Norway Pre-Positioning gets updated vehicles.

via RiaNovosti.

MOSCOW, August 5 (RIA Novosti) - US cargo ship USNS PFC Dewayne T. Williams is expected to arrive in the small Norwegian village of Namdalseid on August 10, bringing heavy tanks, armored personnel carriers and landing crafts, the local Adresseavisen newspaper reported on Tuesday.
The cargo will include third-generation main battle tanks of the M1A1 Abrams type. This new, heavier equipment will replace trucks and personnel carriers which were previously stored in the mountain bunkers of Central Norway.
Local defense sources, cited by the Norwegian Aftenposten newspaper, say that the US’ decision to change war equipment stored in Norway was made on the basis of experiences from Iraq and Afghanistan.
Researcher Brett Ulriksen from the Norwegian Institute of International Affairs believes this new arrival to be a sign of the US grim outlook on the future of Europe. “This may well be related to the Ukraine crisis”, he told Aftenposten.

IDF buying more Trophy vehicle protection systems.

via Haaretz.

The Israel Defense Forces plans to protect more of its equipment against anti-tank missiles and acquire more radar devices that detect mortar fire – key lessons learned from the fighting in Gaza.
A system called Windbreaker currently protects the tanks of Armored Corps Brigade 401 against all types of anti-tank missiles. In Gaza, this system was used more than 10 times to intercept such missiles, including the advanced Kornet.
“The Windbreaker gives us more security when moving and under fire; it’s a system that lets us maneuver more deeply,” a commander in the brigade said during the fighting. The most significant threat during the Gaza operation was from anti-tank missiles and sniper fire, he said.
The IDF plans for the brigades of Division 162 and Division 36 to eventually have the system, too. “The lesson learned from the operation is to continue to strengthen the decisive divisions,” a senior officer said.
He said the IDF had increased the pace of producing high-quality Namer armored personnel carriers. At the moment, Namers are not outfitted with the Windbreaker.

US Army Major General (2 star) assassinated in Afghanistan.

via Army Times

WASHINGTON — A man dressed in an Afghan army uniform opened fire Tuesday on foreign troops at a military base, killing at least one U.S. soldier and wounding 15, including a German brigadier general and "about a dozen" Americans, authorities said.
Details about the attack at Camp Qargha, a base west of the capital, Kabul, weren't immediately clear. Gen. Mohammmad Zahir Azimi, a spokesman for Afghanistan's Defense Ministry, said a "terrorist in an army uniform" opened fire on both local and international troops. Azimi said the shooter had been killed and that three Afghan army officers were wounded.

I can't even express my rage.

If I said what is in my heart I would be labeled and probably banned by Google.

This sucks.  You do know whats next don't you?  They're gonna try and kidnap a Soldier or Marine.

Sidenote:  It just occurred to me.  What does every general officer have in a warzone?  A personal security detail.  Additionally the Pentagon supposedly put in place enhanced force protection rules that required armed US personnel at every large gathering.  So not only was the MG protected but so were those in attendance....AND IT DIDN'T WORK!

Today in Marine Corps history....22nd MEU (SOC) evacuates the US Embassy in Liberia...

Hat tip to Marine Corps Aviation Association...

 Marines of the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit (22nd MEU) gather in the hangar bay aboard the amphibious assault ship USS SAIPAN (LHA 2) for a briefing on the situation in and around Monrovia, Liberia, and the rules of engagement governing their mission once ashore. The SAIPAN is on station off the coast of Liberia for Operation Sharp Edge, 06/02/1990

Ukraine news. Desertion confirmed & Russia to hold large military exercise on border.

via Cir.ca

Ukraine said it was working through diplomatic channels to secure the return of 311 troops it says crossed into Russia in the early morning hours to avoid fighting with separatists. Russia said the number of Ukrainian forces totaled 438, and that they were seeking asylum.

And then this via Reuters.

Russia announced military exercises near the border with Ukraine on Monday in a show of strength as the Ukrainian army recaptured more territory from pro-Russian separatists in the east of the country.
The Russian air force said more than 100 aircraft, including fighter jets and bombers, were taking part in the manoeuvres this week in the central and western military districts.
The move could alarm Western powers which have accused Russia of beefing up its troops along its border with Ukraine and arming the rebels in eastern Ukraine, although Moscow denies the accusations.

Plain talk.

The massive desertion of Ukrainian soldiers is confirmed.  No excuses, no spin, the Ukrainian Army had about a battalion of troops run for the hills.

Next this weak brinkmanship that the West is trying on the Russian bear is just making him angry.

I don't worry about a military confrontation but these sanctions can get out of hand and plunge Europe, Russia and the rest of the world into a global recession that will make 2009 look like the good ole' days.

Eyes are back on Ukraine...although China is making a bit of noise in the South China Sea....

China can build whatever it wants on its islands in the South China Sea, a senior Chinese official said on Monday, rejecting proposals ahead of a key regional meeting to freeze any activity that may raise tensions in disputed waters there.
Southeast Asian foreign ministers this week hold security talks with counterparts, including those from the United States and China, in Myanmar, with escalating tensions over maritime disputes in Asia likely to be a major issue.
The Philippines will propose a freeze on all activity that raises tension in disputed waters in the South China Sea as part of a three-part plan at the ASEAN Regional Forum meeting, Manila's foreign minister said last week.
The United States, a close ally and former colonial power in the Philippines, has also called on all parties to halt activity in the disputed sea to ease tension.

I have never seen the world more volatile than it is right now.  This business will get out of control and we'll be lucky to live through it...

The US Army is going below 490,000. Numbers don't lie.

via Defense One.

The Army will lay off about 500 majors as part of its ongoing downsizing effort, the service has announced.
The military branch used involuntary separation boards to determine to determine where the number of soldiers exceeded future force requirements. The Army announced earlier this yearit planned to select from a pool of 19,000 captains and majors to reduce the size of its force in the post-war era. The service laid off 1,100 captains earlier this summer.

Read the whole story but the numbers don't lie.  The US Army is going below 490,000.

Consider the trajectory of the draw down.  It hasn't been a ramp.  Its been a cliff.  Additionally they aren't going after leadership.  They're going after future leaders or "seed corn".  Many Soldiers will tell me that this is a natural part of Army life...after a war there is a draw down.  I'm telling them that this is way too steep for the target numbers.  Sequestration is being factored in as we talk.  420,000 is the new target that the Army is reaching ... they just haven't told the rank and file yet. 

Why did the Israeli commando units suffer heavy losses?

via Jerusalem Online.

Operation "Protective Edge" is not officially over, however it can already be said that one of the current rotation of fighting's bolt characteristics is the large number of deaths and injuries which the commando battalions of the infantry corps suffered.
In comparison, the number of dead warriors from the division commando battalions during "Protective Edge" out of the total IDF soldiers killed is four times larger than the same ratio is he Second Lebanon War. When looking at absolute numbers, in spite of the fact that the number of warriors killed in the Second Lebanon War is almost twice the number of those killed in the current operation, the number of losses which the commando battalions suffered now is larger.
According to an officer of one of the brigade commando units, who participated in combat, this isn’t a coincidence. The large number of deaths derives from the characteristics of the combat in Operation "Protective Edge".

This story is remarkably light on details but I recommend you read it anyway.

My takeaway?

SOCOM better pay attention.  The enemy has studied the US playbook and is adapting.  The Raid, Raid and nothing but Raids mentality has been teaching and the terrorists have been learning.

I've feared a false target that would draw SOCOM into doing a big raid and nothing being there but terrorists with heavy guns/missiles/RPGs/mortars spoiling for a fight...if they're smart enough and can do it in a place where fear of civilian casualties push a restrictive ROE then it could be a blood bath with Rangers/MARSOC/Special Forces/SEALs going in too light to fight and unable to call in supporting fires.

Its gonna happen.  I hope not but I really believe it will.  

Indonesia Marine Corps' mechanized forces at RIMPAC 2014.

 

It was a classic helicopter ambush.

via War is Boring.

The operation kicked off according to plan. The CV-22s—which can fly like regular planes and land like helicopters—arrived on schedule at the United Nations compound in Bor, where the evacuees were sheltering.
The pilots from the 8th Special Operations Squadron then flew around the immediate area to check for any hostile fighters. The tiltrotors were about to land when someone attacked.
“The barrage of gunfire and RPGs from the ground hit the formation 119 times,” the 1st Special Operations Wing news report explains. In the end, all three Ospreys suffered severe damaged. Gunfire and shrapnel hit four special operators aboard the planes.
Three of the wounded troops were “in critical condition” and apparently could have died as the planes rushed to Entebbe airport in neighboring Uganda.

Read the whole story but lets call this what it is...a classic helicopter ambush.

The enemy either had info or reacted to hearing the incoming aircraft, and then lit them up with RPGs and rifle fire.

For all the talk about the V-22 being inherently superior to helicopters I'm just not seeing it.  The Osprey is particularly vulnerable in the landing zone, both during infil/exfil.  It isn't particularly maneuverable when it enters its landing phase and that is a HUGE weakness...oh and these CV-22s got hit with RPGs and small arms...what happens when they run against SAMs and large caliber anti-air guns? 

Almost a Battalion of Kiev troops desert?

Thanks for the link Dwi...

via ITASS-TASS

ROSTOV-ON-DON, August 04. /ITAR-TASS/. More than 400 Ukrainian military have crossed into Russia overnight to Monday asking for asylum, spokesman for the Russian Border Department for the Rostov Region Vassily Malayev told ITAR-TASS on Monday.
“At night, 438 Ukrainian military asked Russian border guards for asylum. Upon the decision of the Russian Border Service, the regional border department opened a humanitarian corridor letting those asking for asylum into Russia,” Malayev said, adding that there were 164 Ukrainian border guards among them.

Can you hide the fact that almost a Battalion of men deserted?  Can you spin it?

This war has headed into a propaganda/spin/lie phase.

Who knows what the actual truth is?

The world is burning news. Azerbaijan shelling Armenia...ISIS captures dam...

Thanks Dima for the link!

via RU.OXA.AZ

URGENT: Azerbaijan began shelling the positions of Armenians of rocket launchers
Enemy carries heavy losses.
The Azerbaijani army is shooting at Armenian fighting positions of small arms and artillery: grenade launchers, mortars, anti-aircraft installations, thermobaric grenades.
As the Oxu.Az citing Haqqin.Az , stated in an emergency statement from the Ministry of Defense.
According to the enemy suffers great losses.

According to the statement, in recent days the situation on the contact line of Nagorno Karabakh and Azerbaijan escalated dramatically. Azerbaijani armed forces do not stop trying to penetrate the Armenian positions.
Also frequent shelling of border settlements. Day by day the number of losses of the parties.
Ministry of Defence of the Republic of Armenia calls on Azerbaijan to stabilize the situation.

We're looking at the most global instability I've ever seen in my lifetime.  The world is literally spinning out of control.

All it will take is one global shock (made easier due to the trade system setup) and this entire tinderbox will go up in flames.

I'm moving up my prediction.  I think we're going to see a major regional war in 1 to 5 years (versus my previous 5-10) unless something drastic happens to change current conditions.

UPDATE:  Thanks to Requiem for this news...via ZeroHedge.

With the world's attention focused on the ongoing death and destruction in Gaza most have forgotten that just two months ago a vicious Al-Qaeda spinoff, after taking over the north of Iraq and a third of Syria's territory including its oil production facilities, proclaimed the creation of an Islamic State caliphate a few hundred kilometers north of Baghdad. The reason why the ISIS story fell off the front pages is that while the jihadists were consolidating their power in the caliphate region, it was believed that they have no chance of advancing onto Baghdad and the energy-rich Iraq regions south of Baghdad (and thus have little impact on the price of Brent). And yet there was one major "weakest link" - recall that a month ago we reported that "Baghdad May Lose Its Drinking Water As ISIS Approaches Dam", an outcome which would put Iraq's capital, and its 8 million residents, at the mercy of ISIS.
According to Al Arabia it is this "weakest link" that is now in play after ISIS took over Iraq's biggest dam unopposed by Kurdish fighters, who also lost three towns and an oilfield on Sunday to the Sunni militant group, witnesses said cited by Reuters.

The part of this story that makes me say what the fuck is that the Kurds lost three towns and an oilfield.

We will see heavy fighting in Iraq.  Its almost a given....what I didn't see happening is that the Kurds would lose ground to these thugs.

Change is chaos.  We're seeing change in the world so why are we surprised that its chaotic? 

Have you ever heard of the IDF's Hannibal Directive?

Thanks to TheBronze for the info.

via Wikipedia.

The purpose of the Hannibal directive is to prevent the abduction of Israeli soldiers by enemy forces even if thereby risking their life. Israeli soldiers are ordered to stop an abduction by force and to use any means available to this end. The controversial logic behind the order seems to be that a dead soldier is preferable to a captive. The Israeli daily Haaretz published the following formulation in 2003:

"During an abduction, the major mission is to rescue our soldiers from the abductors even at the price of harming or wounding our soldiers. Light-arms fire is to be used in order to bring the abductors to the ground or to stop them. If the vehicle or the abductors do not stop, single-shot (sniper) fire should be aimed at them, deliberately, in order to hit the abductors, even if this means hitting our soldiers. In any event, everything will be done to stop the vehicle and not allow it to escape." [3]

The order is considered top secret and its existence has often been denied by Israeli military authorities. The exact wording of the directive is not known and it has apparently been updated several times over the years.[citation needed]

I would pay good money to read the real directive.  It does make sense though and if you watched the videos put out by those animals in ISIS then you can understand why I consider this the most humane thing a soldier can do for their brother.

Spare me the moralization and just re-watch those vids.  Seeing a video emerge of an Israeli soldier getting his throat slit would topple a govt.

Israel PM tells US ‘not to ever second-guess me again’

via The Guardian.

Following the quick collapse of the ceasefire in Gaza, the Israeli prime minister, Binyamin Netanyahu, told the White House not to force a truce with Palestinian militants.
Sources familiar with conversations between Netanyahu and senior US officials, including the secretary of state, John Kerry, say the Israeli leader advised the Obama administration “not to ever second-guess me again” on the matter. The officials also said Netanyahu said he should be “trusted” on the issue and about the unwillingness of Hamas to enter into and follow through on ceasefire talks.
The Obama administration on Friday condemned “outrageous” violations of an internationally brokered Gaza ceasefire by Palestinian militants and called the apparent capture of an Israeli soldier a “barbaric” action.
The strong reaction came as top Israeli officials questioned the effort to forge the truce, accusing the US and the United Nations of being naive in assuming Hamas would adhere to its terms. The officials also blamed the Gulf state of Qatar for not forcing the militants to comply.

Naive?  Never second guess him again?

Do you remember the news report I linked to earlier this week that described President Obama as saying that the Israeli's weren't in a position to pick there mediators?

I'm more convinced than ever that report was spot on.

The bad thing for the US?  Our leadership around the world is now officially mud.  We aren't trusted and I believe many think we can't be counted on.  Worse for the administration is that they're probably viewed as being rank amateurs on the world stage.

The irony is delicious...and stunning.

How do you go from being a Noble Prize winner to a laughing stock in less than a few years?  We're seeing it happen right before our eyes.

Kidnapped IDF officer declared killed in combat.

via IDF Facebook Page.

A special IDF committee has concluded that Lt. Hadar Goldin was killed in combat in Gaza on Friday. May his memory be a blessing.

This is cryptic as hell.

Was he killed in the ambush?  Was he kidnapped and later killed by his Hamas kidnappers?  I don't know but the Israeli people will probably be asking the same questions.  More to come. 

Things are worse in Ukraine than we're being told.

Are we going to give the Ukrainians MRAPs?

Check out his story from USA Today...

The Pentagon is rushing new aid — including armored vehicles and increased training — to bolster Ukrainian forces fighting Russian-backed separatists, the Defense Department announced Friday.
The gear includes armored personnel carriers, cargo and patrol vehicles, binoculars, night vision goggles and small patrol boats, said Eileen Lainez, a Pentagon spokeswoman. The equipment is valued at $8 million and follows a similar $7 million package of equipment shipped in April.
Earlier on Friday, the Pentagon also announced a proposed $19 million aid package to help train Ukraine's National Guard forces. The money will help train four companies of soldiers and a headquarters element, Navy Rear Adm. John Kirby said. The proposal requires congressional approval and would begin in 2015. Trainers would come from U.S. forces in Europe or the California National Guard, which has partnered with Ukrainian troops in the past.

What type of armored vehicles are we providing---APCs, Cargo and Patrol vehicles can theoretically cover everything from Uparmored Humvees to Strykers?  They talk about patrol boats but this is a pure land campaign...why did they include patrol boats?

I mean no insult to the Ukrainian forces but they appear to be fighting a foe that is more motivated and with the added benefit of having Russian "advisers" fighting alongside them.

I don't think they can win this on the battlefield.  Ukraine will be sectioned off....its inevitable.

About bringing in those citizens infected with Ebola...UPDATE!

UPDATE:  The below is from the CDC's website.  The page has since been taken down but the WayBack Machine has an archived copy...

Although the disease is rare, it has the potential for person -to-person spread, ... number of droplets expelled into the air by talking, sneezing, o r coughing.

So spare me your normalcy bias.  I'm viewing this in a worse case scenario.  I do not know how we turned into a society that only looked at things through the prism of stuff working out as planned.  I wasn't raised that way and when I look at decisions like this its with an eye of what could go wrong...or more plainly...what happens when sugar turns to shit! 

I've been trying to wrap my head around the thinking that has led to US citizens with Ebola being brought into the country.

My questions......

1.  Does this make sense?  They're dazzling the public with all the precautions they're taking but if they weren't being brought into the country it wouldn't be necessary.  This disease has a 50 - 90% mortality rate.  From what I've read its a horrible way to go.  Why take the risk?

2.  Who actually approved this?  Can the CDC order that US citizens infected with a disease be brought into the country?  Would they have to get the approval of the President?  They aren't telling us who the decision maker was on this issue so we can't focus our questions....and rage at that person or agency.  Why aren't they telling us?

3.  What is the contingency planning if sugar turns to shit?  I haven't heard a thing about the Feds or more importantly what the State and Local govts will do in case the worst happens.  I was told from day one to always plan for the worst.  I can careless about the rosy predictions.  What will happen if this thing goes sideways.

4.  Word has it that the Pentagon is considering sending personnel to help with the outbreak.  The Peace Corps is bringing its people back home.  It has a 21 day incubation period.  Some of the Peace Corps volunteers can be bringing back an epidemic.  We're about to put servicemembers in a fire zone.  Is that smart?

I might be being alarmist but this whole thing smacks of bullshit.  I've seen the govt in action when it comes to disasters.  I've never seen them deal with an epidemic.

Confidence is not high.  Alarmist or not I will check preps.

IDF's order of battle in the Gaza fight...

via War is Boring Blog...

Not surprisingly—and which has been graphically demonstrated during the past two weeks—the Israeli invasion represents a huge deployment of the IDF’s ground combat power.
The IDF has committed its largest and heaviest ground unit, the 36th Storm Armored Division, into the fight. The 36th Division formerly was based in the Golan Heights near the Syrian border. The division’s three armored brigades—the 7th, 401st and 188th—all are in Gaza.
There also are at least three regular infantry brigades operating in Gaza. The 84th Givati Brigade, the Nahal Infantry Brigade and the 1st Golani Brigade.
Only the 84th Brigade is normally based in southern Israel—it also carries out amphibious operations, like the U.S. Marines. The IDF pulled the 1st Golani Brigade from its base in northern Israel. The Nahal Brigade normally is based near Jerusalem.
In addition, the IDF’s 35th Parachute Brigade and two Gaza Territorial Brigades are involved. This is in addition to a large—although highly secretive—number of commandos. The IDF also has called up a total of86,000 reservists.

Read the entire thing.

Consider this though.

Israel has pulled the cream of its military crop and put it into its fight.  They wouldn't have done this without some indication that a wider war wasn't in the cards.....having said that they need to finish this fight, get back the kidnapped soldier and put Hamas in the grave.

Get it done! 

Kevin Martin Pics....Your weekend wallpaper...

Swedish Airforce Gripen - Axalp, Switzerland 2013

F-35 News. S. Korea becoming nervous.

via Korean Herald.

Concerns are escalating in South Korea over possible delays in the development of the F-35 fighter jet as this could hinder Seoul’s project to deploy 40 of the radar-evading aircraft from 2018-2021.
The U.S-led multinational F-35 development program has recently been in the media spotlight due to a set of accidents, most recently on June 23, when one of the warplanes’ engines caught fire before takeoff.
Apart from the hardware issues, the development of certain software could face delays of up to 14 months, Bloomberg reported, citing a Pentagon report. The software is crucial for operating navigation, communications and targeting systems, the report said.
Amid concerns about the possible delays in the U.S.’ costliest defense program, Seoul’s Defense Acquisition Program Administration said that it would “closely watch the situation.”
“As we haven’t bought any of the F-35 jets under development yet and will purchase them from 2018, we still have some time to watch the situation and wait for solutions to come,” a DAPA official told The Korea Herald, declining to be named.

Wait!  What?  S. Korea hasn't actually bought any jets yet?  They won't buy them until 2018?  But the plan says the plane won't complete development until 2019!  Hmm.  This F-35 story is just starting to get good! 

Japanese Observer Exchange Program (JOEP) AAV Surf Qualification vid by Lance Cpl. Alexander N. Pool