Wednesday, October 23, 2013

Marine Corps Times comments on Amos & the letter to Congress...

In a shocking turn of events, SNAFU Blog awards General Amos the Blue Falcon Award for the 3rd year in a row.  Amazingly, he received 100% of the votes and if he remains in office next year is considered a strong contender for a fourth!

A small update on the earlier story about Marine Officers writing a letter to Congress demanding an investigation into Amos' conduct as Commandant.  Here are a few comments from the Marine Corps Times Facebook page....without a doubt Amos is the most despised Commandant in my lifetime.  Its rather interesting because the position has an amount of "reverence" attached to it.  Previously it was held in high regard and comments from rank and file Marines (at least publicly) was to defend the person in the big chair because he and the Marine Corps were one and the same.  The Commandant reflected the Marine Corps and the Marine Corps reflected the Commandant.

Those days are obviously over.  Its a strange time for the Marines because we are once again in need a reformer in the mold of Gray to get us back on track.  I'll be sifting through General Officer bios (active) and talking to buds to see who would be SNAFU Blog's choice for the Commandant to get us out of our funk (note...I like to be radical so I'll probably extend it into even the Colonel ranks for a wildcat promotion).
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U.S. Marine Corps Light Armored Vehicle Anti-Tank (LAV-AT) weapon system

Raytheon Company (NYSE: RTN) successfully completed an initial round of live-fire testing with a new U.S. Marine Corps Light Armored Vehicle Anti-Tank (LAV-AT) weapon system. The upgraded, highly mobile, anti-armor LAV-AT weapon system is designed to protect reconnaissance and light infantry. Its mission is to defeat threats at long-range, day or night, and in all weather conditions.

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Europe threatened by illegal immigration?

via PR News.
International Security Expert Predicts European Immigration Disaster Looming in Full Disclosure Network(R) TV-Internet SeriesWASHINGTON, Oct. 23, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Watch the 1-minute preview video herein the final segment in a Full Disclosure Network(R) TV-Internet Series featuring Alex Alexiev. As an International Security Expert, Alexiev is a former analyst with the Rand Corporation and a Vice President of Research & Development with the Center for Security Policy in D.C. He expresses fear that Europe is so politically correct, it is blind to the out-of-control immigration that now poses a serious threat to international security. Alexiev describes France's "radical ghettos," riots in Sweden, and rejection of European culture by those arriving for economic benefits. Watch the video and full segment here:http://www.fulldisclosure.net/2013/10/643-3-european-immigration-disaster-looms/The News Behind the News:
The Emmy Award-winning Full Disclosure Network(R) is "The News Behind the News," focusing on the crucial issues confronting the U.S. today. Experts in diverse fields present their observations of local, state, federal and international actions and policies that directly affect the public. The wide range of subjects include John Moorlach , Orange County, CA Supervisor, and former Orange County SheriffMike Carona, "Can Government Rescind Pensions?"; Joe Arpaio , Sheriff, Maricopa County, AZ, "Toughest Sheriff in America"; Edwin Meese, III , former U.S. Attorney General (Reagan Administration), "U.S. Justice System Corrupted By Ideology"; and many more informative, one-on-one interviews. Since 1992, the Full Disclosure Network® programming has been featured on public cable channels and on the Internet at www.Fulldisclosure.net
I never heard of these people so I don't know if they're fringe or one of the emerging hard news alternates thats starting to popup.  Either way the vid is chilling. 
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British Army on Exercise Cambrian Patrol 2013



The USMC was once real big with sending individual Marines to train with the Royal Marines and British Army.  It would probably suck donkey balls but I bet this would be training we could duplicate.  I mean if we can copy the Tarzan course then why not this comp?
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Revolt of the Retired JAG Corps. Pressure mounts on Amos.

via Marine Corps Times.
Some 27 former Marine Corps and Navy officers and lawyers, including a general officer, sent a letter to the leaders of the Senate and House Armed Services committees Tuesday, asking for a congressional inquiry into allegations of unlawful command influence centering on Marine Corps Commandant Gen. Jim Amos and his senior legal advisers.
The letter cites legal documentation alleging Amos deprived accused Marines of due process, made misleading statements under oath, engaged in abuse of the legal discovery process to hide evidence, and worked to tarnish the reputation of a Marine Corps whistleblower who came forward to expose the unethical activities of Marine leadership.
Be advised boys and girls.

Something dark is brewing.  Something earth shattering.

First lets break down a couple of things.  I've been a critic of Marine Times.  I've accused them of encouraging fluff, pushing the female in the infantry agenda and promoting Marines acting stupidly (the music videos and asking out celebrities).  On this story though they've been like a dog on a bone.  GOOD FOR THEM!

Second.  Retired JAG officers sending a letter tells you that this is reaching critical mass.  Always pay attention to the retired class.  They're the gate keepers of tradition.  For retired JAG officers to send a letter of this type means that more than me and my buddies have been fired up about this.  Its sweeping our community.  Additionally it also means that active duty JAGs have briefed some important retirees on the nature of the case and these retirees ran with the ball.

Third.  I don't know if Amos will be able to hold on.  Before his decisions have brought grumbling.  Now they're bringing about action.  All his sycophants inside the Corps will hardly protect him.  They're political animals like he is.

I figure early next year he'll be asked to retire early and a cover will be arranged to help him save face.

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Today in Marine Corps History. 1983 Beirut barracks bombing


Today in Marine Corps history, 1/8 got hit by suicide bombers in an incident that began over 3 decades of Marine Corps involvement in the mess that is the Middle East.

Read the Wiki article here...

Even better?  Check out the official history below (note:  if the document below doesn't work on your computer the direct link is here).



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Tuesday, October 22, 2013

Quigley!


If you've never ran it during winter, be thankful.

If you don't know what it is then you're not part of the  club.  
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Unbelievable restraint by the Chief of San Antonio PD.

Ok.  I've been body slamming police procedure, procurement, fitness and demeanor towards the general public.  But when I saw this, all I could say is 'atta boy' Chief.  You might be 100% politician but you doped out this situation, and handled it almost perfectly.

Where did they go wrong?  Nervousness illustrated in the body language of the officers.  While the Chief seemed relaxed, the Corporal that got asked a couple of questions became more and more agitated.  He really looked like he was about to enter a fight or flight type response.  Did you notice the black guy close by?  I don't know if he's a LEO but I clocked him as being so.  Why?  What?  No!  Don't be an idiot, you have black people that attend these rallies.  What gave him away was his standard cop shades, and his clothing.  Additionally did you check out his hands?  Typical defense stance type stuff.  Additionally he adjusted his jacket a couple of times because it would fly open.  That screams concealed carry.  The jacket re-adjustment screams full sized handgun concealed carry.

So besides an officer getting baited and having it show on his face, and an undercover guy that was so easy to clock that I had to laugh....all I can say is good job San Antonio PD.  You probably had your SWAT unit around the corner but the public face of this incident seems pitch perfect.

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Negligent discharge? In your office?

Well we found out why that Marine Colonel was relieved of duty.

He had a fucking negligent discharge in his office.

HIS OFFICE!

Sorry.  But if a Marine has a ND in the field, that's solved by a little behind the berm counseling or wall to wall mind-righting in garrison.  But a senior officer?  The officer in charge of security?  Not at all acceptable.  I know we're not getting the whole story and I'd love to know it.  But barring that, I wonder why HQMC took so long to get this info out?  Read the article here.
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F-35. Lockheed Martin earnings rose 16.3%.


via Investors.com
Lockheed Martin (LMT) nearly halved its forecast on the sequester's impact to full-year revenue and reported third-quarter results above analysts' estimates despite continued unease in Washington over the budget.
Earnings rose 16.3% in Q3 to $2.57 per share. Analysts polled by Thomson Reuters were expecting $2.26 per share. Revenue dipped 4.4% to $11.34 billion, but still came in above estimates for $11.15 billion.
Read the whole story here.

Something simple is catching my eye with this story.

The US Marine Corps has cancelled the Marine Personnel Carrier, the Commandant looks like a liar and a fool with his vacillation on the Amphibious Combat Vehicle (besides saying that he'll die in a ditch for an airplane!...not his wife, not another Marine...but a fucking airplane) and the US Army is under such budgetary pressure that they're going to kill or delay the Ground Combat Vehicle.

I won't even get into the personnel reductions that are coming up.  A Marine Corps of 150,000 ---down from 202,000.  An Army that is a shriveled up image of its former self.

And yet .

Despite all the pain that all the services are having to absorb...Lockheed Martin is seeing double digit earnings and they're beating Analysts estimates for price per share.

Tell me again that the F-35 isn't an albatross around the neck of the Marine Corps in particular and the entire DoD in general.
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MRAPs everywhere.



via WJON.com
ST. CLOUD – The St. Cloud Police Department’s SWAT team unveiled their new armored vehicle this (Monday) morning.
The MRAP, which stands for Mine-Resistant Ambush Protected, comes from the Minnesota Homeland Security and Emergency Management Department.
Lieutenant Jeff Oxton says the vehicle will help keep members of the SWAT team safe while responding to emergencies.
The cost to the city of St. Cloud is about $10,000 to retrofit it for police use. The vehicle is valued at over $400,000.
In it’s previous life it was used for training at Fort Ripley, Kansas. It has less than 3,600 miles on it.
Besides the St. Cloud police department, the Sheriff’s Departments in Sherburne County, Wright County, Dakota County, Pine County, St. Louis County, and Olmstead County also received vehicles.
I guess its to be expected but its still alarming.

I have a web watch setup to look for stories on police depts buying, being gifted or in general receiving MRAPs and its off the scale. There are stories at least twice a day and no matter how big or small the dept, they're laying their hands on military grade gear.

Its to be expected but it needs to stop.  Give them to Kenya or the Philippines but stop militarizing US police depts.

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Textron Commando 90mm Direct Fire.








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I support military families but Sponge Bob headstone is wrong.


I support military families.

Especially when they're grieving...but this sponge bob headstone is just plain wrong.  I'm not the "gaudy" police, and I'm certainly not a grief counselor, but if Sgt Walker loved the SB guy then awesome.  Honor this portion of her memory privately.  But don't ruin the decorum of a cemetery by insisting that this be displayed.  Others are grieving too and they shouldn't have that image when paying respect to their loved ones.

I mean seriously what's next?  If this is allowed will we see images of Barney, Superman or a Brony made up as grave stones?

I am sincere in my sympathy, but on this.  They're wrong.
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Kongsberg 30mm Remote Weapon Station. Pic of the day.



With the US Army about to trial turrets for its Stryker ICV, the Marine Corps has an opportunity to "piggy back" on that purchase and upgrade several of our vehicles.  Assuming that they go with a RWS and not a manned turret, we could see our ground combat vehicles gain much needed punch.  If we're actually going to be stuck with the AAV upgrade, till money is freed up for the MPC, then we should go for more extensive fit.  They have to choose a RWS or we lose dismounts but its seems doable.  Plus we get to plug into the Army's supply chain.  Marine Corps win.  Additionally if we decide to retrofit LAV-25A2's with the RWS then we're even looking at a modest upgrade in firepower in our LAV Battalions.
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Weapon takeaway victim in the making.. via Tac Blog.

Note:  This photo was suppose to illustrate the concept of "armed police" that the Brits use.  I call it a weapon snatch victim in the making.  If you carry then you owe it to yourself and others to be in as good a shape as possible.  I see too many guys that can shoot the wings off a fly but would last 20 seconds in a fight and then wouldn't have the strength to walk around the corner.  Understand that for civilians the standards can be lower.  They're concerned only with self defense, but for police and military?  Too many hungry hungry hippos.

He definitely ain't planning on running with that leg rig setup that loose.

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Mountain Warfare Training @ Bridgeport, CA. - Photos by Master Sgt. Daniel Kauppila

NOTE: Does anyone have any insight into why we're seeing more single aircraft type participation in exercises? Days ago I noticed an all UH-1Y ex and now I'm seeing the same only with CH-53. What is going on here?  And spare me the talk about aircraft availability -- that is a non-starter when 10 Hueys can be assembled to carry 1/7 to Combat Town to breach doors and step on scorpions.








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Monday, October 21, 2013

Odierno is spouting nonsense.

The Army has had to cancel so much training that only two of its42 combat brigades are ready for combat, Chief of Staff Gen. Ray Odierno told reporters at the Association of the US Army conference here today. It’ll take until June to get a solid force of seven brigades ready for any unexpected contingency — and that’s assuming no further budgetary disasters.
Odierno is full of shit.

Look at a quick roll call of Army Divisions. The 82nd is up to speed for sure.  The 101st trains hard...even if its just garrison (but I know for a fact that they've been doing fieldwork real hard for the last 3 months).  10th Mountain?  Ditto.  2nd Armored?  Same.   25th out in Hawaii?  Please, those boys run hills.

He's sounding the alarm to startle the uninformed but I seriously doubt every single word out of the guys mouth.  But unfortunately what he's actually doing is giving the enemy a false impression of our capabilities.

The real question is why and the answer is in his statement.  He wants sequestration to go away and since Obama won the last budget impasse, he's hoping to rally Republicans to move toward the President's direction for the sake of national security.

The JCS has become fully politicized.  Every single one of them needs to be fired.
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