US Forces participate in raid in Somalia that kills 3 children....this will win hearts and minds....

via US News

Somali forces supported by U.S. troops shot dead 10 Somalis, including three children, in a village near the capital Mogadishu on Friday, a witness and local officials told Reuters.

The involvement of U.S. troops was confirmed by U.S. Africa Command, which said it was investigating reports of civilian casualties.

The Somali army said no civilians were killed and all the dead were members of the al Qaeda-linked al Shabaab militia, which is fighting to overthrow the weak U.N.-backed government and impose strict Islamic law.

Story here. 

This is just perfect.  Someone really needs to reel in SOCOM and get these Combatant Commanders under control.  It seems they have never seen a raid plan that they don't like and the CC's won't approve.

We participate in a raid where 10 people are killed and 3 of the ten are children?

Not fucking good.

You say no big deal, kids can be combatants?  I say bullshit.  If conventionals had done the same you'd see charge sheets flying and JAG would fast rope in to make sure you were in the brig by midnight.

We seriously need to rethink our drink.  We keep supporting govts that are despised by their people.  Are we sure we're on the right side of things?

Mig-41 is real!!!!!

via Defense Aerospace.

The cutting-edge interceptor aircraft, which has been under development for several years, will be able to reach space and even potentially operate without a pilot, according to the CEO of the MiG corporation working on the project.

The research and development of the PAK DP (perspective aviation complex of long-range interceptor) was launched by the MiG Corporation in 2013. PAK DP, dubbed by media with the unofficial designation MiG-41, is expected to replace the aging long-range interceptor MiG-31 and its variants.

The new fighter will be a spiritual successor of MiG-31, MiG Corporation CEO Ilya Tarasenko stated, shedding some light on the interceptor under development. 

Story here.

Jesus!  This is what I've been screaming about!  The protracted, seemingly lasting forever development of the F-35 has caused the US and our allies foolish enough to buy it, to fall behind in the development curve.

The Chinese are already flying the J-20.  The Russians are soon to get the SU-57 ironed out and you can bet both planes will be exported heavily!

Now we hear the Russians are working on the Mig-41...a plane I thought was from the weird dreams of a krokodil user on the streets of Moscow!!!  This is too much.

Even worse?  You can expect a continuing resolution this year due to Trump's shenanigans which means that you will see NO plus up in our defense budget. Dems are already feeling emboldened so that means if the defense is increased so will social programs which means we're looking at FLAT budgets not the hoped for increase.

Unless we get our act together we're gonna fall behind.  Remember when the SU-27 was first introduced and the West got a fighter shock?  Remember when the Soviet Union fell and we got a look at the missiles from East German fighters and got another shock?  Remember how we had a Super Hornet fire an AIM-9X at an outdated Syrian fighter and the missiles were spoofed by it's flares?

You think we have the most advanced kit?  If that makes you feel better then roll with it...but I wonder....

Saudi Arabia deploys troops to Aden. What does this mean?

via Yemen Extra.

Yemeni officials loyal to former president, Abd Rabbuh Mansur Hadi, say Saudi Arabia has for the first time deployed troops to the southwestern port city of Aden, where Riyadh and its ally, the United Arab Emirates, are vying for a foothold.

The officials, who were speaking on condition of anonymity, said the Saudi forces had been stationed at Aden’s presidential palace, port and airport.

They are the first special Saudi forces in Aden since 2015, when the Arab monarchy launched a military campaign against Yemen in an attempt to eliminate the country’s Houthi Ansarullah movement and reinstall Riyadh-friendly Hadi.

Saudi Arabia receives backing in the war from a number of its client states, including the UAE. There have, however, been some indications that Saudi Arabia and the UAE disagree on a number of issues over the war on Yemen, among them the control of Aden International Airport.

Story here. 

This one confuses me.  Have you ever seen something that you can tell is important but can't quite make it out?  I know that makes no sense but roll with it.

What does this mean?

I have no idea but this could be telling.  Everything in my body tells me that this indicates a new turn in the war in Yemen and in the relations between Saudi Arabia and Yemen but I can't put my finger on why.

I'll wait for others with better knowledge and information to chime in on this one.

Interesting weekend in my part of the woods...Hurricane Harvey! Bring it bitch!

Yeah Baby!  The National Weather Service has put out all the warnings the local govt is going batshit crazy (including the activating the Reserve Deputies in mass....search and rescue/high water rescue is standing up almost 48 hours before we're suppose to get the brunt of the storm) and the sheeple are hitting the stores like good little drones should.

Personally?  I'm saying bring it Hurricane Harvey ya bitch!

Naw, seriously this one is gonna be interesting.  According to the European storm model (which is suppose to be more accurate than the American model...I've always wondered why they never adjusted our modeling if the European one is considered better) this thing will make landfall in South Texas, go back offshore and strengthen, then make landfall along the Texas/Louisiana border.

The real problem isn't storm surge, winds, or the occasional popup tornado. The killer will be the rainfall.  We're talking about a weather system that will affect a huge swath of territory...most of Texas, all of Louisiana and parts of Mississippi.  Oh and by the models (both of them) we will see rains for the next seven days!

Predictions in my area are for up to 15 inches of rain.  I've talked to some of the old guys in my area and they can't remember a storm lingering that long. They've ridden out bigger and badder hurricanes but none that simply lingered in the area for a week.

The worry is that areas that are NOT known to be flood prone will be overwhelmed.  The big worry in my area is that the Red River could flood which would be a catastrophic event.

Regardless my soft preps are ready so no panic buying for me.  Looks like lots of blogging this weekend, lots of reading, lots of watching movies, turning on the generator, watching the rain and laughing at some Weather Channel reporter standing in high water telling me to get inside when he doesn't have the sense to do the same.

This one should be good.  More to come.

AOL Breaking Defense makes another pitch to buy foreign weapons...

via AOL Breaking Defense.

A fourth example, which would clearly roil the protectionists who care more about protectionism than the capability of the US military, would be to get on with the KC-10 replacement and buy the A330 MRTT airborne tanker. Not only does the US Air Force have NO operational new tankers, but the allies have proven beyond a shadow of a doubt that the Air Force made the right initial decision picking this aircraft over Boeing’s KC-46 offering.

Our allies are operating multiple A330 MRTTs so commonality has already been established and significant investments by allies in a needed US capability already in place.

For example, the Aussies are about to add an operational autonomous boom to their KC-30As. According to the RAAF Commander in charge of lift and tanking: “If it can anticipate and react to movements of the receiver aircraft faster than the boom operator can, then you end up with faster contacts. You also potentially end up with more consistent contacts when the turbulence level increases, in cloud or when night falls.”

The Aussies are moving onto Tanker 2.0 while the US Air Force is still waiting for Tanker 1.0. This makes no sense.

Recently, the UK’s Defense Minister made the argument for the US opening the aperture with regard to non-US systems. I would argue that it is not simply a question of trade policy. It is about getting serious about rapidly equipping a US combat force which needs to prepare for the certainty of high-intensity combat.

Story here. 

Wow.  Laird has NEVER seen a foreign weapon system he didn't like.  Additionally he has a HARD ON for the A330 MRTT that is bordering on the sexual.  Either the dude is a true believer or he's on the payroll.  I almost hope he's a true believer cause this has been a drum he's been beating on for almost a decade.

The point he makes about the Meteor is good but the way he arrives there is nonsense.  He talks about USMC F-35's operating off the QE class aircraft carrier.  I STILL HAVEN'T HEARD A RATIONALE FOR WHY WE WOULD WANT TO DO THAT!  IT MAKES NO SENSE BUT THEY'RE PUSHING THE MEME FOR ALL THEY'RE WORTH!!!

The next thing that has me scratching my head is the closing statement that he used to wrap up his article...

Recently, the UK’s Defense Minister made the argument for the US opening the aperture with regard to non-US systems. I would argue that it is not simply a question of trade policy. It is about getting serious about rapidly equipping a US combat force which needs to prepare for the certainty of high-intensity combat.

No offense to my British readers but why should we care what the UK Defense Minister has to say about how our Defense Dept looks at buying foreign weapon systems?

This article will not go over well with ANY Americans regardless of politics.  Both sides will agree on one thing.  We spend too much money on defense to buy anything but the essentials from overseas.  Protectionism?  You bet your ass.  Practical?  Without a doubt.

Starship Troopers: Traitor Of Mars - Trailer

Open Comment Post. Aug 25, 2017

Another "noted" bodybuilder dies early....Rich Piana has passed away.

Just wow.  Rich Piana is dead.  If you don't know (and most of you probably don't), Rich was found in his home unresponsive and transported to the hospital.  Once there doctors placed him in a medical coma (I have no idea what the hell that means) and now, about two weeks after that procedure he's dead.

It's weird on a couple of levels.  First if you follow Rich on YouTube then you know he's had a pretty damn chaotic year.  He went thru a pretty messy divorce, got involved with a new chick, had his ex publish a phone call where he went off on some black dude that was screwing her ... deriding the guy by asking her how she could fuck a n**ger,  an embarrassing public apology that was accepted by some slammed by others, a move to Florida from California, a slip and fall in his home that led to this medical issue, a search of his home that revealed over 30 vials of steroids/growth hormone/insulin and finally his unfortunate death.

This guy had a saying.  Whatever it takes.  I guess that meant that he would do whatever it took to get big.  He was extremely controversial not because of the roid use but because people speculated that he injected a substance into his arms to permanently enlarge them.  I'm talking beyond the synthol that the freaks in S. America and the Middle East use.  Supposedly it was some kind of substance along the lines of the stuff some women use to enlarge their asses.

The cause of death?  I have no idea and we'll probably never know.  I still suspect that bugaboo mix of Growth Hormone and Insulin.

Regardless, bodybuilding is forever changed.  Between Rich's death and Big Country's passing earlier this week the community is going to be taking a hard look at some of the compounds being used.

The era of the mass monster and bodybuilders topping 300 plus pounds is definitely over.  Story here.

Kalishnikov Patrol Boat Propaganda Vid.

Thanks to Info-Infantry for the link!



Russian readers are gonna get pissed but I gotta call it like I see it.  YOU COPIED THE FUCK OUTTA THE CB-90!

Come on man!  Really Russia?  Seriously?  You guys are going Chinese on us?

Side note:  One of you guys have got to explain this to me.  This is blatant!  Explain what happened here!

Space X Spacesuit (pic)

First picture of SpaceX spacesuit. More in days to follow. Worth noting that this actually works (not a mockup). Already tested to double vacuum pressure. Was incredibly hard to balance esthetics and function. Easy to do either separately.

A post shared by Elon Musk (@elonmusk) on Aug 23, 2017 at 12:59am PDT

Commando Helicopter Force Merlin Mk3 helicopter photos...part of the Royal Navy Photographic Competition

Commander of US forces in Afghanistan says Trump's plan means a long term commitment.

via Reuters.

The top U.S. military commander in Afghanistan said on Thursday President Donald Trump's new strategy is a sign of a long-term commitment to what is already America's longest war and called on Taliban insurgents to agree to peace talks.

"The Taliban cannot win on the battlefield, it's time for them to join the peace process," General John Nicholson told reporters in the Afghan capital, Kabul. "We will not fail in Afghanistan, our national security depends on that as well."

Story here. 

1.  How does our national security depend on Afghanistan?  We haven't won there in 17 years and now its essential to our national security?

2.  Trump is an idiot.  He should have fucking fired Nicholson long ago as a warning shot to his generals.  Now he's getting bent over the table on a daily basis.  They've assessed his ass and have found him as easy a crack whore.

3.  Will someone please define winning in Afghanistan!  Will someone please tell me under what conditions we can pull our forces out of that country?  Can someone tell me why we could defeat technologically sophisticated Nazis and Japanese in WW2 but sandal wearing bastards have us wringing our hands talking about "a long term commitment"!  During WW2 generals were fired for losing battles much less wars.

Simply amazing.

This is why we will fall.  We are on the same path as the Romans, the British and every other great power that has come before.  

Mark my words (and I take no pleasure in this)....Afghanistan is about to claim another empire.  It truly is the land where empires go to die.