russian warplane.
Selahattin Demirtas, leader of the opposition Democratic Peoples' Party (HDP), is set to meet Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on Wednesday, the first high profile trip by any Turkish figure since the plane crisis.
"Why didn't they (the HDP) go two months ago? Why are they going at such a time?" Davutoglu asked his party's lawmakers at a meeting the parliament.
The November 24 shooting down of a Russian warplane on the Syrian border by Turkish forces has sparked an unprecedented crisis in Turkey's ties with Russia which accused Ankara of a planned provocation.
Davutoglu raised suspicions over the timing of the visit.
"Why are they going at such a time to a country with which we are having a crisis because of their violation of this nation's airspace?" Davutoglu asked.
"My friends -- they have taken it on as their moral duty to cooperate with whoever has a problem with Turkey instead of acting together with this nation."
Davutoglu also accused Russia of bombing civilians in Syria instead of focusing its operations on the Islamic State (IS) group.
"I am calling on Russia. Why are you bombing innocent civilians by saying 'we're fighting Daesh'," he said, using another name for IS.
Demirtas, seen as the only politician in Turkey who matches President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's charisma, unsuccessfully challenged the Turkish strongman in a 2014 presidential election.
Ankara is warily watching if Moscow will tighten ties with Kurdish factions in the wake of the plane crisis and in particular whether it allows Syrian Kurds to open an office in Moscow.

Hmm.  Turkey sounds a bit nervous.  This is beyond interesting.  Could Russia start playing with Turkey's internal politics?

Ukrainians buying Kozak-2 Armored Trucks...who's advising these guys?

Thanks to Jonathan for the link!

via Army Technology.

The Kozak-2 is a 4x4 multi-purpose, wheeled, armoured combat vehicle designed and manufactured by Ukrainian defence company NPO Practika to meet the mission needs of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, the National Guard and the Border Guard Service.
The vehicle is intended to offer enhanced security for the Ukrainian troops. It can be configured for patrol / reconnaissance, mobile command post, ambulance, cargo / repair / maintenance, and special operations.

Full disclosure.

Have you wondered why the Ukrainian conflict has faded from these pages?  Its not because stuff isn't happening because it is.  As a matter of fact word is that we're on the cusp of another round of fighting.

Its because the Ukrainians appear to be some fickle allies.

Basic stuff that should be done to get their population and their economy on a footing where its fighting for survival...as many would like us to believe....just isn't happening.

We're seeing various military projects that are aimed at outside markets instead of strengthening their own defenses, they have a battalion of Neo-Nazis fighting on their side and I have yet to see a unified commitment on their part to deal with the situation head on.

Half the population seems to be siding with the Russians and half seem to be wanting to fight them till the end.  Meanwhile I see profiteers making a killing with the Russians in the reclaimed Crimea.

This is another fuzzy war.  I'm having trouble picking sides when the govt itself doesn't seem to take the fight seriously.  Wake me when its over.

NOTE:  More rumors of war...click here.

Hybrid warfare on steroids. Rebels fire ballistic missile at Saudis...successfully intercepted.

via Saudi Military Press Release.

Riyadh, Rabi'I 11, 1437, December 22, 2015, SPA -- In a statement on Monday, the command of the coalition of supporting legitimacy in Yemen announced that at about 11 and a half on Monday evening, December 21, the Saudi air defense forces intercepted a ballistic missile which was launched from Yemeni territories towards the city of Jizan.
The air forces destroyed the rocket launch platform whose location was identified within the Yemeni territories.
The coalition command made it clear that while it is keen to deal positively with the Yemeni government's request for an extension of the truce, the continuation of the Houthi militias in their absurdity will push the command of the coalition to take harsh measures to deter such acts.

This is hybrid warfare on steroids.

Rebels are not only using basic infantry skills to successfully blunt Saudi advances but they're also using advanced weaponry in the fight.

The idea that the rebels can attack with ballistic missiles should be alarming.  The fact that they're able to fight to a standstill an advanced client state should send shivers up the spine of Pentagon planners...especially those that are pushing the partnership meme.

What must also be considered is the fact that terrorist groups are displaying the same capabilities as conventional forces.  Wait you're saying.  I just said that when I said they fought the Saudis to a standstill.  Nope, you're missing the force of connection here.

The problem is this.  Special Operations Forces are good.  They even have their own mafia and fan club on the internet.  But everyone forgets the truth.  You don't send Special Ops against a decently trained conventional force.  Special Ops are vulnerable to conventional forces....and now terrorists groups are starting to show the signs of morphing into conventional forces!  The Special Ops raid of the past might be fading right before our eyes.  We've already seen a growth in unit size from platoon equivalent to now Ranger type battalion sized ops.  

Question of the day. What is the proper balance between the USMC's ground and aviation sides of the house?

Jeff made a comment that I think deserves a bigger stage and its own post.  To paraphrase he stated that the USMC is probably the only force in the world that is organized, built and designed to engage across the ENTIRE spectrum of warfare.  From low to high intensity, counter insurgency, advanced mechanized warfare and humanitarian assistance....you'll find no other force that sends units out on deployment with the basic tools to do everything we ask of the Marine Corps.

Having said that.  HQMC we have a problem.

The aviation side of the house is being designed to engage first tier opponents with ultra expensive/high tech gear while the ground forces are languishing.  Exhibits A and B is the AAV and M1A1.  Our premier ground combat vehicles are obsolete in ways that can barely be described.

Quite honestly we're behind most of the BRIC nations and some third world forces when it comes to our armored vehicles.  China is on the cusp of achieving both a quality and numbers superiority when it comes to armored vehicles if they're facing off against a USMC division.  The same could be said of Russia.  Even Taiwan will have vehicles that are of the same make, but at least refurbished to the latest standard.  Brazil can be said to have more effective combat vehicles...the list goes on.

The opposite applies to aviation.  We have cutting edge, bordering on overkill for our mission sets with the equipment that we're buying.

So what is the proper balance?

Do we live with the idea that our ground equipment will be a generation behind the US Army/Allies/Opponents or do we prioritize it like we seem to be doing with aviation?

Oh and let me leave you with this.  Using the AAV till 2030 would be the same as using the LVT-1 in Desert Storm.

Worst Attack in 18 Months Shocks U.S. Military

via Daily Beast

The Taliban weren’t supposed to able to get to American forces like this. But somehow, a suicide bomber, riding a motorcycle, just took out a half-dozen U.S. troops.
Six U.S. troops were killed while on patrol in Afghanistan. It marked the deadliest day for American forces in nearly 18 months, and signaled that a resurgent Taliban was on the move in what was supposed to be the waning year of the war. Qari Mahajar, a member of the Taliban’s Kabul provincial military council, called it “a brilliant Christmas gift for the occupiers.”

Another two Americans and one Afghan soldier were injured on patrol.
The Taliban reportedly claimed responsibility for the attack, which left U.S. military officials scrambling to figure out how the Taliban could’ve taken out so many troops at once.

Wow.  I hope this isn't true but fear that it is.  Leadership sets the tone.  Leadership sets the standard.  When you have confident leadership that exudes confidence, provides funding for equipment/training and gives clearly defined missions then that oozes down the chain....from the civilian leadership to the Generals on down to the lowest, freshest private.

When you have laid back, indifferent and uncaring leadership that exudes decision paralysis, doesn't provide funding for equipment/training and gives ill defined missions that also oozes down the chain.

You're seeing the inevitable result of fuzzy leadership that is the result of two administrations that had social/civic instead of attainable military goals in Iraq/Afghanistan.

In short, military theory has run straight into military fact. Theory has lost badly.  Now we're faced with a situation of people being put into the line of fire and the main worry isn't battling the enemy in front of them but whimsical foes like climate change, integrating women into the infantry and other social enemies.

I feel badly for people in uniform.  They're losing respect by the day, being seen as part of an administration that is disliked (that's the bad side of politicians wrapping themselves in the military...just like animal farm you can't tell where the politicians end and the military begin) etc....but if you're deployed then you face not only that but people trying to kill ya.  I wouldn't wish this type of existence on my worse enemy.  Its gotta suck.

Chinese Military Using Blinding Laser Weapons

via Free Beacon.

China’s military has equipped its forces with blinding laser weapons in apparent violation of an international agreement signed by Beijing.
“China has been updating its home-made blinding laser weapons in recent years to meet the needs of different combat operations,” the official military newspaper PLA Daily reported Dec. 9.
“Blinding laser weapons are primarily used to blind … targets with laser[s] in [the] short distance, or interfere [with] and damage … laser and night vision equipment,” the brief photo report stated.

Interesting.  If I remember correctly, China already has setups to blind anti-tank missile crews with "dazzler" type weapons.

This is instructive though.

We aim for the Star Wars type death ray and the Chinese are pursing the attainable now...dazzler lasers to blind aircrew/optics.

I don't recall the exact quote but it goes on about getting a foe worthy of fighting and how it should be considered an  honor.  If we follow that quote or proverb, then I think we should be honored.  The question is do the Chinese feel the honor of fighting a worthy foe? 

Vigilantes Fighting ISIS

Note:  You'll probably see this all over the "military" internet, but I thought  it interesting enough to post.


Source: SecurityDegreeHub.com

2/7's Marine Corps Combat Readiness Evaluation @ 29 Palms....photos by Lance Cpl. Devan K. Gowans

NOTE:  The USMC has a monumental decision coming up.  What to do with Tanks?  This isn't the 1960's and the difference between the USMC's M1A1 and the Army's current ride are so much that we're heading toward a parting of the ways when it comes to training and maintenance/procurement of spares.  Does the USMC maintain pace with the Army and  upgrade its M1A1's to the latest Army standard or does it do away with direct fires in support of infantry ops?  Its not being discussed in professional journals but needs to be.  Future battles will be won or lost based on decisions today.

13 HOURS Trailer...

When we get past the sloppy, pathetic Republican investigations....when we get past the fictionalized accounts.

We're going to end up with the truth.

The only question is whether when the truth is learned, if the American people can take the time from staring at the Kardashians big asses to actually give a fuck.  The worst part?  Good men died.  A US ambassador died.  And no one was held accountable...or responsible.  It was swept aside, treated as a partisan issue and dismissed.

I wonder if we even have the common sense to be outraged.  Do we have the moral fiber to be ashamed?

The early answer is no.

USMC aviation modernization at the expense of the ground side of the house.

 I've been complaining about the modernization priorities of the USMC and how its biased toward aviation at the expense of ground combat power.  Don't believe me, believe your own lying eyes.  First up, let's take a look at how many new toys aviation is getting....

We've gone from the AH-1W to AH-1Z.

The UH-1N to the UH-1Y.

From the CH-46 to the MV-22.

From the CH-53E to the CH-53K.

And of course, we're going from the Harrier to the F-35...and to make it even more of an aviation dominated train wreck, we're killing the Harrier early so that more F-35s can be bought sooner...even though NAVAIR has stated that with the planes bought from the Brits, the Harrier was viable until 2030.

Meanwhile the AAV will soon be reaching 50 years old with no replacement in sight till 2030 (being realistic...even the projections place it being replaced around 2025...another 10 years!)

The original replacment for the AAV, but shit canned because of cost and/or reliability...HQMC refused to buy a simplified version after the time and expense of making these potentially excellent vehicles mine resistant.

The unadulterated bullshit fed by the Amos administration to the Corps.  This was during his sales pitch that we would have to launch from over 200 miles offshore.  Everyone with common sense saw this for what it was.  A push to buy more MV-22s.  It did serve to distract and many believed the fuckery he was selling.  Notice that we haven't heard anything else from this DARPA project.  It was a toy, a diversion and an excuse wrapped up in a tech demonstrator.

The ACV.  A project that started out as the MPC but somehow has morphed into our future infantry ride.  Question.  Why can you sole source a high ticket item like the CH-53K but have to do testing, demonstration periods etc for a ground combat vehicle?  Easy.  Because the dumb fucks simply want to delay it so the things they consider important can be bought.  The F-35 is fucking the Marine Corps and changing a war winning institution because a flier got to sit in the big chair and instead of being a Marine, he decided being a political lackey and aviator were more important.

Oh and if don't believe me when I say that the US defense budget has made a drastic and alarming swing toward aviation at the expense of ground combat power then click here.  Notice how certain USMC assets are buried under "joint" acquisitions (even though they're clearly majority Marine Corps) to hide the bloat.

HQMC is broken....aviation is now running the joint and ground combat power is a sad afterthought.