Military Newsletter
Latest intelligence on the world situation, updates on US military capabilities, news that affects Military retirees,
and news that will probably never be reported by the "Liberal American Media!"
Edited by Lt Col Kent Vasby, USAF, Ret
This Is What Escalation Looks Like
Russia mobilizes in Syria while China militarizes the South China Sea, filling a power vacuum created by an absent America.
Vladimir Putins air forces are deliberately targeting U.S.-backed Syrian rebels. China is building islands in disputed waters in the South China Sea and militarizing them with airfields, ports and antiaircraft and radar sites. This is what escalation looks like.
Either the Obama administration responds to the danger of aggressive powers undermining or directly attacking U.S. interests, or it will risk the erosion of Americas position abroad and invite conflict with Moscow and Beijing.
Escalation takes many forms. In the 1930s, Hitler nibbled and carved away parts of Central Europe for several years before invading Poland. The Japanese invaded Manchuria in 1931 and China proper in 1937 before deciding on a coordinated attack on Southeast Asia and Pearl Harbor. During the 1990s, al Qaeda escalated from bombing U.S. naval vessels and embassies to preparing for 9/11. What these cases have in common is that the great powers failed to deter the aggressors, emboldening them to ever larger actions.
Russia Declares Holy War on Islamic State
While Obama sides with Christian-murdering freedom fighters.
-Thanks, Dave
The Russian Orthodox Christian Church, which is reclaiming its traditional role in post-Soviet Russia, has just described its governments fight against the Islamic State and other jihadi groups in Syria as a holy war.
The fight with terrorism is a holy battle and today our country is perhaps the most active force in the world fighting it.
The church asked Putin to make the protection of Christians one of the foreign policy directions in future.
This is how it will be, have no doubt, Putin answered.
Compare and contrast Putins terse response with U.S. President Obama's, who denies the connection between Islam and violence; whose policies habitually empower Christian-persecuting Islamists; who prevents Christian representatives from testifying against their tormentors; and who even throws escaped Christian refugees back, while accepting tens of thousands of Muslims.
Read more: http://www.frontpagemag.com/fpm/260372/russia-declares-holy-war-islamic-state-raymond-ibrahim
How Obama Lost Afghanistan ..... and Iraq, and Libya, and Yemen and .............
The Taliban seems to have correctly assessed the lack of resolve of the current U.S. leadership and have evidently decided to go for all of Afghanistan.
What is visible to everyone except Obama is that this "weak" Putin continues to outflank the U.S. in Ukraine, Crimea and now Syria. The U.S. Commander-in-Chief has failed to show the fortitude required from the leader of the free world.
With Europe's borders now wide open, the West is more vulnerable than ever.
Wishful Thinking or Taqiyya?
US General: Most Taliban Open to Peace Talks in Afghanistan
The top U.S. commander in Afghanistan on Thursday estimated that more than half of Taliban insurgents could be open to peace talks with the Afghan government, but that negotiations probably won't resume for months.
US spy agencies were 'caught off-guard' by Putin's sudden dramatic escalation in Syria
Senior US lawmakers have begun probing possible intelligence lapses over Moscow's intervention in Syria, concerned that American spy agencies were slow to grasp the scope and intention of Russia's dramatic military offensive there.
As Russia Bombs Syria, U.S. Pulls Aircraft Carrier Out of Persian Gulf
As Russian warships rain down cruise missiles as part of its military strike in Syria, there's now a glaring absence in the region: For the first time since 2007, the U.S. Navy has no aircraft carrier in the Persian Gulf.
Russian Hind-Helicopter Gunships In Action Over Syria
Terrifying footage of Russian Hind helicopter gunships firing rockets at 'US-backed Syrian rebels' who claim attacks on them are making ISIS STRONGER
One video claims to show a Russian-built Hind gunship being shot down
ISIS advances on Aleppo after Russian air strikes force other rebels to retreat…
and prevent Western jets from bombing Islamic State as they cannot risk coming into contact with Putins warplanes
Gray Lady (NYT) criticizes Obama?
Wary of Escalation in Syria, Obama Is Waiting Out Putin's Moves
President Obama this year defined his approach to crises like the civil war in Syria as "strategic patience and persistence."
But with Russian jets and missiles now rocketing through the skies over Syria, what he calls patience looks to many critics like paralysis.
SECDEF Carter lashes out at Russia's 'unprofessional' behavior
Defense Secretary Ash Carter took aim at Russia's actions in Syria this week, saying Moscow's behavior there and Ukraine is isolating the country.
Turkey Now A Theater of West-Russia Dispute Over Syria
Russia has militarily challenged Turkey's threats to retaliate for airspace violation over its border with Syria, but analysts say Moscow deliberately expanded its dispute with the West over Syria to NATO member Turkey's border.
NATO Secretary General Ready To Send Troops to Turkey
To Turkey?
NATO's secretary general, the Norwegian Jens Stoltenberg, said on Thursday that he is prepared to send ground forces to Turkey wherever they're needed "to deter and defend against threats."
Obama to travel to Roseburg today; residents plan protests
One group of residents plans protests at three locations in Roseburg. Leaders said they're expecting at least 2,400 people.
The Gavel No One Wants
Lots of Republicans hope Paul Ryan runs for House speaker.
If he doesn't ... hmm ...
When Cruz Makes His Move, Watch Out
National Review, by Eliana Johnson -Thanks, Dave
The press has mostly ignored him. The Texas senator may be the most under covered serious candidate in the race and the most underestimated. Even strategists associated with some of Cruzs rivals acknowledge that, in a historically crowded field, he may be one of the last men standing.
Editor's note: It's my "gut feeling" that we'll end up with a Cruz/Carson ticket. Cruz has been "hiding in the weeds" as the others destroy one another.
Red Shirt
Long ago, when sailing ships ruled the waves, a captain and his crew were in danger of being boarded by a pirate ship. As the crew became frantic, the captain bellowed to his First Mate, "Bring me my red shirt!". The First Mate quickly retrieved the captain's red shirt, which the captain put on and lead the crew to battle the pirate boarding party. Although some casualties occurred among the crew, the pirates were repelled.
Later that day, the lookout screamed that there were two pirate vessels sending boarding parties. The crew cowered in fear, but the captain calm as ever bellowed, "Bring me my red shirt!". The battle was on, and once again the Captain and his crew repelled both boarding parties, although this time more casualties occurred.
Weary from the battles, the men sat around on deck that night recounting the day's occurrences when an ensign looked to the Captain and asked, "Sir, why did you call for your red shirt before the battle?". The Captain, giving the ensign a look that only a captain can give, exhorted, "If I am wounded in battle, the red shirt does not show the wound and thus, you men will continue to fight unafraid". The men sat in silence marveling at the courage of such a man.
As dawn came the next morning, the lookout screamed that there were pirate ships, 10 of them, all with boarding parties on their way. The men became silent and looked to their Captain for his usual command. The Captain, calm as ever, bellowed, "Bring me my brown pants!!
Businessman & the Flight Attendant
Thanks, Marty
A businessman in the first class cabin decided to talk to the drop dead, gorgeous flight attendant:
"What is your name?"
Flight Attendant: "Angela Benz, sir."
Businessman: "Lovely name ...any relation to Mercedes Benz?"
Flight Attendant: "Yes sir, very close."
Businessman: "How close?"
Flight Attendant: "Same price"
Pravda - yesterday's front page...
Thanks, Marty
Anyone read Russian?
