Southern Command Warns Sunni Extremists Infiltrating From South

via Free Beacon.

Sunni extremists are infiltrating the United States with the help of alien smugglers in South America and are crossing U.S. borders with ease, according to a U.S. South Command intelligence report.
The Command’s J-2 intelligence directorate reported recently in internal channels that “special interest aliens” are working with a known alien smuggling network in Latin America to reach the United States. The smuggling network was not identified.
Army Col. Lisa A. Garcia, a Southcom spokeswoman, did not address the intelligence report directly but said Sunni terrorist infiltration is a security concern.
“Networks that specialize in smuggling individuals from regions of terrorist concern, mainly from the Afghanistan-Pakistan region, the Middle East, and East Africa, are indeed a concern for Southcom and other interagency security partners who support our country’s national security,” Garcia told theWashington Free Beacon.
“There are major hubs that serve as entry points into the region for migrants from those areas of concern attempting to enter the U.S. along our border with Mexico,” she said.

"Crossing US borders with ease."

Is Southern Command spooked?  Information like this would usually be "close hold" unless you're looking at an organization trying to make sure that when bad shit happens, they can say that they warned you but such and such agency didn't act.  And how do we know they warned their govt partners?  Because of leaks like you see above.

I wonder.  How scared are they?

Counter-electronics High-powered Microwave Advanced Missile Project (CHAMP). A blast from the past.

Everyone is predicting a high tech future war.

With weapon systems like CHAMP (and there is no reason to believe that our enemies don't possess similar weapons) we might see fighting revert to an industrial age grudge match.

China warns India on deployment of Brahmos missiles.

Thanks to Sarabvir for the link!

via Daily Mail.

India's move to deploy BrahMos cruise missiles in Arunachal as a deterrent against China has provoked a sharp response from the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA).

The NDA government had given the final go-ahead for the Army to induct and deploy an advanced version of the BrahMos missile for mountain warfare in the northeast earlier this month.

The PLA’s official mouthpiece, the PLA Daily, has warned India that doing so could attract countermeasures from China and bring “a negative influence” to “stability” of border areas.
“India deploying supersonic missiles on the border has exceeded its own needs for self-defense and poses a serious threat to China’s Tibet and Yunnan provinces,” said the commentary, published this weekend in the PLA’s influential official newspaper.

Did China just lay the groundwork for a preemptive strike against India's missile complexes?  A serious threat to Tibet and Yunnan provinces?

I really don't understand the Chinese.  In Africa and the Middle East they're extremely accommodating, but in their own backyard they're throwing their weight around.  To be a bit clearer they're willing to work with third world nations without threats or bravado but when it comes to nations that equal or almost equal their military might they seem to be much more aggressive.

We probably won't see an all out fight but border flare ups are inevitable.  I wonder if the Chinese are familiar with Sikh Warrior tradition?

Chinese Ambassador to Japan warned that Beijing would not concede on the demand or relinquish their sovereignty over the South China Sea even if it meant the two countries went to war.

Jesus!  The hits keep coming!  Check this out via Sputnik.

The Chinese Ambassador to Japan warned that Beijing would not concede on the demand or relinquish their sovereignty over the South China Sea even if it meant the two countries went to war.
On Saturday, diplomatic sources confirmed that China had issued a severe warning to Tokyo in late June demanding that Japan refrain from dispatching Self-Defense Forces to join US operations testing the freedom of navigation in the South China Sea.
Japan will “cross a red line” if SDF vessels take part in the freedom of navigation operations, Chinese Ambassador Cheng Yonghua conveyed to Tokyo at the time. Cheng threatened military action if Japan failed to comply with the ultimatum.

I wonder why we're getting such late notification of this?  Regardless, this is ominous.

NOTE:  I could be looking at this all wrong.  But this happened a couple of weeks ago and since then we've seen the Chinese Ambassador head to Syria, Turkey make nice with Russia, India heading to Syria, Yemen asking Russia to use their bases etc...If this isn't coordinated then its the most unlikely set of circumstances we've seen in awhile.  Maybe I'm connecting dots where none exist.

Turkish backed rebels preparing to attack ISIS held town!

Thanks to MicMac80 for the link!

via Reuters.

Hundreds of Syrian rebels are preparing to launch an operation to capture a town held by Islamic State at the border with Turkey, a senior Syrian rebel said on Sunday, a move that would frustrate Kurdish hopes to expand further in that area.
The rebels, Turkey-backed groups fighting under the banner of the Free Syrian Army, are expected to assault Jarablus from inside Turkey in the next few days, said the rebel official, who is familiar with the plans but declined to be identified.
"The factions are gathering in an area near the border (inside Turkey)," the rebel said.
Jarablus, located on the western bank of the Euphrates river, is the last significant town held by the militant Islamist group on Syria's border with Turkey. It is 34 miles (54km) east of al-Rai, a border town the same rebel groups recently took from Islamic State.
By taking Jarablus themselves, the rebel groups would preclude an assault on the town by the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), a group of Kurdish-dominated militias who on Aug. 6 took the city of Manbij, 20 miles (30km) to the south, from IS.
Turkey, an important supporter of the FSA groups, is worried that Kurds are using the SDF's westwards expansion against IS to extend their influence across northern Syria. The SDF already holds the eastern bank of the Euphrates opposite Jarablus.


On Saturday Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim said that Ankara would play a more active role in addressing the conflict in Syria in the coming six months to stop it being torn along ethnic lines.

The Kurds overplayed their hand and now they're about to be laid on the altar of Middle East politics alongside ISIS.

The question.

Will the US attempt to keep the Kurds from being decimated by a determined attack by Turkish forces?

What will Russia do?  Are they backing Turkey's play?  What is their view of the situation with the Kurds?

Geez.  This is getting wild.  The only good thing?  ISIS is about to defeated.

India goes to Syria...the geopolitics are stunning...we have lost the initiative.

Thanks to Don for the link!

via Indian Punchline.

India needs to take serious note even as Minister of State MJ Akbar arrives today in Damascus on a rare visit by an Indian dignitary. (Where China goes, can India be far behind?)
To be sure, Moscow is moving speedily to create new facts on the ground before the next US president takes over the reins of the US’ Middle East policies. Moscow aims to bolster Iran’s defence capability to a point that a military strike on that country becomes a non-option for the US and/or Israel.
Conceivably, we cannot rule out that there would have been some discussions already between Moscow and Tehran regarding a mutual security alliance in the event of a military threat from a new US administration dominated by neoconservative ideologues (which could be the case in a Hillary Clinton presidency.)
Russia is speeding up the delivery of the S-300 missile system to Iran. Reports from Tehran say that the delivery will be completed within a month from now.

Do you feel the sand shifting beneath the feet of US Middle East policy?  One of my Indian readers told me that their Minister of State was visiting Syria (sorry I forgot your name) but I failed to grasp the significance.

Russia.  China.  Iran.  Turkey is making kissy faces toward Syria...and now India is sending their Chief Diplomat.  Alliances are shifting.  The last few months of this year could change the course of several nations in the ME.

Note:  Can you imagine how pissed Obama must be?  He picked Hillary as his first SecState because of political expediency.  He probably didn't know that she was a Neo-Con in Democrat clothing and he probably resents all the messes that she's gotten him into.  So what does he do next.  He appoints Kerry when Hillary's time is over.  Kerry is a peacenik so what could go wrong?  He would make US foreign policy come in line with the President's thinking and all would be right with the world.  Then came the red line, the Iran nuke deal and the Chinese push in the Pacific.  Obama must feel snake bit!

Everyone is begging Russia to use their airbases...now Yemen!

Thanks to Robert for the link!

#GPC #Saleh @YemenAfaash tells #Russia TV Россия 1/24: We can work with  Moscow #RUS to use #Yem air/sea bases to fight terrorism in #Yemen

— Mohammed Basha باشا (@Yemen411) August 21, 2016

This is utter madness!  Its also interesting as hell.  Would you have thought in a million years that we'd see Middle Eastern/African nations begging the Russians to use their bases?  The politics of this thing are beyond me.  We're helping the Saudis in Yemen, the Russians are helping Assad in Syria, the Saudis are against Assad and yet Yemen is asking the Russians to help.

I don't quite get this.  Enemy of my enemy is one thing but this?  I'm gonna need a score card to keep up with the games being played here.

Open Comment Post. Aug 21, 2016.

Have at it guys.

Oh and Nate Diaz was robbed!

K-90 Amphibious Tank. Blast from the past.

 

I can't quite make out the information from the Russian sites on this and the "Tank Gaming Sites" are more interested in possible stats for game play rather than historical information.

What I'm sure of is that it was light, coming in at under 15 tons, had a punchy gun and a hull form that seems ideal for the intended role.

Iran's Karrar Main Battle Tank via Defence Blog.

Here.

Looks like a reskinned T-72.  I guess they're trying to incorporate lessons learned from the fighting in Syria when it comes to tank protection/armor.  I notice slat armor around the engine compartment is becoming a world wide standard.  What surprises is that they don't extend it to between the third and fourth road wheel.

Saudi Jets Bomb Peaceful Pro-Houthi Rally of 100,000 in Yemen’s Capital

via Sputnik.

The move by Saudi Arabia in violation of international human rights law comes at a time when the United States has withdrawn support for the Riyadh-led coalition due to the rising civilian death toll.
Saudi-led coalition fighter jets struck the Yemeni capital of Sanaa during a massive demonstration that attracted over 100,000 pro-Houthi rebels and supporters of the former President Abdullah Saleh.


Tens of thousands rallied in Sanaa’s central square in a dynamic display of democratic power in favor of the Shiite Houthi rebels with demonstrators proudly cheering a recently established Supreme Political Council including members of the Houthi movement.
But then the powerful moment of human dignity and expression turned tragic as fighter jets began bombing Yemen’s capital, including the area near the Presidential palace where protesters were assembled according to AP. The strike resulted in an “unknown number of casualties” according to the news agency although eyewitnesses say that at least three civilians were killed and dozens were wounded.

A few things...

*  I'm getting a bit frustrated that Western news media aren't covering issues of importance in some of the trouble spots around the world.

*  I'm getting a bit frustrated that I'm having to depend on Sputnik, RT, and to a lesser extent The Daily Mail and Telegraph for what little new we do get.

*  I'm a bit alarmed at the thought that this information is part of a campaign by the Russians.  Have we really gotten to a point where knowing about events around the world can actually discredit US policy and shame our so called allies?

One last thing.  I've taken my eye off the Saudi's but its obvious that they're losing their freaking minds.  How do you bomb a protest and think that won't add fuel to the insurgency that you're fighting?

Militarily they have no clue.  They better hope Erik Prince can assemble a division worth of S. American former troops that don't mind being dropped into that meat grinder.  Otherwise we'll see them kicked out of Yemen by the end of next year and probably the Kingdom teetering on collapse.

Russia is pushing to use Incirlik AB in Turkey.

Thanks to Don for the link!

via The Australian

Russia is pressing Turkey for ­access to a key airbase used by the US as it tries to extend its ­influence in the Middle East.
The American-built Incirlik base, about 100km from the ­Syrian border, is used by NATO and has about 50 US tactical ­nuclear warheads stored on site.
A senior Russian politician said allowing Russian jets and bombers to use it would be a “logical continuation” of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s efforts to rebuild Turkey’s relations with the Kremlin.
“It just remains to come to an agreement with Erdogan that we get the NATO base Incirlik as our primary airbase,” said Igor Morozov, a member of the Senate committee on international affairs.
This would allow the Russian air force to subject Islamic State and other jihadist groups to “constant bombing” and bring the war to a quicker conclusion, he said.
“You’ll see, the next base will be Incirlik,” he told Izvestia after the Kremlin revealed this week its bombers had started using a base in Iran to launch attacks in Syria.
Senator Viktor Ozerov told the RIA Novosti news agency: “It’s not certain that Russia needs Incirlik, but such a decision would be seen as a real willingness on Turkey’s part to co-operate with Russia in the war against terrorism in Syria.”

The above was posted yesterday.  But check this out from July of this year via Pravda.

Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu admitted that Russia would be allowed to use Turkish air base Incirlik for the purpose of the struggle against the Islamic State terrorist group.

Ankara may soon give Russia permission to use Incirlik air base for operations against the Islamic State Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said in an interview with TRT TV channel.
"We will cooperate with everyone who oppose the Islamic State. We have been struggling against them since the very start and we have opened the Incirlik base for those who want to take part in it. Why can't we cooperate like this with Russia? The Islamic State is our common enemy, and we all must fight against it. This is of paramount importance for the implementation of this mechanism into practice and for the prevention of any undesirable incidents. We agree with Russian FM Sergey Lavrov on the subject," he said.

Incirlik Air Base has the territory of about 3320 acres. The base is within an urban area of 1.7 million people, 32 km inland from the Mediterranean Sea. The primary users of the base are the US Air Force and the Turkish Air Force. The base is also used by the Royal Air Force and by Saudi Arabia.

I don't know if an agreement has been reached to allow the US a "face saving" exit from Incirlik but this signals a couple of things.

Most ominously I think it means Turkey is done with NATO.  Second it means that the strategy to "fight ISIS and Assad" has failed.

Something huge is going on folks.  This has implications I can't even begin to imagine.