fire4effect
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Posts posted by fire4effect
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Now this is my real fear. Iran of 1979 comes to mind.
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2 hours ago, arg said: Airscan was doing that back in the day. Flying skymasters with an IR sensor. Some retired gunship pilots and sensors were doing it.
Given the availability of current armed/ISR capability I would say it's way easier now. I'll defer to you experts. Definitely require some BOG located away from the oil facilities to act as a QRF in case things get out of hand. Best case it's a deterrent to bad actors. Optics are critical here and the locals will need to feel they're benefitting from the overall deal/setup. I think both sides can win.
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52 minutes ago, ClearedHot said: Senior IRGC and Iran leaders families have fled Iran...to France of all places.
This might really happen.
Very interesting. Short drive to the Hague as well. Given the trouble they've caused over the years all over the world it wouldn't hurt my feelings if they ended up in Federal Court over here. I'm sure we'd have to waive the death penalty but I'm ok with that.
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15 hours ago, ecugringo said: Just to clarify…..yes they have a ton of oil. But…..that oil is dog shit and only a few refineries in the us can process it. It’s worse than Canadian tar sand oil.
cheap oil isn’t good for the oil industry. Just last yr chevron canned 7k ppl in Houston. The projections for 2026 aren’t great either.
I get you and while I've never been in the industry myself, I have family who've been in it across generations and decades. Truth in advertising some of my investments do better when prices are high. I actually know two engineers who started in the industry and went over to the government side because they got laid off and didn't like the boom bust of the industry. That's the Oil Industry for as long as it existed. On your point about refineability and the sweet vs sour etc. I defer to those I know that know better. I've made mention on here before that more than a few on BO make their living burning jet fuel so that's an industry that can live and die on the price of oil. If it makes economic sense to go back to Venezuela, the oil companies will do it. Another side effect of lower oil prices is pressure to go EV is less and whether that is good or bad is a matter of your perspective. I would also think low prices are a part on the equation in Iran unrest going on now. I think long term from a strategic perspective a robust oil production in Venezuela can help give us some leverage around the world that really hasn't existed in the past.
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I saw a really nice throw of a Molotov Cocktail. Maybe bring him over on a football or baseball scholarship.
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21 hours ago, ViperMan said: Better us than Russia / China. Like it or not, this action opens up the possibility of getting things straight in this part of the world and countering negative influence by multiple malign actors.
I admit I knew they had a lot of oil just not the sheer size of their reserves. Way I see it is if they get the output up over the next couple years oil prices should stay down and a lot of our problem children overseas like Russia and Iran will feel the pain and have less resources to make trouble.
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1 hour ago, Prosuper said: I guess he will be a guest of my neighboring town of Florence ATX.
Your view of the mountains will be much better.😁
I'm sure the cockroaches in Central and South America are scattering. With ISR watching.
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I mean damn. Hope he gets a big settlement though the taxpayers are the one's writing the check.
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Related to the drug trade. A car bomb is definitely next level and sounds way too familiar.
Cartels may be feeling some pressure. More (armed) Reapers overhead the better in my book.
Car bomb kills 5 people, including 3 officers, in front of police station in Mexico - CBS News
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2 hours ago, Lawman said: Notice how they keep leaving the submarine out of the photo collections of released drone footage.
Almost like they want to not acknowledge what that vessel would clearly have been because they can’t “allege ” it was a fishing boat.
I stand by my assertion this has nothing to do with concerns about human rights and is a political big game hunt. Anybody that can put Hegseth’s scalp on the wall affords themselves the right to claim leadership of the party, and Kelly knows it.
Sent from my iPhone using TapatalkA lot of albeit slow submarines head across the Atlantic to Africa where less than respectable types transport it North to Europe. There may be some feigned indignation on European countries part about how these strikes are conducted but not a lot of real heartburn since it's less they have to contend with. Not to mention I'm sure we tip off LE on that side of the pond when we see things headed their way. https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cm274lmg7m1o
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CDC reports over 80,000 overdose deaths in the US in 2024. Obviously, Opioids are a big part of that, but they are often combined with other drugs including cocaine.
Lot of social costs and taxpayer money get sucked up in this problem not to mention health care.
On a side note, the cartels covert PR machine will do whatever they can to shape the narrative.
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Everyone involved knew they were on candid camera and smarter than the average bear, so I agree not at all likely.
More than a few would be in the kill chain and pulled the plug if they weren't onboard. If it were me, I'd go dark and keep sinking them. No more announcing of the tally. The 20 strikes so far have certainly sent the message. Drug boats continually disappearing without a trace or announcement will be the "service after the sale". WaPo needs more than an anonymous sources word. If WaPo had anything like a video for evidence, it would already be on YouTube.
It's a simple rule of survival don't get on a boat hauling drugs and you'll be fine.
From WaPo
"To comply with a spoken order from Hegseth to kill everyone, the Special Operations commander overseeing the mission ordered a second strike that killed the two survivors, according to two people with direct knowledge of the operation. Those people, along with five others in the original report, spoke on the condition of anonymity because of the matter’s sensitivity."
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So, is it better to admit up front to hanging out with all the unsavory types on BO next time I fill out an SF-86 or try to explain it after the fact to investigators?😁
Don't forget to include your screen name as an alias.
Big second on what Prosuper said. We've all had times we've been fed up but it can be a lot of money left on the table when it's all said and done.
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5 hours ago, brabus said: @disgruntledemployee Well a WaPo reporter claims DEVGRU was ordered to execute unarmed people (and did), so it must be true. You actually believe this bullshit?
Supposedly one of the "sources" saw the feed when the strike occurred. Anyone in a position to see that had to have a clearance and likely at risk of prosecution and prison if they get outed. Helluva risk. Of course the press can clte anything and anyone to generate a story with no consequences if they're wrong.
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1 hour ago, brabus said: @SuperWSO Whats the benefit of a WSO - lower production cost and they can’t run to the airlines every hiring boom? Serious question, because financial reasons are the only thing I can think of. And this is not a who’s a more capable human argument, just saying instead of sending Bob to UNT, you send him to UPT. Aircraft like the B-1 and F-15E were clearly designed with WSO in mind and thus require them, no argument there. New aircraft have no need to be designed to “require” a WSO.
With AI and other advancements, I’d actually say just make the 21 single seat. Why do you even need two pilots? Assumption being AI flies the transit, can refuel, etc. while pilot naps, takes a dump, etc.
You're touching on a related issue. As time goes by more and more roles and platforms will be automated/uncrewed especially in the military given the advantages and reduced risks to our personnel. Fewer military pilots available for the airlines overall. Airlines will arguably be the last things to go single pilot but so many other lower-level jobs in aviation will be automated. The CFI pyramid scheme is just going to get worse on the civilian side with things like pipeline patrol eventually gets taken over by drones. A few on here are old enough to remember writing checks all the time and that pilots built time back in the day in beat up twins flying checks in bulk back to the bank. A lot of kids now are staring at 6 figure loans with no real way to pay them off and AI/automation is already on its way taking the entry level jobs across a whole range of industries. My biggest concern for the B-21 is will we build enough of them? For the B-21 and its overall contribution and value to national defense the expense of putting in two pilots is relatively small IMHO.
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Edited by fire4effect
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/trump-administration-proposed-28-point-russia-ukraine-peace-plan/
Several outlets are covering this not just CBS so pick your own slant. I know we all have our opinions on how this should go but rewarding Putin who is by all accounts a war criminal just makes sick. We have people on death row in this country for far less.
Reminds me of a lot of American politicians who finally get worn down by an issue and just want it off their plate so they can finish out their term. On some level in fairness, I understand we have to play by rules and Putin does not. Afghanistan had both Biden and Trump half assing it and we see how that went when all was said and done. Afghanistan we can mostly ignore today but Ukraine and its potential fallout (heaven help us if that becomes literally) will be a problem again one day. Trump figures things will hold until he's out of office or this worldly realm and not his problem. Our kids and grandkids probably won't be as lucky. I can guarantee any treaty will be followed by only one side. This was on a plaque at what was once a temporary cemetery near Foy Belgium for over 2000 from the Battle of the Bulge and I think it still carries truth 80 plus years later.
We have only died in vain if you believe so;
You have to decide the wisdom of our choice,
By the world which you shall build upon our headstones,
And the everlasting truth, which have your voice.
Though dead, we are not heroes yet, nor can be,
'Til the living by their lives which are the tools,
Carve us the epitaph of wise men,
And give us not the epitaph of fools.
David J. Phillips, 506th P.I.R./ 101st Abne Div."
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14 hours ago, uhhello said: There is a middle ground here that should make sense to everyone but it obviously hasn't caught on yet. 200 mile high speed chases that puts everyone on the road in great danger are super dangerous and something needs to be done quickly to prevent that. Don't care what you're running for, if you're running you aren't going to be allowed to put others at risk. PIT'ng someone who you haven't established is actually running (moving up to next exit, clear indicators that you're not going to become an issue) and you move to PIT them, unsat.
Some jurisdictions don't even allow pursuit anymore if the person is fleeing. Have watched plenty of videos where the dude will run and cops won't chase or they have to hope the Highway patrol or other police/sheriffs can.
I think a lot of pursuit policies reflect the liability of an individual agency. State level agencies often have the law and resources on their side whereas city or county agencies frankly don't. Higher up the government food chain the harder it is to sue. Here again I fully support robust aviation support to make running a futile endeavor. In fact, local news helicopters have acted as de-facto air support in the apprehension of suspects at times. Watching long pursuits on TV in some Southern States constitutes fine redneck entertainment. For suspects it has probably prevented the obligatory post chase beat down when it's being broadcast live to thousands so there is that.
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6 hours ago, ClearedHot said:
HP is a leader in building some of these high end printers...printing in a type of vinyl that uses one of the most common manufacturing materials in the world. Other companies like Beehive are 3d printing jet engines out of metal powder. As you correctly point out, STEM and AI are the path to wealth for any young people who want to make a difference.
Definitely the wave of the future. Tooling fixtures for bending say tubing or shaping other components are pretty straightforward. If we're talking blades in an engine repeatability of mechanical properties is the difficulty. 3D printed blade sitting next to a traditional blade may appear identical, but grain structure is completely different. Even repeatability internally from one 3d blade to the next may be inconsistent. So, tell your young people to get on with the program and solve these problems.🫡 Sounds like Beehive has a workable solution for things like missiles.
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Venezuela and Narco Boats
in General Discussion
I agree it's stupid to stay and great that it was completely closed, and I didn't realize that. Given the whole Citgo 6 fiasco from several years ago would have been all the incentive to stay away I would need. The current administration is probably going to be less susceptible than most to pressure if someone shows up on TV asking for help to get their loved one out, but we all know how that can play out long term. The militia's they speak of would be perfect in my mind to add to the list for the "American ass whooping" you describe.