Dynamic Views.

I love some of the changes that have come with Google's 'Blogger' setup.  Its user friendly...extremely stable and they constantly upgrade it.

Google's not exactly the monster that many would make it out to be are they?

But back on topic.

One of the things that I really appreciate is the fact that they give users (me) and consumers (you) the choice in how you receive this blog.

If you're a traditionalist then you might like things the way they are.  But if you're cutting edge you might desire a different format.

Got ya covered.  Check this out....

Mosaic View.

Classic View.

Flipcard View.

Magazine View.

Sidebar View.

Your choice on how you view this blog.

Simply click on the Dynamic Views tab at the top of the page and it'll take you to the pages....There is a drop down menu that lets you scroll between the different views.

SNAFU! meets the needs of its readers....

Readers get to choose how they receive the information...

Google isn't Satan reincarnate...

Win-Win-Win...

I'm feeling the Aster.

US Air Force Space Command.

Who knew?

These guys are celebrating there 30th anniversary and hardly anyone has noticed.  What they lack in making videos is certainly made up for in at least one piece of tech they're responsible for giving the guys on the ground...GPS.

If you've ever called for fire and was able to plug in the coordinates without having to spend a few extra minutes staring at your map hoping you didn't jumble your dope then you can thank these guys.

Few people realize it but the USAF once outpaced NASA when it came to man in space research.  With the current NASA difficulties and with the success of the X-37, I can see the USAF once again taking up where NASA has screwed up (all this occurred with a retired Marine General in charge of NASA...disgraceful...outreach to Muslim nations instead of concentrating on manned space????!!!!!!).

Long story short.  Congratulations US Air Force Space Command.  You might not be filling the newpaper with headlines but those that have their nose to the grindstone doing real work rarely do.


Happy 30th.

Latest Prometheus Trailer...

Can't wait to see this...have you noticed the enduring themes...Corporations are evil and naive scientist will get you killed?

Man being investigated by police for killing a 4ft rat!

via Sky

A granddad who killed a giant rat may be investigated by the police for animal cruelty.

Brian Watson killed the 4ft rodent with a piece of wood in Castleside, Consett, County Durham.

He said that the creature was a giant rat but it is possible the animal may be a coypu, a South American water rat, believed to have been erradicated from the UK decades ago.

Police say they will be looking into the matter after Sky Tyne and Wear broke the story.

The rodent was first spotted by the boyfriend of Mr Watson’s granddaughter, while he was cutting grass on a tractor.

Mr Watson told Sky Tyne and Wear said: “I heard him shouting there was a giant rat so I came running round the corner.

"I managed to grab some wood on the way. It wasn’t very fast because it was that big. I managed to kill it there and then, I’ve never seen a rat as big in my life before.”

It came to light when Mr Watson’s friend, Bri Mitchell, posted a picture of the rodent after it had been caught, on Twitter.

Police officers will need more information about the animal and the circumstances surrounding its death before they can decide whether any crime has been committed.

A spokesman for Durham Police said: “We are aware of this incident and our officers will be looking into it in due course.”

Geez!

Not Brit bashing but geez!

You can't even kill vermin now without running into a police investigation???

The Marine Corps has a messaging problem.

My Marine Corps has a messaging problem.


Headquarters Marine Corps presents the Marine Corps like this to policy makers...



Marines see themselves like this...

And the enemy sees the Marine Corps like this...

God Of War

Two out of three of these views are acceptable.


Guess which one isn't...and if you didn't say Barney (which I'm lining up for target practice) then you're wrong!  The usual suspects fawned all over themselves when the Marine Corps displayed its current ad...running to the sound of chaos.


What they failed to see (probably because a full scale amphibious assault is beyond impressive) was the MV-22's...CH-53's...MTVR's filled with USAID packages.  Look for yourself.  Look carefully and don't get caught up in the OOOHRAHHHH.





NO MORE!


Did you know that SOCOM has a humanitarian aid mission set?  They do.  They don't advertise it but they do.  Now why is that?  Because they want the focus to stay on trigger pulling (Special Forces might be an exception but they operate in a totally different arena).


This is one time when the Marine Corps would be well served to follow the example of SOCOM.

Humanitarian Emphasis. Dear Marine Corps, please stop it.

RANT ON!

I don't know who came up with the idea that humanitarian aid and relief missions was the way to go with Marine Corps advertising but its really gone overboard.

There was a time when the US Marine Corps put on firepower displays, had Harriers perform their aerial ballets and the Ground Combat Element conducted a mock raid.

Now we're show casing humanitarian rescue?  Relief missions?

Say it out loud and consider this.

The Philippines are staring straight at a belligerent Communist China over fishing rights.  A Chinese dissedent is in hiding in the US Embassy in China.

Maybe now WOULD be the time that we demonstrated to our friends and foes alike the tremendous firepower that comes at ya when you poke a stick at the US.  Maybe its time to let those who oppress know that the dogs will come off the chain unless they check themselves.

You can try and have the Punisher hand out candy on christmas but every bad guy in comic book world knows that the madman is really just waiting for a chance to fuck them up!

Even cute little mouse ears doesn't change the fact that the underlying symbol is a skull...you can give the grim reaper a suit but he's still coming for your soul.

Its time to put this kinder, gentler, politically correct bullshit back in the bag.  It just doesn't work and everyone from here to the Pentagon and over to Bejing knows it.

Elmo must die!

H/T to Endo Blogspot.



This video is picture perfect.

The home armory is a little small but I'm sure they're working on it.  But it does remind me.  I need to order a couple of cases of tannerite. 

Even you guys that live in the people's RepubliK of Kali-fuck my citizens (that's California for the liberals...all the conservatives understood that instantly) can buy this stuff.

Marine Personnel Carrier Contest. A look at the Terrex.

The Terrex IFV is from all appearances a technologically advanced (although not to any greater degree than other vehicles in its class) 8x8.

Confusion arises when talking about the different generations.  The first series of Terrex ICV were identified as AV-81's.  Current models retain the same nomenclature but differ in appearance. 

 Terrex ICV

Quite honestly I can't see much that jumps out and hits me with the "wow" factor.  The Singaporean Army is acquiring 135, Turkey negotiated production rights but has not inducted it into its own military and Malaysia is supposedly buying 420 of them but wants to produce them locally.


Wheeled 8x8 Infantry Carrier Vehicles are all the rage today but they've been historically labeled as armored cars.  The idea of using them in a combat role...even for the transportation of troops up to the fight instead of into it would have seemed beyond crazy a couple of decades ago.

But I'm off topic.  The armored vehicle market is changing.  The hottest market on the planet currently is the Pacific Rim and most of the power players produce their own vehicles locally supporting domestic firms.  Its my belief that publicity and street cred is the goal here.

Singapore Kinetics wants to get its vehicle out in front of potential customers.  The Marine Personnel Carrier Program fits the bill.

My earlier analysis stands.  The Terrex will get a look but isn't situated to win the competition.

Environmentalist. Why I hate them...

The UK. Time to rethink the "special relationship"..

120421-N-KQ416-554 ARABIAN SEA (April 21, 2012) The Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72) and the British Royal Fleet Auxiliary replenishment oiler RFA Fort Victoria (A387) transit the Arabian Sea. Abraham Lincoln is deployed to the U.S. 5th Fleet area of responsibility conducting maritime security operations, theater security cooperation efforts and support missions as part of Operation Enduring Freedom. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Zachary S. Welch/Released)

Its time to rethink the "special relationship" between the US and the UK.

My reasoning is that....

*Culturally the two countries are light years apart now.  You would be hard pressed for a UK citizen and a US citizen to agree on anything of substance.
*The UK is moving toward Europe and away from the US.  Why should we stop it or be concerned by it?  The most obvious example is the move by the UK (instigated by them too) to adopt a closer defense alliance with the French.  This is by no means a game changer but it does give an indication of where they see their future.  Its with the French and not the US.
*What good is it to any of the involved parties?  The UK's citizenry (along with the rest of Europe) enjoys bashing the US.  It would probably be of great relief to the British people to see the US go away...most Americans caught up in nonsense wouldn't notice...and why should they?  It won't affect there lives.
*We need to focus on Asia and the special relationship drags us back to the same tired European issues that are helping to stunt our turn to the east.

There are a couple of other points that I could make but you get the gist of this.  We should treat the UK like we treat Germany.  Allied but not exactly friendly.

This nonsense with tech sharing has to stop too.  Its been a one way street and hasn't benefited us.  If you look at BAE's work with the F-35 its been under the banner of their US division.  They've had to create that division in order to comply with US restrictions on the selling of our tech on the open market.

Besides, with the way that the UK's governments been in la-la land concerning which airplane they want to buy I wouldn't be surprised to see them simply walk away.  Even that might not be such a bad thing.  It would probably add a bit of stability to the program if they left.  A few countries might decide to follow but not enough to make a difference.  Its been a US program from the start and if only the US, China, Russia and India along with a few select allies have stealth why is that bad?

Yeah.

This special relationship must evolve.  And by evolve I mean end.

NOTE:  THE PROBLEM ISN'T GREATER EUROPE.  Its the big 3.  The Uk, France and Germany.  With the other nations of Europe, if you look at the size of their militaries then you'll see a large contribution was indeed given to the effort in Afghanistan.  Additionally several of the other countries on that continent appear to simply want an equal partnership.  The big 3 acts as if they're the big brother to America the little one.  From the US bashing that is rampant, to the snarky editiorials to the revisionist history its all stale. 

NH-90 finally getting combat time.

Afghanistan (and later Libya) has been a live testing ground for many weapon systems.  One system missing in action has been the NH-90.  According to the company's website it was placed into service in 2006 but has yet to see action in that conflict.

Here is the latest news.

From the Cassidian website...

From the end of 2012, German Army Aviation will be in charge of providing forward air medical evacuation in Afghanistan using their NH90 helicopters. The FwdAirMedEvac helicopters will provide a solid base for emergency medical care for German soldiers in crisis areas.

And then this from Shepard Media...

 Germany has been operating a handful of CH-53 heavy-lift helicopters in the north of the country since 2002. If Germany Army plans come to fruition, the CH-53s will be joined by NH90s serving in the medevac role, and Tiger attack helicopters.
Plans for the introduction of the two types into theatre were outlined by Brig Gen Reinhard Wolski, the director of German Army Aviation speaking at IQPC's International Military Helicopter conference, held in London from 23-26 January.
The Tiger deployment - which is subject to German government approval - will use Tigers modified to 'Asgard' standard. Eurocopter has taken delivery of the 23rd Tiger which is being updated to 'Asgard F' (F for Full) configuration. The first batch of four Asgard Tigers is due to be delivered back to the Germany Army in August.
Asgard modifications include engine filters for the aircraft to operate in sandy and hot climates, a communication equipment upgrade as well as modifications to the helicopter avionics, and exterior lighting system enhancements for night-time operations. Tiger crews have begun training on 'Asgard T' aircraft (T for training) to pave the way for the Asgard Tiger's introduction.
Wolski said he was confident of getting the NH90s into theatre by the end of the year. The aircraft will be used in the medevac role and will relieve the 'Dustoff' Black Hawks currently provided by the US Army in the region that is controlled by German ISAF troops.

Bill Sweetman loves to talk about how the European Aviation Industry is miles ahead of the US when it comes to rotary winged vehicles.

The NH-90 was suppose to be the war winner that finally knocked the BlackHawk off the stage as the most combat capable medium helicopter on the market.

The Blackhawk still has its crown and the NH-90 is stumbling into battle.  That's not to say that the NH-90 might not develop into an extremely capable weapon system.  But today is not that day.

I will follow the German deployment of their NH-90 with interest...in the meantime the CH-53G will soldier on...

Assault Breacher Vehicle.

Its been a while since we talked about the Assault Breacher Vehicle.  I don't know how well its performed in combat, if its considered an important part of future force structure...nothing.

Any info on it and how the Marines plan on using it is welcome.

Note*
I've seen the reports that the Army is planning (or rather has) buying/building some.  I'm also aware that the Marines are planning on having around 30 or so in the inventory.  What I'd like to know is if this vehicle is going to be part of MEU's.  If they are then how many are deemed necessary etc...