Russian Gun Support River Boats.

I'm starting to fall in love with English Russia.  There latest entry is about Russian Gun Support River Boats.  I don't know anything about how they employ them but if I were to guess I would bet that its almost akin to the way our Riverine Forces operate.

UPDATE*
Spudman WP confirmed that the gun at the front of the ship is from the ancient PT-76.  This brings up some interesting contrast with the way that US Navy Riverine units are equipped.  Not only is the Russian design more heavily armed but it also appears to have a smaller crew.  If this boat were to come in contact with US Riverine forces and those forces had no or tardy support the results might be in doubt.  Maybe Riverine units should equip with Javelin anti-tank missiles in addition to their standard kit.  It would give them added punch against shore bunkers, Gun Support River Boats and enemy monitors if the concept is revived somewhere.

F-35A AF-10 And AF-11 First Flights

The fifth and sixth production models of the F-35 Lightning II, F-35A AF-10 and AF-11, completed their inaugural flights on 29 June and 1 July 2011, respectively, from NAS Fort Worth JRB. (AF-11 first flight shown in photo.)

Syrian Tanks attack another village. US stays quiet.

Don't get me wrong.

The absolute last thing the US needs to be involved in is another conflict.  But we need a bit of clarity when it comes to our foreign policy.

We attacked Libya because he threatened to attack his people.

The Syrians are rampaging through the countryside and we're looking slack eyed and silly.

I don't get it.

via ASDNews.

NICOSIA - Syrian troops backed by tanks swept into new villages in the northwestern province of Idlib, a rights activist told AFP in Nicosia.

Around 60 tanks and armoured personnel carriers rumbled into two villages in the countryside of Idlib, said Rami Abdel Rahman of the London-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.
Abdel Rahman said the troops were exiting from the village of Al-Bara when they split into two units, one heading towards the village of Kafr Nabl and the other to the village of Kansafra.

The operation comes a day after Syrian forces killed 10 civilians who opened fire as they stormed villages in the district of Jabal al-Zawiyah to quash dissent against the rule of President Bashar al-Assad, activists said.

Oh and don't think that this is a new development.  The Syrians have been roughing up its civilians for weeks now and little to nothing has been done about it.

Kind of makes you wonder what the real truth is behind the attacks in Libya.

Marine Special Ops. A capability the Marine Corps can't afford and the nation doesn't need.

Via Military.com

Currently the number of MarSoc Marines stands at about 1,000 — drawing mostly from the Force Recon community but also from some high-speed infantry guys and other intel-centric MOSs. Hejlik said he sees the force growing to about 5,000, or about as many SEALs in the Navy.

and this...

The general also said he envisions the Corps establishing a separate air wing to support MarSoc missions — a controversial gap when the units were established back in 2006. But he admitted that given current budget realities, it’s going to “take some time” for the service to eek out the cash to buy planes for the Leatherneck snake-eaters.

I mean seriously.

What the fuck is the General thinking?

The idea that the Marine Corps could possibly drop down to an end strength of 150, 000 to a high of 175,000 Marines and then allocate up to 5,000 Marines for Special Operations is crazy.  If you add in aircraft like the General is talking about then you have a Marine Special Forces Expeditionary Brigade sized unit.

That's insane.

No knock on Marine Special Ops but what mission are they doing that isn't already accomplished by Navy SEALs, Army Special Forces, Army Rangers or the tier one units Delta or SEAL Team 6?

Rummy forced the Marine Corps into Special Ops.  It was mistake then and its a mistake now.  The Marine Corps can't afford the loss of talent or the disruptions this brings to the Infantry MOS.

On a side note, while the bean counters are out looking to slash the military in general, I'd love for someone to do a cost benefit analysis of Special Operations forces.  With a force of over 50,000 people in SOCOM, is it really the size that the nation wants and needs or should it be down sized.

31st MEU Boat Company Training.

KIN BLUE, OKINAWA, Japan-Marines with Company F, Battalion Landing Team 2nd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, prepare to board the USS Tortuga during launch and recovery operations June 28. Once onboard the Tortuga, the Marines turned the boats around and returned to the water., Cpl. Anthony Ward Jr., 6/28/2011 2:59 AM

KIN BLUE, OKINAWA, Japan-A Marine with Company F, communicates with the USS Tortuga via radio as his boat heads through the surf to White Beach Naval Facility June 28. The Marines and USS Tortuga conducted launch and recovery operations to better equip the Marines for their job once aboard ship., Cpl. Anthony Ward Jr., 6/28/2011 2:25 AM

KIN BLUE, OKINAWA, Japan-The Combat Rubber Raiding Craft is the boat of choice for the Raiders of Company F. The Marines used the boats to conduct launch and recovery operations June 28., Cpl. Anthony Ward Jr., 6/28/2011 4:47 AM

The flip side of my call for across the board cuts in spending...including defense.

I'm not a Republican, I'm a conservative.  A conservative with libertarian leanings.

I've had many conversations with buddies and the general agreement is an across the board cut of 10% in the Federal budget with an accompanying freeze in increases for at least 10 years would be a good start to solving the deficit issue.

The problem with this type of thinking (my type of thinking) is the unintended consequences of such actions.  And there are alot of unintended consequences going on right now.

The President has called for even deeper defense cuts.  The services will respond with cutting people first then it'll start axing procurement...we're already seeing the groundwork laid for that.

The problem is....people build all those fancy widgets and if we act without full realization of those consequences then we could sink an already sick economy.

Exhibit number one from Defense News.

Lockheed Martin announced June 30 that it would eliminate approximately 1,500 jobs from its Aeronautics business. The cuts represent a 5 percent reduction in its workforce of about 28,000 employees located at sites in six states.
"We're taking what we think are bold and responsible actions given the defense environment," said Joe Stout, a spokesperson for the company's Aeronautics division.

The cuts come as part of a larger effort to curb costs and maintain affordability, Stout said.
"Our customers around the world are facing greater pressure, and we know we need to respond," he added.

Tomorrow the Dow Jones average will plummet.  What should an individual do?

My recommendation.

Keep it dry and stack it deep.  This (the economy) is going to get much nastier before it gets better.

Totally overblown nonsense.

Christian Lowe has an article over at Military.com that is completely overblown and I know he knows it.  I cringed when I saw the headline and then when I read the article, I knew exactly what it was.

IT'S THE ARMY SPECIAL OPERATIONS VERSION OF FEMALE ENGAGEMENT TEAMS.  A concept that the Marine Corps has been using for many, many months now.  Here's the kicker but read the whole thing.

So far, nearly 30 of the female CST Soldiers are deployed to the war zone, working in villages and towns that the commandos have cleared.
"They're supposed to be used on secure target areas," Sacolick said. "I don't want them fighting their way to a target."

I don't want them fighting their way to a target....Sacolick was playing it straight but Lowe took it over the top with his title..."Female Special Operators Now in Combat"....Lowe is better than this.  

Just the facts bro, just the facts.

Funny in a political way.

Morning Joe just got on my watch list.

If this is what the President's friends think then I'd hate to see what his enemies are saying.

Wow.

1,000th F-35 Flight.

Lt. Col. Leonard Kearl was at the controls for the 1,000th F-35 flight on 20 June 2011. The 1.8-hour flight, completed in F-35A AF-6, originated from Edwards AFB, California.

Wow.

Do I hear cries of agony from certain parts of Australia? 

Is a certain "Think Tank" (Air Power Australia) rethinking its positions???

Doubtful, but they should.

F-35B undergoes NERF testing.

NAVAL AIR SYSTEMS COMMAND, PATUXENT RIVER, Md. -- F-35B test aircraft BF-4 rests the evening of June 21 after a day of testing at the Naval Electromagnetic Radiation Facility. BF-4 is undergoing testing which simulates the shipboard electromagnetic environment to identify any potential issues prior to at sea testing this fall on USS Wasp (LHD 1). The F-35B is the short take-off, vertical landing variant of the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter for the U.S. Marine Corps and international partners and is undergoing test and evaluation at NAS Patuxent River prior to delivery to the fleet.

Pics of the day. June 30, 2011.

LA(Phot) Luis Holden won the Navy News Award in the 2011 Peregrine Trophy Photographic Competition with this image.
A Joint Force Harrier jet is pictured high over RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus shortly before the iconic aircraft was decommissioned.
Photographer: LA(Phot)Luis Holden

The Commandant General Royal Marines' Prize in the Peregrine Trophy 2011 competition went to LA(Phot) Si Ethell fora portfolio including this image.
The FSG (Fire Support Group) of Charlie Company 40 Commando Royal Marines, at FOB (Forward Operating Base) Jackson in Afghanistan engaging insurgents following contact at PB (Patrol Base) Paylae.
Photographer: LA(Phot) Si Ethell

Boy that was quick...

Haqqani leader who supported Kabul attack killed in precision airstrike

ISAF Joint Command- Afghanistan 2011-06-S-104 For Immediate Release KABUL, Afghanistan (June 30, 2011) – The International Security Assistance force confirmed today a top Haqqani network leader suspected of providing material support to the Kabul suicide bomb attack June 28, was killed in a precision airstrike in Gardez district, Paktiya province, yesterday. Ismail Jan was the deputy to the senior Haqqani commander inside Afghanistan, Haji Mali Khan. Jan and several Haqqani fighters were killed in strike. The Haqqani network, in conjunction with Taliban operatives, was responsible for the Tuesday night attack on the Kabul Intercontinental Hotel which killed 12 people, including a provincial judge. Jan also served as an insurgent leader in the Khost-Gardez Pass area, along the Afghanistan/Pakistan border, and moved into Afghanistan from Pakistan in late 2010. During this time he led approximately 25 to 35 fighters in conducting attacks against Afghan and coalition security forces. In addition to the hotel attack, the Haqqani network is responsible for several high-profile attacks, including the assassination of a long standing governor, Taj Mohammad Wardak. Wardak was assassinated in a massive explosive-device attack as he left his compound in September 2008. The security force tracked his location after receiving several intelligence reports from Afghan government officials, Afghan citizens and disenfranchised insurgents. After planning to avoid civilian casualties and mitigate collateral damage, the precision airstrike was conducted, killing Jan and several other insurgents. Afghan-led security forces have captured or killed more than 80 Haqqani leaders and facilitators since January, primarily in the Paktika, Paktiya and Khost areas. Initial reports indicate no civilians were harmed in the airstrike.

Anyway you slice it, its pretty darn impressive.

The attack was carried out on Tuesday and they track down the guy responsible already?

But one thing troubles me (and I admit that I haven't been paying attention to the players in Afghanistan) is this Haqqani network.  They seem to be more of a factor everyday.  Additionally they appear to be a bigger threat than the Taliban.

Is this a 3 way civil war with 2 sides teaming up to fight the central government??