ClearedHot

Ever been to Verdun? Mass artillery is horrific and what happened at Verdun is sickening. The sole purpose of the battle was not to take territory, rather it was to "bleed them white", a horrific battle of attrition meant to consume human life. It will take your breath away, I wept. This building is the memorial and it frames the cemetery. The center is meant to represent an artillery shell. You can see the people in the center for scale...now the sickening part. As you go around to the back it becomes obvious the memorial is built into the hill and it has a large basement that runs the length of the building. Every time it rains they find more bones and skulls from WWI. They collect the bones and deposit them in the basement. There are windows you can look in and see the bones and skulls stacked 20' high. The enormity of loss overwhelmed me. Over 100 year ago and the earth is still scarred from millions of artillery shells.

Reports this afternoon saying we flew the U-2 alongside the Balloon last week. Huggy, ever done anything like that...onboard sensors or handheld camera (if you can say).

The model on the pointy nose side for MANY years has been to build "most" of the initial cadre from Patch Wearers, it makes sense for a lot of reasons especially as you move into OT. These days in an effort to run faster we run DT and OT at the same time, often while still settling on the final design. That being said if you are thinking of pursuing WIC just as a path to the B-21, don't! I was not the best Patch in the world but I was very good at finding (and eliminating), careerists who wanted WIC for the wrong reason. The Weapons School is far from perfect but it is one of the last vestiges of trying to do the right thing with regard to airpower and our Air Force. If you want WIC so you can teach, lead and mentor...SHIT HOT, go for it. The rest will take care of itself.

There I was, I shot a lot of people, I came home...repeat 69 times. Happy?

Recreation with actual comms from the shootdown. Frank Luke did it....16 times.

I saw the T-Birds in the Phabulous Phantom when I was a kid...Phucking Amazing. Both teams were superb in the F-4.

Because of the gun door limitation? I would have wanted to capture and exploit as much of the payload as possible and hit only the balloon, not that a fall from 60K was going to protect the payload but 20 pounds of WDU-17/B warnugget slinging 200 titanium rods probably made a mess of things. Stand by for Block 45 ultra high alt mod.

China now threatening to retaliate because we shot down their balloon! China responded that it reserved the right to "take further actions" and "an obvious overreaction and a serious violation of international practice." In its statement Sunday, China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that "China will resolutely uphold the relevant company's legitimate rights and interests, and at the same time reserving the right to take further actions in response."

VERY odd choice of weapon.

Given that the White House didn't reveal they found classified documents at the Penn center for months...I'd say there is trend. Also kind of odd we just found out there is another Chinese "Weather" balloon floating across South America.

Go to 46:22 - 'More than half the women in my administration are women'

Nothing to see here, just the Chinese thumbing their noses at our sovereign airspace.

The FBI is now at Joe Biden's Rehoboth Beach home searching for classified.

CBS news now reporting the FBI DID search the Penn Biden Center in November of 2022. Funny, that never made the news before the election, the White House mislead everyone and it is just now coming to light...

Retired Air Force intelligence officer had 'hundreds' of classified documents in his Florida home including Top Secret briefs on the NSA's capabilities, feds say WTF? Former Presidents, Vice Presidents, Senators and now LtCol Intel types taking TS/SCI home...seriously what are these idiots thinking?

Again, I am biased because I've known him for so long. IMHO he truly believes we are going to fight China (as do I), and when you look at the models, wargames, intel briefs, numbers...it is going to be UGLY. Under current circumstances the losses will be terrible on both sides and will cost us greatly in lives and treasure. Allowing the conversation about single pilot tanker ops was a move to set the conditions for change. I don't care if the union thinks it is a bad idea (it is), the situation is so dire we need to discuss every option, reexamine every tactic and find ways to flip the calculus back on the Chinese. Brother I hear what you are saying about admin and queep. A couple years retired and in reflection I am GLAD to be retired, I miss the squadron, the flying, and mostly I miss the people, but I always default to be overwhelmingly happy to be away from the queep and the caustic leaders we turn into GOs. That being said, as a component commander Mini is pushing the limits where he can (and a bit outside those lines). As the training and equip boss, CSAF sets the tone and makes the rules on queep and I've seen CQ do NOTHING other than continue the status quo (or make it worse...ie Advanced Degrees). I am willing to give Mini the benefit of the doubt and see where it goes. Did you read his memo? "COMMANDER’S INTENT. Go faster. Drive readiness, integration, and agility for ourselves and the Joint Force to deter, and if required, defeat China. This is the first of 8 monthly directives from me. You need to know I alone own the pen on these orders. My expectations are high, and these orders are not up for negotiation. Follow them. I will be tough, fair, and loving in my approach to secure victory. RISK. Run deliberately, not recklessly. You will be governed by the principle of calculated training risk, which you shall interpret to mean the avoidance of death, serious injury, and Class A damage to attain higher readiness, integration, and agility. If the Tactic, Technique, and Procedure you are developing increases AMC’s ability to fight and win inside the first island chain… move out. If you are comfortable in your approach to training, then you are not taking enough risk." Disagree, I would argue it is his DUTY to communicate his concerns, orders and intent to the forces he leads. As for attaching a specific date, the intel community and some think tanks have been signaling that for the past 12 months. There is a collision of specific events in 2025 (Chinese capes, Chinese population, Chinese economy, U.S. Presidential election and a few others), that have a lot of people believing there is a mark on the calendar. This "date" is driving a lot of decision making and if you step back you will see it...Sole Source Wedgetail to replace E-3, Bridge Tanker, Navy ship maintenance timelines, Navy Attack sub procurement and shipyard turn times. I pray to god I am wrong and we don't fight China, but if I am right I am thankful there are people like Mini willing to risk career and inspire change, outside the box thinking and find new ways to win what will be a terrible fight.

Shut up Nav...I'd rather have the gas.

And the Eyebrow raising has begun..."These comments are not representative of the department's view on China," a U.S. defense official said.

Trump opens 2024 run, says he's 'more committed' than ever

Like I said, Mini is serious about his concern...I hope they don't crucify him for this memo because he is right. Air Force general predicts war with China in 2025, tells officers to prep by firing 'a clip' at a target, and 'aim for the head' “I hope I am wrong. My gut tells me will fight in 2025," said Gen. Mike Minihan in a memo sent to the officers he commands and obtained by NBC News.