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Agiel

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Probably one of the more interesting things I saw coming out of that was the M8 AGS (designed back in the Cold War for the 82nd Airborne's requirements for an air-droppable tank to replace the Sheridans) making a comeback.

 

https://player.vimeo.com/video/142385228

Quote
“Political philosophers have often pointed out that in wartime, the citizen, the male citizen at least, loses one of his most basic rights, his right to life; and this has been true ever since the French Revolution and the invention of conscription, now an almost universally accepted principle. But these same philosophers have rarely noted that the citizen in question simultaneously loses another right, one just as basic and perhaps even more vital for his conception of himself as a civilized human being: the right not to kill.”
 
-Jonathan Littell <<Les Bienveillantes>>
Quote

"The chancellor, the late chancellor, was only partly correct. He was obsolete. But so is the State, the entity he worshipped. Any state, entity, or ideology becomes obsolete when it stockpiles the wrong weapons: when it captures territories, but not minds; when it enslaves millions, but convinces nobody. When it is naked, yet puts on armor and calls it faith, while in the Eyes of God it has no faith at all. Any state, any entity, any ideology that fails to recognize the worth, the dignity, the rights of Man...that state is obsolete."

-Rod Serling

 

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http://www.cnn.com/2015/10/22/africa/al-shabaab-faction-isis/index.html

 

Glass half-full, if they turn out to be the source of resurgent piracy in the Gulf of Aden, it could make the introduction of the LCSes timelier than was originally thought.

Quote
“Political philosophers have often pointed out that in wartime, the citizen, the male citizen at least, loses one of his most basic rights, his right to life; and this has been true ever since the French Revolution and the invention of conscription, now an almost universally accepted principle. But these same philosophers have rarely noted that the citizen in question simultaneously loses another right, one just as basic and perhaps even more vital for his conception of himself as a civilized human being: the right not to kill.”
 
-Jonathan Littell <<Les Bienveillantes>>
Quote

"The chancellor, the late chancellor, was only partly correct. He was obsolete. But so is the State, the entity he worshipped. Any state, entity, or ideology becomes obsolete when it stockpiles the wrong weapons: when it captures territories, but not minds; when it enslaves millions, but convinces nobody. When it is naked, yet puts on armor and calls it faith, while in the Eyes of God it has no faith at all. Any state, any entity, any ideology that fails to recognize the worth, the dignity, the rights of Man...that state is obsolete."

-Rod Serling

 

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Unfortunately that development will probably mean Boeing is out of the running for the F-22/F-35 follow-up competition, and an end to the McDonnell-Douglas line of fighters:

 

http://aviationweek.com/defense/opinion-lrs-b-and-military-aircraft-industry?NL=AW-19&Issue=AW-19_20150129_AW-19_838&sfvc4enews=42&cl=article_1&YM_RID=CPEN1000000434923&YM_MID=1622

 

The American industry is looking decidedly Russian in how delineated the roles each of the big 3 combat aircraft companies manufacture for with LockMart handling Tac-air (Sukhoi), NG doing bombers (Tupolev), and Boeing handling support and airlift craft like the P-8 Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft, the KC-46 Pegasus tanker, and the C-17 Globemaster (Ilyushin).

Edited by Agiel
Quote
“Political philosophers have often pointed out that in wartime, the citizen, the male citizen at least, loses one of his most basic rights, his right to life; and this has been true ever since the French Revolution and the invention of conscription, now an almost universally accepted principle. But these same philosophers have rarely noted that the citizen in question simultaneously loses another right, one just as basic and perhaps even more vital for his conception of himself as a civilized human being: the right not to kill.”
 
-Jonathan Littell <<Les Bienveillantes>>
Quote

"The chancellor, the late chancellor, was only partly correct. He was obsolete. But so is the State, the entity he worshipped. Any state, entity, or ideology becomes obsolete when it stockpiles the wrong weapons: when it captures territories, but not minds; when it enslaves millions, but convinces nobody. When it is naked, yet puts on armor and calls it faith, while in the Eyes of God it has no faith at all. Any state, any entity, any ideology that fails to recognize the worth, the dignity, the rights of Man...that state is obsolete."

-Rod Serling

 

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Washington transiting the Strait of Magellan on its way back to Norfolk:

 

151101-N-EH855-021.JPG

Edited by Agiel
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Quote
“Political philosophers have often pointed out that in wartime, the citizen, the male citizen at least, loses one of his most basic rights, his right to life; and this has been true ever since the French Revolution and the invention of conscription, now an almost universally accepted principle. But these same philosophers have rarely noted that the citizen in question simultaneously loses another right, one just as basic and perhaps even more vital for his conception of himself as a civilized human being: the right not to kill.”
 
-Jonathan Littell <<Les Bienveillantes>>
Quote

"The chancellor, the late chancellor, was only partly correct. He was obsolete. But so is the State, the entity he worshipped. Any state, entity, or ideology becomes obsolete when it stockpiles the wrong weapons: when it captures territories, but not minds; when it enslaves millions, but convinces nobody. When it is naked, yet puts on armor and calls it faith, while in the Eyes of God it has no faith at all. Any state, any entity, any ideology that fails to recognize the worth, the dignity, the rights of Man...that state is obsolete."

-Rod Serling

 

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Bones and Hawgs gassing up:

 

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Quote
“Political philosophers have often pointed out that in wartime, the citizen, the male citizen at least, loses one of his most basic rights, his right to life; and this has been true ever since the French Revolution and the invention of conscription, now an almost universally accepted principle. But these same philosophers have rarely noted that the citizen in question simultaneously loses another right, one just as basic and perhaps even more vital for his conception of himself as a civilized human being: the right not to kill.”
 
-Jonathan Littell <<Les Bienveillantes>>
Quote

"The chancellor, the late chancellor, was only partly correct. He was obsolete. But so is the State, the entity he worshipped. Any state, entity, or ideology becomes obsolete when it stockpiles the wrong weapons: when it captures territories, but not minds; when it enslaves millions, but convinces nobody. When it is naked, yet puts on armor and calls it faith, while in the Eyes of God it has no faith at all. Any state, any entity, any ideology that fails to recognize the worth, the dignity, the rights of Man...that state is obsolete."

-Rod Serling

 

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It's after midnight at Camp Lejeune, so, it's 10 November somewhere. 

 

Happy Birthday, Marines. Thank you for your service. 

 

PhotoLibrary-ReliefAppointment_021315_im

 

U.S. Marine Corps SgtsMaj Ronald L. Green (left) and Bradley A. Kasal (center), and LtGen David H. Berger salute as the Colors march by during the Pass In Review portion of the Relief and Appointment ceremony for the I Marine Expeditionary Force Sergeant Major aboard Camp Pendleton, Calif., Feb. 4, 2015. During the ceremony, SgtMaj Ronald L. Green was relieved by SgtMaj Bradley A. Kasal.

 

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All Stop. On Screen.

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The Marines were first formed in a Philadelphia tavern (*hic* Hey I have an idea! *hic* We'll row a perfectly good boat to shore and jump out of it!") on this day in 1775. This makes the USMC an institution that is older than the United States itself!

Edited by Agiel
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Quote
“Political philosophers have often pointed out that in wartime, the citizen, the male citizen at least, loses one of his most basic rights, his right to life; and this has been true ever since the French Revolution and the invention of conscription, now an almost universally accepted principle. But these same philosophers have rarely noted that the citizen in question simultaneously loses another right, one just as basic and perhaps even more vital for his conception of himself as a civilized human being: the right not to kill.”
 
-Jonathan Littell <<Les Bienveillantes>>
Quote

"The chancellor, the late chancellor, was only partly correct. He was obsolete. But so is the State, the entity he worshipped. Any state, entity, or ideology becomes obsolete when it stockpiles the wrong weapons: when it captures territories, but not minds; when it enslaves millions, but convinces nobody. When it is naked, yet puts on armor and calls it faith, while in the Eyes of God it has no faith at all. Any state, any entity, any ideology that fails to recognize the worth, the dignity, the rights of Man...that state is obsolete."

-Rod Serling

 

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I see they don't mess around with posting average photos on the main recruiter page.

 

PhotoLibrary-BannersBreeze_image1_highre

 

 

U.S. Marines with U.S. Marine Corps Forces, Pacific, carry the colors during the U.S. Marine Corps Forces, Pacific change of command ceremony on Marine Corps Base Hawaii, August 15, 2014. LtGen John A. Toolan Jr. assumed command from LtGen Terry G. Robling during the ceremony. Photo by LCpl Wesley Timm.

 

 

PhotoLibrary-LoadUp_031215_image1_highre

Cpl Natalie Decamp, training clerk, assigned to Marine Wing Support Squadron (MWSS) 274, loads a rifle magazine with training blanks in preparation for a field gas event conducted part of the Air Base Ground Defense (ABGD) Field Exercise held at Marine Corps Auxiliary Landing Field Bogue, N.C., on March 1, 2015. MWSS-274 conducted the squadron level training in order to exercise core mission tasks and refine ABGD Standard Operating Procedures. Photo by Sgt Orlando Perez.

 

 

 

PhotoLibrary-12Weeks_image1_highres_zpsu

The Eagle, Globe and Anchor has been a part of the Marine Corps uniform since 1868 and became the official emblem of the Marine Corps in 1955. This small piece of metal that only costs a few dollars is priceless to the new Marines who have endured the last 12 weeks of intense training to earn it. Photo by LCpl MaryAnn Hill.

 

 

 

PhotoLibrary-MarineHonorsFallen_HiRes_zp

LCpl Robert E. Mills, 20, an automatic rifleman with 3rd Platoon, Bravo Company, 1st Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment, places a helmet on top of the memorial stand for LCpl Jacob A. Meinert, during a ceremony at Forward Operating Base Spin Ghar Jan. 20. Meinert, 20, from Fort Atkinson, Wis., was killed Jan. 10 while conducting combat operations in Afghanistan’s Helmand province. Photo by Sgt Brian A. Tuthill.

 

 

 

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All Stop. On Screen.

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  • 3 weeks later...
  • 2 weeks later...

Snazzy motion graphics courtesy of Raytheon:

 

 

The 155mm AGS firing the Long-Range Land Attack Projectile. This makes this "Destroyer" ostensibly a "Battleship" in all but name (in terms of providing on-call fire support at stand-off ranges for ground forces, that is).

 

Edited by Agiel
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Quote
“Political philosophers have often pointed out that in wartime, the citizen, the male citizen at least, loses one of his most basic rights, his right to life; and this has been true ever since the French Revolution and the invention of conscription, now an almost universally accepted principle. But these same philosophers have rarely noted that the citizen in question simultaneously loses another right, one just as basic and perhaps even more vital for his conception of himself as a civilized human being: the right not to kill.”
 
-Jonathan Littell <<Les Bienveillantes>>
Quote

"The chancellor, the late chancellor, was only partly correct. He was obsolete. But so is the State, the entity he worshipped. Any state, entity, or ideology becomes obsolete when it stockpiles the wrong weapons: when it captures territories, but not minds; when it enslaves millions, but convinces nobody. When it is naked, yet puts on armor and calls it faith, while in the Eyes of God it has no faith at all. Any state, any entity, any ideology that fails to recognize the worth, the dignity, the rights of Man...that state is obsolete."

-Rod Serling

 

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http://www.cnn.com/2015/12/11/politics/remote-mine-hunting-drone-fails-tests/index.html?sr=fbcnni121215remote-mine-hunting-drone-fails-tests0114AMVODtopLink&linkId=19524610

 

A mine-detection system the U.S. Navy invested nearly $700 million and 16 years in developing can't complete its most basic functions, according to the Pentagon's weapon-testing office.

 

The Remote Minehunting System, or RMS, was developed for the Navy's new littoral combat ship. But the Defense Department's Office of Operational Test & Evaluation says the drone hunting technology was unable to consistently identify and destroy underwater explosives during tests dating back to September 2014.

 

"The Navy has determined that the RMS' total number of failures and periodicity of failures fall short of the design requirement for the system," said Capt. Thurraya Kent, a spokeswoman for the Navy.

 

Frank Kendall, the Pentagon's undersecretary of defense for acquisition, has scheduled a review of the program for early 2016.

Ah, MIC welfare. :p

Why has elegance found so little following? Elegance has the disadvantage that hard work is needed to achieve it and a good education to appreciate it. - Edsger Wybe Dijkstra

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Ronda Rousey attends Marine Corps Ball

 

 

 

Ronda Rousey kept her word and showed up to be Marine Jarrod Haschert’s date at the Marine Corps birthday ball.

 

Haschert’s mother told a NJ radio station that her son hadn’t heard from Rousey yesterday saying, “It would be sad if he got all dressed up, expected a date and doesn’t have one”

“All I know is I’m going in the hopes she’ll be there,” she added.

 

Haschert’s video post at the end of the summer got 4 million views. “You are my celebrity crush. I love everything you do and think that you are a phenomenal person which is why it would be my honor to take you to the Marine Ball,” he said in the video.

 

Back in September, when a TMZ reporter asked if Jarrod was her type, Rousey responded: “He’s cute. He’s gotta be a gentleman, I’m not a first date kind of girl.”

 

Rousey posted on Instagram this morning,

Thank you Lance Cpl. Jarrod Haschert for taking me to the Marine Corps Ball, being such a gentleman, and putting a smile on my face again 1f64f.png

Rousey-Marine-Ball.png

 

 

 

 

 

"Cuius testiculos habeas, habeas cardia et cerebellum."

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  • 2 weeks later...

The NSA (No, not the one you're thinking of) has managed to uncover strategic weapons doctrine and targeting lists... from the 1950s:

 

http://nsarchive.gwu.edu/nukevault/ebb538-Cold-War-Nuclear-Target-List-Declassified-First-Ever/

 

A key takeaway for me:

 

 

 

SAC wanted a 60-megaton bomb, but it was not programmed for this particular study.  According to SAC, it was “essential, not only as a deterrent but also to ensure significant results even with a greatly reduced force in the event of a Soviet surprise attack.”  Discussion of ultra-high yield thermonuclear weapons continued during the 1950s and early 1960s so the concept of 60 megatons was not out of the ordinary in Air Force circles.  Indeed, in a moment of enthusiasm Edward Teller proposed a 10-gigaton device, and in the early 1960s, in another outburst, he suggested yields up to a 1,000 megatons. A 25-megaton bomb, the B-41, had the largest yield of any weapon in the U.S. stockpile and it stayed in service until the 1970s.  The Soviets staged the largest nuclear test in history in late October 1961 with the 50-megaton “Tsar bomba.”

 

That kind of comically fantastical thinking makes me recall these words from McNamara:

 

 

 

At the time, we had a 17 to 1 strategic advantage in nuclear numbers. We'd done 10 times as many tests as they had. We were certain we could maintain that advantage if we limited the tests. The Chiefs we're all opposed. They said, "The Soviets will cheat." I said, "How will they cheat?" You won't believe this, but they said, "They'll test them behind the moon." I said, "You're out of your minds." I said, "That's absurd."
Edited by Agiel
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Quote
“Political philosophers have often pointed out that in wartime, the citizen, the male citizen at least, loses one of his most basic rights, his right to life; and this has been true ever since the French Revolution and the invention of conscription, now an almost universally accepted principle. But these same philosophers have rarely noted that the citizen in question simultaneously loses another right, one just as basic and perhaps even more vital for his conception of himself as a civilized human being: the right not to kill.”
 
-Jonathan Littell <<Les Bienveillantes>>
Quote

"The chancellor, the late chancellor, was only partly correct. He was obsolete. But so is the State, the entity he worshipped. Any state, entity, or ideology becomes obsolete when it stockpiles the wrong weapons: when it captures territories, but not minds; when it enslaves millions, but convinces nobody. When it is naked, yet puts on armor and calls it faith, while in the Eyes of God it has no faith at all. Any state, any entity, any ideology that fails to recognize the worth, the dignity, the rights of Man...that state is obsolete."

-Rod Serling

 

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US Army researchers will pay volunteers $200 to eat nothing but MREs for three weeks:

 

http://www.armytimes.com/story/military/2015/12/30/army-needs-volunteers-eat-only-mres-21-days-straight/78011512/

 

I'd be almost tempted to give this a try if only so I could not only get a cool $200 but save that amount again in groceries and eating out in that time period were it not for the fact that:

 

1.) I would have to submit stool samples.

 

2.) I live on the opposite side of CONUS from Natick, Massachusetts.

Edited by Agiel
Quote
“Political philosophers have often pointed out that in wartime, the citizen, the male citizen at least, loses one of his most basic rights, his right to life; and this has been true ever since the French Revolution and the invention of conscription, now an almost universally accepted principle. But these same philosophers have rarely noted that the citizen in question simultaneously loses another right, one just as basic and perhaps even more vital for his conception of himself as a civilized human being: the right not to kill.”
 
-Jonathan Littell <<Les Bienveillantes>>
Quote

"The chancellor, the late chancellor, was only partly correct. He was obsolete. But so is the State, the entity he worshipped. Any state, entity, or ideology becomes obsolete when it stockpiles the wrong weapons: when it captures territories, but not minds; when it enslaves millions, but convinces nobody. When it is naked, yet puts on armor and calls it faith, while in the Eyes of God it has no faith at all. Any state, any entity, any ideology that fails to recognize the worth, the dignity, the rights of Man...that state is obsolete."

-Rod Serling

 

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