Clark Griswold
Supreme User
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Everything posted by Clark Griswold
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Yeah, I think they all do some variation of that about basically everything as our society has regressed; intellectually, culturally and politically. Getting a good majority 330+ million people to support policies that require personal sacrifice, delayed gratification and none to tangential material benefits to them is apparently too much for our politicians to attempt hence the lying, obfuscation, gas lighting, denial and wild overselling of all manner of policies. As to Iran though, if it were President Clark Griswold (God help us) I would explain in an Oval Office address: The history of aggression, terrorism and disruptive activities of the Islamic Republic of Iran against the United States and broader civilized world; probably releasing declassified information in that address to explain why we should fight them. What will be required of America, why this will succeed, how we will win, what victory means for the US and how the people of Iran can be helped. Why this is not imperialism, why it is right and why America half way around the world is responsible for this fight. Break Break As to strategy with Iran, had a stray thought on it… mentioned before in this thread I think but why not offer their provinces / non Persian areas that openly resist the IGRC weapons, support, reprieve from air strikes, etc… it would not be the only strategic LOE but one of them… Disrupt areas of the country not fully loyal to the revolutionary regime, deny oil export income, maximum economic sanctions but continuous delivery of humanitarian aid, block / control most air and maritime traffic, aggressively attack proxies abroad, lean on allies very hard to renounce diplomatic ties, continually execute long range strikes, split internal factions (Army vs IGRC) to offer leadership support and recognition in a post bellum Iran… basically everything short of a ground invasion while you prepare for a ground invasion…
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Yup, that’s the problem / fact of life with American foreign policy problems. They are longer lasting than our election cycles, this causes politicians to gamble and occasionally get us knee deep without gathering the necessary public, political and institutional support to sustain and prosecute successfully said foreign policy challenge.
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Yup, there is no tomorrow for the revolutionary government of the Iran if they lose hence why they spent 40 years getting ready for this. I did my own bar napkin math and I came up with a 1 million man fighting force to take, occupy and pacify Iran. Probably supported by another 1 million+ military members, 100+ CAPs, 3 carrier battle groups, etc… basically a doubling of the DOW budget, conscription required, the kitchen sink, etc… we can’t or won’t do that. We would end America as we know it, I’m not even opposed to military action against Iran to forestall nuclear weapons development but I know that if we decided that regime change is the only way to guarantee that the revolutionary Islamic government of Iran never acquires nuclear weapons, we would destroy our country in the process unless we as a country through a popular process decided this was worth it. One party making it their explicit policy, winning an election cycle and then executing it. I doubt that will happen so a lesser approach is likely required. My policy and strategy recommendations would be to consistently degrade conventional capabilities, factor and prioritize minimal collateral damage, deny economic resources to the regime; begin the diplomatic effects to isolate the regime; establish a new Iranian government in absentia that is a visible alternative to the revolutionary Islamic one and settle in for a multi year effort to collapse the regime. Did Israel trick us into attacking Iran? No. Did they encourage us to? Yes. The Venn diagram of Israel’s interests and America’s interests do overlap in Iran not having a nuclear weapons capability but Israel’s interest in this is much larger than ours, hence why they pulled every lever to get us to go kinetic. Others encouraged the administration to attack too, Israel was only part of the coalition. Totally neutral in that statement, I like the Israelis but don’t see them as infallible or without parochial interests either, they are a good ally mostly but not angels either, proceed accordingly. The Irony is the analogous behavior of President Trump and President Putin, both had successful military ops before that IMO encouraged them to try the big one. Putin had the successful operation taking Crimea and Trump had Midnight Hammer and Venezuela, they both misinterpreted the successes of those very different focused missions and thought they were indicators of likely success in a major conventional campaign. Nope, not unless you gear up and commit your country to a major military campaign, you’ll not lose what you start but you won’t win either. Putin has obviously gotten close to that total mobilization required if you want to win but even he thinks that is likely more than his nation will support. President Trump hasn’t even hinted at what would likely be required and/or doing that.
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Nice My main quibble and the point(s) BURT made well in his article in support of the Rhino was the expeditionary capability inherent in it vs the -35 for a replacement if the AF wants to preserve the Attack community which I obviously support Changing the argument or adding to it should be the need for an AF expeditionary strike fighter focusing on the attack mission set. A force forward based to redeploy quickly to complicate enemy targeting and survive, to interoperate with the main branch leading the PACOM theater seamlessly, etc… Saving the Hog would be great but ultimately the mission and operational conditions have moved on and in particular the tyranny of distance necessitates new iron.
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Might already be operational https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/israel-and-us-modified-f-35-jets-enable-iran-attack-without-refuelling-sources-say
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Wanna focus on that point, as with -47, range is key. Our recent experience with Iranian TBMs, drones, etc… I think reinforces that operating outside of the threat rings or with enough setback for warning/defense is paramount. That IMO drives a growth in size and logistical footprint (maybe) of any platform, so be it. With that in mind, I think that drives you back to the advanced rhino with CFTs and other updates, signature reductions, etc… If king for a day, rework the already strong wing and expand idea of enclosed weapons pods, fixing the 4 degree canting placement for drag reduction.
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https://www.twz.com/a-10-pilots-compelling-case-for-replacing-warthogs-with-super-hornets I found BURT’s argument persuasive and before I had read it I thought the Rhino was probably the right aircraft for the AF’s attack mission set with self escort capes. Just my two cents but I think a carrier suitable jet would have the trade space in weight / structural strength for mods to optimize for Attack while retaining true self defense capabilities. Delete or mod carrier landing gear, wing folding, etc… and methinks you could get more gas, armor, redundant or extra systems, etc…. also, with the original baseline Rhino being a carrier based fighter, it probably would be well suited for land based ACE expeditionary ops with mods, already has an APU for instance and has demonstrated road based dispersal ops.
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Interesting read https://theaviationist.com/2026/08/12/brrrrt-acts-plan-to-save-the-a-10s/ Just buy Superhornets and replace the venerable Hawg
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https://theaviationist.com/2026/08/04/exclusive-the-usaf-t-1a-jayhawk-poses-for-its-final-air-to-air-photo-shoot/
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They (the left, globalists, etc…) either don’t care, don’t think it’ll backfire or are so stupid they think they can play with fire and not get burned. I’ve followed it a bit today, of the 60k that crossed about 48k have returned to Morocco but it’s still a mess and very tense. Borders and enforcement allow for stability and control, with that you can make rational, moral policies consistent with the right combination of self determination and reasonable humanity towards foreigners. Choir preaching but needs to be said apparently as the leaders of Spain are determined to test that hot stove theory yet again.
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Commute worthy read Our Generals Are Not Even Good at Tactics: A Hard-Hitting...Until we do, our generals will continue to fail us — not because they lack technology or tactical drills, but because the system that produces them was designed for a different war and century.Not 100% on board with the author’s assertions on the current state of the GO ranks / Officer selection and career path planning, he’s probably 2/3rds right but worthy points.
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Super Typhoon https://www.twz.com/air/germany-unveils-latest-tranche-4-eurofighter
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Maybe… https://theaviationist.com/2026/07/16/first-customer-next-gen-catalina-flying-boat/
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Ultimate TMAAT vignette…
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Rog, just another idea from moi, I’m not adamant about it per se but in this particular case I see a reason for it. I argue for it as I see it along with a revitalized training fleet as part of what I call strong pilot culture. Just from the outside, it seems to be eroding a bit.
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I’m sure they would have an ADSC from UPT, as to UPT I believe it’s a one shot deal in the AF at least for performance problems if removed from training
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I see the justification for a stand alone program as these cso/wso’s are being recruited specifically for the -21, UPT is already very busy and this program would help justify a companion trainer program for that platform. I imagine the recruitment for this will be as you said high speed low drag guys and an opportunity to go to an elite assignment with a unique training pipeline will only increase the pool of applicants, giving them the picks of the litter. There’s a cohort of guys / gals that for whatever reason didn’t get a pilot slot at their commissioning source but went wherever, this second shot with a direct path to the -21 I think would motivate a lot of people to work hard, compete and bring a strong candidate to them.
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B-21s will have 2 pilots and CSO/WSOs recruited will be retrained as pilots https://www.twz.com/air/usaf-decides-against-flying-b-21-raiders-with-just-one-pilot Could / should they be trained as pilots in a stand alone program? This program (in my mind) would also serve as the companion proficiency trainer for the crew force. Probably not at all Raider bases but one or two (pilot training for the B-21) Civ ratings (PPL, AMEL, INSTM) then a mil course, maybe 75 hours, or so. Throughput would be manageable methinks, IPs rotating from the B-21 line for two year stints.
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Full rate production decision delayed 2 years https://www.airandspaceforces.com/gao-t-7-delays-push-full-rate-production-decision-back-two-years/ Again, hedge your bet, interim trainer acquisition, continue T-7 program but have an option. PC-21 or M-345. Versatile enough for both intermediate and advanced training, if the T-7 works out, awesome, keep flying them as trainers or special program aircraft (demo, test/chase, training support, conversion, etc…).
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A bit of the googling and the 900 seems more logical a choice From cut n paste: Falcon 900EX Temp: 15°C Altitude: SL Passengers: 8 Flight Duration: 4hr 00min (Mach 0.80) Reserve: 1hr 30min Balanced Field Length: 3,400 ft Flight Duration: 8hr 00min (Mach 0.80) Reserve: 1hr 30min Balanced Field Length: 4,775 ft Landing Distance: 2,430 ft. Vref: 111 KIAS https://flightinfo.com/threads/short-field-performance-best-swept-wing-corp-jet.40741/ Decent clearance underneath it too, Tactical Tanker also?
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Probably so as to requirements Requirements and resources are always doing a tango and I’m assuming they are looking for used aircraft but with high mounted engines and it being triple engined, I wonder with a brakes upgrade and some other tweaks (interior mods for weight savings) if you could get better TOLD
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I googled Yeager and F-20 with some other key words for sales, nothing came up, but shit happens in sales meetings. Here’s a short write up on Vasu Raja at AA who screwed up buying A350s dirt cheap, could’ve immediately sold them to another airline at market rates and made bank for a quick paper transaction but shit happens View from the WingThe Inside Story: How American Airlines Killed Airbus A35...Usually complex large supplier relationships are handled diplomatically. Not so with Vasu Raja.This would have been awesome but wrong guy in the wrong position at the wrong time
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Always thought that was a missed opportunity like the F-20 Modernized A-7 model built by a hobbyist, probably pretty close to what an updated F/A-7 would be https://beyondthesprues.com/Forum/index.php?topic=9313.0
