Thursday, August 04, 2022

China could invade Taiwan before the 2024 US presidential election: sources!!!!

 via Fox News

China could invade Taiwan within the next 18 months, current and former officials familiar with U.S. and allied intelligence told Fox News, suggesting a particularly "dangerous" window between the meeting of the National Congress of the Chinese Communist Party this November and the next U.S. presidential election in 2024.

Two former senior officials told Fox News that the intelligence suggests China sees the potential opportunity for an amphibious assault and military invasion of Taiwan in that time frame.

"We have always had and always been aware that China has an ever-present, ever-evolving plan for an amphibious assault and military invasion of Taiwan. If they are not successful in reunifying politically, then they will do so with force," one former senior intelligence official familiar with U.S. intelligence, and who has discussed intelligence belonging to a U.S. ally in the Indo-Pacific, told Fox News. 

Here 

I wonder what our war stocks look like!  Have you noticed that the cries for more weapons by Ukraine has suddenly vanished?

I swear to God if I didn't know better I'd think all this would be scripted!

If China invades Taiwan they become a pariah nation.  They lose their markets in the West.  They basically become the new USSR in the East and all bets are off with future cooperation.

I didn't think they'd be stupid enough to raise the stakes of Pelosi's visit so high.  They left the US with no other choice. They basically forced her to visit Taiwan with their rhetoric!

That is unlike them.

IF they invade Taiwan then we need to look at other stresses.

Is the financial crisis so bad in China that they're looking for foreign adventure to boost patriotism and clamp down on debate?

MASA 22-2 HRST

U.S Marines with Expeditionary Operations Training Group instruct Philippine Marines on Helicopter Rope Suspension Techniques during Marine Aviation Support Activities 22-2, July 21, 2022, Subic Bay, Philippines. Marine Aviation Support Activities 22-2 is a bilateral exercise between the Armed Forces of Philippines and the U.S. Marine Corps, aimed at increasing interoperability and improving aviation-related capabilities in support of U.S.-Philippine mutual defense. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Gerardo W. Cano)

B-roll: 3rd Bn., 5th Marines, conducts REDEX 22.2

U.S. Marines with India Company, 3rd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, participate in Readiness Exercise 22.2 at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, California, July 26, 2022. The purpose of REDEX 22.2 is to validate worldwide crisis-response capabilities and demonstrate deployment readiness. (U.S. Marine Corps video by Lance Cpl. Jaye Townsend)

Spain limits AC to 27 Degrees Celsius...

Open Comment Post. 4 Aug 22

Is it just me or does that really look like a Pershing II Missile!

Stick a fork in them...Liberal prosecutors/bail reform is dead...

It's weird. Bail reform probably, if applied CORRECTLY & with common sense was a good idea. Additionally the idea of people committing felonies and being released is just batshit crazy. Sadly this came at such a crazy time. Placing the entire country on lockdown because of covid was bound to have knockon effects. Signalling a tolerance/coddling of criminals just fueled the fire. What should worry liberals is that the swing back against lawlessness is gonna be savage and profound. Hardcore justice is gonna make a comeback.

Reconsider Force Design 2030 beforehand

 via Defense News

In March 2011, Marine Gen. James Mattis, then commander of Central Command, testified before the Senate Armed Services Committee: “I think, as we look toward the future, I have been a horrible prophet. I have never fought anywhere I expected to in all my years.” Force Design 2030 reflects the attitude of its creator, who is certain about the future where others are not. A force tailored to fight in a specific region of the world may find itself unable to operate effectively in a markedly different climate.

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 There are a number of other concerns we have with Force Design 2030, to include the abandoning of the principles of maneuver warfare, isolated units having to remain undetected to survive, the over reliance on technology performing as promised and the almost impossible task of resupplying far-flung units over vast distances. These issues we will address in our future writings. In the meantime, we ask that readers also voice concerns about what is happening to your Marine Corps by alerting your elected representatives to these issues. Semper fidelis.

Here 

I see there are a few hearty souls that continue the fight.

I'm just not sure anymore.  These bubbas are in love with the idea of being missile magnets and think that they can survive and thrive being a trip wire instead of assault force.

Sometimes ya got to let the people arrogant, stupid and convinced do their thing.

I just don't know.  I do know that this plan is batshit stupid and many people that know better are just saying sure...let's do it.

OK...I need the full vid on this one. Mattis is backing Berger?

I need the full vid on this one. 

It's curious cause Berger cites Mattis' time as SecDef as being the impetous behind FD2030. BUT!!!! Mattis joined other Generals in saying that FD2030 was NOT the way! 

Wednesday, August 03, 2022

Dunker training...

I would love to read after action reports to know if this actually saves lives or if its just a box to check. Unless you can replicate even moderate crash force (well maybe "small" we don't want injuries in training), induce severe disorientation, then I just can't see this being worthwhile. It checks off a mark but that's about it. Tell me why I'm wrong.  Oh and if you have a report that credits this training to saving lives I'd love to read it.