Open Comment Post. Oct 14, 2017

German Minister proposes introducing Muslim holidays sparking backlash...

Muslims perform Friday prayers on Skalitzer Strasse (street) in Berlin September 19, 2014

via Reuters.

German Interior Minister Thomas de Maiziere has upset fellow members of Chancellor Angela Merkel’s conservative bloc by proposing that Germany introduce Muslim public holidays.

Germany is home to around 4.5 million Muslims, many of whom have a Turkish background. Many of the more than a million migrants who have arrived in the country from the Middle East and elsewhere over the last two years are also Muslims.

Speaking on the campaign trail ahead of an election in the northern state of Lower Saxony due on Sunday, de Maiziere - a member of Merkel’s Christian Democrats (CDU) - said he was open to certain regions of Germany having Muslim public holidays.

He pointed out that All Saints’ Day was only a public holiday in Germany’s Catholic regions and added: “In places where there are many Muslims, why can’t we think about introducing a Muslim public holiday?”

Story here. 

When I read the title my reaction was "This shit is outrageous"!

Then I read the entire article and I found myself modifying my position.  They have Catholic holidays in certain regions?  Is it asking too much for a Muslim holiday?

I'm not sure.

Then I brought this home to the good ole USA.  My thinking was that eventually this is gonna find its way here so how do we head it off at the pass? How do we prevent another divisive issue from ripping apart anymore of the melting pot/social fabric?

My solution might seem brutal and I'm sure a bunch of racists would endorse it but at the end of the day I think it's the only real solution.

Any holiday based on race, sex, religion or nationality needs to be banned on a national level and the decision sent to the states to determine.

What does that mean?

No more federal holidays for black history month (hit my particular demographic).  No more hispanic month, gay month, pacific islander etc....

I hear ya saying it.  What about Christmas?

Sorry but every rule has its exceptions.  Christmas remains.  The non-Christians will call it Happy Holidays but the consumerism that flows from that day must be continued for the benefit of the country.

Would Federal employees lose holidays?  Nope.  They would still get the same days off but it would simply be called a holiday and not a celebration of a certain group.

I say again that this is far from a perfect solution but this issue will migrate to the US simply because nonsense that originates in the EU always comes this way.

Better to reach a sensible solution that punishes all rather than a fight that will further divide.

Russian counter move. Iskander Missiles in response to US deployments....

via Statfor.com

Retired Russian General Vladimir Shamanov, head of the Duma's defense committee in the Russian parliament, said Oct. 12 that Russia might deploy its Iskander missile systems to the Kalininigrad region in response to the deployment of an armored division of U.S. troops in Poland, Radio Free Europe reported. Russia accused the United States of quietly and illegally building up troops, tanks and armored vehicles in Poland and the Baltic region during Russia's 2017 Zapad joint military exercises in Belarus. Both the United States and NATO deny claims of any violation of the NATO-Russia Founding Act.

This should have been expected.

I am constantly amazed by people that believe the enemy will not respond to our activity.  While we can shout we're deploying troops to Europe to deter aggression, reassure allies and to act as a stabilizing force the reality is much different.

Forward deployment of troops is a failed concept.  There is a reason why it was not pursued after the fall of the Soviet Union.  It makes no sense and is unnecessarily provocative. 

But if you don't believe that then consider this.  I have been shouting that the US has been running its troops ragged doing all kinds of nonsensical exercises on the European continent while being actively engaged in two wars, suffering HA/DR work that is getting short changed back home and needlessly inflaming issues better solved diplomatically.

Putin is called a devil but he has signaled that he is ready to work with the US on a number of issues and has also indicated that he is ready for a reset in relations.

Those efforts were rebuffed by the Russian phobic media and now we have this.

Iskander Missiles poised to actually menace Europe.

The more exercises that are being run in Europe the more we will inevitably see counter moves by Russia.  It's to be expected and military leadership should be ready to account for that.

Instead of reassuring allies and stabilizing the situation there, I contend that the current stance of our forces is doing the exact opposite.  De-escalation is needed now before a mistake is made.

ST Kinetics/SAIC Mobile Protected Firepower Variant of their Next Generation Fighting Vehicle (concept art)...

concept art via Senang Diri Blog!

Forensic acoustic proof of SECOND shooter in the Las Vegas massacre

Thanks to Matthew for the link!



This is gonna continue until we get solid answers.

I don't know what is and isn't real but none of this adds up.  A Marine sent me a vid taken by a cabbie in a parking lot and I KNOW I HEARD 7.62 fire.

This guy is going off the information that there had to be a second shooter because of acoustics patterns.  The discrepancy in the audio file could be explained by the higher ballistic values of 7.62 over 5.56 (haven't crunched the numbers but just eyeballing it the distant covered should equal his second shooter theory).

Either way the FBI and Las Vegas Metro better get out of their crouch and get ahead of this story.  From a public perception angle this thing is beginning to spiral.

A Marine aircraft has crashed every month since July

via Marine Times.

Constant operations, budget cuts, delays in procuring new aircraft and other factors have all pushed Marine aviation into a crisis. A Marine aircraft has crashed every month since July, when a KC-130T crashed in Mississippi, killing 15 Marines and one sailor — the deadliest crash for Marine aviation since 2005. All 12 of the Corps’ KC-130Ts have remained grounded pending the crash investigation.

The following month, Marine Corps Commandant Gen. Robert Neller ordered all squadrons to suspend flight operations for 24 hours after an MV-22B Osprey crashed off Australia, killing three Marines.

Story here. 

Excuses are irrelevant.

Don't tell the American people what you can't do with the resources you have, either manage it or you inform policy makers that the current pace of operations is too much.

If it is funding (and I seriously doubt that) then you make that clear and scale back operations to a level that meets the available monies.

If it is delays in procuring new aircraft/other factors then you deal with the reality of the situation and you adjust.

But giving an excuse of constant operations, budget cuts, delays in procurement of new aircraft and other factors is pure bullshit.

Children give excuses.  Marines get it the fuck done.

Israel steps back from V-22 purchase

via Flight Global

The Israeli air force has frozen its evaluation of the Bell Boeing V-22 Osprey, with a senior defence source indicating that the tiltrotor is unable to perform some missions currently conducted using its Sikorsky CH-53 transport helicopters.

In January 2014, the US Department of Defense notified Congress about its intention to sell six V-22s to Israel. This followed an evaluation conducted by air force personnel, which led to the service seeking a rapid acquisition to support special operations. The proposed purchase met with opposition from elsewhere within Israel's defence ministry, however.

Other potential candidates to replace the Israeli air force's aged CH-53s by around 2025 include Sikorsky's new CH-53K and the Boeing CH-47 Chinook.

Story here. 

This is beyond interesting.  It confirms everything we've said on these pages and is another data point for future purchases by the USMC.

It can't perform some missions performed currently by it's Sikorsky CH-53 helicopters.

Why is this stunning?

Because Israel doesn't operate the CH-53E model.  They're all D's!  That's the highly maneuverable but not quite as powerful twin engine model!

If the V-22 can't do what that elderly airplane can do then that says something....something bad...very bad.

This Vegas thing is turning into a coverup...Security Guard given gag order...

via SHTFPlan.

Over the last few days Las Vegas law enforcement officials have significantly altered the timeline of the mass shooting that left 59 dead and hundreds injured. Adding further intrigue is the fact that the Mandalay Bay Hotel & Casino now says that they have their own timeline of events, which diverge from the official story.

On top of that, mystery still surrounds Mandalay Bay security guard Jose Campos, who was shot in the leg when Stephen Paddock opened fire and unleashed some 200 rounds through the door of his hotel room. Campos, who is reportedly not registered to work in the State of Nevada, was scheduled to do an interview with Sean Hannity Thursday night. But just minutes before the interview was to take place, Campos was said to have abruptly cancelled his appearance:

Story here along with a video. 

WTF is going on with this thing?  The Cops rolled out the LEOs that made the entry into the terrorists room but now won't allow the security guard that got shot to be interviewed?

This thing reeks!

I don't know what's going on with this case but it has either been sloppy as hell or they tried to pull a fast one and got blocked. 

Pics of the room being leaked a day after the incident?  LEOs being interviewed on TV just days after?

Now you block the security guard?

I'm raising the bullshit flag high!

Rafael Advanced Defense Systems - Trophy Active Protection System

Geez.  You skyline your track like that you're asking to get killed.  Better to just get out, and suck on your sidearm and save the taxpayer money if you're that stupid.

But I came for the Merkava porn.

It does raise an interesting point though.  If the turret slews towards the launch point then you're gonna need missiles that allow you to shoot and scoot.  Are there man portable missiles out now that allow you to do that? Do they hit reliably without manual input?

Task Force Wolfpack (2nd Cav & Brit Light Dragoons) conduct 1100km roadmarch to Poland....pics by Staff Sgt. Jennifer Bunn

As currently setup, the 2nd Cav is a light mech infantry unit.  By my minds eye its not even close to being medium weight.  The British Dragoons are without a doubt light infantry.

So the question becomes...why do this?

Neither unit is truly capable of even blunting the nightmare scenario of a push into Europe.  Both would be rolled over and would serve as poor speed bumps against heavy armor.

So how are they deterring aggression?

They MIGHT reassure allies but only those that have no knowledge of military affairs.

I know I'm critical but this 1100km jaunt from Germany to Poland is just a publicity stunt in my eyes.  It's a chance to wave at German and Polish ladies while you zoom down the highways but that's about it.  Militarily its just busy work for the unit and a data point for the European Commander's end of tour award.