Elements of Power scores a direct hit on Trimble!

I couldn't decide what video to use.  It was either a direct hit by a bomb on a target or the "Down goes Frazier" vid.

I went with the bomb because Elements of Power scores a direct hit.   He shatters Trimble's latest contribution to the Dark Lord and his merry band of sycophants.

Just joking.

Well sorta.

Anyway here's a tidbit.  Go to his site for the whole thing.

I had a bifurcated response to Steve Trimble’s latest post “The vast bipartisan conspiracy against F-35 & V-22”

My first response focused on the use of “Bipartisan”:
In my head I replayed Inigo Montoya: ” You keep using that word. I do not think it means what you think it means.”

Then I remembered a favorite George Carlin quote: “The word bipartisan means some larger-than-usual deception is being carried out”

After I really studied Trimble's post, I decided the latter response was most applicable.

Within his post Trimble iterates (Warning: English-English spelling ahead):
“Our review of eight budget reduction proposals by a hodge-podge of centrist, leftist and libertarian think tanks reveals a startling insight: All of them agree that two military aircraft programmes should be terminated or scaled back, and all of them agree those two programmes should be the BellBoeing V-22 and the Lockheed Martin F-35.”

My next thought was someone needed to tell Mr. Trimble that the opposite of ‘leftist’ isn’t ‘libertarian’. Do you see what is missing from that “centrist, leftist and libertarian think tanks” list? That’s right: “Conservative”. If we are talking spectrum of priorities on ‘defense thinking’ conservative is to ‘approve’ as leftist is to ‘disapprove’ as to libertarian is to ‘ambivalent’. [A ‘centrist’ BTW is just voting ‘present’.]

It just gets better from there.  Just a word to the "conspirators" in the APA clubhouse...you know who you are...Sweetman...Horde....Trimble....Cox....many others.....we're all watching and some military bloggers are willing to challenge your spin and lies.

Just a heads up.

Lockheed Martin. Time to stop getting bitch slapped.

Question.

How many times do you let someone slap you in the face before you decide enough is enough?

Question.

Lockheed Martin.  Are you stupid, crazy, and insane?  Do you have a weird fetish where you like getting beat up?  Do you get off on having your products slammed?


Are you pussy personified?

Sweetman's latest post (read it here--note its thinly veiled as a critique of USAF procurement but its just another F-35 bash post with a dose of F-22 thrown in to make the European Aircraft Industry smile) is another slap in the face.  Yes, I know Lockheed Martin Execs....the Editor over at that shop has tried to play nice and muzzle his Dark Lord, but its obviously not working.

You, Lockheed Martin, need to realize that the Dark Lord is playing for blood.  Its going to take more than just the Commandant of the Marine Corps out front defending your product.  You have to get tough.  You have to get real. 

You have to show some freaking backbone.

Cancel your advertising to Aviation Week.  You'll send a message that won't be ignored.  Favorable news articles isn't what you're after....just a little fairness in reporting.

HRST Master Training at Lejeune

MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C.-Petty Officer 1st Class Jeremy More, a hospital corpsman with Special Operations Training Group, II Marine Expeditionary Force watches a Marine prepare to rappel out of an MV-22 Osprey, above Landing Zone Vulture on Stone Bay Aug. 2. The majority of students in the course were from units scheduled to attach and deploy with the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit in September., Sgt. Richard Blumenstein, 8/2/2011 10:35 AM

MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C.-Sgt. Christopher Ahaus, a rifleman with 1st Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, checks a Marine’s knots while acting as a Helicopter Rope Suspension Training Master aboard an MV-22 Osprey at Landing Zone Vulture on Stone Bay, Aug. 2. In the training each Marine performed the role of HRST Master to insure Marines performed operations safely. The majority of students in the course were from units scheduled to attach and deploy with the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit in September., Sgt. Richard Blumenstein, 8/2/2011 11:53 AM

MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C.-A Marine rappels out of a UH-1N Huey during the Helicopter Rope Suspension Training Masters Course at Landing Zone Vulture on Stone Bay, Aug. 2. The majority of students in the course were from units scheduled to attach and deploy with the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit in September., Sgt. Richard Blumenstein, 8/2/2011 2:05 PM

MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C.-Staff Sgt. Philip Burns, a native of Goshen Ohio and infantry unit leader with Fleet Anti-Terrorism Security Team (FAST), Company Europe, fast ropes off a UH-1N Huey during the Helicopter Rope Suspension Technique Masters Course at Landing Zone Vulture on Stone Bay, Aug. 3. Fast roping is the fastest HRST method Marines use to insert into areas from helicopters., Lance Cpl. Michael Petersheim, 8/3/2011 7:11 PM

1st Battalion 5th Marines in Sangin

All photos by Cpl Benjamin Crilly

SANGIN, Helmand Province, Afghanistan - Cpl. Anthony J. Minasi, a team leader of 2nd Platoon, Company B, 1st Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, climbs out of a canal while patrolling through the Northern Sangin “green zone” along the Helmand River, June 20. The squad conducted the patrol with their Afghan National Army counterparts from the 4th Tolay, 2nd Kandak, 215th Corps, in order to establish a security presence in the vicinity of Patrol Base Atul which is shared by the two platoons. The daily partnered patrols enable the Marines to improve the capabilities of their counterparts and establish rapport with the local populous. Minasi, 23, hails from Vona, Colo., and graduated from Hi-Plains High School in 2006.

SANGIN, Helmand Province, Afghanistan - Lance Cpl. Dustin M. Swick, an assaultman with 2nd Platoon, Company B, 1st Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, scopes out a potential spotter with the MK-12 designated marksman’s rifle while patrolling through the Northern Sangin “green zone” along the Helmand River, June 20. The squad conducted the patrol with their Afghan National Army counterparts from the 4th Tolay, 2nd Kandak, 215th Corps, in order to establish a security presence in the vicinity of Patrol Base Atul which is shared by the two platoons. The daily partnered patrols enable the Marines to improve the capabilities of their Afghan National Security Forces counterparts and establish rapport with the local populous. “The purpose of us patrolling with the ANA is to help them learn so that the people gain trust in the army and police,” said Swick, who assumed the responsibilities of a designated marksman when the squad’s DM was wounded in action. Swick, 22, hails from Coldwater, Mich., and is a 2007 graduate of Coldwater High School.

 

SANGIN, Helmand Province, Afghanistan - Marines of 2nd Platoon, Company B, 1st Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, run to safety after initiating explosive charges on a tree-line as part of their patrolling efforts through the Northern Sangin “green zone” along the Helmand River, June 20. The squad conducted the patrol with their Afghan National Army counterparts from the 4th Tolay, 2nd Kandak, 215th Corps, in order to establish a security presence in the vicinity of Patrol Base Atul which is shared by the two platoons. The explosive charges initiated the detonation of suspected improvised explosive devices.

 

SANGIN, Helmand Province, Afghanistan - Lance Cpl. Jarron T. Knoll, a team leader of 2nd Platoon, Company B, 1st Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, kicks through the hay on a rooftop during the search of a compound while patrolling through the Northern Sangin “green zone” along the Helmand River, June 20. The squad conducted the patrol with their Afghan National Army counterparts from the 4th Tolay, 2nd Kandak, 215th Corps, in order to establish a security presence in the vicinity of Patrol Base Atul which is shared by the two platoons. The daily partnered patrols enable the Marines to improve the capabilities of their Afghan National Security Forces counterparts and establish rapport with the local populous. Knoll, 21, hails from Canyon, Texas, and graduated from Canyon High School in 2008.

SANGIN, Helmand Province, Afghanistan - Cpl. Anthony J. Minasi, a team leader of 2nd Platoon, Company B, 1st Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, follows an Afghan soldier into a compound in the Northern Sangin “green zone” along the Helmand River, June 20. The squad conducted the patrol with their Afghan National Army counterparts from the 4th Tolay, 2nd Kandak, 215th Corps, in order to establish a security presence in the vicinity of Patrol Base Atul which is shared by the two platoons. The daily partnered patrols enable the Marines to improve the capabilities of their Afghan National Security Forces counterparts and establish rapport with the local populous. The Marines ensure Afghan soldiers enter compounds first to explain to the locals why the partnered forces have to search the homes. Minasi, 23, hails from Vona, Colo., and graduated from Hi-Plains High School in 2006.

Monday Humor. You're a Ranger...so what?

This photo has me cracking up!

I don't know what the little girl is saying but either she's talking pure dee trash to those Ranger Instructors or she has one heck of a command presence.

Either way its a great pic!

Operation Iron Snare. Deadbeats get got.

Wow.

Ya know, the big guy with the bullet proof vest on under his t-shirt should have been a clue that something was going on.

Hasik gets it wrong.

Big Time Hat Tip to Jonathan for sending me this article!

Hasik is a defense analyst with a big following inside the beltway.  He's one of the 'inside' guys so I was surprised by how wrong he was in his latest analysis of the Amphibious Combat Vehicle program.  Read his entire post here, but a tidbit....

Rather, the general was describing two possible ways forward after the EFV:1. A landing force carried entirely in ACVs.
2. A mix of ACVs and wheeled vehicles, with the latter borne by hovercraft or displacement landing craft.
So, there's no exotic two-part vehicle under consideration, and as I suggested yesterday was possible. Indeed, the second option—the two-parter, it would seem—is actually a rather tried-and-true approach. Plenty of other amphibious forces have amphibious tractors (usually AAV7s from BAE Systems) and hovercraft (often from Griffon), and those that don't definitely know how to drive ashore in landing craft with bow ramps.
This merely reinforces my assertion yesterday about the competitive way forward for industry, though I will extend my remarks slightly:
First, the Navy's follow-on hovercraft, the Ship-to-Shore Connector (SSC), should have a secure future. If one really wants to stand over the horizon for an amphibious assault, helicopters and hovercraft are the technically proven way to do it. Hovercraft admittedly aren't as robust under fire as AAVs, but then again, neither are helicopters. And, with both helicopters and hovercraft, the assault force can have options for going where the enemy isn't.
Second, the emphasis on wheeled vehicles, hauled ashore by SSCs or displacement landing craft, means that the Marine Personnel Carrier program will likely continue in the Corps's plans. After all, the Marines had mostly been thinking about proven designs—Nexter's VBCI, ARTEC's Boxer, GD's LAV-V, and Patria's AMV—with modifications for their particular requirements. Those are reasonably priced vehicles whose long-term costs are well-established. They're not EFVs or GCVs, so there's no reason to get worked up a priori about affordability.

My opinion, but Hasik is missing the real debate here.

1.  The ACV is going forward.  The Marines will have a follow on to the AAV. 
2.  The proposal to have a mixed force arose because the EFV was so expensive.
3.  With the EFV canceled and the ACV replacing it, the idea of a mixed force loses its luster.  The Marine Corps has in essence placed the Marine Personnel Vehicle on hold until studies can be determined as to whether it makes sense to purchase two vehicles instead of one.
4.  His attempt to link the SSC to future amphibious assault doctrine is a misnomer.  In no plans have I read that the SSC will be used in the assault phase.  He can compare the survivability of the SSC to aircraft but there is no comparison.  The SSC is a relative sitting duck.
5.  He goes on to make the statement that the Marines might be interested in a high speed LCVP for landing personnel.  Not bloody likely.  The Marines are tailoring themselves as the medium weight force of the US.  Buying high speed LCVPs would put us in the role of Commandos.  It ain't happening.

In all I'm just disappointed but not surprised.  Naval analyst usually have a hard time with Marine Corps issues.  What is annoying is that he and others like him have the ear of policy makers.  And that is a club that has benefits and no entry without membership.  And thats the shame of it.

Unless the Marine Corps gets its message out then those that don't know it, don't understand it or purposefully want to misrepresent it are going to be heard.

We can't let that happen.