Uber driver threatened with accusation of rape by irate female rider.

Note:  I refuse to post the video of the incident because to be honest...its all batshit crazy (go here to see it for yourself).  Below is a write up of the incident by "the root".

via the root.

A young Bronx, N.Y., woman who was caught on cellphone video apparently threatening to call the police and falsely accuse an Uber driver of rape wa banned from the app for life, according to a company spokesperson.

“The behavior in this video is abusive and completely unacceptable,” an Uber spokesperson said in a statement, according to the New York Post.

The footage, which was uploaded online this week, appears to show the unidentified female passenger hurling slurs and curses at the male driver for several minutes.

“I’m going to start screaming out the window that you’re raping me, that you raped me,” she says.

“I will punch myself in the face and tell the cops you did it,” she adds. “You wanna play?”

The woman tells the driver, “Go back to your country” and says, “Donald Trump going to send you and your family back. Get the fuck out of my country.”

The incident all seemed to unfold, according to the Post, because the driver did not have an iPhone charger.

“If I don’t have a charger, politely ask me. I’ll politely tell you, ‘I’m sorry, I don’t have a charger,’” the driver says to the woman. “But you start disrespecting me.”

The back-and-forth continues as the driver continues to record and even smiles at the camera.

“I was taking you to your destination until you started talking shit,” he says, just before the woman realizes that the footage is being recorded.

“Why are you recording me?” she yells, while punching the man’s seats. “He just hit me in my face!”

The driver says that the passenger is free to “make up whatever lies [she] wants” before the woman eventually gets out of the car.

Uber continued in its statement about the incident: “As our Community Guidelines make clear, this will not be tolerated by anyone who uses Uber. The rider’s account has been banned and Uber is looking into this incident.”

Neither the driver nor the rider has been publicly identified.

A couple of things (watch the video to understand my comments please)...

1.  When did the word "nigga" become appropriate for common use?  I personally view it to be as vile as "nigger" but for some reason more and more people are using it....and no its not middle aged or old people but 20 somethings.  I don't understand and don't want to.  Its beyond stupid.  I wonder what Martin Luther King would think about this development.

2.  Women using laws against men in minor disputes.  We all know it but its nice to see a perfect example of it for everyone to see.  Even worse.  Men and women of all ages are aware of the problem but no one is doing anything about it.

3.  Is it me or does Uber seem like the company of the walking dead.  I wonder how much longer it can stay in business.

4.  All this over a phone charger?  Simply amazing. 

A Russian spy is laughing through his execution in Finland during the Winter War, 1942 via Historical Times

New CH-53K pics...

The CH-53K King Stallion lands after a test flight in West Palm Beach, Fla. on March 22, 2017. Lockheed Martin announced the CH-53K King Stallion passed its Defense Acquisition Board assessment that approved for the aircraft to begin low-rate initial production on April 4, 2017. The CH-53K will be considered the most powerful helicopter in the Department of Defense and is scheduled to completely replace the CH-53E Super Stallion by 2030.
(U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Molly Hampton)

The CH-53K King Stallion flies a test flight in West Palm Beach, Fla. on March 22, 2017. Lockheed Martin announced the CH-53K King Stallion passed its Defense Acquisition Board assessment that approved for the aircraft to begin low-rate initial production on April 4, 2017. The CH-53K will be considered the most powerful helicopter in the Department of Defense and is scheduled to completely replace the CH-53E Super Stallion by 2030.
(U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Molly Hampton)

Navy Recognition's Day 2 video coverage at the Navy League’s Sea-Air-Space 2016 Exposition

Open Comment Post. April 8, 2017

Navy Recognition's Day 1 video coverage at the Navy League’s Sea-Air-Space 2017 Exposition

Russia claims only 23 Tomahawks reached the airbase.

Thanks to Gregory for the link!

via Russian Military Website (here)

On April 7, from 3.42 to 3.56 MSK from the Mediterranean Sea in the area of ​​Crete with two destroyers, the US Navy ( "Ross" and "Porter") was dealt a massive missile strike 59 cruise missiles "Tomahawk" on the Syrian air base " al-Shayrat "(province of Homs).

According to the Russian means of the objective control, to the Syrian air base cried down a total of 23 missiles.

As a result of the impact destroyed the warehouse logistics property, educational building, dining room, 6 is in the repair hangar aircraft MiG-23, as well as radar.

Runway, taxiways and aircraft parking areas of the Syrian Air Force is not damaged.

According to the command of the Syrian air base, 2 Syrian soldiers were missing, as well as 4 - were killed and 6 received burn injuries in the course of fighting fires.

Thus, the combat effectiveness of the US massive missile attack on Syrian air base - is extremely low.

These actions of the American side see as a flagrant violation of the signed in 2015 Memorandum on the prevention of incidents and safety during operations in the airspace of Syria.

Russian Defense Ministry suspends cooperation with the Pentagon as part of this Memorandum.

All nominated the US as justification Damascus charges impact on the alleged violation of the Convention on the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons in 2013 - are unfounded.

We have already mentioned that the Syrian army did not use chemical weapons. We are waiting for the US explanation of the presence of their indisputable, according to them, evidence that chemical weapons in Khan Shaykhun was used by the Syrian army.

I recall that from 2013 to 2016 the Syrian government to fully implement all available measures to eliminate chemical weapons, their means of delivery and production base. Destroyed all stocks and removed from the territory of the Syrian Arab Republic of the available components for the production of chemical weapons, the destruction wrought on the US companies, Finland, Great Britain and Germany.

US administration changes, and methods of starting wars since the bombing of Yugoslavia, Iraq and Libya remain unchanged. Again, the reason is not an objective investigation is to unleash the aggression and allegations, manipulation of facts, photos and shaking psevdoprobirkami in international organizations.

I draw your attention to that immediately after the application of a massive missile strike on Syrian Air Force Base, it began a major offensive gangs "LIH" and "Dzhabgat en-Nusra" in the position of Syrian troops.

We hope that these actions are not militants agreed with the American side in nature.

Today it is obvious that the impact of American cruise missiles on the Syrian air base was prepared long before today's events.

For the preparation of such a strike is necessary to conduct a large range of activities for exploration, planning, preparation of flight missions and bring the missiles in full readiness for launch.

For any specialist it is clear that a decision on the missile strike on Syria was taken in Washington long before the events in the village Khan Shaykhun, served only a formal occasion, but a demonstration of military force is dictated solely by domestic political reasons.

To cover the most sensitive objects Syrian infrastructure will be soon implemented a set of measures to strengthen and improve the effectiveness of air defense system of the Syrian armed forces.

First!  Stow your flag waving, Russia bashing and rush to judgement.

Second!  This is just information from the other side.  Accept it as such!

Third!  I'm just the messenger.  Chill the fuck out.

Fourth!  Wait for more information from the US Dept of Defense.

The goal of this blog is to provide as much open source information to my readers as possible.  YOU decide!  YOU analyze!  YOU compile the information from a variety of sources with the clear knowledge that both sides seek only one thing...to keep you inside a house of mirrors...

The goal of Intelligence Services around the world is to influence your mind.

MY MISSION is to provide you with raw information...The more information you have, the more you are able to resist that influence and catch glimpses of the truth! 

Acting SecNav loves the Super Hornet Block III

via Breaking Defense

Boeing’s proposed Block III upgrade to the Super Hornet would be a “fairly high-end” complement to the F-35C Joint Strike Fighter, acting Navy Secretary Sean Stackley believes. Instead of seeing Super Hornets as a potential replacement for the F-35 — as President Trump proposed — Stackley and other naval leaders at the Sea-Air-Space conference here repeatedly emphasized the two are not competitors, but are complementary. In fact, the Navy sees a role for both in high-intensity, high-tech, high-end warfare against the thick anti-aircraft defenses known as Anti-Access/Area Denial (A2/AD).

It’s not a “high/low mix,” Stackley told reporters yesterday. “That’s too Air Force.” (The term “high/low mix” originally referred to the Air Force’s combination of twin-engine F-15s and single-engine F-16s). In particular, he said, “we’re looking at a Block III F-18. It’s fairly high-end. It doesn’t have all the stealth characteristics of a fifth-gen fighter, all the advanced capabilities of an F-35, but it’s an extremely capable aircraft.”

Nice.  Real Nice.  You can stick a fork in the US Navy buying its full allotment of F-35C's...which means the fewer it buys the more they will cost which means we might see the whole thing canceled.

Finally.  A bit of good news.

OPCW report: rebels used chemical weapons – not Assad

via almasdarnews.com

The Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) has confirmed the traces of the sarin gas used in Syria are not linked with the Syrian government’s former stockpile of chemical weapons. The report corroborates the Syrian government’s assertions that the faction responsible for the chemical attack, as well as 11 other instances of chemical weapons use, was the Syrian opposition.

The report also substantiates last month’s claims from Ahmed al-Gaddafi al-Qahsi, cousin of Muammar Gaddafi, who said that the chemical weapons used in the incident had been stolen from Libya and later smuggled into Syria via Turkey by militants.

The announcement follows an investigation carried out by the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) at the request of the Syrian president Bashar al-Assad and the Syrian government.

“In one instance, analysis of some blood samples indicates that individuals were at some point exposed to sarin or a sarin-like substance” said Ahmet Uzumcu, the head of the OPCW. He later added that the sarin gas examined bore different characteristics to the one formerly owned by the Syrian government.

Propaganda?

I don't know.

What I do know is that there was a rush to do something...a rush for military action and it was led by the usual suspects.

NOTE!  OPCW's website is here.

Aftermath at the Shayrat airbase (vid and pic)

Thanks to Gregory for the link!



I'm not sure I'm seeing the type of damage I expected.  I thought the runways would be slammed and the hangers obliterated (and from the pic they have been...but no wrecked aircraft??).  Not sure about this.  I'll look at the battle damage assessment with much interest.

Political Talk. He did what they wanted and his political foes still hate his guts!

Amazing.

Trump's foes were all over the news media (and were composed of a LARGE part of the news media) practically begging him to launch strikes against Syria.

This morning he does and what is their response?  Severe criticism!  I'm not surprised.  I'm to the point where I view our internal politics as being a bigger danger to the future of our Republic than any external force.

There is one glimmer of hope though.  After this "passion play" to avenge the children (that meme annoys me...Darfur is an ongoing tragedy and no one gives a fuck...additionally you can throw a dart at a globe and find atrocities/barbarity going on in the world that the media happily ignores) we can pivot back to rapidly killing ISIS.

That is our only hope in the ME.

Open Comment Post. April 7, 2017.

CH-53K King Stallion | The True Heavy Lift

ISIS executes 33 young people in Syria and we're about to become their Air Force.

via UPI

April 6 (UPI) -- The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said the Islamic State carried out a mass execution in Syria's Deir Ezzor province in which 33 people aged 18 to 25 died.

The SOHR said the execution occurred Wednesday morning in the desert of al-Mayadin about 5 miles southeast of al-Mayadin city. The SOHR said its monitors were able to see the execution carried out with what it described as sharp tools, used to cut victims' necks.

The SOHR said those executed were not identified, so it is not known if they are members of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's regime, prisoners, members of the Islamic State or Syrian rebels. The SOHR said no one was beheaded in what it's calling the first mass execution carried out by the Islamic State in 2017. They said it was larger than two separate mass executions in which 15 people were killed each in mid-September and early October.

Yeah.

You say Assad is a monster?  Ok, but he can be contained.  I say ISIS is a ravenous beast that must be put down before he both INFECTS and DEVOURS.

But no.

Instead of prioritizing enemies you cheer the conventional wisdom that Assad is the threat.  I think you're stupid and easily led by the herd.  Worse?

ISIS kills 33 people and no one notices.  Additionally they didn't use chemical weapons but "sharp tools" so that somehow makes it better.

Some of you people use logic that confuses the hell outta me.

CSIS Think Tank does a detailed analysis of the J-20. A MUST READ.

Check it out here.

Political Talk. Putting defeat into the jaws of victory...Why is the focus on Assad instead of ISIS?

This is a semi rant.

Have you noticed that the very moment we see ISIS being rolled back in a serious way....When we finally see an end to the war in Iraq/Syria, suddenly we see a chemical weapons attack?

My opinion and you can call me tin hat but I'm stating flat out that I see this as a false flag.

Additionally have you noticed that the establishment on both sides of the political aisle are all onboard?  Even worse?  Trump seems to have surrendered all common sense and is going along too!

The only thing certain is that once again the focus isn't on killing ISIS and that we're going to see another stupid Middle Eastern war drag on even longer.

Trump is losing his way.  His son in law is a thirty something that is more concerned with being popular in New York and the belt way than he is in solving real problems.  He'll be popular, his father in law will lose re-election and our troops will be dragged into another quagmire.

As usual, popular opinion and fake outrage is wrong.

Open Comment Post. April 6, 2017.

I was worried about the cost of M27 for the Infantry while Marine Air wants even more toys!

via The Drive.

In addition to wanting more F-5s spread across key locations, the USMC also wants to procure a light air support aircraft for training purposes. These aircraft could work not just in concert with an expanded F-5 adversary corps, but also for training Joint Terminal Air Controllers (JTACS), airborne forward air controllers, and providing a basic airborne surveillance and fire support platform for other training purposes. This would all be part of a greater shift in tactical air training strategy called the Composite Training Squadron Concept. 

Full story here. 

I was concerned about the cost of equipping Marine Infantry with the M27, worried that we might be wasting money on the ACV when the upgraded AAV might be "good enough", concerned that we would have to acquire new 782 gear because everything we have now is so biased to desert environments...and now we see this from the Wing?

There has to be a serious discussion about the cost of Marine Air and whether or not the direction it's taking is in the best interest of the entire Marine Corps!

I'm not talking about a top down preaching about "aviation centric" being the future, but a real deal no bullshit "talk among the tribe" on if we can afford the Marine Air Wing as its being built.

How did we reach a point where the Marine Corps has gone from taking US Army hand me downs, US Navy cast offs, picking up US Air Force trash and making it shine to where we need unique/boutique...EVERYTHING!!!???

One thing is certain.

We can put the talking point that the USMC is the most cost effective of the military branches in the trash bin of our history.  If you're looking at things from a size vs cost perspective I'm sure that bragging point now belongs to the US Army!

The Marine Corps needs a procurement stand down, a back to basics movement and a reassessment of its future doctrine.

General Dynamics Piranha 5 8x8 IFV ideally suited to "hybrid warfare"?

via Defense News.

The objective of this national program is to obtain an 8x8 wheeled armored vehicle to replace the obsolete 6x6 wheeled Pegaso BMR after 40 years of service.

"The 8x8 armored fighting vehicle will be useful for today's hybrid threat environments, or for the vast majority of scenarios to which current security challenges will lead us. It is especially suitable for current low-intensity operations, especially in Africa", Conde said.

We knew about this purchase a month ago but to class these type vehicles as being especially suited to hybrid warfare and out of area operations is new.

Colombian Army Strykers (pics)