Sharia Police to be put on trial in Germany.

Thanks to Albino for the link!

via M.DW.com

Düsseldorf state court said on Tuesday that eight of the nine accused men can face trial on the grounds of "violating laws against wearing uniforms with political messages."
The decision overturned a ruling by Wuppertal district court last December, in which the judge said the behavior of accused Islamist preacher Sven Lau did not amount to a "criminal violation of the ban on uniforms." The decision sparked controversy in Germany and led to an appeal by prosecutors. The latest ruling by the Court of Appeal cannot be overturned.
Lau, who is widely regarded as a leading figure in the German Salafist scene, was also indicted by federal prosecutors last month on suspicion of supporting a terror group linked to the self-declared "Islamic State" (IS) in Syria.
City patrols to enforce Islamist ideals
The Salafists, who are all aged between 24 and 35, first made headlines in September 2014 after they patrolled the streets of Wuppertal, in Germany's western industrial Ruhr region, in an attempt to enforce a strict interpretation of Islam.
Wearing orange vests, emblazoned with the words "Shariah police," the defendants allegedly demanded people at nightclubs stop drinking alcohol and listening to music.
The bearded fundamentalists were also observed calling for an end to gambling as they carried notices, in English, declaring a "Sharia Controlled Zone."

Me and Albino are just the messengers.  Send all hate mail to Germany.  Oh and see the world as it is...not as you would like it to be!

Fitness talk. L-arginine is out for vascularity...in steps Citrulline?

Crazy vascularity....he must be rocking 4% body fat....it won't last and might even be dangerous but its impressive none-the-less....

OK.  Cool your jets.  I admit that this isn't for the majority of my audience.  Just a few of you guys that are taking rabbit skittles (love that guys vids) trying to make their personal T-Rex, Silver back, Sabre Tooth Tiger an absolute beast.

I got an e-mail from Bodybuilding.com saying that L-Arginine is no longer the king when it comes to increasing vascularity and promoting pumps.  Read the article here.  For those Gym Rats in the audience you know the deal.  Low body fat, getting on that fucking treadmill (yeah I absolutely hate cardio but ya gotta do it), controlling your diet (you build muscle in the kitchen, and during sleep...you can't outwork a bad diet!) and at the end of all that proper supplementation MIGHT help.  Consider this your Sunday public service announcement to get ready for the "workout week" ahead.

M60 Tank Service Life Extension Program via Below The Turret Ring Blog

VERY NICE!  This would be a nice option for an Infantry Support Vehicle.  Probably a bad idea for tank vs tank combat but in the ISV role it would dominate!

The Story of Master Sgt Ballard and his MTT...the greatest squad action of the Iraq War.

via Task & Purpose.

On Jan. 28, 2007, a 12-man Military Transition Team, or MiTT, composed of paratroopers from the 4th Brigade Combat Team (Airborne), 25th Infantry Division was called upon to assist an Iraqi army unit that was engaged in a fierce battle with insurgents near the city of Najaf.
The mission was to orchestrate close air support by communicating with the helicopters circling over the firefight. The battle had already claimed the lives of 10 Iraqi soldiers. But before the team made it to its objective, something happened: An AH-64 Apache helicopter plunged from the sky.
“When I saw the Apache go down, it immediately changed everything,” Master Sgt. Thomas Ballard, the noncommissioned officer in charge of the team, later told an Army reporter. “Everything was focused on that crash site; nothing else mattered. That’s where we had to go and that’s what we did.”
Ballard’s team had been told that the enemy force numbered somewhere between 15 to 20 insurgents, but upon reaching the crash site, they quickly realized that wasn’t the case. Suddenly, Ballard and his men found themselves engulfed in heavy machine-gun fire. A rocket-propelled grenade exploded nearby. Then the battle started.
“We began engaging, and continued engaging,” Ballard recalled. “Everything we shot was targets and collectively, we burned up about 11,000 rounds of machine gun ammo, M4 ammo, M203 grenade launcher ammo and 10 airstrikes.”
The insurgents, who apparently belonged to a religious cult called the Soldiers of Heaven, had “ungodly amounts of weapons,” and were maneuvering through a series of bunkers, trenches, and tunnels that encircled the area. The firefight raged for nearly three hours before backup arrived.
The enormity of the force Ballard’s team was up against didn’t come to light until the dust finally settled. An estimated 1,000 enemy fighters had been on the objective. Of them, 265 were killed; 400 more were captured.

Master Sgt. Ballard's Silver Star Citation...

Awarded for actions during the Global War on Terror

(Citation and/or Narrative Needed) - SYNOPSIS: Master Sergeant Thomas S. Ballard, United States Army, was awarded the Silver Star for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action while serving with Military Transition Team 0810, 4th Brigade Combat Team (Airborne), 25th Infantry Division, during combat operations in support of Operation IRAQI FREEDOM, on 28 and 29 January 2007. On that date, Iraqi soldiers of the 1st Brigade, 8th Iraqi Army Division, were killed in action against enemy insurgents and their brigade commander reported that he was taking fire and needed help. Believing that the enemy force was no larger than 15 or 20 militants, 12 paratroops of the 4th Brigade Combat Team (Airborne) went to their aid. As the reinforcements reached the site of the ongoing battle, they witnessed an AH-64 Apache helicopter fall from the sky. Immediately their mission changed and they moved to the downed chopper to protect the wreckage and look for the pilots. As the paratroopers reached the crash site they drove on a road parallel to the downed helicopter with Maser Sergeant Ballard's vehicle in the lead. Master Sergeant Ballard was ordered to pull onto the far side while the rest of the convoy remained on the side opposite him. As the team commanders vehicle pulled into an open area, it began receiving heavy machine gun fire and an RPG was launched against it. It quickly became obvious that the enemy force was much larger than originally estimated, and a heavy fire fight ensued. After a three- hour battle more than 265 enemy bodies were found and more than 400 militants surrendered. Master Sergeant Ballard's actions on the day of the fight and the following day were phenomenal. His dedication to the mission, his disregard for the enemy threat, and his lead from the front attitude was an inspiration to all of his men. Master Sergeant Ballard's gallant actions and dedicated devotion to duty, without regard for his own life, were in keeping with the highest traditions of military service and reflect great credit upon himself, the 25th Infantry Division, and the United States Army.Action Date: January 28 & 29, 2007
Service: Army
Rank: Master Sergeant
Company: Military Transition Team 0810
Regiment: 4th Brigade Combat Team (Airborne)
Division: 25th Infantry Division

Who needs movies when you can read stuff like this?

These boys did work.  They did the hard thing and did it well. 

The SAF - A Force In Transformation (vid)

Thanks to LRD for the link!



Nice overview of the Singaporean Armed Forces.

25th Infantry Division move to a safer position in Vietnam via War History Online (PIC)

As Cobra gunships hit the village, Americans of the 25th Infantry Division move to a safer position. Larry Burrows. May 6 1970. Ph Tasuos, Cambodia.

They promised us more riots in Iraq this weekend and nothing. We should be worried.

Last night we heard that additional Marines were sent to the already reinforced US Embassy in Iraq.  Last week we were told by opposition groups in Iraq that they would be back this weekend to protest and riot.

There is no news of rioting/protests in Iraq this weekend.

That should worry the shit out of US planners.  My first thought is that they were able to move alot further with alot less resistance than they originally planned.

The opposition is reassessing.  They're getting ready for a possible overthrow.  They understand how vulnerable the govt is and they're gathering forces for a major strike.

Iraq isn't quiet.  Its bubbling beneath the surface and I expect it to pop before the end of this month.  I could be wrong but if I'm right then hold on!  Ft Apache with US Forces stranded in the desert hoping that Marine/Air Force/Army helicopters can transport them to Turkey, Kuwait, Jordan or other countries will shock the country.

Commando Helicopter Force providing support to the "Ten Tors" Challenge

What the fuck is the Ten Tors Challenge?  I have no idea.  The Commando Helicopter Force's FaceBook Page gave no explanation and from some of the pics that I didn't post, it looks like a bunch of Brits camping and hiking in the hills.

They're Brits.  American's aren't suppose to understand the things that they do...weird though...its like me getting USMC CH-53 support for a Boy Scout Troop.

Brazilian Army tests new manned turret on Guarani IFV.

pics via TecnoDefensa.BR

The Guarani IFV is moving forward toward its definitive production model and the Brazilian Army is testing this new PLASAN manned turret on the vehicle.

The planning is a mystery.  They've tested everything  from a 30mm RWS, a 50 cal machine gun RWS and various manned turrets.  What is the game here?  Are they testing different configurations with an eye toward the export market?

Even more 2nd Cav in Finland pics... by Staff Sgt. Jennifer Bunn

F-35 surface...how do you maintain this "stuff" in an expeditionary environment???

Senior Airman Tyler Quayle, 33rd Maintenance Squadron low observable maintenance journeyman, maintains an F-35A Lightning II panel at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., April 28, 2016. Quayle extends the life of the panel by replacing missing or damaged grommets. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Andrea Posey

Quick question.

Do you see the work that the Airman is doing above?  Maybe the Air Force can get that done...there is a small chance that the Navy MIGHT be able to do this type of thing aboard its carriers....but how in the name of Jesus Christ are we to expect Marines to conduct this type of maintenance in an expeditionary environment?

The answer is simple.  They can't and they won't.

Royal Navy & Marines at Exercise Griffin (pics)

These were just uploaded to the Royal Navy FaceBook Page...too good to ignore even if they're a bit late.