The IDF takes off the gloves and no one notices...

The above photo is from the "Unwanted Blog" and the graphic tells the story.

The IDF is shrinking the Gaza strip by 40% and not one major news organization is reporting on it.

THIS IS HUGE!

I asked the question earlier.  Why doesn't the IDF move the Palestinians to the West bank, reclaim the Gaza  and make it a beach resort (like it once was) and deal with a real (as real as can be found in that God forsaken region) peace partner in the West Bank?

Before you answer the above ponder this.  Why isn't Israel facing a two front war?  Why aren't the Palestinians in the West Bank rioting and going insane causing this war to flare even wider?

The world is in chaos. Only Israel seems to have a plan that is working.  The UN, US, EU are all powerless.  What we do see is a strange alliance.  Israel, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, UAE...even Syria and a few others are on one side.  On the other is Iran, Hamas, ISIS and the other terrorists.  Somehow, someway the US govt (which I separate from the American people on this issue...at least my circle anyway) is on the wrong side of this.

Textron Air Land. Bush league organization or do they just work with bitches?

Consider this a rant.

I got an e-mail from some clown named Pete Fletcher and this idiot had the audacity to claim that I was using his photos without permission.  Note.  I make a point of using only open source material.  That means photos from manufacturers or military organizations.

I got the photos he's referring to from the Textron Air Land Facebook page.  That means one of two things to me.  Either Textron Air Land is a bush league organization that isn't using proper controls over the images of their products OR they're allowing silly little bitches to enter their space and sully their reputation.

Either way it sucks.

I'm done with Textron until they clarify image use across all their domains. 

Tragedy of war in Gaza.

IDF Press Release...

A short while ago, terrorists in Gaza fired rockets at Israel. One of them hit Al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza. The other hit Al-Shati refugee camp. Hamas fires from civilian areas – and hits its own people.

This is interesting.

While a tragic occurrence it also plays nicely with an Israeli theme that they have been beating the drum on.  Hamas is the root of the suffering in Gaza. MSNBC led with the story that the IDF hit the hospital.  Now?  They're saying nothing.

This public relations/human suffering story will bear watching.

This could be one of those quiet turning points if properly managed. 

Israeli Armored Personnel Carriers near Gaza...pics via Tank-net Forums

Note:  Tank-net is one of those places on the internet that is a resource for those interested in armored vehicles.  Check out their forums under the current Israeli operation and you'll find a ton of pics.  Make sure you do it daily.  Hot linking is not allowed and most pic hosting sites impose limits so the pics are being posted and then deleted frequently.

Sidenote:  I'm seeing reports that IEDs have shown up in this conflict.  I've received pictures of destroyed Merkava's but want to nail down details before I post them.  Suffice it to say that if the pictures are real then even the mighty Merkava is vulnerable.  I'm waiting to see if the Namer is adequately protected against the threat.

The IDF's 401st Armored Brigade operating near Gaza (pics)...

Note:  The Trophy vehicle protection system is displayed to good effect in these pics...additionally you can see the Achzarit Heavy APC can be seen in the background.  While the M113 has come under fire for being too lightly armored to operate in urban areas, we haven't heard the same about the Achzarit.  I expect to see tank to APC modification become the norm worldwide due to that vehicles performance.

The US Navy's version of the F-35 is costing us $337 million dollars each....

Check out the insanity which is the cost of the F-35 here, at War is Boring Blog...I won't even spoil it with a tidbit.  This is a must read.

Israel reveals its Sayeret Maglan is operational in Gaza...

The Maglan special forces unit found explosives two steps away from a baby's bed

The simple caption on this photo on the IDF Flickr site caught my attention.  What the fuck is the Maglan Special Forces Unit?  IDF has tons of special ops outfits but I had never heard of these guys.  A quick trip to Google, which led to Wikipedia revealed this...

Maglan (Hebrew: מגלן. Also known as Unit 212 or Sayeret Maglan) is an Israeli Special Forces unit which specializes in operating behind enemy lines and deep in enemy territory using advanced technologies and weaponry.
The unit's name is derived from the Ibis bird (In Hebrew: Maglan).
The IDF keeps the unit's designated missions a secret and gives no information about it or the operations in which the unit takes part. Maglan has existed since 1986 but became publicly known only in 2006. Very little is known about the unit, only that the force performs top secret operations behind enemy lines, deep within hostile territory. Like Sayeret Matkal, although the operators in the unit wear a red beret and brown combat boots and conduct basic training at one of the paratroopers' bases, they are not part of the Paratroop Brigade. Maglan has a 20 months training program (6 months basic training and 14 months specialized combat education), and many of the candidates drop out due to the harsh nature of the program. The training program is known to be one of the toughest in the IDF. Similarly to Sayeret Matkal, Maglan answers to the IDF's General Staff and not to one of its regional commands.
Maglan is a relatively new unit. It is rumored that it was deployed on covert SCUD hunting missions in Iraq during the First Gulf War in 1991.
During the Second Lebanon War, the unit took part in many operations and achieved great success. During Operation Beach-Boys, the unit operated along the western coastal strip ofLebanon and destroyed 150 targets, among them 40 rocket launchers.

Either the IDF censors are slipping or Hamas is being sent a message.

The IDF has a unit running around Gaza undetected and getting the job done.  What has me scratching my head is how these guys are avoiding being engaged in endless firefights.

Are they another one of those units that dress up as Hamas and wander around without being observed?  I've heard that they have units that are filled with Arab looking and speaking Israelis that specialize in just that sort of thing but I always imagined it was bluster.  Now?  I'm not so sure.

Even more interesting is that this unit reports directly to the General Staff and not a regional command.  That makes it a truly special unit (I'm seriously beginning to wonder how the Israeli's designate special ops units...the Golani Brigade are fighting like world champs but they're considered an elite but not special ops outfit).  I'll be watching for more news on the Sayeret Maglan.