Thursday, July 03, 2025

Open Comment Post. 3 July 25

 


Ukraine arms freeze part of wider military aid review

 via Defense News

A day after the White House confirmed that the U.S. has suspended some military aid to Ukraine, the Pentagon’s chief spokesperson said the decision stemmed from a larger review of America’s military support for countries around the world.


“We can’t give weapons to everybody all around the world. We have to look out for America and defending our homeland,” Sean Parnell said in his first standalone briefing Wednesday.

About fucking time.  Oh and for the people that say fight them now or they'll invade other European countries?

The EU has a larger GDP than the US.  Has a larger population.  Has as large a manufacturing base.  Has not lived up to its responsibilities to properly fund NATO. 

Assisting in the defense of others is one thing.  Being called upon to do it solo isn't gonna fly anymore.

Ukraine was one of the most corrupt nations on the planet before the war.  I don't think its improved after the fighting has started.

No more free stuff.  No more open ended guarantees.

America first.

The Russian army is claiming complete control of Luhansk Oblast

 via National Interest

Russia is claiming complete control of Luhansk Oblast. If true, control of the region would mark the first time that an entire Ukrainian region had fallen to Moscow since the war began in February 2022. The claim has not yet been independently verified, and Ukraine has not yet confirmed the loss of all remaining territory in the region. 

The fall of Luhansk would be strategically and symbolically significant for Russia. Luhansk is one of the four regions that Russian President Vladimir Putin claimed to have annexed in September 2022. Complete control of the region would allow Russia to consolidate logistics while pushing westward and potentially redeploying forces to pressure Donetsk and Kharkiv. 

Moscow has also announced the capture of Dachnoye, a small village in Dnipropetrovsk Oblast. If true, the capture would represent Russia’s first known foothold in the region, marking a southern extension of the Russian frontline. While the strategic value of Dachnoye itself is limited, its capture may indicate that Russian forces are now testing Ukrainian defenses further south, perhaps angling to stretch Kyiv’s lines or open a new pressure axis. 

Here

THIS IS INTERESTING.

I've been watching the map and have hesitated to post videos that highlight Russian gains (from credible sources...at least sources that haven't been disputed on this blog).

If this is true (and yeah...its true) then we have to look at Ukrainian strategy and how they've conducted this war.

My point?

Ukraine has been concentrating on the strategic.  Public relations (which they've won with the support of mass media), Western govt groveling (which most European nations have willing engaged in) and attacking deep into Russia.

They've ignored the more important thing.  The tactical situation on the ground.

They've happily engaged in a war of attrition with a larger nation, they've conducted foolhardy offensive and they've taken a stance of "no negotiation" even though the outcome on the ground is definitely turning against them.

Ukraine has suffered from a lack of leadership in this war and I don't believe its at the general level.  Zelensky has become so enamored with his own words, viewpoints and beliefs that he can see no other arguments except his own.

Recent decisions by the US to FINALLY protect our own warstocks will hasten a conclusion to this war. 

Sunday, June 29, 2025

Multiple firefighters shot while responding to wildfire in north Idaho...my guess? poor bastards stumbled into a cartel weed farm...

Kinda surprised we haven't seen more of this. Been following sheriff's depts in california and the no go zones are kinda plentiful. Why? Because of all the weed farms operated by the cartel. Everyone is complaining about militarized police but the real issue is you're gonna see militarized firefighters and paramedics soon. Open borders has exacerbated a terrible problem all around. America is becoming a battlefield but no one outside of emergency services is seeing it.

Talk of the China - US trade deal supposedly open up China, end the use of rare earth as a weapon & sideline Xi

 

My theory has been that Force Design 2030 is really about the USMC being a tripwire force. Having 500 US troops on Taiwan renders that redundant

 via National Interest

The Purpose of a “Tripwire” Force Is to Get Killed—and Start a War

The roughly 500 US military personnel stationed on Taiwan are there for two reasons: to serve as a tripwire, and to assist in the defense of the island. If China decides to initiate a blockade and an invasion of the island, those US forces will be insufficient to stop the onslaught. The idea, however, is that they will form the nucleus of whatever resistance movement is formed to combat the likely Chinese invasion. What’s more, by having those forces on the island, should they be killed or captured, those 500 men could become the trigger needed to force an otherwise reluctant United States to send more forces to defend or liberate Taiwan from China.

Here 

NOTE!  The purpose of this article is to state that the US should remove ANY troops stationed on Taiwan and furthermore states that the US should avoid a war with China if they seek reunification.

To the issue at hand.

I don't understand why the Marine Corps would seek to push FD2030 in light of what the US Army, US Navy and US Air Force are doing.  

If war were to come the Marine Corps would be a bit player at best and at worst they would simply get in the way.

The Marines need to find a different lane cause "sensing" and "counter recon" with missile shooting just ain't it.

Saturday, June 28, 2025

Marine gets called out for dressing like a cholo

One of the last two escaped inmates from New Orleans captured...

 

Army unveils plans to acquire two different sizes of autonomous launchers via Breaking Defense

 via BD

The US Army is interested in acquiring two new autonomous platforms under a new initiative it’s calling the Common Autonomous Multi-Domain Launcher (CAML).


In a “request for solutions brief” posted today, the service announced that its Rapid Capabilities and Critical Technologies Office is leading the charge to find two separate CAML variants — a heavy and a medium — on a “rapid timeline.”


“CAML is an autonomous/optionally crewed, highly mobile, air transportable, cross domain fires launcher with the potential to augment or replace existing Army launchers,” the service said.


“CAML reduces emplacement and displacement times, provides improved crew survivability, adds cross-country mobility, increases overall effectiveness, and allows commanders to weight the force appropriately during both offensive and defensive operations,” the Army later added.


For the CAML-H variant, the Army wants to integrate a launcher onto a M1075 Palletized Loading System tactical vehicle — or similar 15-ton class chassis — that can then fire the Tomahawk Land Attack Missile or the Patriot Advanced Capabilities Three (PAC-3) Missile Segment Enhancement interceptor. However, the service did not specify how many rounds each launcher should be able to hold. 

Here. 

Army leadership is running CIRCLES around the Marine Corps.

This was suppose to be the thing that made the Marine Corps relevant right, that would bring us back to our naval roots right?

So how come the Army can keep their ground forces up to speed, modernize and improve them while the Marine Corps guts the same and can't even get the missile Marines up and running?

Let's be honest.

As things stand right here and right now, its hard to make a case that the American people need a Marine Corps.

Unless the Marines go back to their real roots...being America's 911 force that is ready when everyone  is least ready, that is forward leaning and is a cost benefit to the US then why the fuck should we continue funding it!

The Marine Corps in 2025 is resting on the laurels of those that came before.  The Marine Corps today is a clusterfuck.

We Need a Marine Corps, Part III: A Corps Recentered via War On The Rocks

 Note.  This is a must read article for Marine Corps supporters.  I think critical mass is being reached and everyone (except for the inner circle around the Commandant) is waking up to the idea that Force Design 2030 is an evolutionary dead end.

via WOTR

Commandant Eric Smith clearly articulated his vision for the future of the Marine Corps: While retaining focus on the China threat, the service will recenter on global crisis response. This means getting more marines — and more of their combat gear — on ship and deployed around the world. Smith believes marines should be America’s premier 9-1-1 force, just like they were before the “Global War on Terror.” But as I pointed out in the first two parts of this series, he faces some daunting challenges. Recentering the Marine Corps on crisis response will require more than just “re-bluing,” or getting marines back on globally deployed Navy ships.

-----

 Presently, the Marine Corps has focused its capabilities on the China pacing threat around an area generally circumscribed by the nine-dash line, an imaginary delineation of control implied by the Chinese Communist Party. With Task Force 61/2, some efforts have been made to extrapolate the stand-in force capability to other theaters. However, China remains the pacing threat for the Marine Corps and the nine-dash Line remains the focus of attention for the Department of Defense.


But China is also a global power with extensive global economic interests and dependencies. It has purchased, leased, or otherwise imposed itself along the coastline from the western reaches of North Africa through an arc into Southeast Asia. Thus far, these investments and interests have gone mostly unchallenged. China has not had to deploy significant military forces to sustain its Belt and Road program, nor has it had to fight a deployed war. And it has relatively limited capacity to do either.


China is strong along its coastline but gets weaker and weaker the further its forces operate from its homeland sensors, maritime, air, and missile forces. In fact, none of America’s adversaries have a meaningful global power projection capability. So this out of area dynamic also applies to Russia, Iran, North Korea, and other adversaries. Competing with adversaries out of area is an excellent way to apply the great power competition aspects of irregular warfare, to stretch adversaries and, if necessary, to defeat them where they are at their weakest.

Read the whole thing its well worth it. 

What do I want to emphasize?

The Chinese are building a GLOBAL FORCE!  They have been smart.  Real smart. They have not allowed themselves to become embroiled in the small wars that their vassal states are engaged in.

That will change.

Sooner or later they're gonna have to defend their interests around the globe.  While I don't see them becoming World Police version 2, I do think that they will eventually have to protect their investments.

That means wars in Africa, sometimes the Middle East, to the surprise of many South America (!), and of course in Asia.

Fighting the Chinese out of area is gonna be the new hotness.  Taiwan is about heritage for the Chinese.  The other areas will be about business.

Expect the fight.  Gear up for that fight.  But do it now while we still have a LITTLE time.

Marine Corps leadership is WRONG about forcible entry in the modern era...

 


Marine Corps leadership pisses me off so much.  They have all but bought into the idea that forcible entry is passe'.  They have all but said amphibious assaults are dead.

They're so wrong.

So fucking wrong.

Let's look at the B-2 raid against Iran.

The Israelis attacked Iran for almost two weeks hitting anything that moved.  Admittedly the attacks were against air defenses and ballistic missiles but that is due to the nature of this particular fight.

This was an air war and the Israelis prepped the battlefield...shaped the battlefield.  They rolled back the defenses of this "contested" airspace.

It wasn't easy.  It was hard.  It wasn't spectacular with a "one hitter quitter" against the Iranians but they were hit hard, rolled back and then the US was invited in to perform the real mission.

The assault against Iranian nuke facilities.

But even with the Israelis having done so much work when the actual assault came, the US still sent over 120 aircraft to support seven (7), B-2s that did the real work of the fight.  The real focus of the war.

My point?

For ANY forcible entry event you will see an all hands on deck moment.  You will have the entire air arm of the US rolling back enemy defenses.  Maybe its just a corridor for the transports to fly thru if its an airborne assault, but regardless enemy defenses will be rolled.

Which brings me to the disconnect that Marine Corps leadership has.

They shout to the moon that if we're not the main effort we will support the joint force.

So why wouldn't the joint force be expected to support the Marine Corps if an amphibious assault is called for?

Instead they have this view that if future amphibious assaults are called for, it will be just a USMC/USN affair.

Its weird.  Its stupid.  Its wrong.

The real problem with Marine Corps leadership is that they've become prey to the Washington elite instead of standing apart.

The pampered princes in DC enjoy tearing down strong men and/or strong organizations.

It all started with that bitch Hillary Clinton calling the Marine Corps a cult.  It continued on with the appointment of Amos and then the kiss ass Neller, the wanna be transformationalist Berger and now his sycophant Smith.

Weak men make hard times.

The Marine Corps is having hard times because we have had a series of weak men as Commandant.

Open Comment Post. 28 Jun 25

 


Hey Marine Corps. Dump the V-22 and join the Army's buy of the 2nd gen tilt rotor...

 


A comment by Beowulf75...

For the corps, artillery should probably be wheeled. Towed is to slow, and tracked is to heavy. For the gun system get the Bookers the army is dumping while the line is hot and more can be produced. Not perfect, but available and tested. Go with the army on the v280, if it can be modified for sea. Marines did the long term vtol testing and army is getting the upgraded fruits of that labor.

The rest of his comment is worthy of debate but I want to highlight the highlighted section. 

The Marine Corps labored long and hard with the V-22.  It was first in class and as an introductory platform to a new concept it performed...OK.

But we're moving forward and putting more lipstick that is the pig of that airframe just don't make sense.

I don't believe in the sunk cost nonsense.  We spent the money to fix it.  We couldn't.  Time to move on.

Piggyback off the Army's purchase, modify it for naval use and get us a new bird.