Pakistan, Hersh and OBL .....

via NBC News.

To intelligence sources tell NBC News that the year before the U.S. raid that killed Osama bin Laden, a "walk in" asset from Pakistani intelligence told the CIA where the most wanted man in the world was hiding - and these two sources plus a third say that the Pakistani government knew where bin Laden was hiding all along.
The U.S. government has always characterized the heroic raid by Seal Team Six that killed bin Laden as a unilateral U.S. operation, and has maintained that the CIA found him by tracking couriers to his walled complex in Abbottabad, Pakistan.
The new revelations do not necessarily cast doubt on the overall narrative that the White House began circulating within hours of the May 2011 operation. The official story about how bin Laden was found was constructed in a way that protected the identity and existence of the asset, who also knew who inside the Pakistani government was aware of the Pakistani intelligence agency's operation to hide bin Laden, according to a special operations officer with prior knowledge of the bin Laden mission. The official story focused on a long hunt for bin Laden's presumed courier, Ahmed al-Kuwaiti.

Read it all here.

My take?

The White House and Intelligence Community is doing damage control.  They have a useful idiot in Andrea Mitchell and the rest of the goons in the public that swallow hook, line and sinker anything they put out.

I'll call them normalcy idiots.

There is MORE to this story.  That should be obvious to all and only fools wouldn't want to know more.

Armata MBT (without "cladding") & M1 Test Bed....a visual comparison.

Warfare Technology Blog did a blast from the past and is running a pictorial on the M1 Test Bed (if you're not subscribed to him you're missing out)....by chance Mr. T sent me pics of the Armata MBT without the "cladding" and the visuals are stunning.  First the Armata....

Now the M1 Test Bed....

Interesting!  Yes?

Royal Navy Admiral interviewed about their carriers & the F-35...

Thanks to TRob for the link.

Selected Highlights of HR 1735

  Selected Highlights of HR 1735

The raid to kill Bin Laden wasn't so daring afterall....

via Sputnik.

Osama bin Laden had been a prisoner of the Pakistan military since 2006 and the military not only knew of his location, but were keeping him under house arrest in exchange for monetary funds from Saudi Arabia for his upkeep, according to an exposé published on the London Review of Books’ website by veteran investigative journalist Seymour M. Hersh.

READ IT ALL HERE!

This is huge.  It hasn't gotten any press in the US, but this raises a bunch of interesting questions.  When did the CIA actually learn of Bin Laden's where about?  Why did they wait so long to kill him (I'm assuming that if nothing else our intercepts are good enough to have gotten a whiff of his location long before the hit)?  If they knew where he was then why did they decide (I'm assuming that they knew his location and were gathering intel from him) to stop collecting intel....meaning what made them decide that it was time to kill him?

The questions can go on.  I can't wait to see if this hits the mainstream press.

Ukraine is heating up. Rebels seem to be getting ready for a major push.

via Kyivpost.

Over the past 24 hours, we observed over 40 attacks by Russian-terrorist forces on Ukrainian positions in the ATO zone, including attacks with the use of heavy armaments (caliber over 100 mm).
In addition to the “traditional” Donetsk and Mariupol springboards, the terrorists are active in the Artemivsk and Luhansk sectors. Armed gangs delivered fire strikes on Pisky, Doslidne, Avdiivka, Shyrokyne, Hranitne, Luhanske, Svitlodarsk, Mayorske, Kurdyumivka, Zolote, Rosadki, Lozove, Sokolniki, Trokhizbenka, Stanytsia Luhanska, and Krymske.
In the Luhansk sector, Russian insurgents used heavy-caliber machine guns, 120-mm mortars, and AGS-17 Plamya automatic grenade launchers, while sabotage and reconnaissance groups attempted to penetrate the tactical rear of the Ukrainian forces.
During shelling of the Ukrainian positions near Shyrokyne, the terrorists used 122-mm artillery and 120-mm mortars. Near Pisky and Opytne, armored vehicles (BMP-2 infantry combat vehicles, and BTR-80 armored personnel carriers) were used as part of several firing groups which have advanced towards the front line.

By my count we're seeing fighting in at least 15 countries (I stopped at 15) but I consider the conflict in Ukraine to be the most serious with regard to US interests.

Its also the fight that the State Dept seems least interested in.

That's a shame because it appears that the ceasefire is over and more dying is to be done.  Did you notice all the listed locations?  The Rebels seem to be getting ready for a major push.

I figure on that and have no idea why its happening.

I thought that all objectives had been achieved.

Looks like I was wrong.

XC-142A Progress Report No. 3 (1964)

Are we seeing the re-emergence of small wheeled Tank Destroyers?

Kornet-D Tigr-M GAZ-233116 4x4

PARS 4x4

I wonder if anyone else caught the "force of connection" in what we saw from Russia and FNSS?

Are we seeing the re-emergence of small wheeled Tank Destroyers?

Seriously!  Check out both vehicles.  The Tigr-M with 8 anti-tank missiles and the PARS 4x4 sporting 4 of them?

If I'm remembering how the CAV boys operate that would fit into their concept of operations perfectly...the idea of using light vehicles to flank large armored formations and to create havoc, cause damage on identified command and control vehicles was once their forte.

Modern maneuver doctrine has them operating much closer to the main body...but if the Russians and FNSS is right then we could see a return to CAVs glory days of running ahead, collecting intel and giving the enemy more than a bloody nose.

How could we do this better?  Develop a 2.75 guided rocket version of this based on the JLTV or even LAV-25.  What is depressing?  Our contractors designed it first but more than likely a competitor will field it before we get it to our forces.

If the Brits are sour on the F-35 then what about their carrier?

Palpcaso asked the question that keeps popping up whenever the obvious is pointed out.  The Brits can't afford/are becoming sour on the F-35....so what about their carrier?

Note I said carrier, as in one because it appears to me that their is no way in hell they'll be able to afford two.  I doubt that they will even be able to afford to keep one in drydock.

But back to the issue of the Queen Elizabeth.

I think you're going to see rapid remarketing.  They're going to fool the world, the uninformed and the unknowing into believing that they're gaining more capability while the truth is stark.

The pitch.  First the Brits are going to relabel the Queen Elizabeth.  They're going to claim that the plan all along was to develop the world's most capable helicopter carrier that could in an emergency flex into carrying STOVL aircraft.  They're going to say that as the world's most capable helicopter carrier, it will be capable of conducting missions alone that would take an entire USN Expeditionary Strike Group or a Marine Expeditionary Unit.

And finally they're gonna chest thump and brag and state that by making this change they're increasing interoperability with the US Navy and Marine Corps because this ship will be able to slide into the sea base role and add value that isn't found short of a full deck aircraft carrier.

This is where its going to get goofy.  They're going to push scenarios where the USS America deploys only with F-35's and refueling MV-22's and the Brits provide the ground troops....and they're going to say how this new stance makes the Brits more equal partners with the US while at the same time being able to restrain "US aggression" because we'll be depending on them so much more.

It'll all be bullshit but that's how the Brits will turn shit into sugar....or at least fool their population into believing it.

Brits sour on the F-35?

via Independent.

A plane so technologically advanced that it would give Britain and the US air superiority in any future conflict and billed as the world’s most advanced stealth fighter jet, could be one of “the biggest white elephants in history”, according to a former defence minister.

And while costs of the F-35 spiral and delays run into years, another commentator has warned that “our skies and seas are vulnerable”.
The aircraft, manufactured by Lockheed Martin, was designed to replace the Harrier jump-jet, which went out of service in 2011. The UK once envisaged ordering 150 F-35s, to be ready by 2012. Three years on, the F-35 is still far from ready to fly in combat and the cost of a single jet has risen from £33m to £87m. The UK has ordered only eight to date.

Read the entire article here.

The future is bleak for the UK military...there really isn't much left to cut and the lowest hanging fruit is the F-35.

What will be interesting is how they justify continuing with the program.  From my armchair its a choice between a new nuke boat and the F-35....which means it isn't really a choice at all, nukes will get the nod.

The F-35 program is in serious trouble with the Brits souring on it.

V-22 prop wash dangerous to buildings in Nepal...

via Business Standard.

But there has been criticism of the US decision to send large Osprey helicopters, which experts say are ill-suited to Nepal's mountainous terrain.

Local media reported that the down-draft from an Osprey relief flight blew the roof off a small building in a quake-hit village as it delivered aid.

A US embassy official told AFP that such accidents were rare.

"We are looking into whether the damage to the roof was caused by the Osprey or the quake... Obviously such incidents are rare and if it turns out to be true, we will take care of the damage," the official said.

Interesting.

I've been watching US disaster response and it seems alot less robust than I remember.  I'm not sure where the problem lies but it appears that less aid is being delivered, more slowly.  Is it an administrative problem, the new SPMAGTF-CR's or USAID being even more jacked up than I imagine?

It really doesn't matter.  For the second time (the first was the messed up response to the Typhoon in the Philippines), the USMC seems late and doesn't appear to be doing the work that smaller nations are.  Have you seen the Israeli effort in Nepal?  They're like angels from heaven and we appear to be testing concepts.  Disgraceful.

Opportunities lost....Capability Gaps identified....

A quick down and dirty of opportunities that the US military is squandering and new capability gaps that are obvious to all...

Opportunities lost.

UAV lead...

The US military in general and the Navy in particular has a chance to make a leap ahead in persistent, all weather, long range strike with the X-47 in testing.  Instead its headed to the scrap heap and the F-35 will be pursued instead.  Why?  The X-47 will deliver everything that the F-35 will .... only better ...and cheaper!  The rest of the world is in a virtual holding pattern and instead of exploiting this lead and causing everyone else to play catch up, we squander the lead.  Oh and spare me the talk about the Taranis.  The Europeans are playing the usual --- monkey see, monkey do ---- they have no apparent interest in fielding the airplane, they only seek to make a smaller, larger or cheaper version to sell in competition if we go forward.

Lasers, Railguns...

Another case where we have a huge lead but aren't exploiting it.  We have a chance to field the world's first lasers and railguns but are dithering instead.  The Europeans, Russians and Chinese are all playing catchup but as usual we're waiting for them to get into the field.  Why?  This is a game changing technology like nothing else but we're not moving.

Capability Gaps.

Armor...

The Russians, and Chinese are both developing new armor.  We continue to use 1970's era developments and my beloved Marine Corps dithers about with the Amphibious Combat Vehicle that I still wonder about the true desire to field.  While the US military has become so "Special Ops" crazy that they actually believe that small units can defeat large, armored formation, our enemies are reading our Manuals and understand that even we say that those units are vulnerable to conventional units.  The result?  We're going to plop a Company Landing Team in bad guy land and wonder why CNN is video taping a "compassionate" enemy filling body bags with Marines that depended on F-35's to provide supporting fires but didn't because the weather turned bad.

Fighters...

You know the story here.  The Chinese are moving forward with the J-20.  The Russians are moving with the PAK-FA.  Everyone else is buying advanced anti-air systems.  We're sticking with the F-35.  Instead of admitting that the plane is a White Whale (as the Independent in the UK states here ) we're pushing ahead hoping to sell the stupid on the idea that the plane will be a ISR and C2 hub instead of delivering steel on target in the intended manner.

Conclusion.

We're setting ourselves up for a major ass kicking in the next fight. Assumptions are being made that could prove deadly.  Instead of being led by Think Tanks that desire to revolutionize the force, perhaps its time to get back to the serious business of defending a nation.  Academics/Presidents can afford to be dreamers (well honestly they can't but it appears that they've cornered the market in dreaming while awake).  Strategist/Defense leaders need to be clear eyed and sober.

Happy Mother's Day....

Happy Mother's Day Mom....I miss you so much...

US Army Manual on Internment & Resettlement.

Note:  I apologize to the reader that provided the link to this document for not remembering your name and crediting.  I definitely appreciate the opportunity to post it on my site and I thank you for providing it.

  USArmy InternmentResettlement

Russian Victory Day Parade 2015 (Video)

If you're a leader in the West the military might on display should give you pause but what should scare the daylights out of you is the chummy relationship on display between China and Russia.

An opportunity was missed.

We could have brought Russia into the Western sphere and they would have gladly joined...instead we treated them as defeated foes.  That was a mistake.

All females soldiers fail first phase of Ranger school...

via Defense One.

All eight of the women trying to move into the second phase of the Army’s elite Ranger school failed to move ahead to the school’s second, or mountain, phase. However, all qualified to restart the initial, or Darby, phase, Army officials said Friday.

Everywhere the Army looks it being faced with moral challenges.  How do you deal with a deserter that the Administration wants to get a slap on the wrist?  How do you deal with females not being able to pass Ranger school when the Administration wants it to happen regardless of the loss of combat efficiency?

My prediction?

The US Army will fail the test of moral courage and they will get pencil whipped to their tabs....and they'll give the deserter a slap on the wrist.

Weak men that put themselves ahead of service are inhabiting all parts of our nations leadership...to include the military.

Failing a moral test is disturbing but to be expected with this crowd.  But what should depress everyone is the fact that people of low standards (whether physical or moral) tend to promote people that share their traits.

We're gonna get our ass whipped in the next war and the seeds of that failure are being planted today.

Breaking! A400 Grizzly crashes in Spain...

Thanks to Galvars for the link...

via AirLive.net

Everyone on board is presumed dead....10 souls....more to come....

Marine Expeditionary Unit Vertical Envelopment Risk?

via Navy Matters.

We often discuss amphibious assault problems and one of the common rationalizations for those shortcomings is the notion that we’ll use helos to conduct all or portions of the assault landings. This kind of vertical assault is deemed by its supporters to be fast, stealthy, powerful, and “safe”. I say “safe” because no one who discusses helo assaults ever includes a factual and logical assessment of helo survivability on the modern battlefield. Well, with that lead in, you know we’re going to look at it.
Far and away, the best historical record is the Viet Nam war. The US had undisputed control of the air, at least in areas where helo operations took place, and faced an enemy with no practical radar or electronic detection capabilities that applied to helos. US helos could roam the skies unhindered. Indeed, helo insertions were a common tactic. So, what were the helo losses in Viet Nam? 1%? 5%? Surely not much more than that.
From the Viet Nam Helicopter Pilot’s Association website comes this statement (1).
“Total helicopters destroyed in the Vietnam War was 5,086 out of 11,827.”
That’s a 43% loss rate.

Read the whole thing here. 

Emerald Warrior 2015 pic...

An MC-130J Commando II from the 9th Special Operations Squadron taxis for departure from the Red Horse Landing Zone in support of Emerald Warrior April 29, 2015, at Melrose Air Force Range, N.M. Emerald Warrior is the Defense Department's only irregular warfare exercise, allowing joint and combined partners to train together and prepare for real-world contingency operations. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Matthew Plew/Released)

Interesting isn't it.

SOCOM says that its forces are strained by the high rate of deployment, yet at the same time they're able to stage at least two (and probably more, I'm not keeping up with the sun shade boys) major exercises inside the continental United States.  Wouldn't it make more sense for them to be doing the "partnership" thing with say the Philippine Marines, working to bolster Ukraine's defense etc.....

Working in US cities to learn "human terrain" is weak sauce...anyone trying to sell you that schtick is full of shit.  

Jade Helm, Combat Towns & the truth about military training...

Thanks to Kyle for the link!

U.S. Army Asymmetric Warfare Training Center
Colonel John Petkosek, commander of the U.S. Army Asymmetric Warfare Group at Fort A.P. Hill in Virginia, talked about the 300-acre facility, which opened in 2014. Topics included the types of training troops receive and the application of that training overseas. The Center, resembling a small city featuring several full-scale buildings including a train and subway station, allows U.S. troops to develop and hone skills needed to fight in urban conflict zones around the world. Video clips were shown training. Colonel Petkosek responded to telephone calls and electronic communications, including a telephone line reserved for the active military.

I was monitoring the conversation on a spot I did about Jade Helm being planned stupidly by SOCOM (here) and everyone talks about how some in the community are dumb for reacting in shock at the exercise.  But the one thing no one is asking is why is this exercise necessary?

Ask SOCOM and they will tell you that they need to conduct this exercise so that its members are ready for operations overseas.

Bullshit.

Want to know the dirty little secret?  The US military has spent BILLIONS of dollars constructing state of the art "combat towns" on nearly every MAJOR military base in the US.  But wait you say....what about the people?  Easy.  They use role players, just like they'll use role players in Jade Helm.

If you need to conduct long distance ops to simulate combat conditions then you can operate on Camp Pendleton, 29 Palms, Ft Irwin, Ft Hood, Ft Carson and several other installations in between and still cover the same amount of geography without ever stepping foot on civilian or state land.  Additionally if you use the combat towns located on everyone of those sites, you'll probably be able to use more dynamic methods while doing it (by that I mean you gain live fire opportunities).

I don't know what the deal is with Jade Helm, but the answers we're getting are bogus....anyone with more than 5 minutes in service can tell you that.