Clark Griswold

Recommend "The Hunter Killers" by Dan Hampton. The Hunter Killers LP: The Extraordinary Story of the First Wild Weasels, the Band of Maverick Aviators Who Flew the Most Dangerous Missions of the Vietnam War Good backstories, technical descriptions, engagement descriptions and perspective on the origin & development of the Weasel Mission.

A toast and a salute. Godspeed.

For now but the Saudis don't like that so the tap is on to keep the price low - too low for US / Canadian - unconventional oil recovery sources (tar sands, shale, hyd. fracking) to be profitable, also it hurts their rivals the Iranians so a lot US production capacity is online for now but starting to be shuttered till oil is back in the 65 a barrel range, there is very little to no daylight between the demand and supply curves in the oil game, in the 70's with the first oil shock, the Arab boycott disrupted 3% of the supply at the time to the US but caused a quadrupling of the price in a matter of weeks, industrialized modern societies can't get enough of that delicious delicious oil crack... Foxtrot Alpha has a good article on Russian strategic aims in the ME with released footage of Russian airstrikes, bottom line, they want in to push us out or diminish our influence in the ME via a strategic foothold and influence in Syria with strong ties with Iran and Iraq. Not acceptable as the Carter Doctrine sill should be applied here and Putin is anti-US so we have to react, like it or not, maneuver or be out maneuvered... http://foxtrotalpha.jalopnik.com/russia-begins-bombing-operations-in-syria-as-a-bigger-s-1733823079 Playing internet strategist the best move to counter Russia in Syria is actually in Ukraine, arm the shit out of the government there to quash the Russian fueled rebellion there, if you can't fight your enemy directly do it indirectly. Distract his attention, focus and resources from the place you don't want him to be.

Yup I don't fault the President for wanting to disengage from the Middle Shithole but our dependence on the flow of oil to the global supply system doesn't allow that like it or not we or another global power will be the patron / guarantor of the various states as grouped by ethnicity or Islamic denomination - pick a side don't try to be friends with both sides because that's not possible and support as required to keep the crazies at bay when the oil runs out leave a note saying thanks for everything and GTFO But on this immediate issue keep a distance from the Ruskies but do t back down if confronted - aid the Kurds and think out the container I know we don't have it in our military tradition but this conflict is perfect for an army like the FFL so either form an American version or encourage the French to use the Legion there with all the support we can give - secure the eastern half before Aaad gets it back then you have leverage if continue the f around and phone it in we'll have no say in the future there and that portends more trouble with Iran winning again by default Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

No doubt the fighters have been told to back down if the Ruskies get frisky - they'll be issued a demerit at the UN along with an LOC I wonder if the Turks will put up with shenanigans since this in their backyard ? Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Heard they gave a one hour heads up but that would not surprise me about GTFO message also being relayed Raptor vs Su-30 not likely to meet Don't worry Kerry told them that this is not a way for nations on the 21st century to behave - that'll fix it Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Yup If not chaos / bankruptcy then one helluva problem(s) in our own countries Long game strategy - encourage third world mass immigration to distract -deplete-divide your rivals Not saying China has a perfect approach to the world but they do business they protect their interests and they don't try to save it - seems more feasible Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Half a million no end in sight - I'm sure once Russia - Iran and Asad gear up the flow will subside ... not 500,000 AND COUNTING http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2015/09/29/record-numbers-arrive-europe-sea/73017148/ Sent from my iPhone Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Midnight Hot on F tv was the stuff manning the night desk Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

This sums it up http://libertyunyielding.com/2014/06/06/phoning-obama-post-presidency-already-begun/ Only a year more+ of not giving a sh•t to put up with Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

But what about human rights and the environment ? My friends at Amnesty International would be so disappointed in the wise and decisive use of the IOPs... They want an Arab / Islamic nation to be like the West and live in the delusion that there is a Islamic Thomas Jefferson just waiting for international support so he can bring forth a secular progressive Nation where an Islamic one previously existed - not gonna happen and exposing them to our value system will not make them adopt it - they take advantage of us and use our best qualities against us - 80% of the "refugees" are unaccompanied males 18-40 years of age This is an existential moment for the liberal democracies of the West - if we do not act the python will slowly suffocate us But off my rant and back to the subject - they are a JV team just trying to run out the clock Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Follow on: Imagine this in your town http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3249667/Germany-state-SIEGE-Merkel-cheered-opened-floodgates-migrants-gangs-men-roaming-streets-young-German-women-told-cover-mood-s-changing.html

Did the moderates get SAPR? If they didn't how could anyone think they could be a real military force? Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Follow on - why even bother with air strikes any more? If the other powers are putting their boots on the ground and we are only willing to strike fans under restrictive ROE that has not appreciably caused the desired effects - declare the mission objectives achieved and roll it up - this is McNamara strategy all over again

Maybe but I think he's not interested in a stalemate or even the appearance of one with ISIS, Asad with Putin & Iran's assistance would expel / slaughter ISIS in a milli-second (given the choices Asad is better than ISIS with expanding territorial and franchise operations). I think the CDE concerns of an Asad-Putin-Iran coalition are somewhere between none and less than nothing so it maybe in the next few months the tide will turn on ISIS. They have a semi to supportive population base in the Sunni majority areas of Eastern Syria & Western Iraq, when war is waged with WWII style regard to military forces in populated areas, I am not sure that base will continue to support the 30-40k fighters there. Without a population to blend into, less territory to evade in and fighting a foe with unrestricted ROE, ISIS could collapse. No moral judgement nor cheerleading for scorched earth tactics but like the populations of WWII Germany and Japan, they may have to be exposed to direct action to dissuade any support for ISIS, Al-Nusra, etc... Related to the Syrian Civil War but an interesting idea on the Syrian Refugees, Debt for Dignity. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/lorelei-kelly/help-the-refugees-with-de_b_8086550.html Paying highly indebted countries (like Greece, Italy, Spain) to allow in refugees if not permanently at least medium term until ISIS can be given a PGM express ticket to paradise.

Frogfoot and Fencer in theater. http://foxtrotalpha.jalopnik.com/su-25-frogfoots-and-su-24-fencers-arrive-at-russias-bur-1732201932

True - when we didn't do shit after declaring a threshold that you better not cross (fist shaking in the air) and then nada, we looked like amateurs. I am not sold at all on ousting Asad as I think Syria would just get worse (ala Libya) but there should have been something, attack a few airfields with cruise missiles, drop a MOAB via B-2 on something, just a huge explosion somewhere on Asad's territory to be played a million times on news channels to show tit for tat (giggity) Could be as Fuzz says this is force protection / deterrence for Asad's area and an eventual Russian task force. Ka-52 attack helicopters would be useful too but I'm interested to see if they'll start their own UAV ops there. They've gotten a good bit of experience from their hybrid war in Ukraine and Iran has supplied Al Asad's forces with smaller UAVs and their Shaded 129 UAV capable of carrying their Sadid-1 missile, you put all that technology force multiplier systems with 30-50k of fighters that Iran could get from Hezbollah and the 100+ billion dollars that they are going to get their hands on from the Nuclear Deal with the P5+1 group and they could turn the tide against ISIS but then you have Asad and Iran back in charge, well shit....

I'm sure this won't be a problem for Europe and I'm sure this won't eventually come across the Atlantic to give us a problem. Reporter Buys Forged Syrian Passport Marketed to Migrants Trying to Win Asylum in Europe. How Much Do You Think He Paid?

Good assessment. Coupled with the S-300 missiles Asad says arrived in Syria about 2 years ago, his remaining area is fairly secure from conventional attack.

Su-30SM confirmed on the deck in Syria (western city of Latakia). Just 4 jets, wonder why the Su-25 was not sent. http://foxtrotalpha.jalopnik.com/perilous-puzzle-su-30sm-fighter-jets-appear-at-russias-1731934051

Russia's on the build up, http://foxtrotalpha.jalopnik.com/russia-is-pouring-cargo-into-syria-including-heavy-arm-1730648838

No BFD buddy Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Don't remember saying that.

Probably - always thought CAC was either a poorly designed acronym or a good joke slipped in (sts) without the PC Corps realizing it also Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Well, my thinking is that with the economy of scale that the FMS of the Advanced Superbug would bring, probably 250+ assuming an almost 1 to 1 replacement for the three countries I rattled off and then figure about that same amount for the ARC, along with any the Navy or USMC might buy and you could keep the costs manageable by having a really good production run and leveraging the components that would carry over from the Superbug to the Advanced Superbug. The F-15SA would be cool but the Bug and Superbug have landed more sales than the Eagle among the allies, you probably could get them onboard easier as more of them have Hornets in inventory and the upgrade to better version of what they already fly would be lower risk, lower cost, easier transition, etc...

Boeing also tried to get this idea going of the "missile truck" with the B-1R, there's Dogfights episode where this is used in a notional future A2A scenario, spoiler alert it all works great and the enemy just blows up in droves because they don't have a clue, ok sarcasm off. Probably not a bad idea but unless the BCA gets rescinded, amended or just ignored not sure where the money is going to come for it. AFA convention is this coming week so let's see if Boeing has a display trying to sell this idea. For my two cents, this idea of a 4+ gen missile truck would work if you gave it to the ANG / Reserves and tried to coax Allies interested / needing new airframes for their fighter fleet but not wanting to go all in on 5th gen b/c of cost. Buy Advanced Capability Superhornet for the Guard / Reserves, give nations like Canada, Australia, Finland the confidence to purchase as the USAF is flying it to avoid the launch customer failure of the F-20. Allies get a good affordable jet, Guard gets new iron, AD gets a missile truck when / if they need it. 2 - just open source and conjecture in clear.

Relight on thread. Updated 4 Gen Fighters carrying a shit load of missiles. http://foxtrotalpha.jalopnik.com/boeings-touts-new-16-air-to-air-missile-carrying-f-15-e-1730258333