Harrier pilot interviewed on NPR.

 via NPR...(thanks Anonymous...whoever you are!)

 Captain MICHAEL D. WYRSCH (U.S. Marines): Thank you, Steve. Good morning, Renee.
INSKEEP: What was your last mission?
Capt. WYRSCH: Sir, I was on the first night of the campaign when we were asked to go in and assess the Libyan forces - Saturday night, sir.
INSKEEP: You say assess the Libyan forces. So you weren't dropping bombs on them. You were trying to get a sense of where their tanks and armored vehicles were?
Capt. WYRSCH: Yes, sir. Our targets were south of - targets south of Benghazi. As Eric said, Gadhafi's forces were south of Benghazi pressing north towards the city and the rebels up there. And our initial targets were the main elements would be the tanks and the anti-air pieces in that - in the convoy.
INSKEEP: We have seen from photographers on the ground what the results look like - tanks destroyed and blown all along the road there. What did that scene look like from the air, Captain?
Capt. WYRSCH: Well, it was certainly surreal. You know, it was a nighttime mission for us. So when we were approaching the land from our ship, we could see that the Air Force was their first, and we could certainly see targets that they had prosecuted very successfully prior to us getting there.
The enemy force on the ground was very large. There were still many tanks on the ground, rocket launchers that had been firing into Benghazi, and they were pretty easy to pick out on the side of the highways. They were certainly still established in there.
INSKEEP: Is it hard for you to know what you're hitting?
Capt. WYRSCH: Well, sir, we have - the intelligence department here on the Kearsarge, it's part of the MEU(ph). They've done an outstanding job of providing imagery and, you know, up to the minute that we walk, it's one of the unique capabilities that the MEU provides.
You know, before I got in the aircraft I was given, you know, grids - updated grids within an hour of where the enemy forces were located.
INSKEEP: Rapid information. Captain, one last...
Capt. WYRSCH: ...out there, it was very easy. Within minutes we were able to locate the locate the targets that we were targeting out there.
INSKEEP: Captain, one last question, but very briefly before I let you go. There's been anti-craft fire over Tripoli, presumably elsewhere. Is there much opposition when you're flying?
Capt. WYRSCH: No, sir. That was certainly a concern. Prior to, you know, prior to our first mission we were very concerned about some of the threats that you see on the news - the SA5, the SA2, the SA3 and the SA8.
INSKEEP: Anti-aircraft missiles.
Capt. WYRSCH: However, we've got certain aircraft out there that can help mitigate those threats.
INSKEEP: All right, Captain Michael Wyrsch, thanks very much. I really appreciate you taking the time.
This is NPR news.

Sounds almost like a repeat of the "highway of death"....too bad there is such limited imagery. 

AS332 C1 SAR

Eurocopter released these pics of the AS332 C1 SAR Helicopter. 

Combat in Libya, the perfect advertisement for the F-35B.

via Marines.mil...

3/21/2011  By Capt. Richard K. Ulsh  , 26th MEU 

 

USS Kearsarge, at sea   — In an effort to safeguard the Libyan populace and infrastructure in and around the city of Ajdabiyah from further attacks by regime forces, 26th MEU, as part of Joint Task Force Odyssey Dawn, launched a second round of strikes by AV-8B Harrier jump jets, March 20. Conditions set forth by the U.N. Security Council towards resolving the unrest in Libya included the removal of Libyan Leader Muammar al-Qadhafi’s forces from Ajdubiyah. These latest strikes by the MEU aimed at preserving the sanctity of the city and the safety of the civilians within it.
“Our primary concern was ensuring the people inside Ajdubiyah were safe from Qadhafi’s artillery and tanks,” said Col. Mark J. Desens, commanding officer of 26th MEU. “Everything we are seeing following these strikes indicates that his forces are now less capable of threatening the town than before.”
Joint Task Force Odyssey Dawn is the U.S. Africa Command task force established to provide operational and tactical command and control of U.S. military forces supporting the international response to the unrest in Libya and enforcement of United Nations Security Council Resolution (UNSCR) 1973. UNSCR 1973 authorizes all necessary measures to protect civilians in Libya under threat of attack by Qadhafi regime forces. JTF Odyssey Dawn is commanded by U.S. Navy Admiral Samuel J. Locklear, III.

A couple of points so obvious I missed it (thanks Sferrin!)...

1.  Big carriers won't always be around.
2.  STOVL aircraft operating from LHD's is reaffirmed as a sound tactic.
3.  The Marine neck down strategy (if followed) was sound and cost effective.
4.  Forward deployed units are not to be underestimated.

In short, this conflict and the role of the Harrier is perfect advertisement for the STOVL capable F-35B.  If we were going against a more formidable enemy then its stealth features, ability to operate from LHD's and if the taking of territory were called for, its ability to operate from forward operating bases would prove battle winning.

Combat in Libya.  The perfect advertisement for the F-35B.

The French motive in Libya...

via  France24 (please read the entire article..)

Dismal approval ratings and a series of much-publicised French gaffes in response to the anti-regime movement in Tunisia are thought to be likely factors providing motivation for Sarkozy to appear authoritative and presidential on the international stage. French elections will take place in May 2012, and Sarkozy is thought to be eager to boost his public standing before launching a re-election campaign.

A president seeks to boost his public standing before an election?  Stranger things have happened...

2nd Marine Division takes over fight in Afghanistan

Something is very wrong with this video.

A change of command ceremony?

An M1 Tank used as a prop?

An MRAP used as a prop?

Wow.

Fucking Wow.

I understand operational tempo.  I understand the pulse of war.  I understand the need to maintain morale.  But bullshit stuff like this should remain stateside.  I don't know whats going on but it just feels wrong.  I could be wrong...but say it out loud and see if it makes sense to you...A CHANGE OF COMMAND CEREMONY IN A WAR ZONE. 

An oversight?

Is something wrong with Marine Corps messaging?

If not then explain this to me.  How is the contribution of the USMC to the battle in the skies over Libya being under-reported or more to the point overlooked?

I've been reading ARES blog for the past few days with much intensity, waiting for them to cover the story.

Hasn't happened yet.

I watch Fox News, MSNBC, CNN and the BBC and nary a mention.

What gives?

Is this part of our problem...have we forgotten to get our story out to the American people?  If we have then its time to take HQ's Marine Corps to task...

My personal motto is...Marines are everywhere--at the same time.  Its a shame that the American people don't know it.

Everywhere...at the same time....

Two wars....Afghanistan and Libya...one ongoing disaster relief operation...yet with units forward deployed and training world wide.

The USMC of the 22nd Century.

(March 20, 2011) ABOARD USS KEARSARGE, at sea – A Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron, 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit’s AV-8B Harrier jump jet returns to USS Kearsarge for fuel and ammunition resupply while conducting air strikes in support of Joint Task Force Odyssey Dawn, March 20, 2011. Joint Task Force Odyssey Dawn is the U.S. Africa Command task force established to provide operational and tactical command and control of U.S. military forces supporting the international response to the unrest in Libya and enforcement of United Nations Security Council Resolution (UNSCR) 1973. UNSCR 1973 authorizes all necessary measures to protect civilians in Libya under threat of attack by Qadhafi regime forces. JTF Odyssey Dawn is commanded by U.S. Navy Admiral Samuel J. Locklear, III. (Official Marine Corps photo by Staff Sgt. Danielle M. Bacon).

(March 20, 2011) ABOARD USS KEARSARGE, at sea – A Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron, 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit’s AV-8B Harrier jump jet returns to USS Kearsarge for fuel and ammunition resupply while conducting air strikes in support of Joint Task Force Odyssey Dawn, March 20, 2011. Joint Task Force Odyssey Dawn is the U.S. Africa Command task force established to provide operational and tactical command and control of U.S. military forces supporting the international response to the unrest in Libya and enforcement of United Nations Security Council Resolution (UNSCR) 1973. UNSCR 1973 authorizes all necessary measures to protect civilians in Libya under threat of attack by Qadhafi regime forces. JTF Odyssey Dawn is commanded by U.S. Navy Admiral Samuel J. Locklear, III. (Official Marine Corps photo by Staff Sgt. Danielle M. Bacon).

HELMAND PROVINCE, Afghanistan-Sgt. Jesse Walden (right), chief scout with C Company, 3rd Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion, and Lance Cpl. Logan Snow, a gunner with C Company, scan the Bahram Chah Valley for insurgent activity from their light armored vehicle during Operation Rawhide II in Helmand province, Afghanistan, March 14. The four-day raid on the key insurgent trafficking hub on the Pakistan border targeted insurgent fighting positions and structures used to produce opium and harbor explosives and other illicit materials., Sgt. Jeremy Ross, 3/14/2011 8:00 PM

HELMAND PROVINCE, Afghanistan-Marines with C Company, 3rd Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion, scan the hills of the Bahram Chah valley for an insurgent mortar spotter during Operation Rawhide II in Helmand province, Afghanistan, March 16. Throughout the four-day raid on the key insurgent trafficking hub on the Pakistan border, insurgent spotters attempted to creep over the hill line to call in fire on Marine positions., Sgt. Jeremy Ross, 3/15/2011 8:00 PM

Are we seeing the French version of "Wag the Dog"?

via Drudge Report from France24...

After several polls showed Marine Le Pen more than holding her own against rivals in a hypothetical presidential match-up, FRANCE 24 sat down with the far-right leader for a wide-ranging interview touching on Europe, immigration and nuclear energy.
"France is collapsing because of a French president who is no longer running anything, who is governing on impulse or emotion, depending on the circumstances. And France’s interests and image have suffered for it."

Read the whole thing...and bear in mind I have no visibility on internal French politics but this is...stunning.

Oh and before you say that I'm being conspiratorial...think about the speed at which this came together.  Think about the idea that China AND Russia would both abstain on this...

There's more to this than meets the eye.