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The whole thing reads like a cliffhanger going into a commercial break on a reality TV show. Not surprising, since we foolishly elected a reality TV star to the highest office in the land. When people are overwhelmed or uncomfortable, they retreat to what they know and like. That’s the basis of Trump’s obsession with his stupid ballroom. He spent his life building gaudy hotels, towers, and casinos. He knows that world and likes it. So it’s no surprise that while our servicemembers are out risking their lives, and while everyday Americans are struggling because he couldn’t deliver on his bullshit campaign promises, you find him aboard AF1 awkwardly holding up poster boards of the ballroom and bragging about how ornate the columns will be. This is no different. He knows and likes reality TV. He knows the hallmark is manufacturing suspense. “WHO KNOWS?” he writes. ….GMAFB. Spoiler alert, he (and all key cabinet members) know. ….But that’s boring. Reality TV is about keeping people guessing. Create drama and keep them coming back for more. That’s how Trump treats Americans….as an audience. For his ego and amusement. Tonight he’ll say they struck a deal. “A beautiful tremendous deal.” “At levels no one’s seen before.” He’ll pretend that the Iranian’s came groveling at his feet and begging him. ….“Isn’t he so strong and tough?!” the MAGApotamian’s will exclaim. And for 3 more years, we’re going to have to listen to another one of his bullshit “Sir” stories (….. that’s where he goes into an alternate voice, either wispy or rough, pretending to be someone else, and says “…. They asked me, they said ‘sir,….sir, we want…..’” blah blah blah….. it’s obviously fabricated nonsense virtually every time.) The next 24 hours will be no different. Just more embarrassment, shame, and discredit for our country.

"What the Captain means..."

Yeah telling the death cult that they are going to die probably isn't going to have the desired effect. Just kill them.

Beyond acceptable societal norms, his greatest failure with this string of rhetoric is the threat can only work if the regime cares about the survival of the people at large. Like all totalitarian regimes, they don’t give a shit about the country as a whole, civilians, etc. The only language they speak is violence against what directly affects them and their ability to wield power.

Reminds me of this famous song:

Any alternate selects get dates for MFS yet?

“A whole civilization will die tonight, never to be brought back again.” “Open the F***in’ Strait, you crazy bastards, or you’ll be living in Hell. JUST WATCH! Praise be to Allah.” We’re better than this. These posts by a commander-in-chief, even during wartime, have reached a level of absurdity I never thought I’d see…even by Trump standards. Policy aside, how are these in our country’s best interests?

Incredible for an actor with his portfolio of work to branch out into playing a homosexual trying to survive in a Muslim-dominant country.

😂

Giving them the benefit of the doubt I hope not Probably but Germany of today won’t even keep out welfare tourist migrants who cause mayhem and chaos, now if they go hardcore and try to become the enforcer of the EU; the Visegrad countries (Poland, Hungary, Czech Republic, Slovakia) might have reason to start reinforcing their western borders. I’m thinking this in preparation for stabilization force in Western Ukraine if a cease fire is declared.

We invented that in the 80s. Pretty crowded with two little birds in there. Brought the canary slides on line too. It's a sight to see. From parking brake set to little bird in the air. Picture in the article above is rolling out of a TalonII

I figured this was basic to learning to drive, sirens or not. I don't start after a stop sign, red light, or even go through a green light without a quick check that the crossing traffic is actually stopped. They might be at fault if I don't look and have an accident, but it's my kids in the vehicle. Going through a red light or anything else unusual would only make it that much more important.

Concur, I've done several ridealongs with first responders and not one of them will go through an intersection without ensuring it's safe to do so! It's amazing how horribly oblivious people are to extremely loud sirens and bright flashing lights!

All of Europe just instinctively flinched...

I wonder if that includes the millions of military aged Muslims that Merkel allowed into the country.

Germany dipping it’s toes in the water… https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/04/04/german-men-must-apply-army-booking-holidays-conscription/

Only Martin Baker seats and I believe you have to buy them. ACES II doesn't do anything as far as I know. Where I work we put your framed official mug shot on our Caterpillar Club Wall, those who ejected while assigned to the base.

fire4effect, So many here have Historical disconnect(s). And I have come to accept that. Glad you were able to know him and his experiences. Springer (talking for you now…) and I can remember that period and the sadness of the loss of several friends due to that conflict (war). Please always remember our friends in arms and Toast to those that gave all. Bests, SHFP

Family member flew the EB-66 out of Takhli Thailand in the 60s. His tail is sitting in the museum at Wright Patt. The stories he had were intense. He reminisced about those he knew that were not as lucky. He passed in 2022. I remember helping find a picture of the EB-66 that the funeral home made into artwork that went on his gravestone. 2 AMs and a DFC.

Feel bad for the crews.

Absolute lunacy. Oh sorry, I forgot. It’s just “mean tweets.”

FYI....Great SAR Missions, for those not old enough to have been to SEA (Vietnam) or have read AF SAR History.... "Bat 21", LTC Gene Hambleton, April 1972. 11 Days, 1000+ Sorties, 8 Aircraft destroyed, 11 Airmen Killed and 2 POWS. "Oyster 01", Captain Roger Locher, June 1972, 23 days, 150+ Aircraft, rescued only 40 miles from Hanoi, no Airmen Killed.

An Israeli website is saying that he was knocked unconscious during the landing (makes sense if he had to do a PLF in rough rocky terrain), which would help explain the initial delay in contact which likely complicated things greatly. Lucky he didn't break a leg instead. Same website also claims that he evaded for around a dozen miles and ended up climbing a 7K ridge to get away from Iranian forces. That's a great reminder for dudes to keep in shape. You never know when your or your loved ones' survival might depend on it. New fighter pilot PFT; 12 mile evasion ending in a 7k climb with no warning. Ready set go!

Core mission all of AFSOC sued to train to in nearly every exercise (Bilat/Multi-lat), prior to OEF/OIF. As we drew down in both the command re-energized this type of training and I am here to tell you this is normal bizness for AFSOC and the SOAR. I will defer to the experts but here is my guess...a combination of factors: The CV-22 is in a state of contraction after years of maintenance issues that culminated in the fatal crash last in 2024. As a result AFSOC made the decision to temporarily mothball 20+ birds and focus efforts on the remaining. The maintenance issues are focused on: 1. The blades (wearing out MUCH fast in Middle East sand) - I believe the time between major maintenance was down to 100 hours instead of the planned 500 hours. 2. Turbine performance decline (again related to Middle East sand) - the find sand was "coaking" on the turbine inlet blades and causing reduced power. Ultimately they changed the FDAC to allow higher operating temps in an attempt to burn the coaking off. (very simplified answer). 3. IR center Body problems (cracks) - perhaps the most vexing problem as the airframe manufacturer pointed at the engine OEM Rolls Royce and the Engine OEM pointed back at Bell. 4. Hard clutch engagements like the one that caused the crash in Japan. In short the clutch engages hard which causes a rapid rise of torque to the opposite engine and can cause REAL issues, ultimately, gearbox failure. As a result of these issues there is a distrust of the platform by some of the Tier 1 teams. Also, while the speed and range profile seem to make sense I wonder if the survivor being up high had an impact. The CV-22 is big and maybe they couldn't land on the high uneven terrain. Hovering a CV-22 that high over the survivor was probably not optimal. The downwash is 10 X a helicopter. We had issues the first few times we did fast rope and ended up having to put large weights at the end of the rope to keep them on the ground. The survivor was wounded and hiding in a crevice in very high terrain, so I am guessing that had an impact. Two things that are not being talked about much: When the MC-130's became stuck they called in "other assets" to help. There is a video from Iran showing one of the other assets. ssstwitter.com_1775434822410.mp4 And, as per American SOF standard, we trolled the Iranians in the LZ...left them a Fuck you present!