Sadiq Khan, a practicing Muslim and Labour Party politician, has been elected mayor of London, marking a political milestone in the Western world.
Londoners voted in Khan, 45, as the first Muslim mayor of a major Western capital city. He will take office in a metropolis where his fellow Muslims comprise about 12% of the population.
His victory followed an unusually bitter campaign against Conservative candidate Zac Goldsmith, the son of a billionaire, in which race and religion have proven ugly flashpoints.
Friday, May 06, 2016
London falls...
via CNN
Singapore Army to increase training in Australia.
Thanks to Russel_2878 for the link!
I follow military forces from around the world. Being a one man operation I can't get most of them but the Singapore Army is on my radar. Yesterday they posted the above pic along with several others that highlighted training in Australia. Since the pics were from a couple of years ago I thought nothing of it...maybe it was just a slow news day.
I should've known better. Today we get this...via ABC.net.AU
 |
| The size of the SWBTA allowed our Army to conduct a motorised battalion live-firing exercise during Exercise Wallaby 2012, featuring the Terrex Infantry Carrier Vehicles (ICV) from 5th Battalion, Singapore Infantry Regiment (5 SIR). The Terrex ICV provides infantry forces with enhanced protection, mobility and firepower, and also networks soldiers and air and land weapon platforms, thus facilitating the delivery of information, and fires in the battlefield. |
I follow military forces from around the world. Being a one man operation I can't get most of them but the Singapore Army is on my radar. Yesterday they posted the above pic along with several others that highlighted training in Australia. Since the pics were from a couple of years ago I thought nothing of it...maybe it was just a slow news day.
I should've known better. Today we get this...via ABC.net.AU
Thousands of Singaporean troops are heading to Queensland as part of a $2.25 billion expansion of the South-East Asian city state's military bases in Queensland.I wonder if China should be worried?
The Federal Government today announced a 25-year deal that will see Singapore increase the number of troops it has on rotation in Australia from 6,000 to 14,000.
With a land mass of just over 700 square kilometres, Singapore does not have the space it needs for military exercises and uses bases in Australia for training and weapons testing.
"There'll be opportunities obviously in the local community to be big beneficiaries, not only from people staying there and sometimes they'll bring family with them, but also from the money that's going to be spent to improve the bases themselves," Mr Ciobo told the ABC.
The facilities Singapore will fund the expansion of are at Shoalwater Bay north of Rockhampton, and in Townsville.
Imperial Japanese Navy Flag on USAF Pilot's Helmets?
Thanks to Slowman for the link!
Let me try and get you guys up to speed on this...and forgive me but this has hallmarks of political correctness but considering the region, we need to be aware.
Slowman noted that the Chinese were mocking the patches that USAF pilots had on their helmet covers. Its the flag of the Imperial Japanese Navy during WW2.
Ordinarily I'd wallow in the "Ugly American" thing and if the people of the region are pissed then that's when "liking" the annoyance of the locals turns into a "love" fest.
This time though we should maybe consider the backwards feelings of those in the region.
The Swastika is still a source of pain and for many people in the Pacific the "Rising Sun" is viewed the same way. Is this a big deal? Not in my opinion but maybe a new symbol is called for. Its not a very heavy lift and will keep the S. Koreans, Chinese, and others from having babies and getting into an unnecessary shit fit over nothing.
Let me try and get you guys up to speed on this...and forgive me but this has hallmarks of political correctness but considering the region, we need to be aware.
Slowman noted that the Chinese were mocking the patches that USAF pilots had on their helmet covers. Its the flag of the Imperial Japanese Navy during WW2.
Ordinarily I'd wallow in the "Ugly American" thing and if the people of the region are pissed then that's when "liking" the annoyance of the locals turns into a "love" fest.
This time though we should maybe consider the backwards feelings of those in the region.
The Swastika is still a source of pain and for many people in the Pacific the "Rising Sun" is viewed the same way. Is this a big deal? Not in my opinion but maybe a new symbol is called for. Its not a very heavy lift and will keep the S. Koreans, Chinese, and others from having babies and getting into an unnecessary shit fit over nothing.
Thursday, May 05, 2016
Afghan A-29 Super Tucano Attack Aircraft In Action – Live Fire Training
Everyone loves this plane but I wonder about its bomb load. I admit its a light attack (or what we once called light attack) airplane but does it carry enough to be useful on a modern battlefield, even against insurgent forces?
This train full of Abrams has the militia movement worried...
Thanks to Canuck Fighter for the link!
Canuck Fighter reminded me of this video that I first saw a couple of days ago on Prepping/Survivalist websites.
It shows a train loaded with a Battalion plus of armor headed to parts unknown. The militia movement is up in arms and if you head over to the "grey" parts of the internet you'll hear speculation galore. Its mostly ranging from stealing the election this fall all the way to the govt getting ready to go after certain militia groups.
I think its non-sense. I'm guessing that the tanks are headed to Ft Polk to act as aggressors against the 101st that's doing training. The idea would be that they want to test an Air Assault unit in both the attack/defense against a heavy mech unit (COIN is so last year for the US Army, they're prepping for combat against Hybrid Forces armed/equipped like conventional forces or peer vs peer warfare). If that's not the case then it might be another mobility exercise to see how fast a heavy unit can saddle up and move out by train.
Either way its not worth further thought (in my opinion).
Canuck Fighter reminded me of this video that I first saw a couple of days ago on Prepping/Survivalist websites.
It shows a train loaded with a Battalion plus of armor headed to parts unknown. The militia movement is up in arms and if you head over to the "grey" parts of the internet you'll hear speculation galore. Its mostly ranging from stealing the election this fall all the way to the govt getting ready to go after certain militia groups.
I think its non-sense. I'm guessing that the tanks are headed to Ft Polk to act as aggressors against the 101st that's doing training. The idea would be that they want to test an Air Assault unit in both the attack/defense against a heavy mech unit (COIN is so last year for the US Army, they're prepping for combat against Hybrid Forces armed/equipped like conventional forces or peer vs peer warfare). If that's not the case then it might be another mobility exercise to see how fast a heavy unit can saddle up and move out by train.
Either way its not worth further thought (in my opinion).
Was accused spy Lin the subject of enhanced interrogation?
via USNI News.
Did Joint Special Operations Command conducted an interrogation on US personnel?
The wording is "iffy" and I'm not sure if JSOC simply conducted a classification review or if they made a run against Lin but wow...If they did! Then it must have been suspected that he was giving away some seriously damaging information.
Oh and before you simply poo-poo my contention then consider this. Why would JSOC even be brought into this investigation if NOT to do the interrogation? Their expertise in that field is presumably unrivaled and the information Lin gave would probably have little to do with their activities.
Is it possible that someone, somewhere got the president to authorize a secret finding that enhanced interrogation techniques were warranted?
Last thing.
Lin was a member of a flight crew. A crew that was conducting top secret missions. We can assume that he was sent to SERE school and knew of at least a few resistance techniques so maybe it was warranted. This is the first time that I've even suspected that enhanced techniques might have been used against US personnel.
Side Note: Do more than say I'm being stupid and that it could never happen. Tell me that JSOC is a constant in these types of national security investigations. Explain to me how JSOC would need to be called in to review information that Lin had access to (and no, his work as a Congressional Aide wouldn't highlight JSOC's work). I admit this theory is out there but this case is beyond strange. Remember we've had Navy spies before and it was handled differently.
The interrogation and its subsequent classification review by U.S. Pacific Command and Joint Special Operations Command form the backbone of the Navy’s allegations Lin had committed two instances of espionage, three instances of alleged espionage and several allegations of mishandling and transporting classified information.I found the highlighted portion interesting.
According to a review by the Navy’s N2/N6 intelligence branch, the interrogation produced at least 31 incidents in which Lin could have revealed classified or sensitive information, government attorneys argued.
Did Joint Special Operations Command conducted an interrogation on US personnel?
The wording is "iffy" and I'm not sure if JSOC simply conducted a classification review or if they made a run against Lin but wow...If they did! Then it must have been suspected that he was giving away some seriously damaging information.
Oh and before you simply poo-poo my contention then consider this. Why would JSOC even be brought into this investigation if NOT to do the interrogation? Their expertise in that field is presumably unrivaled and the information Lin gave would probably have little to do with their activities.
Is it possible that someone, somewhere got the president to authorize a secret finding that enhanced interrogation techniques were warranted?
Last thing.
Lin was a member of a flight crew. A crew that was conducting top secret missions. We can assume that he was sent to SERE school and knew of at least a few resistance techniques so maybe it was warranted. This is the first time that I've even suspected that enhanced techniques might have been used against US personnel.
Side Note: Do more than say I'm being stupid and that it could never happen. Tell me that JSOC is a constant in these types of national security investigations. Explain to me how JSOC would need to be called in to review information that Lin had access to (and no, his work as a Congressional Aide wouldn't highlight JSOC's work). I admit this theory is out there but this case is beyond strange. Remember we've had Navy spies before and it was handled differently.
The Left is nervous about the election! Check out this article on Hillary & Benghazi/Private Server!
Thanks to Super Rhino for the link!
via Huffington Post.
This is a pivot point. We can assume that the Obama Admin wants to protect his legacy and the best way to do that would be to have Hillary win a third term for his agenda.
But we're also talking about a legacy item.
What if the FBI recommends indictment and the Obama Admin refuses? What if they delay the findings till after the election? He would be seen as hiding the truth from the American people and everyone that says that he's an imperial President would be proven right. Additionally Washington leaks. Someone would speak out. There is no way they could keep blockbuster news like that secret.
Yeah. The establishment and the Dems are nervous. This Trump thing has all the hallmarks of a movement. If Hillary is indicted then it would be a coronation (which is also kinda spooky).
via Huffington Post.
Don’t be certain Trump can’t defeat Clinton in a general election, even if the FBI doesn’t recommend indictments. Once he pivots towards being a semi-normal human being, and distances himself from the bigoted stances he utilized to gain power within the GOP, Clinton would face a more “likable” Trump. In a battle of two individuals with negative favorability ratings, the person who might have jeopardized national security with a private server could easily lose.I had forgotten about the FBI investigation.
In the best case scenario, Clinton doesn’t face indictments, but the FBI confirms that she jeopardized national security. Thus, Republicans would make even the best case scenario for Clinton’s campaign a major political liability. America isn’t a closed Democratic primary, and Clinton would be on the defensive during every televised debate against Trump.
This is a pivot point. We can assume that the Obama Admin wants to protect his legacy and the best way to do that would be to have Hillary win a third term for his agenda.
But we're also talking about a legacy item.
What if the FBI recommends indictment and the Obama Admin refuses? What if they delay the findings till after the election? He would be seen as hiding the truth from the American people and everyone that says that he's an imperial President would be proven right. Additionally Washington leaks. Someone would speak out. There is no way they could keep blockbuster news like that secret.
Yeah. The establishment and the Dems are nervous. This Trump thing has all the hallmarks of a movement. If Hillary is indicted then it would be a coronation (which is also kinda spooky).
Brazilian Navy sink ex via SH-60 firing Penguin Anti-Ship Missiles.
Thanks to Tiago for the link!
The US Navy really missed "the boat" when it comes to dealing with small boat swarms by bowing to the Black Shoe Navy's wishes and trying to build a ship (LCS) to deal with the threat.
Helicopters...armed helicopters are the obvious solution. I can see the desire to develop maybe a patrol boat or some other fast mover that rides the waves but a Frigate sized ship? Totally the wrong answer to a real simple problem.
The US Navy really missed "the boat" when it comes to dealing with small boat swarms by bowing to the Black Shoe Navy's wishes and trying to build a ship (LCS) to deal with the threat.
Helicopters...armed helicopters are the obvious solution. I can see the desire to develop maybe a patrol boat or some other fast mover that rides the waves but a Frigate sized ship? Totally the wrong answer to a real simple problem.
2/2 Scout Sniper Physical Assessment. A 3rd Marine Expeditionary Force Vid!
Oh FUCK YEAH!
I'm going lift now....this kinda fired me up! Where did I put my Tren/Sust mix?
More 2nd Cav in Finland...pics by Staff Sgt. Jennifer Bunn
 |
| What is this anti-tank missile system????? |
Want to make an American feel impotent? Have him take his Cav unit to train alongside host nation Tank or Mech units. The lack of firepower becomes crystal clear!
Sikorsky Combat Rescue Helicopter
via Press Release (abbreviated...only the interesting part is posted).
The USAF Program of Record calls for 112 helicopters to replace the Air Force's rapidly aging HH-60G Pave Hawk helicopters, which perform critical combat search and rescue and personnel recovery operations for all U.S. military services.Increased range, cabin size, corrosion resistance? This thing seems ready for ship board use. If we had the old Corps we would probably truncate buys of the MV-22 and tune this model for Marine Corps use. I'm positive that a few dozen UH-60M's modded for USMC use would be a welcome addition to any MEU.
The HH-60W is an advanced variant of the UH-60M Black Hawk helicopter design and features increased internal fuel capability, allowing for greater range, and an increase in cabin space. The CRH aircraft will feature GE T700-701D engines, composite wide-cord main rotor blades and fatigue and corrosion-resistant machined aero-structures to sustain maneuverability at high density altitudes. The design includes an advanced Tactical Mission Kit integrating multiple sensors, data links, defensive systems, and other sources of intelligence information for use by combat rescue aircrews.
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