Ship-to-Objective Commuters The continuing search for an Amphibious vehicle capability. By LtCol H.F. Hall. MUST READ!

  Ship-to-Objective Commuters The continuing search for an Amphibious vehicle capability.  By LtCol Howard F....

US defense secretary: Growing threat that Russia will invade Ukraine

via Westernjournalism.com

Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel recently said that he agreed with Poland’s foreign minister about a heightened risk of invasion of Ukraine by Russia.
To quote Hagel:I think it’s a reality, of course it is. When you see the build-up of Russian troops and the sophistication of those troops, the training of those troops, the heavy military equipment that’s being put along that border, of course it’s a reality, it’s a threat, it’s a possibility – absolutely.
Hagel went on to say that “the longer that Russia perpetuates and instigates this tension and the possibility of escalating their activity, it’s going to get worse. And we have to be prepared for that.”
Donald Tusk, the Prime Minister of Poland, had warned that “the threat of a direct intervention (by Russia into Ukraine) is certainly greater than it was even a few days ago. ”
On Wednesday, NATO warned that the number of “combat-ready” Russian troops near the Ukrainian border had gone from 12,000 to 20,000.

Absolutely awesome.

Pass the popcorn.  Italy just went back into recession, Germany is hurting because it does so much business with Russia and the sanctions are hurting them both....the rest of the EU/US are all teetering on the brink....and Ukraine is getting ready to hook and jab with the Russian Bear.

American Mercenary believes that a global economy is here to stay. 

I believe its a house of cards waiting to fall.

Ukraine is probably the focal point for a great many people's futures....for better or worse.

Breaking! CDC has moved to a Level 1 alert.

The CDC (according to FoxNews) has moved to a Level 1 alert (their highest) and the news reader stated that the CDC calls this an "all hands on deck" moment.

Interesting isn't it?

More to come I'm sure.

Meanwhile in Australia....Crocs eat sharks...

via Daily Telegraph.au

NOTE:  I like the outdoors but Australia is 1000% fucked up!  I don't see how ELP can take it!  Crocs eat sharks, Dingoes eat babies, and spiders eat birds!

MARSOC is renamed Marine Raiders.

via MARSOC press release

MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. -- During World War II, four Marine Raider battalions and two Raider regiments were formed and saw action in the Pacific Theater between 1942 and 1944. Formed to conduct amphibious raids and guerrilla operations behind enemy lines, the Raider battalions were the United States’ first special operations units.

The Raiders went on to participate in campaigns across the Pacific Ocean and earned more than 700 decorations, including seven Medals of Honor, before disbandment approximately two years later.
Though the units’ existence was short-lived, they left a lasting impression. The Marine Raider battalions were the inspiration for what would become modern day special operations.
But when U.S. Marine Corps Forces Special Operations Command was established in 2003, the unit did not officially carry-on the moniker.

Commandant of the Marine Corps Gen. James F. Amos made official the title in a proclamation he released Wednesday, which calls for “the official continuation of our Corps’ special operations heritage from the Raiders of World War II to our modern day Marines.”
“United States Marines take great pride in our special operations and irregular warfare heritage…From this point forward, the Marines of MARSOC will be officially aligned with the Marine Raiders of World War II and are charged with maintaining the high standards and traditions that accompany such distinction,” as stated in the proclamation read during the unit’s change-of-command ceremony held at Stone Bay aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, N.C.
While MARSOC is adopting the name Marine Raiders, the command’s official title will remain MARSOC. However, Major Subordinate Elements of the unit will reflag with the Raider name. For example, subordinate commands will reflag as Marine Raider Regiment, Marine Raider Support Group, Marine Raider battalions, etc.

Window dressing.

Legacy building.

It means nothing.  What you should know is that the WW2 veterans of the Marine Raiders offered up the idea that MARSOC should and could use the name but HQMC refused.

Now this.  I'm unimpressed.

Note:  Doubt me on the fact that Amos initially refused to allow MARSOC to use the name Raiders?  Check out these articles here, and here.

IDF claims victory. But is it?

via Jerusalemonline..

Uri Shechter, deputy Nahal brigade commander on reserve duty, wrote an open letter to his soldiers at the end of Operation Protective Edge. "This is what victory looks like", Shechter wrote. "It is a positive thing that the soldiers and commanders sense that they could’ve gone further, or else we would be in a problem. Not everyone who writes a fiery Facebook post understands that".
Uri Shechter, deputy Nahal brigade commander on reserve duty, wrote an open letter to his soldiers explaining why Israel is the one that gained absolute victory in Operation Protective Edge. "It is important for me to say to the entire nation of Israel that we have won big time", Shecter wrote. "Hamas is squashed, the most it can do is take its head out of the pit in which it is hiding for one second and mark a V with its hand, until it gets the missile".
In opposition to other soldiers who have expressed frustration from the fact that IDF withdrew from Gaza, Shechter defended the decision. "Some of the soldiers and commanders feel as we haven’t completed the mission, and they would like to kill more and more terrorists", Shechter explained. "This is how soldiers and commanders should always feel; it is excellent that this is how they feel. If they had ended the operation feeling satisfied, it would’ve been a problem. I also don’t accept the words saying that IDF retreated.

I wonder.

Are we seeing continuous war in the modern age because civilian leaders don't have the moral courage to finish what they start?

Hamas is not crushed.

There will be another round to this fighting.

A bit about the Ebola cases...

I've been alarmed by the US govt allowing US citizens into the country with Ebola.  I wrote the CDC with these simple questions...

My readers suggest that the CDC was the authority that ordered that the two US citizens that contracted the disease be brought into the country. Is this true? Did you have to seek permission from the President? What are the safeguards in a worst case scenario situation? Is it true that upon death, people that have contracted the disease are incinerated?

Sharon Hoskins with CDC public relations wrote back and said this...

Hi Solomon: The State Department has oversight for evacuations (including medical) of U.S. citizens.

Plain talk.

That's bullshit on a biscuit.

I don't know why the mainstream media isn't attempting to run down the facts on this issue but I'm beginning to wonder what is exactly going on here.  The citizens of this country has a right to know the decision making process behind this issue of public safety.  I ask again.  Why isn't the mainstream media trying to get answers to these questions.