waveshaper

Just another normal day a Minot. Additionally, the Secretary of the Air Force Michael Winn and Chief of Staff of the Air Force General Michael Moseley were s#&t canned (rightly so IMHO) as a result of this SNAFU. The recommendations from the investigation of this incident also resulted in the creation of Air Force Global Strike Command to control all USAF nuclear bombers, nuclear missiles/bombs, and personnel.

Yep. These type deals can take a loooong time to reach any logical state of fruition. Here's a look back/few highlights from the last time we conducted nuclear weapons negotiations with an adversary that actually had "Real Live Nukes" with Short, Intermediate, Strategic range/reach. - Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty; US/USSR negotiations started in Nov 1981 and the INF Treaty went into effect in June 1988 (it took 7 years, 5 months to cut this deal). Key note; The INF Treaty was approved/ratified by the US Senate. - Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (START); US/USSR negotiations started in June 1982 and the START Treaty went into effect in Dec 1994 (it took 12 years, 6 months to cut this deal). Key note; The START Treaty was approved/ratified by the US Senate. Here's my take on the current status of the US/Nork Nuke negotiations. We have taken the first baby step by CNX/suspending Joint US/ROK exercises and have 6,969 more steps to go; - We have seen these type of actions taken by the US and our allies before. I'm cautiously optimistic but wouldn't be surprised if we get screwed "again" in the long run. Hopefully this move (CNXing Exercises) will be considered a signal of good faith to the Norks and it's also reminiscent of something right out of the President Reagan/HW Bush playbook. - We did something similar to this back in the late 1980's/early 1990's in Europe/NATO. These US/NATO actions were in direct response to the US/USSR Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty (INF-Treaty) which went into effect in 1988, ongoing comprehensive START Treaty negotiations, and finally the collapse of the USSR in late Dec 1991. Also the end of the Cold War ushered in the era of the "Peace Dividend" which resulted in drastic cuts to US/NATO military spending. Note; the Peace Dividend era pretty much sucked for us military folks. - Basically we started scaling back our troop levels/equipment/armament, cancelling or scaling back our exercises, etc, etc. Here's one of maaaany Examples; The massive "Reforger Exercise" was cancelled in 1989 and by the early 1990's it was officially terminated (many other NATO exercise were also terminated or scaled way back). The downside today (last 5 to 10 years) = Russia is acting up again and we're starting to ramp some of this stuff back up again.

Yep. When in doubt cut the catapult hose. The Fire Dept/EOD folks have the proper tool for cutting this hose and the EOD guys know where to cut it (done this a few times myself way back when).

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/post-nation/wp/2018/06/03/an-fbi-agent-did-a-backflip-in-a-club-dropped-his-gun-and-accidentally-shot-someone-police-say/?utm_term=.03c9777e9417

I'm not sure how many executive orders President Trump has revoked so far? He might need to up his game if he wants to compete with some of his predecessors. https://fivethirtyeight.com/features/trump-hasnt-rolled-back-obamas-executive-orders-so-far/

Seems like the USAF and US Army may have a little friendly competition developing. Minot is definitely on a roll, at least this round they didn't misplace 6 AGM-129 cruise missiles loaded with W80-1 Nuke Warheads for 36 hours. Here's some info from todays news; - Team USAF (represented by Minot AFB); Air Force Base Searches for Missing Machine Gun After Losing Grenades; https://www.military.com/daily-news/2018/05/18/air-force-base-searches-missing-machine-gun-after-losing-grenades.html - Team US Army (represent by Fort Bliss); Military Helicopter Drops Ammo over School, Busts Hole in Roof; https://www.military.com/daily-news/2018/05/18/military-helicopter-drops-ammo-over-school-busts-hole-roof.html

Sadly, this possible election outcome isn't going to be much of a surprise to folks here. Cleric Sadr, in surprise comeback, set to win Iraq election; https://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-iraq-election/cleric-sadr-in-surprise-comeback-set-to-win-iraq-election-idUKKCN1IE096?rpc=401

President Nixon pulled the same treaty/agreement stunt as President Obama. I'm sure a few folks remember how this Nixon Treaty Gem worked out "The Paris Peace Accords, officially titled the Agreement on Ending the War and Restoring Peace in Vietnam, was a peace treaty signed on January 27, 1973 to establish peace in Vietnam and end the Vietnam War". The Constitution - Executive agreements; https://www.americanforeignrelations.com/A-D/The-Constitution-Executive-agreements.html

No problem, MS-13 is hiring folks with their skill set. This festering story has been around for some time; Here's a similar article dated 11 April 2017; "Navy SEAL drug use "staggering," investigation finds". https://www.cbsnews.com/news/navy-seal-drug-use-staggering-investigation-finds/

Bibi has really upped his game since 2012.

Colonel in 'Dino Puppet' Video Speaks: 'I Was Given a Death Sentence'; https://www.military.com/daily-news/2018/04/25/colonel-dino-puppet-video-speaks-i-was-given-death-sentence.html

The rumor is this puppet show was a second ceremony conducted after the official one and it was specifically for her young children? Go Navy(this happened about 8 months ago). This looks disturbing but what's the rest of the story?

A few corrections/updates. DoD Officials Erred About Weapons, Fighters Used in Syria Strike Mission; https://www.military.com/defensetech/2018/04/19/dod-officials-erred-about-weapons-fighters-used-syria-strike-mission.html

Possible "cover story" for this egregious shenanigan? Source; Washington Post; "The ceremony was not an official reenlistment and that the video was made for Brown’s children to watch."

Some additional info; Excerpts; - Two USAF B-1B Lancers from the 34th Expeditionary Bomb Squadron launched a total of 19 JASSM-ERs. The two bombers, deployed from Al Udeid AB, Qatar, entered Syrian airspace from the south and were escorted by a USMC E/A-6B Prowler. - The first target hit was the Barzeh Research and Development Center near Damascus, which was struck by 57 Tomahawks and all 19 JASSM-ERs. - Forty Syrian surface-to-air missiles were launched blindly in defense, and only “after the last impact” of weapons launched by the US-led force. https://www.airforcemag.com/Features/Pages/2018/April 2018/Syria-Strike-Marks-Combat-Debut-for-JASSM-ER.aspx

Quote; "Get ready Russia, because they will be coming, nice, and new and “smart!" You shouldn't be partners with a Gas Killing Animal who kills his people and enjoys it! "One of these days" this type of Presidential "Smack Talk" is going to result in US Military Assets (US Ships/Bases/Aircraft/Personnel/etc) being on the receiving end of a "Preemptive Strike". POTUS please tone it down.

Securing America’s Borders: The Role of the Military (CRS Report for Congress/R41286); https://fas.org/sgp/crs/homesec/R41286.pdf

Operation Inherent Resolve - UPDATE: US aircraft crashes in western Iraq; The helicopter may have hit some power lines (take this info with a grain of salt). https://www.inherentresolve.mil/News/News-Releases/Article/1467997/update-us-aircraft-crashes-in-western-iraq/

US helicopter crash in western Iraq causes fatalities: Official https://abcnews.go.com/International/us-helicopter-crash-western-iraq-fatalities-official/story?id=53782732

Example; Here's some USAF wide active duty 0-6 retirement numbers for FY16 (I couldn't find more recent data); - FY16; There were 3320 active duty 0-6's in the USAF of which 548 retired in FY16. See page 79 (pg78 - 82 covers USAF retirement numbers etc). https://actuary.defense.gov/Portals/15/Documents/MRS_StatRpt_2016 v4 FINAL.pdf?ver=2017-07-31-104724-430

It looks the Russians are doubling down on this demo stuff because there are now 4 Su-57s in the Syrian AO. https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/defense/2018-02-26/russia-deploys-su-57s-syria

IMHO, CNX the parade idea. Here's a few "non-parade" options for the President to consider. These type events will showcase the US military and he can simultaneously get his rocks off/send a message to our adversaries:>) The President should attend some already scheduled DoD events (might save $$$$?) and bring lots of media along to help showcase these U.S. military capabilities. Non-Parade Options for the POTUS:<) - Attend a massive firepower demo like this previous President; The media can even use the same Headline with some minor changes; "Air Power - President Trump Sees Bigly Display". https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0-F9f84F_a4 - IMHO, If the POTUS wants to better comprehend those pointy things tethered to the Nuclear Football then I would suggest the following; -- Make a surprise stop at one of our bases during a scheduled NSI; He should visit a ICBM Silo, WSA, flight line, bombers/crews, and maybe the POTUS could go thru a "SIMULATED" PRP Cert process. -- Visit Vandenberg AFB during the next scheduled LGM-30G (Minuteman III) JTA test launch. - Visit Vandenberg or Alaska during the next THAAD ABM test. - etc. Sent from Outlook

I believe this is the first time Special Counsel Mueller has indicted a foreigner that isn't a Russian? Also, this is the first-time "ever/I think/?" a foreigner has been indicted and convicted/pleaded guilty to charges levied by any appointed Special Counsel. Alex van der Zwaan is a citizen of the Netherlands and he pleaded guilty to making a false statement to both the FBI and Special Counsel. I wouldn't be surprised if a few other non-Russian foreign middlemen "that lied to the FBI and/or the Special Counsel or committed some other TBD crime against the USA" eventually get indicted. https://www.nytimes.com/2018/02/20/us/politics/alex-van-der-zwaan-gates-russia-mueller.html

Then there's this; Recep Tayyip Erdogan threatens US forces with 'Ottoman slap'; https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/recep-tayyip-erdogan-threatens-us-forces-with-ottoman-slap/article/2648958 The first thing I envisioned when I read this headline was "a couple of hot Ottoman chicks having a tussle with lots of arousing slaps, hair pulling, bouncing boobs, girls ripping the cloths off each other, scratching, name calling, crying, etc". It was a big let down after I read the entire article. This Ottoman Slap stuff seems a wee bit effeminate for Sultan Macho. IMHO, the Turks need to understand American Troops have no fear of an Ottoman Slap/Catfight/etc but it is stimulating and all red blooded American men typically get a woody just thinking about this stuff. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=82BNBwck8Zs https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NEdPV-mh1js

Today a Turkish army helicopter was also shot down by Syrian Kurdish YPG. Casualties TBD. https://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-mideast-crisis-syria-turkey-helicopte/turkish-helicopter-shot-down-by-kurdish-militia-in-syrias-afrin-erdogan-idUKKBN1FU0L2?rpc=401