82nd Combat Aviation Brigade operating aboard US Navy Expeditionary Transfer Dock...

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As part of the Immediate Response Force (IRF) the #82ndCAB maintains the ability to respond to the nation’s call by conducting training in conjunction with the Army’s sister services. Recently, teams from the CAB’s multifunctional aviation task force (MFATF), @taskforcesaber practiced landing helicopters on board the deck of the Navy Expeditionary Landing Base ship USS Lewis B. Puller (ESB-3). U.S. forces from both the Army and Navy trained together for special mission combined flight operations at sea. We have Chinooks, Apaches and Blackhawk Helicopters,” said Lt. Col. Margaret Stick, the commander of the multifunctional Aviation Task Force. “As part of the immediate response force or IRF, we are always at the nation’s call. Wings of the Airborne! See full article here: https://www.usarcent.army.mil/News/Article/2167740/us-army-rotary-wing-conduct-deck-landings-in-arabian-gulf/ or by following link in bio to our Facebook page. 📷: SGT. Andrew Winchell @deptofdefense |@usarmy | @usarmyforscom | @usarmycentral | @82ndairbornediv | @usnavy | @usspullergold #wingsoftheairborne #blackhawk #uh60 #apache #ah64 #chinook #ch47 #helicopters #armyaviation #aviation #taskforcesaber #navy #esb3

A post shared by 82nd Combat Aviation Brigade (@82ndcab) on Apr 29, 2020 at 8:06am PDT

Hmm.  So if the US Army starts putting Paratroopers on non-standard amphibious ships.  If the US Army starts conducting operations from the sea.  If the US Army (especially with their next gen tiltrotor) are capable of conducting long range raids from the sea, then HOW is the new concept making us more unique?

Reality?

The reality is that the US Army has been trying to duplicate Marine Corps capabilities and the Stryker Brigade is the last in a long line of failures.  Instead of enhancing the already fabulous Air-Ground Task Force we're taking it apart and making ourselves ordinary.

The 2030 concept is a mistake.  A terrible mistake.

WTF!!!! ILW PAPER: RUSSIA COULD DEFEAT U.S. ARMY

Russia could “physically defeat and logistically exhaust” the U.S. Army in a European war, concludes a new Institute of Land Warfare paper that examines the Battles of the Donetsk Airport in the ongoing Russo-Ukrainian War. https://t.co/xWPxIJ66nh

— Franz-Stefan Gady (@HoansSolo) May 3, 2020

Jesus H. Christ!

The physically defeat part I don't believe in a minute but the logistically exhaust gives me pause.

They're studying us hard.  Have been since Gulf War 1.  Have been taking a hard look at our allies in Mali, N. Africa and other hotspots.

They're taking our measure and I know they're working countermeasures.

We got to get harder, faster, stronger and more agile.  We've got to be to a point where no one even contemplates challenging us.

Oh and if you have doubts this paper is from the Association of the US Army website.

Rockwell XFV-12, a Mach 2, BVR-capable V/STOL fighter for the proposed Sea Control Ships (essentially small aircraft carrier for convoy escort, ASW, etc.) in 1970s

🇺🇸Rockwell XFV-12, a Mach 2, BVR-capable V/STOL fighter for the proposed Sea Control Ships (essentially small aircraft carrier for convoy escort, ASW, etc.) in 1970s😛 pic.twitter.com/jen9cYVCRa

— Ruoyu (@Ruoyu43289417) May 3, 2020

Pompeo backs claims that the coronavirus originated in the lab at Wuhan.

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has backed President Donald Trump's claims that the coronavirus pandemic originated in a laboratory in the Chinese city of Wuhan. https://t.co/V8i5lorh1S

— DW News (@dwnews) May 3, 2020

I've noticed that the shatterpoint for China supporters is the "we said it was manmade" thing.

Nope.

We said early on it was either manmade or escaped, but that the Chinese were playing with the thing in the lab at Wuhan.

What does that mean exactly?  They could have been experimenting with bats and one got loose and got devoured by someone at their wet market.  One of the researchers could have gotten infected showed no symptoms for 21 days (yeah...we've heard the quarantine period should be 21 days but they've limited to 14 because they know the public would automatically balk at that!) while walking around spreading the thing.

Regardless.

The truth is coming.

The lab in Wuhan is ground zero for this global pandemic and China is trying hard to keep that news from hitting the streets.  The curious thing?  Don't watch Washington DC.  Watch the EU.  They're already floating the idea of reparations from China for the pandemic but they've been fought back.  Trump has talked sanctions.  Either way China will pay.

This social distancing enforcement is putting NY Police in a terrible situation...This looks bad but its not what the title says it is and the COPS are RIGHT!

Thanks to PitchBlackUniverse for the link!

via Gothamist.com

A social distancing enforcement action in the East Village on Saturday resulted in three arrests, including one bystander whose violent arrest was caught on video.

Witness Daquan Owens, who took the video below, said the incident started after plainclothes officers approached a man and a woman talking outside a deli around 5:30 p.m. and ordered them to separate. But Owens says the two people were maintaining a six foot distance in accordance with rules intended to slow the spread of COVID-19.

"They were social distancing," Owens said in a telephone interview on Sunday. "The girl was standing by the phone booth, the guy was sitting on a milk crate. When the cops pulled up she said he’s not doing anything. They grabbed her and started tussling with her. Then the guy on the milk crate got mad and started yelling at police."

In a statement, NYPD spokesperson Sergeant Mary Frances O’Donnell said "a group was observed" on the corner "in violation of social distancing orders." The statement said that when officers approached the group to order them to disperse, "they observed a bag of alleged marijuana in plain view." Another video shows security camera footage of the incident starting before police arrived.

Police say Shakiem Brunson, 31, "became aggressive towards officers and resisted arrest." Ashley Serrano, 22, allegedly tried to intervene to stop police from taking Brunson into custody and was also arrested.

Owens's video begins as several plainclothes officers attempt to handcuff two people outside the deli at the northeast corner of Avenue D and East 9th Street. At roughly the 35 second mark of the video, one of the officers turns and advances on bystander Donni Wright, 33, pointing a taser at him. Owens says the officer called Wright the n-word, which can be heard at the 37 second mark, and Wright can be heard asking the officer if he used the racial epithet.

"Move the fuck back right now," the officer shouts. "Don’t flex."

O’Donnell's statement says Wright "took a fighting stance against the officer." The video shows him from behind with his hands at his side and one fist clenched.

Story here. 

Not tossing stones on this one but the truth (from my chair) is that while this looks bad, the reason for contact terrible at the end of the day the cops are right!

How do I explain it?  Let's do the tick tock from A to Z as presented in the article.

1.  The reason for contact.  I hate the idea that enforcing social distancing is being used for this arrest but you use the tools at hand.  The fact that we're seeing plain clothes cops indicates to me that we're seeing street level narcotics at work.  In my neck of the woods we have uniformed LEO's doing the job (they call them the "jump out" boys cause they're quick to leave their cruisers to chase down corner drug dealers), street level (which these guys appear to be...plain clothes) and finally the interagency bubbas that go after the big busts.  Only a bit deep into the article do they mention the baggie of drugs in plain site.  I would almost bet my left testicle this was all about drugs and not social distancing.

2.  The arrests of the bystander.  From my chair you have to do one of two things.  Either control the bystanders OR you leave the scene.  This dude was running his mouth and then took up a fighting stance?  He's lucky he didn't ride the lightning. 

3.  The N word being used.  Hate to say it but the truth must be said.  The N word is off limits to white people.  Unfortunately its used quite often in the black community and if you noticed the arresting officer was black.  Was it something I condone in saying?  Nope.  Is rough language used against rough people?  You bet your ass.  Even with this video I bet you will not see any punishment because anyone with commonsense knows that you can't be gentle with people intent on being rough.

That's how I see it.

Tell me where I'm wrong.

US Army and Russians are playing convoy games in Syria...what's going on with this?

And another video of US and Russian troops at Tannuriyah, east of Qamishli. 258/https://t.co/ApmYKHt9SV pic.twitter.com/5mLlI1hGB0

— Rob Lee (@RALee85) May 3, 2020

This keeps coming up on my Twitter feed and I have yet to see an explanation. There are better videos out so if you're curious it won't be hard to find but what has me spinning is what is this about?

Russians are blocking our forces?  Why?

This is what makes me so nervous for our guys there.  One misstep can see shots fired and suddenly things get real intense before higher headquarters can try and put the genie back in the bottle.

Quite honestly I'm surprised some semi-smart terrorist hasn't fired off an RPG to get the two sides shooting at each other.

This thing is a mess.

We're not there to win anymore.  I don't think we've ever been there to win.  It seems our only goal is continued military operations with the lowest casualty count possible but to continue them nonetheless.

A400M Grizzly on approach...photo by Mark Bentley

Around the @RAFBrizeNorton area the weather conditions have been ideal to provide a rainbow in just the right location for a special like this one of mine from a few years ago can't wait for some Social distance aviation photography @LeadershipNext1 @RafPhotog @BFBSBrizeNorton pic.twitter.com/TxeJybLptq

— Mark Bentley/Pebblemonkey photography📷 (@MarkbBentley) May 3, 2020

Azerbaijan Army wheeled 152mm SpGH DANA-M1M

Azerbaijan Army wheeled 152mm SpGH DANA-M1M#AzerbaijanArmy #SPH #Artillery #Dana #czech_republic pic.twitter.com/mOOlfTmbvs

— The Dead District (@TheDeadDistrict) May 3, 2020

Werecat - "Leopard 3 like" Nato Tank...Concept Art by Marcel Adam (ArtStation)

Thanks to Tyle & Pegas for the pics/link!

Note.  This is what Marcel had to say about his concept art...

Werecat - "Leopard 3 like" Nato TankIn this tank study i created a Nato/western tank. The design is highly inspired by the design demands for the currently developed Leopard 3 (Main Ground Combat System). That in mind i only used parts for the tank that are existing or will be available in near future. So no fantasy guns and stuff.

Blast from the past. Concept SPH based on M1 chassis

Thanks to PitchBlackUniverse for the link!

I don't know if I say it enough but thanks guys.  No one can do it alone, especially when it comes to keeping up with everything going on in the world.

I can't even count how many times you hit me with stuff in the "open comments" portion of this blog with stuff that I pop out and put on the main page because I think it should be shared with the world.

Concepts from the past, current concepts, weapons developments that our allies/enemies/frenemies are working on and everything in between is what you send my way and I can't thank you enough for it.

Keep it coming boys.  We're 30 seconds out and no one is coming...it's up to us to stay informed!

WOW! The gates of hell just opened up on State Govts that closed business...

The State Attorney’s Office 6th Circuit just DROPPED their case against my client Galen Wood—the first Floridian to be arrested for opening a “non-essential” business. It’s clear there is NO valid legal authority for either the state or local emergency orders. #liberty #COVID19 pic.twitter.com/daiDdrz92y

— Anthony Sabatini (@AnthonySabatini) May 1, 2020

This is gonna be a great watch.

Can the gov declare one business essential and another non-essential?  Can they deprive one owner of a business the opportunity to generate wealth while denying it to another?

What are the limits of a governor's power?

I know one thing.  States are gonna get slammed with lawsuits.  Everyone that goes out of business or comes close to it are gonna blame these shut downs and are gonna seek damages.

THIS IS WHY THE HURRICANE MODEL WOULD HAVE MADE SO MUCH SENSE IN THIS EMERGENCY!!!

Remember Katrina?  The State Of Louisiana shut down New Orleans, declared a state of emergency, put in a curfew and implemented several other emergency measures because it was so affected.  Other parts of the state also suffered a bit of damage but only New Orleans got the martial law/shut down treatment.

That's what we should have done with this crisis.  New York, New Jersey and other parts of the nation that were hard hit should have been shut down and hard!  Quarantine them from the rest of the nation and send every available asset to help get them on their feet.

The rest of the country moves on and full effort is made to rescue those states in the most danger.

But instead we saw major urban/regional areas influence the entire nation's response much to our own detriment.

The lessons learned from this one will be legion and hero governors today will be seen as overreachers tomorrow.

This disturbing take on re-opening America...

What say you?

Sidenote.  Interesting that "Karen's" are the new target of moment.