A Ground Combat Vehicle System that the Army's doing right!

BAE is rightfully bragging about US Army plans to upgrade its fleet of MRAP Caiman's to a new standard. 
It seems that the Army and BAE have stumbled onto something.  Instead of new design vehicles, it seems that the updating and upgrading of existing vehicles is the way to go.  More info here.

Hennessey VelociRaptor SUV Armored Performance Vehicle.

I wonder how long its going to take Special Operations Command to come up with a requirement for this vehicle?

Maybe they can justify it for operations on the border?  The website is here.  But enough tongue in cheek --- Ford hasn't even released an SUV version and the aftermarket has one ready to go (alright its expensive beyond reason but you get the point).

3rd LAR getting ready for Afghanistan deployment.

MARINE CORPS AIR GROUND COMBAT CENTER TWENTYNINE PALMS, Calif.-Light armored vehicles with 3rd Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion push through to their next objective Sept. 2 during part of their Enhanced Mojave Viper. The exercise is a 28-day pre-deployment training process all units must undergo before they deploy. , Lance Cpl. M. C. Nerl, 9/2/2010 7:11 AM

MARINE CORPS AIR GROUND COMBAT CENTER TWENTYNINE PALMS, Calif.-An MV-22 Osprey flies over a light armored vehicle under pursuit of enemy forces during EMV, where the battalion carried out a counter-attack after their defensive position was attacked in Enhanced Mojave Viper. The battalion is scheduled to deploy in support of Operation Enduring Freedom this fall. , Lannce Cpl. M. C. Nerl, 9/2/2010 8:15 AM

MARINE CORPS AIR GROUND COMBAT CENTER TWENTYNINE PALMS, Calif.-A light armored vehicle with 3rd Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion pushes through to its next objective Sept. 2 during part of their Enhanced Mojave Viper. The battalion is scheduled to deploy in support of Operation Enduring Freedom this fall. , Lance Cpl. M. C. Nerll, 9/2/2010 10:09 AM

Militarized Skateboard?

via Gizmodo.

Check out the company website here.

Photos of Marine Recon taking down Pirates.

(Sept. 9, 2010) Marines assigned to the U.S. Marine Corps 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit, Maritime Raid Force, approach the motor vessel Magellan Star Thursday, Sept. 9 to recover it from suspected pirates. The Marines boarded the vessel and took nine suspected pirates into custody. The pirates were taken to the guided-missile cruiser USS Princeton (CG 59) and the ship's eleven crew members resumed control of Magellan Star. Pirates took control of the ship Sept. 8. Dubuque is part of the Peleliu Amphibious Ready Group, supporting maritime security operations and theater security cooperation efforts in the U.S. 5th Fleet area of responsibility. (U.S. Navy Photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class David McKee/Released) 100909-N-9706M-080

 GULF OF ADEN (Sept. 9, 2010) Marines assigned to the U.S. Marine Corps 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit, Maritime Raid Force, embarked aboard the U.S. Navy amphibious transport dock ship USS Dubuque (LPD 8), board the motor vessel M/V Magellan Star during a board and seizure operation. The Marines took nine suspected pirates into custody and transferred them to the guided-missile cruiser USS Princeton (CG 59). The ship's eleven crew members resumed control of Magellan Star. Pirates took control of the ship Sept. 8. Dubuque is part of the Peleliu Amphibious Ready Group, supporting maritime security operations and theater security cooperation efforts in the U.S. 5th Fleet area of responsibility. (U.S. Navy photo by Cmdr. Christopher Nodine/Released) 100909-N-5133N-025

GULF OF ADEN (Sept. 9, 2010) Marines assigned to the U.S. Marine Corps 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit, Maritime Raid Force, embarked aboard the U.S. Navy amphibious transport dock ship USS Dubuque (LPD 8), board the motor vessel M/V Magellan Star during a board and seizure operation. The Marines took nine suspected pirates into custody and transferred them to the guided-missile cruiser USS Princeton (CG 59). The ship's eleven crew members resumed control of Magellan Star. Pirates took control of the ship Sept. 8. Dubuque is part of the Peleliu Amphibious Ready Group, supporting maritime security operations and theater security cooperation efforts in the U.S. 5th Fleet area of responsibility. (U.S. Navy photo by Cmdr. Christopher Nodine/Released) 100909-N-5133N-038

GULF OF ADEN (Sept. 9, 2010) Marines assigned to the U.S. Marine Corps 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit, Maritime Raid Force, embarked aboard the U.S. Navy amphibious transport dock ship USS Dubuque (LPD 8), stand on the deck of the motor vessel M/V Magellan Star with crew members the Marines freed from suspected pirates. The Marines conducted a board and seizure operation after Magellan Star was attacked and boarded by pirates Sept. 8. Dubuque is part of CTF 151, the multinational task force established by Combined Maritime Forces to conduct counter-piracy operations in the Gulf of Aden and the Somali Basin. (U.S. Marine Corps photo/Released) 100909-N-0000X-001

HMLA-369 in Afghanistan.

A few observations on the proposed burning of the Quran (some politically incorrect).

Ok, here are a few observations on this controversy.

1.  This story exploded after General P made his comments on it.  Before then this was mainly a beltway story.  If he hadn't commented and the State Dept and other religious leaders would this have been the big news that it is?  I simply look at the kooks that protest outside military funerals.  Wouldn't this have been the same deal...religious kooks not worthy of attention?

2.  This can't be good for Democrats.  Have you noticed the one person that hasn't touched this story?  President Obama is laying low.  As a matter of fact even the State Dept waited until General P made his comment before piping up.
     I wonder if they're sensitive about his administrations Islamic outreach.

3.  Have you noticed that outside of the cultural elite in D.C. and New York, this story isn't exactly stoking the imagination of the public?  Much like the outrage in those places over opposition to the Mosque at Ground Zero, the public and the elite seem to be in two different places on this issue (I could be wrong but in the South, it seems that people really don't care).

4.  Did you notice that with this controversy, the FBI has announced that they would increase investigations of hate crimes against Muslims?  Perhaps there is actually an increase in threats and crimes but the announcement seems strangely coincidental.

5.  When Berg and other Americans/Europeans have been beheaded in Iraq and Afghanistan did you see the same religious leaders that are speaking out now speak out then?  I didn't.

I make these observations without a dog in this fight.  To be honest I don't care, but my observations of the mood of the people in flyover country leads me to believe that the so called uptick in Muslim "hatred" is really just a weariness with the demands being placed on us by those countries and there peoples.

We are asked to accept the building of a Mosque at a place where 3000 civilians lost there lives...we're asked to condemn the burning of the Quran when the burning of bibles and flags is ignored and considered protected....the Dems and the elite are really barking up the wrong tree.

I really think that they've mishandled this and elevated it to a level that could have been avoided.