Friday Funny. Alexa works for the CIA!

This meme has gone viral.  Just Google "Alexa works for the CIA" and you'll tons of people doing this.  The weird thing is that Amazon must monitor their customer questions because in the latest vids Alexa says no she does not work for the CIA, she works for Amazon.

Still.  Funny as hell and probably the next conspiracy theory that's all in likely based in fact.

Blast from the past. Vickers Valiant B.2, the most beautiful British bomber!

Via Apostles of Mercy Tumblr Page.

The only Vickers Valiant B.2 ever built, first flying 4 September 1953. Intended as a pathfinder in nuclear war, an obsolete role, this all black beast clocked 640 mph at sea-level. It was undoubtedly the most capable strategic bomber ever built in Britain.

She was supposedly adorned her unique gloss black scheme after Vickers chief test pilot saw the design, approved and exclaimed: “And paint the fucker black.”

Korean Coastal Missile - Spike NLOS on SandCat Carrier.

Thanks to Jonathan for the link!

The USMC's "Battles Won" Ad Campaign is a failure...

I've been more than disappointed in the "Battles Won" ad campaign.  I've been borderline furious.

They just don't sing.

The touchstones to the past are missing.  The call to challenge one's self is fleeting at best.

They're weak sauce.

The solution?  Fire the ad company and get back to basics.  Did you see the above vid?  Now compare that to what the US Army is putting out (below).



The funny, wall pounding, makes you want to bang your head on your desk?  We see this weak sauce the USMC is putting on TV while the Army shows its soldiers doing Marine shit!  The irony is amazing.  The change of position telling.  The pussification of the Marine Corps obvious.  It's just past 6am but I need to get a drink.

Heritage Foundation calls for cuts in the USAF F-35 procurement!

via Free Beacon.

The conservative Heritage Foundation is proposing an $86 billion increase in defense spending, recommending that lawmakers partially offset the cost through a sharp cut to the Air Force's planned purchase of more than 1,700 F-35A fighter jets.

In a policy proposal released Wednesday, the D.C.-based think tank called on Congress to "substantially" increase military spending in fiscal year 2018 to $632 billion, a five percent expansion to President Donald Trump's budget request submitted earlier this month.

This increase would be counteracted in part by a 30 percent reduction in the Air Force's F-35 purchase plan—from 1,763 F-35 fighter jets to 1,260 jets—under the National Defense Authorization Act, according to Heritage.

John Venable, a senior research fellow for defense policy at the Heritage Foundation who helped craft the proposal, told reporters during a private breakfast Tuesday morning that the decrease in the Air Force's purchase plan for F-35As would free up money for different acquisition programs within the service.

Heritage is pressing Congress to fund the expedited acquisition of F-35As over the next four years, but the report noted that even with accelerated production, the Air Force would still not complete its purchase of the 1,040 combat-ready F-35As recommended by the think tank for the active duty force until the early 2030s. That projection does not include the additional 60 combat-ready fighter jets Heritage recommended the service maintain in its National Guard and Reserve fleets with another 100 to be used in active duty training and operational test and evaluation requirements.

Venable, a former Air Force pilot, said the slow acquisition rate of F-35s will force the service to continue to use a mix of fourth and fifth generation aircraft for the "foreseeable future," meaning the branch will need a sharp increase in federal funding to continue operating its dual-capable F-16s and F-15s.

"Even if we ramp [production] up to 100 aircraft a year, it's going to take 12 years to bring all of those fighters onboard that we've got planned for the F-35A, so throughout that time, if we were able to do that, we would need to have F16s, F-15Es, and F-15Cs," he said.

You expect me to cheer and chest thump, but I view this differently.  We're finally seeing a move to save the services from themselves.  Honestly I view this as a move to help the USAF get back to a mix of hi-lo aircraft.

Heritage is signalling an "off ramp" for the USAF with the F-35.  

Something is going on behind the scenes with this airplane.  I don't know if its price or capabilities but everywhere I look I see people backing away (with the exception of Davis...for an aviator he sure embraces the "hey diddle diddle straight up the middle" concept).

Keep on eye on the defense media in the coming weeks.  If my theory is right then the next thing we should hear is talk of massive upgrades for the F-16 or F-15.  If that happens and if we see the test between the F-35 and A-10 delayed then we know that they're trying to back off the programed purchase.

US Navy going for MASSIVE Super Hornet upgrade!

via Scout Warrior

A series of advanced technologies are being introduced into what Boeing calls its Block 3. It introduces new sensors suites, range extension and potentially stealthier attributes that Boeing says will make it a perfect companion for the F-35.

“There will be real complementary capabilities,” Dan Gillian, Boeing F/A-18 and EA-18G Growler programs vice president. told Scout Warrior in an interview. He compared the future Super Hornets with JSS and EA-18G Growler electronic attack and warfare aircraft. “This is what it needs to be viable in the 2020s and 2030s.”

Here’s what Boeing has in mind.

The aircraft will have enhanced network capability with a system that improves computing power (DTP-N), network throughput (TTNT) and integration between the sensor and platform, which will allow large amounts of data on and off the airplane and make F/A-18 a smart node on the network.  This also will help It also increase ability to receive targeting information from platforms like the F-35, EA-18G and the E-2D Hawkeye.
The aircraft will have longer range with low-drag, stealthy conformal fuel tanks.  The shoulder-mounted tanks can carry 3,500 pounds of fuel and reduce drag, allowing the aircraft to operate longer, go faster, and/or carry more weight.

The Block 3 Super Hornet also will feature long-range detection with Infrared Search & Track (IRST). The long-range sensor can detect and target threats without having to depend on radar, generating a multi-ship, common tactical picture at long range and allowing the Super Hornet to operate as a smart sensor node on the network.

Pilots will be able to manage of the enhanced situational awareness with a new Advanced Cockpit System --   a 10 x 19-inch touchscreen display provides the pilot with the capability to see, track and target multiple long range targets generated by the common tactical picture.
If some of this sounds familiar, that’s because part of the package was what Boeing a year or so ago had called its “Advanced Super Hornet” offering. “We have matured our thinking,” Gillian says. “We’re thinking of how to complement with Naval Integrated Fire Control-Counter Air (NIFC-CA) in the future fight. We’re making the F-18 a smart node on the NIFC-CA network … to contribute and share.”

He adds, “We’re embracing the power of the networked carrier network. With the DTP-N, we’ve got the distributed targeting processor, a big computer that’s a Growler program of record. With TTNT, we’ve got a big data pipe that we’re moving over from Growler and E-2D. The IRST sensor is a key aspect of Block 2, with the AESA it can fuse information. So, we have a big computer and a big data pipe that can move data around.”

The Navy is going all in on the Advanced Super Hornet it appears.  Awesome.

Pic of the day. U.S. Army M109A6 Paladin sending...

A U.S. Army M109A6 Paladin deployed in support of Combined Joint Task Force - Operation Inherent Resolve - عملية العزم الصلب fires during a training operation at Camp Manion

Hmm.  Interesting.  The M777 operated by the USMC gets most of the attention, so much attention that I didn't know the Army had M109A6's in country.  But it does raise a question.  The Army operates the M777.  It's lighter, strategically mobile etc.  Why would they send self propelled guns to Iraq for fire support?  It doesn't fit the kind of fight we're seeing.

Italian Army @ Operation Safe Streets!

via Italian Army Website.

Last night a man was arrested thanks to the intervention of the military because the Army surprised to peddle drugs in Naples. A patrol of the Regiment Cavalry Guide (19th) , serving as part of Operation "Safe Streets," has identified the person in the illegal intent in Piazza "Garibaldi" and proceeded to catch and identification.

The man, a homeless 43-year-old was found in possession of a large quantity of different narcotic substances.

The police intervened on the spot at the request of the military, he has proceeded to the arrest man on charges of possession of drugs with intent to sell. Through a constant and widespread presence, the military Operation "Safe Streets" garrison the territory and sensitive sites, in coordination with the Police to increase the level of safety of citizens. 

Wow. I didn't know the Italians had regular forces on the streets of their cities.  Operation Safe Streets has been going on for awhile now so this is not in response to the immigration crisis.  The Europeans have a tradition of militarized police but regular Army bubbas?  Who knew!  A bit more on Operation Safe Streets below.

Again via Italian Military Website.

Milan, the soldiers of the Italian Army, engaged in the operation "Safe Streets", have rescued an elderly person near Segrate (MI) and, in the center of Milan, blocked a drunk with harassing attitude toward bystanders .

The first intervention was in favor of an old man who wandered along the road between the idroscalo and the city center. The military, employed by Colonel Marco Cianfanelli, they noticed that the old man wandered disoriented in the dimly lit street and under the strong storm in place. evaluated the situation, military personnel decided to take action to prevent any kind of accident. The senior, in obvious confusion, was rescued by the Army patrol proceeded to warn the Police and family members.

The second intervention instead, has seen committed another Army patrol that has blocked, in C.so Garibaldi, a drunk guy of Polish nationality with clear violent attitudes toward bystanders. The soldiers stopped the young man as he was walking over some cars parked on the street and handed him over to the police who intervened on the spot.

Operation Safe Streets, from August 2008, he committed the Italian Army for crime prevention needs in metropolitan areas through supervisory activities at sensitive sites and goals, as well as reconnaissance and patrol, in competition and in combination with Police Forces.
Since mid-April, Brigadier General Claudio Rondano, reporting directly to the Command of the North Interregional Defense Forces, has assumed responsibility for the operation "Safe Streets" on the square of Milan, Monza and Brianza and directs the Santa Barbara barracks , home of the Horse Artillery Regiment, also all of the operations contributing to 'World Expo security.

Interesting.  I wondered how Italy has avoided many of the attacks we hear so much about in other European countries and this might be a partial answer.  For whatever reason they were prepped for the immigration crisis before it arrived.

1st Armored Division heading to Iraq...

via Army.mil

The Department of the Army announced today the summer 2017 deployment of approximately 400 soldiers from the 1st Armored Division Headquarters, stationed in Fort Bliss, Texas, to Iraq in support of Operation Inherent Resolve.

The 1st Armored Division Headquarters will assume the role of Combined Joint Forces Land Component Command-Iraq, replacing the 1st Infantry Division Headquarters. In that role, the division headquarters will be responsible for mission command of coalition troops training, advising and assisting Iraqi Security Forces.

"America's Tank Division is highly trained and ready for this important mission," said Maj. Gen. Pat White, commanding general of 1st Armored Division and Fort Bliss. "We are proud to work alongside our Iraqi allies and coalition partners to continue the fight against ISIS. I'm also extremely impressed by the commitment and sacrifice of our military families. It is their stalwart support and resilience that gives us the strength to serve."

I'm not sure I understand how the Army is carrying out this mission.  I understand that they need to maintain their rotation but to send Infantry and Light Infantry units to head shed this op and then switch to an Armor unit puzzles me.

Is the military organized to conduct long term stability operations in foreign countries?  If it isn't (and I suspect they aren't) then is it the fault of the strategy or is a reorganization called for?

More importantly, considering the results of our actions in Iraq and Afghanistan, is it time to rewrite the Counterinsurgency/Small Wars manual?  From my chair both efforts have been conducted with flair and tenacity but unfortunately have resulted in failure.  Should we scrap our playbook and write a new one? 

Open Comment Post. March 30, 2017.

Everything you know about REAL Ninjas is wrong! via The Art Of Manliness!

This one is pretty awesome.  If you aren't subscribed to these guys then you're missing out.  I embedded the podcast here but you really should head over to their house to see the article that goes along with it.

Why tax sodas when you can do this to change consumer behavior (listed under sick)

via Gizmodo.

File this story under shit you didn’t want to know. Police in Northern Ireland have opened an investigation to find out exactly how human feces found its way into a shipment of cans at a Coca-Cola bottling plant.
The soda behemoth told The Guardian that the poop-containing cans were discovered at the Hellenic Bottling Company factory in Lisburn, Co Antrim. Production was abruptly shut down when the machines were clogged by said poop.

According to Coke’s representatives, the cans arrived at the factory empty and without a top. They are then filled with delicious sugar water and capped before making their way to distribution. At the moment, it’s unknown at what point in the supply chain the cans became contaminated. A spokesman for the Police Service of Northern Ireland told The Guardian, “The investigation is at an early stage and there are no further details available at this time.”

Wow.

Just plain fucking wow.

Some city in the NorthEast corridor started taxing sodas (forget which one) as part of a health move (expect more of the same with health care suddenly being a right...why should I pay for people that abuse their bodies?) and the unintended result was that soda sales plunged.

What do you think is gonna happen when people find out that Coca-Cola has shit in it?

Insect legs I can take.  Modern industrial food prep.  Ya take the good with the bad, besides, ant legs are just extra protein but human waste?   There is only one way to properly decontaminate that factory....