These guys are just badass. There are so many amazing little units that no one knows about. Anyone know of some other little known units that should get some press?
This was yet another awesome article forwarded from DANGER ROOM.
More power to them. A recon bird that can spend two days in the air at 30k feet? A unmanned cargo plane with a 30 ton payload? Rock on. When can we get us some of that?
They’ll probably be vexed with the same problems our UAVs are: lack of maneuverability and slow response time. Anyone remember the Predator getting run over by a passenger jet? Then again, with a cargo plane, does it really matter?
So this isn’t dreadfully important- but it IS dreadfully funny. I chortle inside every time I imagine Mahmood explaining this to his imam. “It gets surprisingly good ventilation…”
Thanks, Defense Tech!
Whoa! I know I didn’t hear anything about this last summer, so my not so humble reasoning argues not many of you did either. The Pentagon is re-dividing the world to accommodate a SIXTH combatant command, African Command. Thank God; anyone who’s looked at a Combatant Command map knows that EUCOM being responsible for all of Europe and a huge part of Africa is just stupid. The article’s unnamed “observer” does make a good point though: will more bureaucracy really help? In my opinion, Africa won’t be getting swept under the rug anymore. I don’t know if the combatant command system is the way to do it, but if it is the way we’re going, Africa should get some spotlight.
This article brought the new AFRICOM to my attention due to its tangential mention of the command. It’s supposed to stand up in SEPT2008. The Foreign Policy article also highlights the idea that Africa might be the new stomping grounds for a PRC v. USA struggle, if and when such a thing does occur. Scarcity does make the world go round…
DANGER ROOM’s David Hambling just posted an overview of what exactly EFP’s are. Since I promised, here’s the link. Look at it closely- this is the sort of thing our troops are facing every day.
It’s one of the dangers of fighting an asymmetrical war. Since Sunday there have been two incidents of civilians being caught in American troops’ crossfire. After a suicide bombing, several troops in an American convoy opened fire at civilian vehicles on the street, which led to protests from Afghan men removing the wounded (from the bombing and possible subsequent insurgent fire, not the Americans). The convoy’s reaction is understandable, but when you can’t differentiate enemy from friend (as is the case in both of our counterinsurgencies), maybe a different strategy is needed.
This is highlighted with the Afghan civilians killed because two insurgents who fired a rocket at US forces took refuge within the same housing compound. Afghan families often share homes with one outer structure and several interior rooms. These insurgents fled to the house, which was quickly struck by two bombs from coalition fighters. Approximately ten civilians were killed and it’s not sure if the bad guys were among them.
Again, understandable reaction, but very damaging to our political capital. With the Taliban holding two provinces in southern Afghanistan and expecting a record opium crop this season, can we afford to alienate the people?
Remember a month or two back, when USN warships blockaded Somalian ports and USAF AC-130 crews attacked supposed al-Qaeda cells in Somalia? The trouble’s not over.
CNN reports that the African Union peacekeepers arriving to relieve Ethiopian troops were greeted by mortar fire, rocket propelled grenades and heavy machine gun fire. Good news: over 1000 troops are arriving within the next day, and that if everything remains according to plan, AU strength should eventually increase to over 7500.
BBC reports that with the new attacks, the AU might have more problems in raising the required number of troops, leading to a repeat of the Darfur, in Sudan: an entirely underwhelming AU force that doesn’t get the job done.
Bad news: The UN will take over from the AU within the next six months. If the situation is still hot, that very well could mean American boots on the ground.
Mr. Noah Schactman over at WIRED’s Danger Room blog (awesome stuff, I recommend you check it out) posted a few interesting facts about China. We’ve all heard about their recent satellite killer which spread hazardous debris for many orbital paths, but did you know they may have blinded a US bird earlier?
Combine that with their recent upsize in defense budgets and the J10, a single-seat single engine fighter comparable to our F-16 that debuted in December, and you’ve got a rapidly modernizing air and space force. Good thing our F-22s are practicing dissimilar tactics over the Sea of Japan (Thanks again Danger Room!).
Flashpoint: Taiwan Strait. The oscillating tensions between the Republic of China and the People’s Republic of China are at a peak. Keep on eye on the news, and if you see something, don’t hesitate to drop us a line.
Link to WIRED Blogs: Danger Room
UPDATE: This just in, caught from a Reuters report on Yahoo!. Talk about tensions at a peak: On Sunday, the ROC’s president discussed declaring independence as a Taiwanese nation and changing their name, two things specifically prohibited under the status quo, Four Noes and One Without. Then, PRC Foreign Minister says that anyone advocating independence will “be a criminal in history.” This game’s ante just went up, and everyone with a military mind should be paying attention.
And moving east. If you’re from the west, you should be aware of this gang, the new foot soldiers for the Aryan Brotherhood. This is the new face of organized crime: one more extremist organization bent on spreading their own particular brand of violence and pain. They’re getting bold, too, issuing hit lists on police officers. Also sad that something like this came out of punk rock, a movement with SO much potential.
Kind of funny that their name is so similar to PUBLIC ENEMY, 80s hip hop masters- and definitely black. Think any of these skinheads wear giant clocks around their necks?
Growing white supremacist gang threatens police - CNN.com