Libyan Parliament give the Egyptian govt permission to get involved in their civil war..

Libyan Parliament gives Egypt green light to intervene in civil war https://t.co/FD5vehtLUF via @thearabsource

— Björn Müller (@Bjoern__M) July 14, 2020

This!  This is what I've been seeing for at least the past month.  The war in Libya has been heating up, the battle lines are drawn, the allies assembled and the main players are about to enter center stage.

Now is the time for Turkey to either step up or lay down.

I don't think they'll lay down which means that we can expect the Egyptian and Turkish forces to meet on the battlefield.

If it hasn't already happened I think we'll see another Special Operations Olympics with both sides hesitant for their general purpose forces to get involved but that won't last long.

Egypt will push forward their well equipped mechanized infantry/tanks against Libyan backed rebels...those rebels will be forced back and then Turkish conventional forces will have to intercede. 

It's gonna be rough on them because of the distance involved in getting to theater which means that air and sea battles could erupt.

This might be the first big fight of the 2020's.

Terrible decision making when confronting a well trained LEO...

View this post on Instagram

Looks like this guy chose the “suicide by cop” way out. Solid malfunction clearance as well... . . #knife #gun #mrgunsngear #cop #le #socialworker #police #jam

A post shared by Mrgunsngear (@mrgunsngear) on Jul 14, 2020 at 2:56pm PDT

China's Ballistic & Cruise Missiles...

Note.  The Chinese Pershing almost ensures that the new Marine Corps battle theory is dead in the water.  If they have ISR capability that allows them to target ships then they can also target a couple of anti-ship missile carrying vehicles on land.  There will be no easy fight.

China has the most active and diverse missile development program in the world. pic.twitter.com/IDCz1KM9KG

— CSIS (@CSIS) July 14, 2020

Brits to join the US Army's high speed rotorcraft program?

'Future Vertical Lift' on list of joint UK-US army modernisation areas, just announced today. UK looking to Defiant or Valor for next high-speed rotorcraft? #avgeek https://t.co/qILMva7l1l pic.twitter.com/lf0cudZiQJ

— Tim Robinson (@RAeSTimR) July 14, 2020

Amazing.  I can't wrap my head around this one.  Why would the Brits be the prime candidate for the US Army to join their program?  Quite honestly they appear to be ready to slice the British Army to ribbons.  It'll be 1/3rd the size of the USMC, its current procurement programs are a mess and while tenacious fighters their govt appears to be backing away from expeditionary warfare...at least on the ground.

The Poles I could see.  Something to jump start the Germans.  Even a consortium of European countries ... something like Spain & Italy.  But a Brit force that is about to be eviscerated by their own govt?

I just don't get it.

EBRC Jaguar (French armored reconnaissance & combat vehicle) on exercise...aerial view...

F-105 Gunnery Practice...

shootdown pic.twitter.com/oYppJF5vod

— Skies-of-Glory (@violetpilot1) July 14, 2020

Late Open Comment Post. 14 July 2020

BHR might be salvageable? Not buying it one bit...

UPDATE: The main engineering spaces are fine, no damage. Structure is stable and despite ongoing fires, there is no threat to the fuel tanks. They cite significant progress. No personnel, civilian or sailor, in hospital. The incident will be investigated thoroughly.

— David B. Larter (@DavidLarter) July 14, 2020

Wow.  That press conference must have been a doozy (didn't see it) cause we're getting some extremely optimistic reporting about the condition of this ship.

I don't buy it one bit.

We all saw the fire so are we suppose to doubt our lying eyes?  Not me!  Additionally we can look around the Navy and everything is in shit shape.  Sorry folks, there just ain't no other way to say it. 

Then there is the 800 lbs gorilla in the room.  Covid-19 has essentially ensured that AT BEST the DoD budget will be flat.  Let me say that again.  Covid-19 has ensured that the terrible 20's will be horrific.

Then you add in the changing requirements of Marine Corps amphibious ship requirements, the desire to use alternative platforms, the idea that the MEU is basically dead it makes no sense from a doctrine viewpoint to even try and salvage this ship.

That's it in a nutshell.

Economics and priorities means the BHR is scratched from the naval registry.  They hype is necessary for public sentiment, but budget reality will come into play early or mid next year and the money will not be requested for this ship to be refurbished nor will it be provided by Congress.

Scratch one baby flattop.

Late Open Comment Post. 13 July 2020

USS Bonhomme Richard (LHD 6) Fire

Dept of the Navy needs a serious back to basics movement...not radical change

The recent fire on the prize of the Navy, the BHR, illustrates a few things to me.  The most significant?  That the Dept of the Navy (to include the United States Marine Corps) needs a back to basics movement, not radical change.

We've all lived thru the "transformation" era that gave us pie in the sky development programs.  Rumsfeld (presumably to seal his legacy after it became apparent that both Afghanistan and Iraq would become quagmires) pushed for weapon systems that to this day have failed to deliver.

In the meantime I've sensed a 'rudderless' ship at the DON and more widely at the DoD in general.

The push to modernize is causing current issues.  Maintenance chief among them.

The solution to all this is to make sure you get the little things right.  To have the ordinary tasks done at an exceptional level.

To become a proper military force again instead of business enterprise.

There is no easy way for military affairs.  It's hard work all the time and there are no shortcuts.  Unfortunately it seems that leadership in their zeal to grasp the future is short changing the present.

This must be reversed.

The good that can come out of this fire? 

A re-dedication to excellence in all things.  A rekindling of the martial spirit that has been the way of the USMC and USN.  A realization that there is no easy way.

Confidence is not high but I can hope.

US Navy LHD on fire at San Diego..

Thanks to Vodknar for the link!

More views of the #fire burning now on board US #Navy amphibious ship USS #BONHOMME RICHARD LHD6 at 32nd Street Naval Station in San Diego. Reports so far indicate 3 sailors, 1 SDFD fireman injured. At the moment the fire seems to be growing pic.twitter.com/icPblRJOEV

— Chris Cavas (@CavasShips) July 12, 2020

Geez.  The hits keep coming.

UPDATE...they're talking explosions and I'm watching this on TV.  This ship is looking like a total write-off.  If not then its gonna be years to repair it.  Scratch one big deck LHD.  This is ominous.  If we're losing ships in port then how will they stand up to actual anti-ship missiles.  How combat capable are modern warships when it comes to taking hits?

Another consideration is whether there are more munitions aboard ship.  If so then we could see something catastrophic if they go up.  We'll get the answer if they tow it out to sea.  That means that the fire can't be contained, they can't get the munitions off and they're worried about damage in the community.

Supposedly this has been going since around 10am this morning.  A couple more hours should tell the tale.