Remember the Saudi/UAE tanks in Yemen?

via Almanar.com

The Yemeni army and the Popular Committees foiled an attempt by the Saudi-US aggression to advance towards the Al-Bayda' province in central Yemen.
Sources told Al-Manar TV that attacking forces - joined by al-Qaeda terrorists and armed mercenaries - tried on Monday to advance towards Al-Bayda' city before falling into the ambush of Yemeni forces in the point located between Abyan and Bayda' provinces.
The Yemeni national units thwarted the operation, leaving scores of the enemy elements killed and wounded, after they destroyed two Saudi armored vehicles and seized 6 other Emirati vehicles that were used during the attack on Aden city.
In a similar development, a unit of the Yemeni forces managed to directly hit a Saudi fighter tank deployed in al-Khoba site, where the fighters sneaked into the Saudi military post and targeted a tanks assembly point.
They also managed to destroy a Saudi tank and to set another armored vehicle ablaze.
In Najran border area, Yemeni fighters fired guided missiles on an Abrams tank with 5 Saudi soldiers on board. Their bodies were seen flying through the place.

Here.

The first line in this "story" makes it suspect but information from that war zone has been extremely spotty for good reason.  No independent journalist with any common sense would travel to that region.

So we depend on jaded news sources.

What can we tell from this posting?

Fighting is still taking place.  Some of it appears to be quite intense.  Claims of vehicles...M1A2 Abrams being destroyed has to be taken with a bit of doubt....at least until we see the pics and get confirmation from the Saudi's.

In the Middle East, no news is bad news.  If the Saudi's were rampaging and destroying the rebel forces we would hear about it because they'd be shouting it from the rooftops.

This is probably gonna get even nastier before its over...and its nasty already.

1st Battalion 4th Marines @ Exercise Crocodile Strike.

via 1/4's Facebook Page...photographer unidentified...

Modern Policing Conundrum...they're no good in the woods...

via Chron.com

— A man suspected of killing a retired dentist, taking three men hostage and wounding two deputies was likely traveling a section of the famed Pacific Crest Trail to elude searchers during an 18-day manhunt, authorities said. Investigators believe 34-year-old Benjamin Peter Ashley was headed back to the trail when he was confronted and shot by deputies Saturday behind a mini-mart in Inyokern, Kern County Sheriff Donny Youngblood said. An autopsy performed Monday determined Ashley's death to be a homicide because two of the wounds inflicted by officers were fatal. Youngblood said the autopsy also found that a self-inflicted wound was fatal. The full report hasn't been completed and more details were pending. Asked about a motive for the crime spree, Youngblood said, "the mindset of this man we'll never know."

Here.

Interesting.  Has anyone noticed a recurring theme when it comes to successfully evading police?

The cops are no good in the woods.

From the escaped prisoners in New York, to the guy that went on a cop killing rampage in California, to the unabomber and now this guy.

For some reason law enforcement has tremendous issues operating outside of any urban area...and alot of times the only way suspects are caught is when they take the risk of heading into town.

US Marines deploy armor to Europe to deter Russia....photo by Sgt. Tatum Vayavananda

U.S. Marines now have tanks, artillery, and light-armored reconnaissance vehicles in Europe to support NATO allies and international partner countries. The heavy equipment arrived in Bremerhaven, Germany, Sunday, and is bound for Bulgaria. The tanks, artillery, and light armored reconnaissance vehicles will be loaded on trains and moved across Europe demonstrating our allies’ and international partners’ ability to move heavy equipment across the region to support operations during a crisis.

Interesting.  I imagine Tankers, Artillerymen and LAV crews are sitting somewhere with a huge "I told ya so" shit eating grin.

In an age where the incoming Chairman of the Joint Chief's of Staff has called Russia our biggest threat, the USMC is buying an airplane that many says will be dog meat against their current jets and is shredding Tanks, Artillery and LAVs.....but in order to to deter the big threat it must deploy what it says is no longer needed!

Large Scale Exercise-15...photos by Lance Cpl. Chris Garcia

Marines with 1st Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment used the P7 amphibious assault vehicle to travel to various locations in order to reach their objectives during Large Scale Exercise 15 aboard Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center, Twentynine Palms, Calif., Aug. 14 – 15, 2015. LSE-15 is a combined U.S. Marine Corps, Canadian and British exercise conducted at the brigade level, designed to enable live, virtual and constructive training for participating forces.

Marines with 1st Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment prepare to start the movement to contact training event during Large Scale Exercise 15 aboard Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center, Twentynine Palms, Calif., Aug. 14–15, 2015. LSE-15 is a combined U.S. Marine Corps, Canadian and British exercise conducted at the brigade level, designed to enable live, virtual and constructive training for participating forces.

Sidenote:  Ok.  Someone that ACTUALLY KNOWS tell me what the REAL DEAL nomenclature of the AAV is.  Is it P7 Amphibious Assault Vehicle, is it Assault Amphibious Vehicle, or is it AAVP7A1 RAM/RS....or is it correct to call it all of the above?  With the change long ago from LVT to AAV its never been clear what we call the damn track!  Help me out.

Flakka...the latest street drug you should be aware of...

via Vice News.

A video captured by the body cameras of two cops in southern Illinois last month reportedly shows a naked man, allegedly high on the drug flakka, violently thrashing around his home, flipping over furniture, banging into walls, yelling, and avoiding all attempts by police to subdue him.

The two police officers used stun guns to try to get control of Stephen Berkeley, 51, whom they say was in a state of "excited delirium" caused by the drug — symptoms include agitation, anxiety, high body temperature, and hallucinations — and called for medical assistance, according to police chief William Southerd of Christopher, Illinois.

But it was too late, Southerd said. Berkeley died of an overdose. An investigator at the scene noted the bruises on Berkeley's body and the two officers nearby, and said the death would have been suspicious if not for the body camera videos showing Berkeley's demeanor, Southerd said.

"This video was like something I've never seen before," Southerd said. "The guy was completely going nuts in the bedroom, banging into walls, flipping things over. He completely tore the room up, and once they got him subdued he died."
"If it wasn't for the body cameras I'd probably have two officers in jail right now," he added. "Even our crime scene guys came in and said I've got a room completely torn up with bruises all over [the deceased], and two officers. I wouldn't know how to rule this."
Southerd declined to share the video with VICE News, citing privacy concerns of Berkeley's family, but hopes to eventually secure its release and use it as an educational tool to alert legislators and school authorities to what he says is the growing threat of flakka, which he described as "bath salts on steroids."

Here.

Just plain awesome.

Some mad scientist chemist has made a new drug that makes people wig out and act crazy (crazier?).

Sorry.  I'm not even laying hands on some idiot that has the strength of Hercules while never stepping one foot into the gym, was probably already psychotic before he took mind altering drugs and is probably carrying some type of disease that could threaten not only my life but the lives of those I love.

Avoid.  Attempt to clear the area...and if further threatened I'm putting him down.

Flakka.  The latest threat to you and yours.

Evolving BACK to LBE's!

photo via Defense Matters Tumblr Page...

Was doing my nightly internet sweep and ran across the above pic.  Amazing isn't it?  LBE's got dumped for Chest Rigs...Chest Rigs were found to be unnecessarily cumbersome for many missions so we saw Battle Belts come into existence.  Battle Belts got loaded up with gear so we're seeing "suspension systems" being used to better carry the weight (getting it off the hips) which in many cases means adding suspenders (as you see above) which in essence means we're back to LBE's!

The gun community and those that call themselves gunfighters need to learn the difference between fads, trends and reinventing the wheel.

Battle Belts as currently designed fit into the fad category.  When you see belts carrying a couple of rifle mags, a couple of pistol mags, a utility tool, a fighting/general purpose knife and a dump pouch then you're either looking at an overloaded belt or you need a modern day LBE made with improved materials.

The second that a manufacturer realizes the obvious and dumps the fad that is battle belts and instead gives us a modern day LBE is the day they get money thrown at them and probably contracts from SOCOM and the Marine Corps.

We've already lost the battle of the Arctic...

Thanks to Joe for the link!

via Business Insider...

As the Arctic warms, Russia is positioning itself to become the dominant player in a resource-rich and strategically positioned region.

In order to capitalize on the oil and gas under the Arctic seabed and exploit new shipping routes as ice cover recedes, Moscow is undertaking a major military upgrade of its northern coast and outlying archipelagos. Its new bases — which include search-and-rescue stations, ports and airstrips, and military headquarters — are meant to project Russian hard power into an emerging strategic frontier.
The map shows exactly where Russia is building its bases, and reveals the continent-wide scope of Russia's militarization of its northern coast. And it shows how intense Russia's Arctic focus is compared to that of its neighbors and rivals.

Here.

Wow.  Maybe I'm just looking at things the wrong way, but from my chair it seems that China is winning in the Pacific...ISIS has fought the "alliance" to at least a standstill (giving a huge benefit of the doubt)....Ukraine is just a festering mess that's going to be more pain than its worth.....

And Russia is making moves to corner the Arctic.

What should we do?  How about having the Army form an Arctic Infantry Brigade?  Buy an allotment of BVS-10's, run unit leaders thru the British Marine Mountain Leaders Course (to have a cadre of experts to pass along those skills) and start doing some real deal (meaning actually beneficial) joint training with Finland, Poland, Canada to blunt this move.

Somehow we've fallen into short range planning while our enemies are making long range plans.

Establish national goals for defense.  Chart it out for the long term.  Adjust it to changing realities.  Uncouple it from tech and focus on objectives....and catch up with these bastards.  They're playing chess while we're licking windows.

Sidenote:  The Navy and Marines don't get a free pass on this either.  Notice how many bases are on islands?  Running detachments of Marines aboard Coast Guard Icebreakers and a new category of Navy ships that can somewhat handle arctic ice might be in order.

Self Defense Training....Pelvic shots are catching on! What are the implications?

I had a chance to get in some work at the range and one thing that I'm starting to see more and more is pelvic shots.

In my mind it makes sense.

Head shots are notoriously difficult to pull off.  The head is too animated for clear clean hits.  Triple taps to the chest risk dealing with someone that happens to be wearing body armor.  Trauma plates reinforce them and the chance of actually stopping someone in this day in age with a shot to the region are diminishing (I've even read that heavily muscled individuals weren't put down due to the density of tissue over vital organs...might be an old wives tale though...trying to run down an actual example).

That leaves pelvic shots.

Completely incapacitating on the first hit with the added bonus being that the criminal will never be involved in an active crime again (most will be rendered wheel chair bound after such a hit) and I don't see many down sides.

Is it applicable in all situation?  No.  Does it provide another effective target area that you should practice to hit?  Hell yeah!

Sunday Controversy. The attack on the Alabama Detective. UPDATED!!!

NOTE:  This is a talk about police tactics, not a defense of the ATTACK!  Don't get it twisted and stay on target people!  Don Bacon, a reader of mine found a link that everyone should read...

via Police One.

The incident began when the plainclothes detective in an unmarked car stopped Cunningham’s SUV in connection with some burglaries in the area. When he approached, he asked the suspect to stay in his vehicle while he waited for backup.
The suspect refused to comply with the officer’s commands, approached the officer and questioned him about why he was being stopped. A fight ensued and the suspect assaulted the detective with his own weapon.
The detective was rushed to the hospital and backup pursued the suspect. He was arrested along with a second man. The second man has not yet been charged with any crime.

We're talking TACTICS!

A plainclothes detective, presumably in an unmarked car is going to make a stop on a felony suspect and approach him alone?

The detective tells the guy to stay in the vehicle and he refuses to comply and he doesn't escalate immediately?

Again from Police One....

“A lot of officers are being too cautious because of what's going on in the media," the officer said to the news site. "I hesitated because I didn't want to be in the media like I am right now."
Details on the incident have not been fully released, but the department said the suspect was able to grab the officer’s gun and beat him unconscious. A few onlookers took pictures of the officer and posted them on social media — praising the beating of a cop.
The six-year veteran didn’t shoot the man while he was being assaulted because of the national outcry surrounding police shootings, he said to the publication.

Story here and here.

The assault on the detective was nothing short of barbaric.  I do not condone it anyway.....

But the explanation smacks of being a weak excuse.  A search for a reason to explain away poor police tactics, a lack of officer safety, substandard situational awareness, improper weapon retention skills and general lack of self defense training.  The guy screwed up, approached a felony suspect solo, got behind the self defense power curve and was unable to get ahead of it again.  The only good thing to come of this is that he wasn't killed with his own weapon.

AND THAT'S THE REAL TEACHABLE MOMENT HERE!  Police Officers must work on unarmed self defense!  They have to practice weapon retention, lift weights and workout like they're convicts!  I do and I don't wear a badge (doing an indoc for search and rescue in Oct though).  Too many people have or are getting MMA skills, working out is too popular etc...for these skills not to be priority number one for law enforcement.

This detective didn't avoid shooting and killing the suspect because of national media attention.  He didn't because he couldn't.  Not admitting that cold hard fact is....just wrong....that's my opinion...what's yours?