Friday, December 15, 2017
Russians appear to be pulling armor from Syria...They learned from our mistake...
via Almasdarnews.com
A new video showing the Russian military transporting their equipment onto a cargo ship leaving Syria was released by a Russian news outlet on Thursday.Story here.
In the video, the Russian military can be seen loading several armored vehicles that were to defeat ISIS in eastern Syria onto a cargo ship destined for Russia.
This is where I piss off many of my readers.
The Russians learned from us and did the opposite. They had a clear objective, set the parameters for success and once achieved they leave.
What will be interesting is how they handle all the stuff left on the plate.
It's obvious that our activity in Syria was aimed not at defeating ISIS but on overthrowing Assad (I dare someone to actually look at the course of this conflict and come up with an alternate theory). Since the Pentagon has declared that "we will stay in Syria as long as necessary" does that mean the Russians will re-engage if they see the anti-Assad forces gaining ground?
Speaking of the anti-Assad forces. Will we continue to support them? McCain did a bit of legacy building before the cancer struck full force but this will taint his memory.
This was just the latest of his hawkish stances
Will the globalist finally quit the field or will they continue to try and "shape" the Middle East?
What about Turkey annexing Syrian soil? Will the Russians attempt negotiation or will this be the next war between regional players?
What about the Kurds? Everyone has used them but everyone has also thrown them under the bus. Will Assad and the Russians give them limited autonomy?
The Russians leaving is a smart move. What will be telling is if events on the ground dictate them returning.
Prototype of Slovak Patria AMV 8x8 armored fitted with 30mm turret...via Army Recognition.
Pics below and a nice write up is found at Army Recognition (here).
Let me first say this. I like this setup. Next let me ask a question.
This might seem like goofy but where is our overmatch gonna come from?
If the whole world (and us) is standardizing on the 30mm cannon...if almost any IFV worth its salt has anti-tank missiles...if everyone has MLRS...attack helicopters...and everyone but us has long range anti-air missiles that operate at the Regiment level and above....are we in essence saying that stealth tactical air fighters (F-35) are our only hope?
What if the S-400 is as good as they say? What if the Chinese and Russian stealth fighters actually are competitive with our best?
Where is our overmatch coming from in a big fight?
Let me first say this. I like this setup. Next let me ask a question.
This might seem like goofy but where is our overmatch gonna come from?
If the whole world (and us) is standardizing on the 30mm cannon...if almost any IFV worth its salt has anti-tank missiles...if everyone has MLRS...attack helicopters...and everyone but us has long range anti-air missiles that operate at the Regiment level and above....are we in essence saying that stealth tactical air fighters (F-35) are our only hope?
What if the S-400 is as good as they say? What if the Chinese and Russian stealth fighters actually are competitive with our best?
Where is our overmatch coming from in a big fight?
Thursday, December 14, 2017
UK Land Power MUST be on your daily read list!
You know I've been raving about UK Land Power Blog right? Well it gets even better. Do you know the bubba running that joint? I didn't and when I found out I was beyond pleased.
It's Nicholas Drummond.
Not to go fanboy but I've been following this guy on his twitter page (here...and you should too if you have an interest in military affairs/land power ) and have always wanted a bit more.
Backgrounder? He's a former British Army Officer, an industry consultant and writer.
Oh and one other thing. He rejects conventional thinking...which in essence means that HE THINKS and doesn't simply go along with the crowd.
Think Defense, China Defense, Below The Turret Ring, Navy Matters, Cdr Salamander...and now UK Land Power Blog (to name a few) are all on my daily reading list and should be on yours too!
Everyone predicted the demise of blogging. Looks like we're seeing a renaissance in military blogging instead. I'm so glad they were wrong. Conventional wisdom screws up again.
Is CENTCOM slow rolling/spinning the air to air confrontation between Russian/US jets?
Thanks to Gregory for the link!
via Independent.
American F-22 fighter jets have fired warning flares in Syrian airspace after Russian Su-25 jets entered an agreed upon deconfliction area, according to a US official.Story here.
The official told Reuters that the Russian jets left the area, which was above the Euphrates river, after the two US jets sent the warnings.
One official said that the aerial encounter lasted "several minutes", as the Russian jets crossed the de-confliction line several times.
Wow. The pure audacity here! They told only half the story and the news media is either unaware or don't care that there is another part of the story that must be addressed.
THIS IS WHY I SEEK NEWS FROM AROUND THE WORLD AND FROM ALL SOURCES!
If I just relied on US sources for new....or even US/Allied news media for information then we wouldn't know about the claim that Russian SU-35's intercepted our F-22's and "protected" their attack planes.
As things stand now we're still lacking answers.
Oh and remember me bemoaning the post from The Aviationist Blog that claimed to get a note from some piece of shit Public Affairs Officer in Centcom?
I stand by my claim that a note to a blog (even this one) isn't good enough! We don't need anymore MOUTHPIECES that help spread propaganda! WE need THE TRUTH!
To paraphrase Colonel Jessup, my existence to CENTCOM PAO while grotesque and incomprehensible can save lives. I have neither time nor inclination to explain myself to leadership. I don't give a damn what CENTCOM PAO thinks it's entitled WE DEMAND THE TRUTH! So get your shit together, hold a fucking news conference and tell us what happened over the skies of Syria and who we almost got into a shooting war to protect...and no, I don't want to hear bullshit about protecting US advisers....I want to know the unit that those advisers were working with. Were they ISIS remnants or not? Were they anti-Assad forces that have been aligned with ISIS or not? It's past time to pressure CENTCOM into answering some basic fucking questions!
Cyborg vs Holm. Dec 30. Is it a fight if you know the outcome before the bell?
Wow. So we get to see this again? Is it a fight if we know the outcome before the bell?
We know Cyborg is gonna pulverize Holm. Don't care who you're a fan of the outcome of this fight is obvious.
I wish Cyborg would learn better English. She will never be the kind of star she's hoping for in the US unless she can put a few words together for endorsements, acting opportunities etc.
I know MMA is HUGE in Brazil but I don't know if the economic opportunities equal what she could have in the US.
Regardless Holm's will put up a valiant effort but I see this ending early in the 2nd round. Why 2? Because Cyborg will feel her out and not want to run into a lucky punch. Once she tastes the best that Holm's can give she'll get aggressive and end it quick. Maybe 2 but no more.
A Country Addicted to War....a perfect primer on the idiocy that is our current Middle East policy.
Thanks to Overwatch DVA for the link!
via TomDispatch.com
The fact is that the individuals entrusted by President Trump to direct U.S. policy believe with iron certainty that difficult political problems will yield to armed might properly employed. That proposition is one to which generals like Mattis and Nicholson have devoted a considerable part of their lives, not just in Afghanistan but across much of the Islamic world.Story here.
In Afghanistan, their entire worldview -- not to mention the status and clout of the officer corps they represent -- is at stake. No matter how long the war there lasts, no matter how many “generations” it takes, no matter how much blood is shed to no purpose, and no matter how much money is wasted, they will never admit to failure -- nor will any of the militarists-in-mufti cheering them on from the sidelines in Washington, Donald Trump not the least among them.
Meanwhile, the great majority of the American people, their attention directed elsewhere -- it’s the season for holiday shopping, after all -- remain studiously indifferent to the charade being played out before their eyes.
We're seeing massive failure in Afghanistan and the war against ISIS would have continued to be a side show to the real effort of removing Assad from power.
I've shouted this from the rooftop but its pleasing to find someone else that sees what I see.
The worst military failure in US history is happening right in front of our eyes and the public is oblivious to it!
All the freaks running around talking about how tactical they are, all the zombies buying flak jackets, Ops Core Helmets and playing barbie with their AR...in essence all the guys that want to play Soldier or Marine but didn't sign on the dotted line but claim superior patriotism and military knowledge should know better but don't.
They believe the Generals instead of believing their own eyes.
They're told that success is right around the corner even though we've heard that since the beginning of this conflict.
We fought two nation state armies and defeated them in 4 years during WW2 but have been paralyzed by savages in sandals that have a taste for sex with farm animals.
We claim that we have the most sophisticated force in the history of man but we're stopped by primitives that live in hills and smoke dope all day long.
I don't know who should be more ashamed.
The Generals for not doing better and not being honest with the American people.
The boosters that ignored common sense and insisted that we listen to failed leadership.
Or maybe its everyone in the US. We are wasting treasure, and more importantly losing our sons and daughters to a country that is not worth our time.
Why?
Because leadership won't admit that they don't have a clue...or a solution to win the war.
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