We're about to seize Iranian Tankers headed to Venezuela?

#US preparing military seizure of tankers with #Iranian fuel for #Venezuela

US filed a lawsuit to arrest 4 tankers going to Venezuela with gasoline. As Mehr expects, US authorities located off coast of this South America, will try to seize ships of Luna, Pandi, Bella and Bering. pic.twitter.com/POnWSR8UMj

— Sukhoi Su-57 Felon 🇷🇺🇮🇳 (@I30mki) July 4, 2020

Wow.

2020 is the year that just keeps on giving!  Why now?  There is an oil glut currently, Iran and Venezuela are practically isolated internationally and both countries are hurting badly.

The current dynamics of the situation seem quite favorable so why risk this type of escalation?

Curious as hell the calculus behind this thing.  Hate to follow the old chestnut of following the money but this would raise oil prices globally in an instant if we did this and Saudi Arabia (as well as Russia, US oil etc...) would benefit greatly.

Operator from the Norwegian Special Operation Command (Forsvarets Spesialkommando, FSK) with their Taiga winter uniform/apparel

The gear looks right.  Maybe we should just piggyback off the Norwegian work on winter uniforms and just adopt their ensemble.  I mean they are subject matter experts in fighting up North.

St Louis couple vs protesters...should they have stood their ground or bugged out? (Video)

Still digesting this thing.  I thought the video could start a discussion on the event.

Knowing many in my audience I have little hope that it will constructive (some of you are rigid and don't consider circumstances, tactics etc...just ideological to the extreme), but many others will add useful thoughts so I'll take the chance.

One thing pops for me though.

Unless you're in a complete breakdown of social order then any action will be fraught with legal danger.  I agree with the author of the video.  Removing yourself from major population centers (work wherever but avoid living in big cities) is probably your first defense.

Happy 4th!

God Bless America...

This could have ended so badly...

Meanwhile in Turkey pic.twitter.com/1Dx5RbMhXv

— Russian Market (@russian_market) July 3, 2020

Trying to decide if this is gutsy, or just plain stupid.  This could have ended so badly...

Polish Rosomak 8x8 wheeled APC in #Afghanistan got hit by a RPG-7

#Polish Rosomak 8x8 wheeled APC in #Afghanistan got hit by a RPG-7. The projectile is stuck in the armor and possibly might have not penetrated the thick add-on armor and the hull. Nevertheless the slat armorcage could have done a better job if not mounted too narrow to the hull. pic.twitter.com/H9AJfESjs8

— Sukhoi Su-57 Felon 🇷🇺🇮🇳 (@I30mki) July 1, 2020

Unrealized replacement of the Tu-142. Visualization of the appearance of the An-171

Found on Reddit's Weird Wings.

The comments are interesting.  I'm not an aviation guy so I don't know if they're right or wrong but it's a compelling discussion.  Reddit isn't all trash.  You should check out some of the military/gun/fitness related forums.

Open Comment Post. 4 July 2020

Royal Saudi Air Force is waging an unnoticed war against Iranian made IED drones...

#RSAF🇸🇦 F-15 pilots keep scoring more A/A kills against the #Iranian made IED-drones. Here’s a video showing 3 of the 8 drones shot down last Monday over #SaudiArabia pic.twitter.com/ywJolELjq1

— محمد بن خالد (@MbKS15) July 2, 2020

My theory.

The more Iran is squeezed the more likely the low grade fight turns high grade.

We've been looking for nation state warfare to breakout?  I think it'll be between either Saudi Arabia vs Iran or Turkey vs Egypt...with Saudi Arabia vs Iran being more likely.

RAF A400M Atlas conducts Natural Surface Operations

🎥Watch as our A400M Atlas conducts Natural Surface Operations, who can guess which beach we used today?
The A400M is the @RoyalAirForce newest aircraft to join the Air Mobility Force at RAF Brize Norton, providing tactical airlift and strategic oversize lift capabilities. ✈️ pic.twitter.com/DoTVJ4xDwH

— RAF Brize Norton (@RAFBrizeNorton) July 2, 2020

Who are these guys? YJA Star e's forces targeted two Turk tanks

#YJA Star e forces carrying out two military actions against Turkish soldiers in Hakkari on June 2 and 3. After YJA Star e's forces targeted two tanks for #Turkish occupation soldiers at Zeyt and Zevîkê base
Resulting in the destruction of the two tanks. pic.twitter.com/RVmjrfLO0x

— Yekîneyên Servanên Efrînê (@Servanenefrine) July 2, 2020

Had to be a base that got hit.  Wonder why they don't have security out? Weird war.  Seems like its almost laid back till people start dying.  So many different forces operating in such close quarters and we're not seeing the type of intensity I'd expect.

Anyone ever hear of this group before?  I haven't.  Is it an old player that got renamed?

This is a strange game.  The bad part of the gamesmanship?  People are dying and those that don't die are having their lives turned upside down.

One thing is certain.

Victory on the battlefield is not the objective.

EOS Australia wins accelerated contract with the Australian Army...

Today’s announcement of the acceleration of the contract signing between @DeptDefence and Electro Optic Systems will provide us with 251 new generation Remote Weapons Stations for our protected vehicles. Read more via https://t.co/7pYeLY24Qr. pic.twitter.com/qRQyFYY2pn

— Australian Army (@AustralianArmy) July 2, 2020

The Hawkei might deserve another look.  Shaping up to be an unusual but capable vehicle (I think).