Monday, December 18, 2017
Saturday, December 16, 2017
Respect for V-8 power and this cool cop....
This had to be California. Rice burners everywhere...all dropped (they either cut shocks or take them off entirely)...all with imported engines that can't pass smog....all with no back seats cause they're filled with speakers.
Did you see the Silver Honda near the end of the clip?
Too funny. Well done on the cops part....
Friday, December 15, 2017
Nature Pics. Crocs doing what Crocs do....
Some animals intrigue me. Bobcats, Tigers and Bears. Some animals cause instinctive fear that I can't shake. Anacondas (well lets be honest...snakes in general...don't care if it's a "good" snake...if I see it, it dies).
Then there are the animals that fascinate me. Crocs, Bison (maybe its a food thing...I so want to try a Bison burger) and Rhinos.
Above you see Crocs doing Croc shit. Absolutely crazy how big they get. I have never seen one in real life but it's on my bucket list (controlled situation in the wild...hello Australia...none of that zoo bs).
What I wonder about is that last pic. Almost every book I've read says a Hippo can bite a croc in half so I'd like to see the aftermath of this pic.
Vertical Envelopment of the '50's versus our Anti-Access Aerial Denial today...remarkably similar...
If you have the time you really need to check out the vid above. What slaps you in the face and won't stop? How similar the 1950's concept of vertical envelopment in response to the atomic weapon threat is to Company Landing Team/Air Enabled Maneuver that is being pushed today to solve the anti-access aerial denial dilemma.
There is nothing new or ground breaking with this thing, just a rehashed concept that needs to be seriously examined/debated before we head too far down this road.
15th MEU onboard the Tonnerre...pics by Staff Sgt. Vitaliy Rusavskiy & Sgt. Jessica Y. Lucio
I still think that this is the ultimate expression of a faulty concept. Penny packets of US forces deployed worldwide is not a deterrence. It's a red flag to a bull.
The more I see stuff like this the more I think of the Roman Legion at the frontier.
Forward deployment didn't prevent the barbarian hordes from invading Rome and sacking it and and won't prevent the Chinese horde from trying to destroy us or prevent future wars.
Russians appear to be pulling armor from Syria...They learned from our mistake...
via Almasdarnews.com
A new video showing the Russian military transporting their equipment onto a cargo ship leaving Syria was released by a Russian news outlet on Thursday.Story here.
In the video, the Russian military can be seen loading several armored vehicles that were to defeat ISIS in eastern Syria onto a cargo ship destined for Russia.
This is where I piss off many of my readers.
The Russians learned from us and did the opposite. They had a clear objective, set the parameters for success and once achieved they leave.
What will be interesting is how they handle all the stuff left on the plate.
It's obvious that our activity in Syria was aimed not at defeating ISIS but on overthrowing Assad (I dare someone to actually look at the course of this conflict and come up with an alternate theory). Since the Pentagon has declared that "we will stay in Syria as long as necessary" does that mean the Russians will re-engage if they see the anti-Assad forces gaining ground?
Speaking of the anti-Assad forces. Will we continue to support them? McCain did a bit of legacy building before the cancer struck full force but this will taint his memory.
This was just the latest of his hawkish stances
Will the globalist finally quit the field or will they continue to try and "shape" the Middle East?
What about Turkey annexing Syrian soil? Will the Russians attempt negotiation or will this be the next war between regional players?
What about the Kurds? Everyone has used them but everyone has also thrown them under the bus. Will Assad and the Russians give them limited autonomy?
The Russians leaving is a smart move. What will be telling is if events on the ground dictate them returning.
Prototype of Slovak Patria AMV 8x8 armored fitted with 30mm turret...via Army Recognition.
Pics below and a nice write up is found at Army Recognition (here).
Let me first say this. I like this setup. Next let me ask a question.
This might seem like goofy but where is our overmatch gonna come from?
If the whole world (and us) is standardizing on the 30mm cannon...if almost any IFV worth its salt has anti-tank missiles...if everyone has MLRS...attack helicopters...and everyone but us has long range anti-air missiles that operate at the Regiment level and above....are we in essence saying that stealth tactical air fighters (F-35) are our only hope?
What if the S-400 is as good as they say? What if the Chinese and Russian stealth fighters actually are competitive with our best?
Where is our overmatch coming from in a big fight?
Let me first say this. I like this setup. Next let me ask a question.
This might seem like goofy but where is our overmatch gonna come from?
If the whole world (and us) is standardizing on the 30mm cannon...if almost any IFV worth its salt has anti-tank missiles...if everyone has MLRS...attack helicopters...and everyone but us has long range anti-air missiles that operate at the Regiment level and above....are we in essence saying that stealth tactical air fighters (F-35) are our only hope?
What if the S-400 is as good as they say? What if the Chinese and Russian stealth fighters actually are competitive with our best?
Where is our overmatch coming from in a big fight?
Thursday, December 14, 2017
UK Land Power MUST be on your daily read list!
You know I've been raving about UK Land Power Blog right? Well it gets even better. Do you know the bubba running that joint? I didn't and when I found out I was beyond pleased.
It's Nicholas Drummond.
Not to go fanboy but I've been following this guy on his twitter page (here...and you should too if you have an interest in military affairs/land power ) and have always wanted a bit more.
Backgrounder? He's a former British Army Officer, an industry consultant and writer.
Oh and one other thing. He rejects conventional thinking...which in essence means that HE THINKS and doesn't simply go along with the crowd.
Think Defense, China Defense, Below The Turret Ring, Navy Matters, Cdr Salamander...and now UK Land Power Blog (to name a few) are all on my daily reading list and should be on yours too!
Everyone predicted the demise of blogging. Looks like we're seeing a renaissance in military blogging instead. I'm so glad they were wrong. Conventional wisdom screws up again.
Is CENTCOM slow rolling/spinning the air to air confrontation between Russian/US jets?
Thanks to Gregory for the link!
via Independent.
American F-22 fighter jets have fired warning flares in Syrian airspace after Russian Su-25 jets entered an agreed upon deconfliction area, according to a US official.Story here.
The official told Reuters that the Russian jets left the area, which was above the Euphrates river, after the two US jets sent the warnings.
One official said that the aerial encounter lasted "several minutes", as the Russian jets crossed the de-confliction line several times.
Wow. The pure audacity here! They told only half the story and the news media is either unaware or don't care that there is another part of the story that must be addressed.
THIS IS WHY I SEEK NEWS FROM AROUND THE WORLD AND FROM ALL SOURCES!
If I just relied on US sources for new....or even US/Allied news media for information then we wouldn't know about the claim that Russian SU-35's intercepted our F-22's and "protected" their attack planes.
As things stand now we're still lacking answers.
Oh and remember me bemoaning the post from The Aviationist Blog that claimed to get a note from some piece of shit Public Affairs Officer in Centcom?
I stand by my claim that a note to a blog (even this one) isn't good enough! We don't need anymore MOUTHPIECES that help spread propaganda! WE need THE TRUTH!
To paraphrase Colonel Jessup, my existence to CENTCOM PAO while grotesque and incomprehensible can save lives. I have neither time nor inclination to explain myself to leadership. I don't give a damn what CENTCOM PAO thinks it's entitled WE DEMAND THE TRUTH! So get your shit together, hold a fucking news conference and tell us what happened over the skies of Syria and who we almost got into a shooting war to protect...and no, I don't want to hear bullshit about protecting US advisers....I want to know the unit that those advisers were working with. Were they ISIS remnants or not? Were they anti-Assad forces that have been aligned with ISIS or not? It's past time to pressure CENTCOM into answering some basic fucking questions!
Cyborg vs Holm. Dec 30. Is it a fight if you know the outcome before the bell?
Wow. So we get to see this again? Is it a fight if we know the outcome before the bell?
We know Cyborg is gonna pulverize Holm. Don't care who you're a fan of the outcome of this fight is obvious.
I wish Cyborg would learn better English. She will never be the kind of star she's hoping for in the US unless she can put a few words together for endorsements, acting opportunities etc.
I know MMA is HUGE in Brazil but I don't know if the economic opportunities equal what she could have in the US.
Regardless Holm's will put up a valiant effort but I see this ending early in the 2nd round. Why 2? Because Cyborg will feel her out and not want to run into a lucky punch. Once she tastes the best that Holm's can give she'll get aggressive and end it quick. Maybe 2 but no more.
A Country Addicted to War....a perfect primer on the idiocy that is our current Middle East policy.
Thanks to Overwatch DVA for the link!
via TomDispatch.com
The fact is that the individuals entrusted by President Trump to direct U.S. policy believe with iron certainty that difficult political problems will yield to armed might properly employed. That proposition is one to which generals like Mattis and Nicholson have devoted a considerable part of their lives, not just in Afghanistan but across much of the Islamic world.Story here.
In Afghanistan, their entire worldview -- not to mention the status and clout of the officer corps they represent -- is at stake. No matter how long the war there lasts, no matter how many “generations” it takes, no matter how much blood is shed to no purpose, and no matter how much money is wasted, they will never admit to failure -- nor will any of the militarists-in-mufti cheering them on from the sidelines in Washington, Donald Trump not the least among them.
Meanwhile, the great majority of the American people, their attention directed elsewhere -- it’s the season for holiday shopping, after all -- remain studiously indifferent to the charade being played out before their eyes.
We're seeing massive failure in Afghanistan and the war against ISIS would have continued to be a side show to the real effort of removing Assad from power.
I've shouted this from the rooftop but its pleasing to find someone else that sees what I see.
The worst military failure in US history is happening right in front of our eyes and the public is oblivious to it!
All the freaks running around talking about how tactical they are, all the zombies buying flak jackets, Ops Core Helmets and playing barbie with their AR...in essence all the guys that want to play Soldier or Marine but didn't sign on the dotted line but claim superior patriotism and military knowledge should know better but don't.
They believe the Generals instead of believing their own eyes.
They're told that success is right around the corner even though we've heard that since the beginning of this conflict.
We fought two nation state armies and defeated them in 4 years during WW2 but have been paralyzed by savages in sandals that have a taste for sex with farm animals.
We claim that we have the most sophisticated force in the history of man but we're stopped by primitives that live in hills and smoke dope all day long.
I don't know who should be more ashamed.
The Generals for not doing better and not being honest with the American people.
The boosters that ignored common sense and insisted that we listen to failed leadership.
Or maybe its everyone in the US. We are wasting treasure, and more importantly losing our sons and daughters to a country that is not worth our time.
Why?
Because leadership won't admit that they don't have a clue...or a solution to win the war.
Wednesday, December 13, 2017
Savings a brother (via Marines Instagram) or covering up leadership failure?
Thanks to Dave for the link!
The pic and the caption above are from the Marines Instagram Page (it annoys the fuck outta me that they don't capitalize "Marines" on our damn page).
Pretty heroic stuff huh? Don't get me wrong. I'm down with it and proud of the Marine in question. Going into a burning vehicle to pull a fellow Marine out? That's doing the hard thing. That's doing the Marine Corps thing.
But there is another side to this. Check this out via KPBS.com
They were aware of the potential danger.
They obviously did nothing.
That is leadership failure on a grand scale. Think about it like this. Junior Marines are hammered for MUCH MUCH LESS, but those that are responsible for the lives of those Marines can not only fail, but they can get Marines killed/seriously injured without penalty.
THAT MUST CHANGE! I want some stars laid on a desk, a retirement taken away, a little ass kicked and some righteous retribution for those that were hurt.
It's the Marine Corps way. Plus it's the right thing to do.
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The pic and the caption above are from the Marines Instagram Page (it annoys the fuck outta me that they don't capitalize "Marines" on our damn page).
Pretty heroic stuff huh? Don't get me wrong. I'm down with it and proud of the Marine in question. Going into a burning vehicle to pull a fellow Marine out? That's doing the hard thing. That's doing the Marine Corps thing.
But there is another side to this. Check this out via KPBS.com
An investigation into a fiery accident at Camp Pendleton that injured 14 Marines and a Navy corpsman in September showed that the Marines were aware of the potential danger.Marines on the ground acted heroically but leadership did not.
The fire happened on Sep. 13 during a training exercise. KPBS obtained a copy of the 210-page command investigation report through a Freedom of Information Act request. The report absolves the troops on board of any responsibility for the accident, which placed at least 9 Marines in critical condition with severe burns.
They were aware of the potential danger.
They obviously did nothing.
That is leadership failure on a grand scale. Think about it like this. Junior Marines are hammered for MUCH MUCH LESS, but those that are responsible for the lives of those Marines can not only fail, but they can get Marines killed/seriously injured without penalty.
THAT MUST CHANGE! I want some stars laid on a desk, a retirement taken away, a little ass kicked and some righteous retribution for those that were hurt.
It's the Marine Corps way. Plus it's the right thing to do.
Terminal Lance goes Metal Gear Solid...
I check out every Terminal Lance post, but this latest has me laughing a bit more than normal. Maybe cause I'm a Metal Gear Solid fan, maybe cause I'm a Cyborg Ninja fan (although Psyco Mantis was cool too) but it doesn't matter. The Terminal Lance treatment (that's what I call it when he hits on subject like his must see cartoon on the skywriting Navy fliers with a dick fetish) was just what the doctor ordered in this crazy world.
Geographicwild...pic by © Kunal Khinwasara
This pic has nothing to do with the blog's usual subject matter but cool pics must be shown. Dude must have had one of those long distance lens setups...no way I'd want to be closer than a football field length away and that's probably still too close!
Long time ago I read a book about Force Recon in Vietnam and they talked about a team that got attacked by a tiger while being extracted. Supposedly one of the bubbas turned around and dropped it with one shot. I took it in and didn't even question it at the time but looking at the size of these beasts that had to be exaggerated!
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