Sunday, August 10, 2025
31st MEU | Anti-submarine warfare training...Photos by Cpl. Alora Finigan
The Marine Corps is flailing about looking for missions to justify the MLR. This ain't it and is an insult to the sub hunters doing the exacting work especially during the days of the Soviet Union when nuclear annihilation was on the table. Dropping sonobuoys from a supposedly low density/high demand airplane isn't what they should be doing. If its just dropping sonobuoys for other assets to monitor (I see no indication that the USMC is doing the low, risky, highly technical side of subhunting) then they should rig UAVs to do this job. The idea that the USMC thinks they can slam their way into this mission profile is more a glaring indictment of how far the Navy has fallen in the skill of hunting enemy subs (assuming that they have). Once we had carrier based S-3 Vikings that handled this mission with flair. Even SH-60s did their part. But they were specially equipped for the mission, not cargo or troop carrying MV-22s.
Can Europe Defend Itself Without US Military Support? via National Interest
The answer is no! An unequivocal NO! But the reasons aren't what you think. It's not that the US is keeping Europe down. Its not that the US industrial base "demands" it. Its that the Europeans don't actually want to spend the money necessary to be "free" of the US.
Don't believe me? Then check out the points I've highlighted from the article (make sure to read the whole thing for yourself though...here).
Via National Interest.
European militarism keeps the United States happy, especially if it means enriching American defense companies. “Buying American kit will be the quickest and easiest way to dispense all the extra billions pouring into defense budgets,” says Nick Witney of the European Council on Foreign Relations.
Utter bullshit. The war in Ukraine has opened the door to S. Korean imports most notably in Poland. Why not more homegrown investment? The pussification of Europe by Europeans, not America.
There are other reasons to believe that this militarization plan will neither make Europe safer nor boost economic growth. It fails to address crucial national security threats, such as climate change, and risks the retrenchment of social programs, which is likely to be unpopular with Europeans. The same IGA survey found that some Western Europeans are open to more military spending, but only a quarter or fewer think their country should spend “much more” on its military.
This is the real issue.
Even if you're a climate change supporter then how is that a military problem? Its not. But it is an additional pot of money to dip into to push for changes that won't work and will allow feel good emotions. I mean how can't "saving the planet" make the baby boomers that are back to smoking weed everyday and gen z not feel like they're doing there part.
But that's not even the biggest issue. Its the social programs that has the Europeans skeptical. They want and need them. They would rather be under the US umbrella and keep all the goodies than do the adult thing and fund their own self protection.
Even now Europe claims that Russia will attack them once they're done with Ukraine. Yet they still hesitate to fund their own defense? The biggest refrain is that it will trigger article 5 and the US will come to their rescue so we should do as they want on their continent instead of standing up themselves.
“Europe could perfectly well defend itself against Russia even if the US packed up and went home tomorrow,” says Witney. But a simple reality of NATO is that European dependence on the United States is a feature, not a bug. Trump may take credit for forcing Europe to spend more on defense, but he follows in a long lineage of presidents wary of Europe gaining too much independence.
If this isn't a weak, pathetic, lame ass excuse I don't know what is. We've degraded our own war stock to plus up what the Europeans aren't doing. They've used all kinds of fancy accounting tricks to make the numbers bigger but at the end of the day we're hurting ourselves to prop up a people that are too lazy to do it themselves.
I'm done with this debate.
Europe makes excuses while work needs to be done. Either they step up or sit down and shut the fuck up.
Is the IDF using personnel chutes to drop cargo?
Fuck me. The IDF is either showing gross incompetence or they've reached a point of not at all giving a fuck about the optics. Assuming this is real (don't know...AI is a monster if used in a bad way) then someone needs to be up on charges. Whoever rigged this shit needs to go to jail. Its almost like Netanyahu wants to be an international villain.Israeli air drop of food into Gaza.
— Mrgunsngear (@Mrgunsngear) August 10, 2025
It went about as you'd expect.... #war #gaza #israel #food #airdrop #airborne pic.twitter.com/sJFW2Fkwjg
Damn. Wasn't there so I don't know....
— Police Clips (@crazycopvideos) August 10, 2025I wasn't there so I don't know. BUT! It sorta seems like a lower use of force could have been applied. But fuck man. I wasn't there. I can't get a read on the dude from a vid. I don't get the "vibe" or the energy he's giving off. I don't know if the deputy had dealings with him before. I said it right the first time. I don't know.
Saturday, August 09, 2025
Training for interoperability or planning for a carrier or two to be sunk?
Everyone doing the "lightning carrier" concept is or soon will participate in the cross decking exercises with allies. My question is simple. Is this about interoperability or is it really about planning to lose a carrier or two?There’s a first for everything…
— UK Carrier Strike Group (@COMUKCSG) August 9, 2025
The 1st 🇬🇧 F-35B jet lands on a Japanese ship. #OpHighmast #CSG25 pic.twitter.com/87Y0vICdu8
During WW2 the US cross decked aircraft from one carrier to another due to battle damage or in extreme cases because one had been lost.
Fast forward to the 60s and 70s (Vietnam war period) you had aircraft land on the wrong carrier and it was met with humor and graffiti on aircraft.
Now?
I don't know if its technology or just having fewer aircraft deployed together but you rarely see such a thing on big decks (which brings up another point, the cross decking is only done with the F-35B, no other ally operates non STOVL aircraft from carriers except France).
The weird thing? This all became a thing when the UK couldn't man the HMS Queen Elizabeth because the ship was ready before a full complement
of aircraft could be onboarded. To save the Royal Navy face the USMC offered up some F-35Bs to fill the gap.
After that event it became all the rage.
So is this actually a useful exercise or just glorified motion to simulate a real war time capability?
Friday, August 08, 2025
IDF to occupy Gaza. What a huge mistake....
The IDF is set to occupy Gaza by order of Netanyahu. Huge mistake. I can't imagine why there isn't pushback from the Trump admin...well at least publicly anyway.
One thing that I can't ignore is that while this is a mistake in my opinion, I can't let go of the fact that HAMAS is indeed blocking efforts to stabilize the situation. The food situation? I blame HAMAS. Plenty of evidence that they're stealing aid meant for their people.
Why the international community is ignoring that part of the puzzle is beyond me but it is what it is.
Biggest fear.
While I don't believe the Israeli govt "controls" US policy, I do believe that where once our interests were uniform they're now drifting apart.
When I acknowledge that full throated support might no longer be in our best interests then the Israeli leadership needs to pay attention. Not me in particular but I get the feeling that I'm not alone in my concerns. When you have right wing, christian, and evangelical Americans beginning to wonder then you have an issue. Netanyahu has issues.
Tuesday, August 05, 2025
Kongsberg awarded full-rate production contract for ACV-30 turrets via EDR Magazine
EDR
The United States Marine Corps has awarded a full-rate production contract to Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace (‘KONGSBERG’) valued at up to $330 million for the 30mm remote turret for the Amphibious Combat Vehicle 30mm program (ACV-30).
The first order on the contract from PEO Land Systems Program Manager Advanced Amphibious Assault (PM AAA) includes a substantial number of turrets to be manufactured at KONGSBERG’s remote weapon system facility in Johnstown, Penn. A recent expansion at the facility has resulted in more jobs and a dedicated medium caliber turret production line.
“KONGSBERG is honoured to support the US Marine Corps by equipping them with increased firepower and capacity,” said Eirik Lie, President of Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace. “The ACV-30 offers superior performance compared to current comparable systems, and we see the market potential for our medium caliber turrets as positive, both in the US and internationally.”
ACV-30 is one of four variants in the next-generation ACV family of vehicles designed, developed and built by BAE Systems. The ACV-30 variant mounts Kongsberg’s stabilized, remotely operated MCT-30 that provides the capabilities and protection Marines. The ACV-30 turret is vehicle agnostic, able to accept armour and a variety of effectors, including anti-tank guided missiles (ATGM).
Netanyahu said set to order full takeover of Gaza...this will BREAK the IDF
via Times of Israel
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reportedly told ministers this week that he will seek cabinet backing for a plan to fully occupy the Gaza Strip, despite objections from within the Israel Defense Forces.
According to reports in Hebrew media, several ministers said Netanyahu used the term “occupation of the Strip” in private conversations describing his vision for the expansion of military operations in Gaza — a notable shift in tone as the government prepares to discuss the future of the Gaza campaign.
The Ynet news site quoted a senior official close to the premier as saying, “The die is cast — we are going for a full occupation of the Gaza Strip.”
I just can't make sense of this. Netanyahu is so convinced he's right that he is willing to destroy his armed forces for some unknown goal (the only way to occupy the Gaza strip is to engage in YEARS long fighting in a destroyed urban area...a batshit crazy idea).
I just don't get it.
If someone (REASONABLE) can explain this to me I would appreciate it.
US Army tells USMC Force Design 2030 to hold its beer while it trots out hypersonic weapons
Is it just me or are we seeing Force Design 2030 being rendered irrelevant right before our eyes?Historic, Hypersonic, and Lethal. The @USArmy’s Long-Range Hypersonic Weapon deployed to Australia during Exercise Talisman Sabre 2025—this deployment is a first outside the continental U.S. The 3rd MDTF proved we can deploy lethal combat power anywhere—strike fast, hit hard, and… pic.twitter.com/Q9XhRRAkx4
— Secretary of the Army (@SecArmy) August 4, 2025
Monday, August 04, 2025
Hundreds of Israeli ex-officials appeal to Trump to help end Gaza war via BBC
via BBC
A group of some 600 retired Israeli security officials, including former heads of intelligence agencies, have written to US President Donald Trump to pressure Israel to immediately end the war in Gaza.
"It is our professional judgement that Hamas no longer poses a strategic threat to Israel," the officials said.
"Your credibility with the vast majority of Israelis augments your ability to steer Prime Minister [Benjamin] Netanyahu and his government in the right direction: End the war, return the hostages, stop the suffering," they wrote.
Their appeal comes amid reports that Netanyahu is pushing to expand military operations in Gaza as indirect ceasefire talks with Hamas have stalled.
Large scale military operations by the IDF is no longer necessary. The organized, hybrid military force of HAMAS no longer exists. Israel is back to fighting a classic guerilla war.
Gaza is at best a special ops playground. At worst its just a killing field without purpose.
But my concern is the state of Israel and its survival.
Fact. The IDF is tired, worn down and needs to be reconstituted. It is a force designed for short, sharp conflicts, instead its being used in a prolonged manner against a force that no longer exists. They won the battles but continue military operations for the sake of military operations.
Fact. The Israeli economy is in SHIT SHAPE. The massive call up of reservists is not only affecting the morale of the IDF but adversely affecting the economy. Just like its military, the the Israeli economy is not built for prolonged warfare. Even in a war for survival it would be a short sharp affair. This war ain't it.
Fact. Where once there was sympathy for the plight of the Israeli hostages and understanding of the need for retaliation against Hamas for the atrocities committed on Oct 7th that time has passed. PROBABLY DUE TO THE MASSIVE INFLUX OF MUSLIM IMMIGRANTS and possibly due to their liberal leaning nations in Europe have turned against Israel and are ready to recognize a Palestinian state. That must be prevented or the eventual destruction of Israel is all but guaranteed.
TLDR? Israel needs to knock it off for its sake and not the sake of HAMAS.
Sunday, August 03, 2025
The dude that has been throwing green dildos onto the court at WNBA games has been arrested...
MrGunsNGear is right. The WNBA shouldn't press charges. They should let this ride. Name the dude. Shame him. But don't press charges. I've tried to watch WNBA games but to be honest its just plain terrible. Why? I don't know. I watch Women's College Basketball and enjoy it. Something is missing in the pro game (I say the same with the NBA though). What's the old saying? Any publicity is good publicity? We're not quite there but the WNBA is extremely polarizing so practical jokes, even in bad taste, should embraced.The person who threw a green dildo onto a WNBA court during Valkyries-Dream game has been arrested.
— Mrgunsngear (@Mrgunsngear) August 3, 2025
If the WNBA is smart - they wouldn't press charges. This has been the best thing to happen to the league since Caitlin Clark 🍆
I doubt they'll do that but it's a true… pic.twitter.com/2ZvNfv26e0
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