Harriers take off aboard USS Iwo Jima...pics by Cpl. Jon Sosner

Germany is teetering on the brink and the Merkel govt might not survive.

Thanks to Moebius 2249 for the link!

via Reuters.

The failure of exploratory coalition talks involving her conservative bloc, the liberal pro-business Free Democrats (FDP) and environmentalist Greens raises the prospect of new elections and casts doubt over her future after 12 years in power.
Negotiations broke down after the FDP withdrew saying they had found insufficient common ground with her Christian Democratic/Christian Social Union bloc and the Greens.
President Walter Steinmeier said Germany was now facing the worst governing crisis in the 68-year history of its post-World War Two democracy. After meeting Merkel, he warned parties not to shirk their democratic duties - remarks seemingly targeted at the FDP and Social Democrats (SPD), who on Monday ruled out renewing their “grand coalition” with the conservatives.
“Inside our country, but also outside, in particular in our European neighborhood, there would be concern and a lack of understanding if politicians in the biggest and economically strongest country (in Europe) did not live up to their responsibilities,” he said in a statement.
Business leaders also called for a swift return to talks.
With German leadership seen as crucial for a European Union grappling with governance reform and Britain’s impending exit, FDP leader Christian Lindner’s announcement that he was pulling out spooked investors and sent the euro falling in the morning.

Story here. 

It's funny.  I was always taught that a parliamentary type govt was more responsive to the people but apparently that's not true.

The Germans are suffering from the same problems that the American electorate are dealing with.

In both countries a "primal" scream was sent to the politicians but in both they're being ignored.

From my chair it looks like Merkel isn't taking the concerns of her people seriously and the same can be said for Trump and the Republicans in the US.

Who here believes that Trump ran on a promise of tax cuts?

I hadn't considered it but could we be looking at a period of govt instability in the West?

China chest thumps about it's VN-18 Amphibious Assault Vehicle...

Thanks to Jonathan for the link!

via Daily Mail.

China has unveiled the world's most powerful amphibious assault vehicle that can travel at high speeds both on land and water, according to the Chinese state media.

The formidable armoured vehicle, called VN18, boasts a maximum speed of 65 kmh (40 mph) on the ground and 30 kmh (19mph) on water and is the fastest of its kind in the world, reported China Central Television Station.

The 26.5-tonne beast is said to be equipped with a cannon, a machine gun and an anti-tank missile. It can carry three drivers and 11 soldiers.

China Central Television Station, the country's state broadcaster, revealed footage of the military vehicle in a programme on November 18.

The 1,600-horsepower assault vehicle was billed as China's 'magical weapon' by the programme.

It's said to be a modified variant of ZTD05 Light Tank, which was developed between 2000 and 2005.

Built with aluminium alloys, VN18 is armoured with a 30mm cannon, a 7.62mm machine gun, an anti-tank missile and smoke grenades, said the report.

The military vehicle is produced by Norinco Group, a state-owned weapon manufacturer in China.

VN18 boasts a maximum speed of 65 kmh on the ground and 30 kmh on water

It's said to be armoured with a cannon, machine gun, anti-tank missile and smoke grenades

During an interview with China Central Television Station, Zhang Wenhui, who is the deputy General Manager of Norinco Group, said VN18 is the fastest amphibious assault vehicle in the world.

Mr Zhang said: 'Only China and the United State have amphibious assault vehicles.

'Although the United State has them, their armies are not equipped with them.'

Mr Zhang claimed that amphibious assault vehicles in the United State are not as fast as VN18.

He said: 'They tried to developed faster ones than ours, but they failed.'
 
In explaining how fast VN18 is on water, Tan Yongyao, Head of the R&D at Norinco said: 'On the waters, it's like a car running at 120 km/h on a highway.'

Mr Tan added that the vehicle could work in adverse weather conditions and resist winds up to six metres per second (11 knots).

China Central Television Station commented that VN18 is another example of the country's innovative power.

Wow.  This article is dripping with arrogance, self congratulations, self assuredness and a huge dose of self importance.

It reeks of hubris on steroids.

That's a good thing.  That means that when we cross swords they will underestimate us.

That means we'll beat them.

A hardworking, quiet, humble China is one thing.  A loud, bragging, arrogant China is something else entirely.  The latter is easy, the former hard.

From what I can tell we're gonna be getting the latter which is GREAT news.

Open Comment Post. Nov 20, 2017

Turkey may remove US radar if F-35s not delivered on schedule

via YenisAfak.com

As the U.S. and NATO pressure mounts on Turkey to stop the purchase of the powerful S-400 missile system from Russia, the American administration has threatened that it may not go forward with a plan to deliver F-35 fighter jets ordered by Turkey.

In retaliation to the American blackmail, Ankara may take measures of its own in response, atop of which is the possible dismantling of the powerful Malatya- Kürecik AN-TPY-2 radar that was set up by the U.S. in 2012.

In a bid to dissuade Turkey from going forward with the purchase of the powerful S-400 missile defense system, the U.S. had warned that such a move “would jeopardize the sale of F-35 fighter jets to Turkey.”

Story here. 

My news alerts gathers in info from around the world.  Having said that, this is the first that I've heard of this news site.  Additionally the phrasing that they use..."blackmail"...leaves me a bit cold.

I wonder.

What is the worry about the Russian radar?  Why is the US and NATO (which has said the same) so concerned?  Seems to me that we would get a good look at the capabilities of the system if it were used in training events.  If it is as formidable as everyone thinks (including me) then training against it in European exercises should be a win win.

If done right I can see these guys being on an almost constant roadshow to various sites in Europe, the US, Australia and even Japan so that we can all test our tactics and pilots against the system.

But all that is irrelevant.

The markers have been placed.  It also puts into light certain news we've heard about the F-35 and sales to Middle Eastern countries.  We MUST look at those possible sales in a new light. 

If this threat is credible then could the F-35 enterprise be looking for ways to replace the sizeable Turkish order for these airplanes?  Imagine that suddenly 150 planes are taken off the books?  That means that we'd see an instant price increase for the rest of the allies.  Additionally isn't Turkey suppose to be a major repair hub?  This could get nasty.  I think as usual, greed will outweigh national security but what if they actually hold strong and Turkish orders are negated?

Sex Assault cases are starting to turn Feminists against Feminists...

via Jezebel.

Lena Dunham, who’s been vocal in the movement to believe sexual assault accusers, now defends Girls writer Murray Miller after actress Aurora Perrineau accused him of sexually assaulting her when she was 17. Perrineau alleges that after a night of drinking at the Standard Hotel, she was driven to Miller’s home and woke up in his bed, when, she said in a statement, “he was on top of me having sexual intercourse with me,” The Wrap reports.

On Friday night, Dunham and co-showrunner Jenni Konner issued a joint statement to the Hollywood Reporter saying not that they doubt, but that they flat-out reject, the claim. They write that she and Jenni Konner are “confident” that “sadly this accusation is one of the 3 percent of assault cases that are misreported every year.” 

Story here. 

Many guys on this blog have put their finger in the wind and climbed on board the "accusers should be believed" train.  It's understandable.  It's the path of least resistance and people will pat them on the back for being so "open minded".

I look at this issue from a military perspective and there are so many shatterpoints in the way that you interact with other guys that incorporating women into even a fireteam is fraught with peril for the men working with her.

But putting that aside this is funny.  When the Marine Corps was getting pounded no one cared.  When the rest of the military got slapped up side the head the politicians cheered.  When this hit Hollywood the cheering intensified.

But now its reached the news media, feminists and the democrat party and now people want to pump the brakes.

My prediction?

Watch the Roy Moore controversy in Alabama go by the wayside.  They're gonna try and pivot to winning on the issues.  They can't push hard on it because Franken is in jeopardy and he's one of them.  Additionally there are many other politicians on both sides of the isle that can get taken down if this is allowed to continue.

The latest battle of the sexes is about to fade from the headlines.  It can't be pushed because its coming a little close to home for the powers that be.

Drunk Marines recorded yelling "Fuck Niggers" on Snapchat...

via Splinter Blog.

New videos circulating on social media appear to show members of the U.S. Marine Corps drinking beer bongs, partying, and repeatedly yelling “fuck n****rs.” Because when we send our troops, we’re only sending our best, right?

The Snapchat videos were shared on Twitter Friday by teacher and activist Zellie Imani, who asked, “Is this commonplace @USMC?”

Story and vid here. 

Note to racists Marines.  I know you exist and don't care.  But have enough common sense to not broadcast your idiocy over the internet.

You're gonna get slammed and again.  I don't care.  But you're making the entire Corps look bad because you're a moronic fucking fool.

Keep that shit behind your barracks doors, maybe in the common areas if your battalion rolls like that, or in town with others of your kind. 

But stop doing stupid shit that brings disgrace to the entire organization.

Russian AWACS, A-100 takes flight..

Story here.

This is being reported all over the place so why am I putting it here?  Because it is relevant.  Notice that the US Navy went ahead with the E-2D a couple of years ago, but we only recently heard about breakthroughs in GaN technology.

Because the Russians went second they're able to incorporate (maybe...the article isn't at all clear) the latest tech into their airplane.

But there is something a bit more ominous about this.

If the AWACS is tied into the Russian Anti-Aircraft complex then we're looking at formidable radars that are both ground and air based.  If they're doing this right then they're gonna be able to extend the detection range against our stealth force.

The solution is simple but will require a new mindset.

Stealth isn't king.  We have to be prepared to roll back enemy defenses in the way that retired Admiral Greenert talked about and start emphasizing electronic warfare.

There is no easy way.  We need to buckle down and get ready to do the hard work required to win.

Open Comment Post. Nov 19, 2017

Your new computer wallpaper courtesy of Joe Copalman's Flickr Page

PAIR OF SPADES
A pair of AH-1Z Vipers from HMLA-267 'Stingers' return to NAF El Centro after a live-fire sortie on the nearby ranges.

Rare Armor. Armored personnel carriers Type 1 Ho-Ki via Bmashina Tumblr Page.

Armored personnel carriers Type 1 Ho-Ki, in China, in the summer of 1945.

One day an armor historian will do a better accounting of Japanese, Chinese and Australian armor during WW2.

We have a glut of info on the Russians and Germans.  We have quite a bit on the US.

But the pacific is where everyone has the misconception that armor wasn't used and that it was an all infantry affair.

Part of that lies with the Marine Corps.  Up until a few years ago, Infantry was all (now its aviation) so the valor of tanks/lvtp crews was lost in the sauce.

We need to do better...that includes properly cataloging Japanese efforts during the war.

Yes I know there is an Argentine sub missing...

via CNN

The Argentine navy is stepping up its search in the South Atlantic for a 44-crew submarine that has been out of radio contact for three days.
President Maurico Macri said all national and international resources were being deployed to help find the San Juan as quickly as possible.
A Nasa research plane has joined the search for the vessel.
Britain and countries in the region have offered help after it disappeared 430km (267 miles) off the coast.
"We have not been able to find, or have visual or radar communication with the submarine," navy spokesman Enrique Balbi told a news conference.

Story here. 

Since everyone is filling my inbox with this news I decided to speak on it.

Yes I know there is a missing Argentine sub.

No I haven't commented on it.

Why?

Because we already know the story.  When a sub goes missing and it has to be searched for then 99% of the time the story will end in tragedy.

If the news release was that rescue equipment, ships and planes were rushing to the site of an Argentine sub in distress then we would have something to talk about.

We could watch the rescue effort, determine what we see that's to be cheered and moaned about, lauded the international effort etc...

But we didn't get that.

All we can really do is wait for the investigation to tell us what went wrong and hopefully for them to at least locate it in those deep waters.

Let me add this.  The sub service has come a long way.  That's for all countries.  Subs going down even in peacetime was once a fairly common occurrence.  Subs going missing and investigators being left with only guesses as to the cause was common too.

All we can do is take that 1% chance of hope and wring it for all its worth and wait.  This is big news but there just isn't much for us to talk about.