SNAFU!

Tuesday, August 09, 2011

Mon - Thurs 11:30pm / 10:30c

www.colbertnation.com

Funny as hell.

But with the riots in London.

Stagflation here in the US.

Joblessness in the US.

Reports that crime is starting to spike. And finally with the downgrade in the US credit rating, could it be that people that are stocking up on ammo for personal defense, making every effort to cut personal debt to zero and having more than FEMA's 3 days worth of food on hand might actually be right?

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.

Monday, August 08, 2011

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!

Sunday, August 07, 2011

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.