Just wow. This is our civilization?

via Heavy.com

28-year-old California man is accused of fatally shooting his mother after an argument over a video game headset, police say.

Matthew Nicholson killed his 68-year-old mother, Lydia Nicholson, on January 11, the Ceres Police Department said in a press release. Police said Nicholson was in his bedroom playing video games when he became upset and started yelling. His mother went to check on him.

“Nicholson began to argue with her and he ended up breaking the headset to his video game. Nicholson then blamed the victim for the broken headset and threatened to kill the victim and Nicholson’s father,” police said. “Nicholson then retrieved a handgun from the home and fired two rounds into the wall inside the home and then shot the victim in the head.”

Nicholson fled from the scene and was later arrested during a traffic stop.

Story here. 

You kill your mom over a broken headset?  Just wow.  God supposedly destroyed a city because of its wickedness.  Wonder why he hasn't shot a few bolts of destruction our way?  If they were worse than we are today then they must have been a sight to behold.

But what if they weren't?  What if we're just like those people (forget the name of the place....woman supposedly looked back and turned into dust, salt..something...).

30,000-strong U.S.-backed force in Syria? Turkey & Syria talk of crushing it? How did we miss this!

via Reuters.

 Turkey’s Tayyip Erdogan threatened on Monday to “strangle” a planned 30,000-strong U.S.-backed force in Syria “before it’s even born,” as Washington’s backing for Kurdish fighters drove a wedge into relations with one of its main Middle East allies.

The United States announced its support on Sunday for plans for a “border force” to defend territory held by U.S.-backed, Kurdish-led fighters in northern Syria.

The Syrian government of President Bashar al-Assad responded on Monday by vowing to crush the new force and drive U.S. troops from the country. Assad’s ally Russia called the plans a plot to dismember Syria and place part of it under U.S. control.

Story here. 

Who the fuck is coming up with this shit inside the Pentagon?????

Anyone this batshit stupid should be retired to Gitmo before he starts WW3! Who is insane enough to finally see ISIS destroyed only to start new drama over the same ground only seconds after they've been killed?

I really don't get this!

And do you get the timing?

They announced this shit on Sunday while I'm hip deep watching NFL Playoff Football, knowing that Monday is a Federal Holiday?

This was planned so that IT WOULD NOT BE NOTICED!

Guarantee on Monday they'll be back to slamming Trump for saying something else stupid while they're giving us the perpetual war they've been planning for.

Just plain wow.  This is enough to make someone start to drink!

Rant over.  The implications are ominous though.  Either we're gonna support this Kurdish force from assaults from the Russians, Turks, and Iranians (and probably the Iraqis too) or we're gonna leave them in this natural killbox and they're gonna get plowed under and be the next group that says fuck the Americans and we're gonna seeing Kurds planning attacks against us.

I just don't see a positive outcome from this.  Please tell me where I'm wrong.

This is gonna be an interesting race and will test the "gay coalition"...

via Reuters.

Chelsea Manning, the transgender U.S. Army soldier who served seven years in military prison for leaking classified data, is seeking the Democratic Party’s nomination for the U.S. Senate seat from Maryland, according to Federal election filings seen on Saturday.

Manning, who was granted clemency by former U.S. President Barack Obama, was released in May from a U.S. military prison in Kansas where she had been serving time for passing secrets to the WikiLeaks website in the biggest breach of classified data in the history of the United States.

Democratic Senator Ben Cardin was elected in 2006 to that seat and is expected to run for re-election this year. He is the senior Democrat on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.

Story here. 

Gonna get racial on you guys for a second.  I've watched with a bit of humor, amazement and alarm at how the black community just rolled over for the gay agenda led by former President Obama.

Before Obama was elected, black ministers and church goers were the most vehemently anti-gay group in America.  Full stop.  You can't even debate it.

When Obama turned the corner black ministers ignored their past teachings  and flipped like a dime to his new dictate (quite honestly this has given me much misgivings about modern religion...if a change in what was said to be a bible based belief can be made based on the pronouncements of one man then what good is it...I seek my own path when it comes to understanding God).

So back on task.

We have Chelsea running for Senate?

This will be interesting  on two fronts.  Watching the gay community.  From what I can tell they have a somewhat strained relationship with their Transgender members.  Why?  I have no idea.  Just the impression I get.  Additionally it will be interesting to see who the black community supports. Will they support a transgender candidate or back another Dem that is not delivering for the community?

In the end I guess it doesn't matter.

We're talking about Maryland.

They're fucked either way they go.

Animated gif of the day: Bayonet drill with QBZ-95...via China Defence Blog.

So the Chinese are adding Western Martial Philosophy to their homebred Sun Tzu art of war teachings?

They're learning the "Spirit Of The Bayonet"?  Wait what?  You think the bayonet is as obsolete as horses on the modern battlefield?  You look at robotics, the rise of AI, minibots and such and think that it'll never be useful in the future?

Check out this passage from The Truth About Guns!

President Obama displayed ignorance when he characterized bayonets as being similar to horses – obsolete weapons in modern warfare. As an initial matter, the bayonet is a soldier’s last remaining means of defense when the soldier’s primary weapon system is no longer works for whatever reason. In addition, bayonets are a weapon of psychological intimidation; bayonet charges have long incited fear in enemy forces, particularly in conscript or green forces. Finally, bayonets work well for prisoner control, adding a little extra sobering reminder of the fate that will befall any prisoner who tries to escape . . .

Although not common, modern history does provide examples of the use of the bayonet in combat, especially by British Infantry. For example, in 1982, British soldiers conducted a successful bayonet charge up Mount Tumbledown during the Falkland war.  In 2004, British soldiers in Al Amara, Iraq, again used a bayonet charge to dislodge entrenched fighters of Muqtada al Sadr’s Mahdi Army in the Battle of Danny Boy. Most recently, there have been multiple documented cases of British forces using bayonet charges to great effect against the Taliban in Afghanistan.

If you believe some of what is being written today, the last American bayonet charge occurred in the Korean War. However, there are numerous documented cases of bayonets being used in small-unit skirmishes during the Vietnam War. The largest of these took place at Khe Sanh on March 30, 1968 by members of Bravo Co., 1st Bn. 26th Marines. There is anecdotal evidence of bayonet usage occurring during the U.S. Army’s 1st Cav’s hard-won fight at LZ X-Ray, in the Ia Drang Valley of the Central Highlands, 1965.

Story here. 

So what's my point?

It's the same as always.  They're getting hard.  They're doing it by the numbers.  They're methodical.  They're meticulous.  They're determined...and they're not lazy.

Actually the Chinese are lining up to be a perfect enemy. 

If we responded correctly it would make us stronger...we could if we chose to come out the other side of this thing incredibly powerful, focused and driven. That of course assumes that we see the challenge for what it is and steeled ourselves to meet it.

The clarion call is the same.  

As a nation and as individuals we must get harder, stronger, faster...and we've got to do it now.

Boeing Son of BlackBird Concept....

Thanks to Super Rhino for the link!

via Fox News.

Boeing has finally unveiled a successor to the legendary Blackbird SR-71 spy plane, capable of travelling at five times the speed of sound.

The new 'Son of Blackbird' was revealed at an event in Orlando, Florida, but it's only a concept design for now.

The new aircraft will be a direct competitor to Lockheed martin's upcoming SR-72.

These rival firms are racing to create a hypersonic aircraft that's capable of stealthy recon assignments – and strike missions, too.

Speaking to Aviation Week Aerospace Daily, Boeing's hypersonics chief described how Boeing was planning a two-step development process for the new war plane.

The first stage would involve flight tests of an "F16-sized, single-engine" precursor vehicle that acts as a "proof of concept".

The second stage is the creation of a "twin-engine, full-scale operational vehicle" that has roughly similar dimensions to the 107-foot-long SR-71.

Boeing's end goal is an aircraft that can travel at speeds beyond Mach 5 – that's five times the speed of sound.

The speed of sound – or Mach 1 – is around 1235km/h. So hitting Mach 5 would mean the Son of Blackbird would have to travel at an incredible 6,174km/h.

For comparison, a Boeing 747 passenger jet typically reaches cruising speeds of just 885km/h.

The tricky part is that the SR-71 replacement needs to to be able to take off, accelerate, slow down and land all on its own – just like the original 1964 model.

Boeing is looking at using a conventional turbojet to hit Mach 3, then switching to a different configuration to boost beyond Mach 5.

Story here. 

Wow.  Ambitious.  Makes you wonder about how our defense industry is setup doesn't it.

Can we expect corporations that are investing private funds to research stuff like this and then to sell it only to the US govt?  Kinda goes against "free market capitalism" doesn't it?

The answer in my mind is that we need a bit of socialism thrown into the mix huh?

We fund the different corporations to develop the tech and because of our investment we own the outcomes.  Then since we own the tech we can allow different corporations to bid on building the final product whether that's manned/unmanned airplanes or rockets/missiles.

It's really the only way but many flag waving Americans would hate it with a passion.  What do you guys think?

Polish Heavy Tank IS-2

Anyone know what the markings on the barrel mean?

Breaking down the MAGTF Barney style

Ruger PC9 or PCC9 Take Down 9mm Carbine looks awesome in the Military Arms Channel Review!!!

Wow.

I questioned the ergonomics of this thing but the thing looks like a pure beauty in Mac's vid.  Even better is that this beast will feed from any Glock magazine (seems to have a bit difficulty with ETS mags but not too bad), both OEM and aftermarket.  I've seen (and own) a few Korean Glock Mags and while I've never had an issue, I have heard horror stories.

Last but not least?

It doesn't have an issue with hollow points.

I can tell you know this is a definite buy for me.  Oh and all the guys wanting one in 10mm or 45 cal or even 40 cal (don't know why...40 sucks) I get it.  The 9mm tribe gets all the goodies (especially the Glock cult) and everyone else gets left in the cold.

Well to you guys I'm already making the call.  If by chance Ruger makes this in your caliber then buy it quick.

MAC referenced it in his video.  The last time we saw something like this was from Marlin.  A Marlin employee made it 9mm compatible and if you can find one today then you have a gem.

I don't know how this one will do in today's AR crazy market.  But buy it while you can.  Democrats will probably take over Congress late this year and Trump is a bit unsteady on gun issues (looking at his past not his stance since running as a Republican).  Better to be safe than sorry.

Is Chinese A2/AD concept even viable considering US forward basing?

This one is short and sweet.

Is the Chinese A2/AD concept even viable considering US forward basing?  Do we face an anti-access problem or are we thinking about this the wrong way?

Think about this.

*  Penetrating an A2/AD fits in perfectly with the US idea of offensive operations.  Are we a slave to offensive operations?

*  The US has numerous forward bases in the region.  Many of them can be considered mega-bases.  Between Japan, Guam, S. Korea and the Philippines (leaving out distant Australia), we are in their backyard.

What if we took a beat and paused.

What if we flipped the script and thought differently.  Thought defensively.  What would we do?

How about instead of thousands of Marines on Guam setup for defensive operations we tailor the force to contain China.

Army Anti-Air Battalions replace some of our forces (yeah...Marines are vicious in offense, tenacious in defense but we don't have the tools for my thinking on this one).  Instead of USAF B-52/B-2 rotating into that air base we instead station pure air defense/superiority squadrons.  Additionally the Navy pivots back to the sea battle in a big way.  They also send pure interceptor/fighter squadrons on the base along with long range anti-ship/sub aircraft (both manned and unmanned).

Of course we put every available ISR platform (within reason) in the area so that we have a better picture of Chinese fleet, air and troop movements.

We repeat that on every base in the region with the exception of S. Korea.  Those forces would be augmented but the deterrence of N. Korea would continue.

My point is this.

We're thinking that we have to break into the region.  We don't.  China has to try and push us out.  We're seeking to tailor the fight to what we're comfortable with.  Offensive operations.  We don't.  We're on the defense.  China will have to go onto the offense.

The Alraigo Incident..

via Enrique 262 Tumblr Page!

The Alraigo Incident refers to the landing by a lost British Royal Navy Sea Harrier fighter aircraft on the deck of a Spanish container ship in 1983.

On 6 May 1983 Sub Lieutenant Ian “Soapy” Watson was a junior Royal Navy Pilot undertaking his first NATO exercise from HMS Illustrious, which was operating off the coast of Portugal. Watson was launched in a pair of aircraft tasked with locating a French aircraft carrier under combat conditions including radio-silence and radar switched off.

After completing the search Watson flew to an arranged meeting point with his flight leader. When the flight leader did not appear Watson turned towards Invincible expecting it to appear on the radar; when he was unable to find the carrier he made a radio transmission. It was at this stage he realized his radio was not working and the NAVHARS (inertial navigation system) had not taken him back to the expected location for landing.

As Sea Harrier ZA176 began to run low on fuel Watson turned the aircraft East towards a known shipping lane making radar contact with a surface vessel at 50 mi (80 km). At 12 mi (19 km) he made visual contact with the container ship Alraigo and initially planned to eject in sight of the vessel.

After performing an initial fly-by of the Alraigo Watson noticed that the ship was carrying a number of flat topped containers similar in size to a practice landing pad. The container was carrying a base plate for a telescope being delivered to the La Palma Observatory in the Canary Islands. On his second approach Watson landed the Sea Harrier on top of the shipping container with only a few minutes of flight time to spare. As he touched down the aircraft began to slide backwards on the wet surface. Watson attempted to retract the landing gear to arrest the slide but this failed and the aircraft slipped backwards off the container and onto the roof of a van parked on the deck. The van partially held up the fuselage and stopped a further slide.

Four days later a considerable international media presence witnessed the Alraigo sail into dock at Santa Cruz de Tenerife with the Sea Harrier still perched on its container. The aircraft was salvageable, and the ship’s crew and owners were awarded £570,000 compensation.
Sea Harrier ZA176 was converted to the FA2 variant in 1992 and retired from service 20 September 2003. The aircraft is now on display at Newark Air Museum in Nottinghamshire England in its FA2 configuration.

Simply awesome story.  Wonderful airmanship.  Nicely done.