Turkey tries to push the EU around!

via Reuters

Turkey could walk away from its promise to stem the flow of illegal migrants to Europe if the European Union fails to grant Turks visa-free travel to the bloc in October, Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu told a German newspaper.
His comments in Bild's Monday edition coincide with rising tensions between Ankara and the West that have been exacerbated by the failed coup attempt in Turkey on July 15. Turkey is incensed by what it sees as an insensitive response from Western allies to the failed putsch, in which 240 people were killed.
Long wary of Turkey's ambitions to join the EU, Europe has been alarmed by the crackdown since the coup, fearing President Tayyip Erdogan is using purges to quash dissent. The unease has relations between Turkey and Austria and Sweden. Ankara has summoned diplomats from both countries to protest what it says are false reports about changes to its child abuse laws.
Asked whether hundreds of thousands of refugees in Turkey would head to Europe if the EU did not grant Turks visa freedom from October, Cavusoglu told Bild: "I don't want to talk about the worst case scenario - talks with the EU are continuing but it's clear that we either apply all treaties at the same time or we put them all aside."

Wow.

Turkey is about to put foot to Europe and I don't think the EU has the resources to deal with it.  This is really a nightmare scenario no matter how it turns out.  Grant visa free travel and suddenly you have tons of jihadist flowing to Europe from Turkey.  Don't do it and suddenly you have tons of migrants mixed with jihadist flowing to Europe.

The EU is fucked!

The big fight with China is coming. China May Reclaim Scarborough Shoal Next Month

via Sputnik

Tensions continue to mount in the South China Sea and with Beijing increasingly desperate to fundamentally alter the balance of power in the wake of The Hague ruling the possibility for a conflict in one of Asia's most dangerous flash points has never been greater.

The People’s Republic of China may soon look to fundamentally alter the status-quo in the South China Sea by seizing the disputed Scarborough Shoal within the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) of the Philippines – a move that Washington considers a "red line" with President Obama warning of "serious consequences" in March if China attempted to reclaim the land.
An article in Hong Kong’s South China Morning Post raises the specter of the potential incursion quoting "a source familiar with the matter" detailing that Beijing would not look to reclaim the territory before hosting the G-20 next month, but could begin construction efforts on the land mass sometime between September and when Americans go to the polls in November.
The source suggests that Beijing may look to take advantage of the domestic distractions put on President Obama during the political season. "Obama will focus on domestic issues ahead of the election as he needs to pass down legacies before leaving office," said the source. "That might make him busy and he might not have the time to take care of regional security issues."
The potential move is seen by security analysts as a way for China to counteract the recent ruling by The Hague arbitration court and effectively nullify any possible claims to the important body of water. The ruling came after the Philippines submitted for unilateral arbitration, at the behest of the Obama administration, with the court ruling against China’s historic claim to the area citing in large part the Scarborough Shoal.

This is HUGE!

If China does make this move then the balance of power will not only shift, but any credibility the US has in the Pacific will evaporate.  More importantly this is an indication that the Chinese are sensing weakness...not only politically but militarily.

The big fight with China is coming...and we're so far from ready that we've already lost.

Mob attacks in your car. Legally you're screwed....but its better to be judged by your peers.

I've been looking at the incident in Milwaukee (serious overtones involved here that I'll let you dig into on other blogs) and I wondered what the legal ramifications of doing "what comes natural" happens.

What is natural?  To floor your car or grab your weapon and defend your life.  A Google search led me to the above story and I was flabbergasted.  I'll be checking with some guys I know in the local Sheriff's Dept to see what the rules are in my neck of the woods but regardless of the law, its better to be legally screwed and judged by your peers than seriously injured or worse killed.

This fall is going to be serious (in my opinion).  Prepare mentally, physically and morally for the challenges ahead (moral preparedness is probably the most important of these).

Could the Vice Presidential picks be the most consequential in US history?

The latest "hotness" on right wing websites is discussion about Hillary's health.  I don't know whether the lady is jacked up or not, what I do know is that even without the video editing it does look like something weird is going on with her.

Moving over to Trump, its apparent that the guy is more interested in the "movement" and not actually governing.  Quite honestly I'm not entirely sure he wants to be president.

Having said all that are we looking at another first in American history?  Are we looking at a time where the VP picks are consequential because the actual presidential candidates are almost doomed to a crackup of some type?

Are we doing this wrong?  Do we need to do a deep dive on Pence and Kaine?

Anyone have experience with dwarf fruit trees?

I'm switching out my plants in the house and instead of just the usual potted plants I'm wondering if dwarf fruit trees might be a better option.  Doing the usual Google searches makes it seem like a real no brainer.  Better than that it makes more sense than the "grow your own herbs" fad that's sweeping the nation.  Real fruit that you can grab off your inside plants?  Not having to portion off at least half the trees yield to birds and other critters?

Sounds good but I'm wondering what are some of the issues with it.  I know this isn't for everyone especially on a blog like this but someone might dabble and any intel you could give me would be appreciated.

Canada jumping on the ultra light weight vehicle bandwagon...

Thanks to Jonathan for the link!

via GlobalNews.ca

As the Canadian government continues to come under fire for exports of armoured personnel carriers to countries like Saudi Arabia and South Sudan, our own military is looking to augment its capabilities with an entirely new type of ground vehicle.

Following in the footsteps of the American military, Canada has issued a call for tender for 52 new ultra-light combat vehicles, or ULCVs.

The ULCVs will be four-passenger, Jeep-like vehicles that are small and light enough to fit inside a Canadian Forces’ CC-177 Globemaster aircraft, a CC-130 Hercules aircraft or a CH-147 Chinook helicopter (or to be lifted externally by helicopter).

According to the tender documents, published earlier this week, they must also be designed “to be air dropped with a 900 kg payload” from either the Globemaster or the Hercules, and detached/offloaded from the helicopter within five minutes.

They need to be able to operate in extreme temperatures (-32C to +49C), handle a combination of urban and rural environments (mountainous, plains, jungle and woodland) and will be off-road 75 per cent of the time, the documents note.

“The Department of National Defence (DND) will be using the ULCV as a complimentary vehicle to increase mobility across a spectrum of operations,” confirmed department spokesperson Ashley Lemire in an email to Global News.

“The ULCV is a new type of vehicle and will be used in concert with the current fleet of DND ground vehicles to increase mobility on operations.”

Serious question.  Are ground forces world wide simply buying vehicles so that they can get a slice of the budget that the F-35 is gobbling up?  The reason why I ask is because the ultra light combat vehicle is basically becoming type cast as the Polaris MRZR and its a fairly cheap purchase.

These purchases could easily be cheered except for one thing.  In my opinion they signal continued fighting in the middle east.  I have yet to see any serious trials in any locale other than the desert.  How will they perform in the jungle, urban areas or arctic?  Can they perform in swamps or bogs (the answer is yes but they'll need even more modifications than you're seeing with the current vehicle).

I like the MRZR, but its time questions started being asked about the concept of operations and whether this is just the latest SAS "Pink" Land Rover....in other words a one theater vehicle.

Andrew Morffew Nature Shots...

If nature shots are your thing then you should check out Andrew Morffew's nature shots (here).  Awesome stuff in my opinion.

Are pro gun rights groups going too far?

The above pic is from Soldier Systems (here) and he covers the issue of whether its a step too far.

I felt the need to amplify the discussion.  To use the Holocaust as an example of the plight of the gun community? Personally I find it a bit off putting.  People died in the Holocaust.  We're talking about defending a right that whether we like it or not, half the country feels we shouldn't have.  Its not YET to the same level.  Not even close.

But for our discussion lets push this beyond that patch.  The biggest irritant and the part of the gun community that I believe is going waaaay too far are the open carry zealots.  The need to show the world that you have a firearm on your waist or even worse to be walking around a city with an AR-15 strapped to your body is a step too far.

Either way its gonna get worse.  This election is going to do only one thing.  Make the divisions in the country even deeper.

Canadian Army gets its first five TAPVs!

Story and pics (more here) via Defence Blog!

I like the TAPV but I don't understand the role its to play in the Canadian Army.  Can one of my Canadian readers explain it to me.  Let me repeat.  I think its a good vehicle, but recon?  I just don't see it.

Side note:  I wonder how many injuries are gonna happen from rolling that tire off the roof and having it bounce and hit a trooper.

F-35 contract negotiations are hopelessly deadlocked.

Thanks to Moebius2249 for the link!

via Defense News.

Asked whether the UCA funding signified that LRIP 9 and 10 negotiations will continue to drag on, DellaVedova demurred.
“We want to ensure the continued production of F-35s while we continue to negotiate a fair deal,” he said.
The JPO initially predicted it would have a final contract in hand early this year.

The headline of this story is that the Pentagon just gave Lockheed Martin one billion dollars in cash to continue production of the F-35.

That's not the real headline though.  Once again defense journalist failed to connect the dots and added the real news at the end of the article.

They're still negotiating.

F-35 contract negotiations are hopelessly deadlocked.

The Pentagon realizes they're screwed, they're trying to get tough but Lockheed Martin understands that they have them by the short hairs due to the Pentagons talking points, lack of planning and downright stupidity.

I've said it before and I'll say it again.

The death spiral is baked into the sauce now.  Two reasons.  First is that the Congress will NOT increase defense spending.  The people are pissed about endless war and the military is unable to rally support like it once did (the generals really fucked themselves but that's what lying does to you).  Second is that LM can't push down the cost curve because the predicted production numbers will NOT be met (I doubt that they ever could...the manufacturing model is fucked beyond recognition...it might be a politically expedient way to manufacture an airplane but it doesn't make economic sense).

The real bad news?  We're gonna see allies that were buying 27 airplanes drop down to 20.  You're about to see air arms go out of business based on the promise of a flawed airplane.

Taking "sky lighting" your vehicle to a whole new level! Pic of the day.

militaryarmament
Swedish CV90 Truckin’ up a Hill in afghanistan.

Army talks Mobile Protected Firepower to industry.

via AOL Breaking Defense

In this kind of war, light infantry units can’t count on Air Force transports or Army helicopters to drop them within walking distance of objectives that may have heavy anti-aircraft defenses. Instead, they’ll land outside of missile range and then use cross-country trucks to quickly cross long distances to the objective. That’s the role of the Ground Mobility Vehicle (GMV), a parallel Army program to MPF.

I posted this part of the article because I find it interesting.  The idea of doing a mass air drop and then motoring to the objective?  Seriously?  Let's be extremely generous and say that only 20 C-17's can deliver the force.  The enemy isn't going to notice that and start moving every available Armor/Mech/Infantry Battalion towards the square sheets with human meat dangling underneath?

But back on task.  Check this out.

“What we don’t want is an Abrams; we already have an Abrams,” said Col. Will Nuckols, who works for Wesley as Fort Benning’s director of mounted (i.e. vehicle) requirements. “It’s going to be lighter, more strategically mobile, and more tactically mobile than the Abrams — with similar firepower and protection that is suitable to the formation it is supporting.”

The highlighted portion confused the hell outta me.  Forget the firepower part.  I get that.  He's talking about a vehicle with a 120mm cannon.  The part that has me stumped is the protection level they're seeking.

The vehicle sounded like the M8 off the shelf until they started talking protection levels.  This program is looking like a rerun of the FCS.

The US has no more steel rain...Russian can obliterate a US mechanized division, we can't return the favor!

Thanks to John for the link!

via Washington Post

In November, while visiting the headquarters of the U.S. Army in Europe, I received a briefing on the performance of the Russian army in Ukraine. In a perfunctory tone, the young intelligence briefer recited the details of the July 2014 Battle of Zelenopillya, in which a single Russian artillery “fire strike” almost destroyed two Ukrainian mechanized battalions in a few minutes.
I couldn’t help imagining a U.S. armored battalion subjected to a similar fire strike. I realized then that Ukraine had become Russia’s means for showcasing what might happen if we ever fought a firepower-intensive battle against it. “You know, guys,” I mused in the moment, “this is the first time since the beginning of the Cold War that an American war-fighting function has been bested by a foreign military.”

And then this.

The Ukrainian experience serves as a deadly analogue for what might happen to U.S. artillery should we fight the Russians or a Russian surrogate. New Russian firepower systems now outrange ours by a third or more. They have improved on our steel-rain technology by developing a new generation of bomblet munitions that are filled with thermobaric explosives. These munitions generate an intense blast wave of exploding gases that are far more lethal than conventional explosives. A single volley of Russian thermobaric steel rain delivered by a single heavy-rocket-launcher battalion will annihilate anything within an area of about 350 acres.

350 acres?

We are so fucked.

Anti-Missile defense is fools gold with current technology.

Thanks to Al.Z for the link!

via Fox News.

American defense contractor Raytheon and Israel’s Rafael Advanced Defense Systems, who worked together developing Israel’s Iron Dome—the highly-acclaimed mobile air defense system that has become critical to Israel’s national security—are now collaborating on an American prototype.
The U.S. version of the missile system would help protect U.S. forces in advanced combat positions around the world from a variety of threats including cruise missiles, rockets and UAV’s.
A 2015 trademark filing by Raytheon lists the “SkyHunter," described as a ground-based missile interceptor system with a guided missile that has electro-optic sensors and adjustable steering fins to track and destroy incoming enemy rockets, missiles, artillery and mortars.
Raytheon is the world’s largest manufacturer of guided missiles and works with Israel’s State-owned Rafael providing key components for Israel’s highly-versatile electro-optic Tamir interceptor missile.

I don't get the thinking coming out of the Pentagon.  They keep talking about the big war against a near peer threat (it might be time to drop the "near" and only talk about peer threats) but they keep posturing our forces to fight counter insurgencies!

It boggles the mind.

My biggest issue though is this.  Current technology will not help against a REAL missile attack.  A few savages that launch mortars or send Walmart UAVs?  Yeah, this can handle it.  Against a peer threat?  Not even close.  Leadership seems incapable of remembering what peer state combat will look like.  Check out the vid below of Ukrainian SMERCH rockets firing on Russian positions.  We're not the only ones capable of steel rain.

Are Marine Tanks about to be disbanded/moved to the reserves?

via USNI News.

The Marine Corps is considering this future operating environment and what capabilities it will need to be successful against a future near-peer competitor. Neller told USNI News in a sit-down interview at the Pentagon this week that he has settled on a general path forward for shaping the force – a group of colonels set out to chart an evolutionary path forward and a younger group of captains and majors were to lay out a revolutionary concept for the future force, and rather than pick one Neller ended up merging the two together. With that big picture decision made, Neller is working through the details of how to cram all the new capabilities the service will need into a 182,000-Marine force – which occupational specialties will have to grow, and which will either shrink or be moved into the reserves to make room – and should have a final decision made by early next year.

Then this comment from CoffeeJoeJava in response to the Commandant talking about adding an Assistant Squad Leader.

Commandant wants to add an asst squad leader to every squad in a rifle company to handle that squads personal drone. Hmm….math says that is an additional 648 Marines at 3 companies per battalion and 864 Marines if you include weapons battalion. Where is he getting these Marines? The Corps is capped at 182,000….who is going to sacrifice the manpower and structure to give the grunts this? And having 9-12 drones per company seems a bit much.

The fix is in.

Marine Tanks are about to either be disbanded or moved to the reserves before they're completely killed to keep the tribe quiet.  Its been obvious for awhile but I just didn't want to see it.  First USMC Tanks are almost 3 technological generations behind the US Army.  Second we just sold the Saudis more tanks in one buy than the USMC has in inventory.  Last the subject of tanks in the Marine Corps never crosses the lips of senior officers.

Marine Tanks are the walking dead.  That's too bad from my chair, even worse for that youngster in school right now that doesn't know that in a few short years he's gonna be hookin and jabbin with the Red Dragon and today's leaders made bets on a flawed airplane to provide his supporting fires.  I wonder if he will curse them when he realizes that he won't live to see another day?

Canadian Police stop a suicide bombing in Ontario.

Thanks to Erik for the link!

via CTVNews.ca

The RCMP says a potential terrorist attack on a major Canadian city was thwarted on Wednesday after national security officials intervened in the alleged suicide bomb plot.
Sources told CTV’s Mercedes Stephenson that the lone male suspect was linked to ISIS.
CTV News has confirmed that the RCMP carried out a security operation in Strathroy, Ont., a community about 225 kilometres west of Toronto, in connection with the threat.
According to an internal government document obtained by CTV News, the suspect – who is described as a Caucasian male in his 20s who speaks perfect English without an accent -- allegedly planned to use an IED to carry out a suicide bombing mission in a public area. The suspect’s alleged plan, according to the document, was to create mass casualties.
Officials feared that the suspected attack could’ve been carried out on Wednesday during rush hour in a busy location.
A major RCMP counter-terrorism operation was swiftly carried out on Canadian soil on Wednesday. Security officials were able to locate the suspect and stop him from carrying out the alleged plan.
The RCMP has not said what city was targeted, where the suspect was found or released any details on the suspect. Security officials say there is no longer a threat to national security.
The RCMP released a statement saying it received "credible information of a potential terrorist threat" earlier in the day.
"A suspect was identified and the proper course of action has been taken to ensure that there is no danger to the public's safety," the statement said.

2016 will continue to give.  Question.  Do you believe that there is no planning for a major event in the US by ISIS?  I'd say its a given.

Sikorsky S-67 Blackhawk

Helicopter technology hasn't progressed much...especially attack helicopter tech. The S-67 was going to be the "American Hind"...check this out from Wikipedia.

The Sikorsky S-67 Blackhawk was a private-venture, prototype attack helicopter built in 1970 with Sikorsky Aircraft research and development (R&D) funds. A tandem, two-seat aircraft designed around the dynamic drive and rotor systems of the Sikorsky S-61, it was designed to serve as an attack helicopter or to transport up to 8 troops into combat.

Industry delivers, but the armed forces fail to bite.  Across the board it seems that aviation developments have stalled...we're just a step ahead of where we were in the 60's and 70's design wise.  By design or because of budgets?

Type 96 MBT to be the backbone of China's tank force.

via Defense Aerospace.

China's military is likely to deploy the Type-96B tank as the pillar of its tank fleet, replacing most of its old models, observers said.

Gao Zhuo, a military observer in Shanghai who has close contact with the People's Liberation Army, told China Daily that the excellent capabilities of the Type-96B qualify it to be the backbone of China's tank force.

"The Type-96B is the strongest variant of the Type-96 family and is truly an advanced, third-generation main battle tank," he said. "The PLA will use it to replace the old tanks such as the Type-59 and Type-69 models."

His remarks came as the Type-96B delivered impressive performances in the ongoing Masters of Automobile and Tank Hardware competition, also known as the Tank Biathlon, at the Alabino training range in Moscow.

The PLA sent several Type-96B tanks to take part in the tank competition, the most watched part of the Russia-hosted International Army Games.

The eight-day individual part of the competition, which involved 54 teams from 17 countries, ended on Sunday, with the Chinese delegation scoring the highest.

All of the PLA's three teams were to compete in the semifinal that started on Tuesday.
By the end of last year, the Chinese military had more than 7,000 tanks in active service, including about 2,000 Type-96s and Type-96As, as well as about 600 Type-99s and Type-99As, so the majority of the PLA armored force is still equipped with tanks made several decades ago, according to foreign military analysts.

Huang Guozhi, senior editor at Modern Weaponry magazine, said that despite the fact that Type-99 series tanks are more advanced, their high price and limited production capacity mean that it's unrealistic for the PLA to purchase and deploy them on a large scale.
"Therefore, the Type-96B, with a better price and satisfactory capabilities, is very attractive to the Chinese and foreign militaries. It is the best option for the PLA to modernize its armored forces," he said.

Interesting.  This is telling in one way at least.  They're talking about a serious production run.  Instead of a small batch (several thousand in Chinese terms) of highly advanced Type-99's they'd rather have a larger force of Type-96B's.  Many "good" is preferred to a few "better".

Armor is alive and well in the Chinese military.  What do they know that the Marine Corps doesn't...and does this give us an indication of how the Chinese plan on fighting future conflicts?  We've heard stories from the Old Skool Marines about Chinese wave attacks in Korea.  Could we be looking at a modernized "armor swarm" on a future battlefield?

Ex CIA Director calls for killing Russians and Iranians in Syria.

This has been getting so much attention that we need to talk about it and it needs its own blog post.  What's my opinion?  Check this out...

1.  It shows that the National Security "establishment" in the US is out of control.  This guy is suppose to be a pro.  To say something like this in the open is not the sign of a pro.  I consider this statement to be crazier than anything Trump has said.

2.  I wonder who the real enemy is for the National Security "establishment".  My sights are squarely on ISIS.  They seem to have more of a hard on for Assad.  No wonder we can't beat a bunch of sandal wearing bastards in the open desert.  All signs point to us not really wanting to.

3.  I am still confused about the 180 on Assad.  Not too long ago he was being hailed for leading a multi-cultural nation.  All religions were respected and his wife was lauded in Western media.  Now he must go?  I wonder what really happened to change the viewpoint.

4.  No one has answered what happens when/if Assad goes.  What happens to Syria?  Will we be looking at another failed state that fuels more terrorism than we're facing now with the added issue of it potentially destabilizing Jordan, Iraq and Lebanon, not to mention becoming a tremendous thorn in the side of Israel?  I have NEVER heard a plan for what happens "after".

5.  The Iranians were in Iraq.  The Quds Force was quite active and he didn't want to do jack.  The Russians are in Syria.  Now he wants to kill them?  I don't get the thinking.  IF defeating ISIS is the objective then a partnership to accomplish that should be easy.  I'd bet body parts the Russians would be all over it, yet the old guard refuses to see the possibilities and wants to default to Cold War thinking.

Enough rambling.

What you're seeing in the video is exhibit number one for why US foreign policy has failed so badly over the past two decades.  Additionally we're seeing a truth that none of us want to accept but we must.  There is no difference between the parties when it comes to foreign policy.  They're one and the same and that leads us further down the rabbit hole.  National Security the parties are the same...ditto for immigration...ditto for trade...ditto for most things of significance.  The split comes with regard to social issues but that battle is winding down.

The real question we have to ask is this.  Do we really live in a democracy or are we governed by a ruling elite?

Disaggregating Amphibious Ready Groups...why not just do independent ship operations?

via IHS Janes.

The US Marine Corps (USMC) will continue to deploy multi-ship Amphibious Ready Groups (ARGs) despite regularly needing to disaggregate the groups to meet global commitments, General Robert Neller, the USMC commandant, said on 9 August.
An ARG generally consists of three US Navy amphibious ships - a landing helicopter dock (LHD), a landing ship dock (LSD), and a landing platform dock (LPD) - as well as some additional naval assets and a USMC Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU).
The corps has more missions and tasks than capability, Gen Neller told an audience at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, so to be in multiple places it needs to disaggregate ARG/MEUs and send the smaller forces out for various operations or exercises.

The idea of splitting an ARG to send smaller forces out for various operations/exercises is not about getting ready for the big fight that Neller says is coming.

What is the sticking point here?  Is it the Combatant Commanders putting an artificial strain on the force by pulling exercises out of their behinds to justify there existence?  Is it the small wars cabal inside the Marine Corps that insists on pushing the Company Landing Team concept to fight terrorists (even though terrorism has changed)?

I don't get it, but the friction is there.  If splitting the ARG makes sense then independent ship operations would seem to be the ultimate solution.  Don't play games with it just assign a company of infantry Marines to each ship and go whole hog with the CLT dream.  I don't like the CLT concept and believe its fatally flawed (for future Marines I mean it literally) but we need to pick a direction.  Indecision even when it comes to doctrine is not a Marine Corps trait.