Monday, August 15, 2016

Russia increases its strategic reach in the Middle East.

Thanks to Amir for the link!  Pics via Warfare Worldwide Twitter Page!





Russian strategic bombers and tankers at Iran's Hamedan Air Base?  Do you really think this is just about Syria?  Maybe but it also sends a message to the US and the GCC.  Russia is a major player in the Middle East and can conduct punitive raids against anyone in the region now.  It also helps with the issue of force protection.  I can imagine that these aircraft based in Syria would be juicy targets for both the terrorist (the bad head choppers that we don't support and the so called good ones that we do) and possibly even a covert raid by guys that run around the woods with knives between their teeth.

Love them or hate them but this is a good move on their part.

NOTE:  I stand by my previous statements.  The Middle East is a cesspool.  Better a dictator that can be controlled instead of a radical terrorist that can't.  We should support Assad and the Russians.  Reform Syria to the best that we can and kill every terrorist we see.  If we got to work on it I think it would take 3 months at most.

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!

Sunday, August 14, 2016

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?

Saturday, August 13, 2016

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.

Friday, August 12, 2016

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.