US Military News, Reports, Data, etc.

Air Force Brat

Brigadier
Super Moderator
I am sure US is not silly/overconfident. There is very thin line in between Aggression & overconfidence.

In my opinion, the US continues to suffer after 8 years of Barack Hussein Obama,,, while I'm sure we can both agree, that we might wish President Trump had been more discreet in airing his concerns?? I hate Terrorism,, the taking of innocent lives by ANY regime intentionally,,, look at ISIS, look at "Daniel Pearl", we could go on and on??

So while I'm sure you wish the US had been more consistent, I would say the exact same thing about Pakistan,, (how did Bin Laden live right under foot??)

So here we are,,, President Trump has "thrown down the gauntlet" so to speak,, its not tolerable, and we need Pakistan to be a more consistent partner in the war on Terrorism!

So while you may take comfort that both China and Russia seem willing to "rush in" to fill the gap?? I would remind you that Russia continues to support state sponsored terror and genocide in Syria/Iran, because they want to foment violence and undermine US/Western influence?? as well they have invaded both former Soviet Georgia and Ukraine for their own self interest

So I did like several of your posts, and to be honest, I share your frustration,, (George Bush was "winding down" our operations in Afghanistan, when Obama came in, he started a veritable "brush fire", that to this day refuses to be "put out") The US like Pakistan both seem like "ping pong balls" these days, bouncing one direction, and then the other?? due to political changes..

Hopefully all this public spectacle will result in Pakistan and the US getting our act together to combat terror, and restore peace to the region, sadly US and Pakistani relations are at an all time low,, and that is disappointing to me as well?
 

timepass

Brigadier
In my opinion, the US continues to suffer after 8 years of Barack Hussein Obama,,, while I'm sure we can both agree, that we might wish President Trump had been more discreet in airing his concerns?? I hate Terrorism,, the taking of innocent lives by ANY regime intentionally,,, look at ISIS, look at "Daniel Pearl", we could go on and on??

So while I'm sure you wish the US had been more consistent, I would say the exact same thing about Pakistan,, (how did Bin Laden live right under foot??)

So here we are,,, President Trump has "thrown down the gauntlet" so to speak,, its not tolerable, and we need Pakistan to be a more consistent partner in the war on Terrorism!

So while you may take comfort that both China and Russia seem willing to "rush in" to fill the gap?? I would remind you that Russia continues to support state sponsored terror and genocide in Syria/Iran, because they want to foment violence and undermine US/Western influence?? as well they have invaded both former Soviet Georgia and Ukraine for their own self interest

So I did like several of your posts, and to be honest, I share your frustration,, (George Bush was "winding down" our operations in Afghanistan, when Obama came in, he started a veritable "brush fire", that to this day refuses to be "put out") The US like Pakistan both seem like "ping pong balls" these days, bouncing one direction, and then the other?? due to political changes..

Hopefully all this public spectacle will result in Pakistan and the US getting our act together to combat terror, and restore peace to the region, sadly US and Pakistani relations are at an all time low,, and that is disappointing to me as well?

I appreciate your comments....

However, below are the facts which needs to be recognized...
  • Taliban was created by US/CIA...they trained them/funded them/armed them to fight against USSR...so called freedom fighters...after securing success in Afghanistan through so called freedom fighters... they left them their own...later their own baby becomes giant & uncontrollable they called them Taliban ...so yesterday's friends today's foe...
  • US/Coalition forces (200,000) are in Afghanistan since 16 years... most modern/well trained armed forces...while still effectively > 60 - 70% Afghanistan is still in the hands of the either land lords/Tribal leaders or Taliban, no border management, no/few check posts, cant access Majority of the country ... even cant full secure Kabul...
  • We all remember WMD scenario... Bush administration said they are coming for the betterment of local people...now tell me where are WMDs...where is peace/harmony in that region....in fact people lost more lives then Saddam era.... resulted we have Daish/ISIS & many more .... another gift of US/CIA policies...
  • On one side in Iraq US fighting with ISIS...& on the other side in Afghanistan, US supporting ISIS to counter Taliban...
  • Due to Afghan war, millions of refuges flew in Pakistan...which ultimately bring weapons/drugs in our country...our whole social circle disrupted....still we are having 2.5 million refuges...
  • US has never invested in Pakistan for the betterment of local people instead they supported corrupt leader to fulfill their vested interests... that's the very reason there is no sympathy/feelings for US in local people rather there is hatred.... now see Chinese who investing on ground level for the betterment of locals & now winning the hearts....
  • On other hand Pakistan made most actions on WoT & suffered the most in human lives lost (70,000) economy impacted (lost of estimated $100 billion). Despite of all sufferings, Pakistan cleared all their Tribal belt affected areas, fencing the border, around 1000 check posts being constructed, all areas are accessible.
After all this destruction in our country for someone else fight, we are still to be blamed for others failing/non competitiveness ....
 

Equation

Lieutenant General
I appreciate your comments....

However, below are the facts which needs to be recognized...
  • Taliban was created by US/CIA...they trained them/funded them/armed them to fight against USSR...so called freedom fighters...after securing success in Afghanistan through so called freedom fighters... they left them their own...later their own baby becomes giant & uncontrollable they called them Taliban ...so yesterday's friends today's foe...
  • US/Coalition forces (200,000) are in Afghanistan since 16 years... most modern/well trained armed forces...while still effectively > 60 - 70% Afghanistan is still in the hands of the either land lords/Tribal leaders or Taliban, no border management, no/few check posts, cant access Majority of the country ... even cant full secure Kabul...
  • We all remember WMD scenario... Bush administration said they are coming for the betterment of local people...now tell me where are WMDs...where is peace/harmony in that region....in fact people lost more lives then Saddam era.... resulted we have Daish/ISIS & many more .... another gift of US/CIA policies...
  • On one side in Iraq US fighting with ISIS...& on the other side in Afghanistan, US supporting ISIS to counter Taliban...
  • Due to Afghan war, millions of refuges flew in Pakistan...which ultimately bring weapons/drugs in our country...our whole social circle disrupted....still we are having 2.5 million refuges...
  • US has never invested in Pakistan for the betterment of local people instead they supported corrupt leader to fulfill their vested interests... that's the very reason there is no sympathy/feelings for US in local people rather there is hatred.... now see Chinese who investing on ground level for the betterment of locals & now winning the hearts....
  • On other hand Pakistan made most actions on WoT & suffered the most in human lives lost (70,000) economy impacted (lost of estimated $100 billion). Despite of all sufferings, Pakistan cleared all their Tribal belt affected areas, fencing the border, around 1000 check posts being constructed, all areas are accessible.
After all this destruction in our country for someone else fight, we are still to be blamed for others failing/non competitiveness ....

Yup and one can't blame Former President Obama or even China for this mess.
 

Air Force Brat

Brigadier
Super Moderator
I appreciate your comments....

However, below are the facts which needs to be recognized...
  • Taliban was created by US/CIA...they trained them/funded them/armed them to fight against USSR...so called freedom fighters...after securing success in Afghanistan through so called freedom fighters... they left them their own...later their own baby becomes giant & uncontrollable they called them Taliban ...so yesterday's friends today's foe...
  • US/Coalition forces (200,000) are in Afghanistan since 16 years... most modern/well trained armed forces...while still effectively > 60 - 70% Afghanistan is still in the hands of the either land lords/Tribal leaders or Taliban, no border management, no/few check posts, cant access Majority of the country ... even cant full secure Kabul...
  • We all remember WMD scenario... Bush administration said they are coming for the betterment of local people...now tell me where are WMDs...where is peace/harmony in that region....in fact people lost more lives then Saddam era.... resulted we have Daish/ISIS & many more .... another gift of US/CIA policies...
  • On one side in Iraq US fighting with ISIS...& on the other side in Afghanistan, US supporting ISIS to counter Taliban...
  • Due to Afghan war, millions of refuges flew in Pakistan...which ultimately bring weapons/drugs in our country...our whole social circle disrupted....still we are having 2.5 million refuges...
  • US has never invested in Pakistan for the betterment of local people instead they supported corrupt leader to fulfill their vested interests... that's the very reason there is no sympathy/feelings for US in local people rather there is hatred.... now see Chinese who investing on ground level for the betterment of locals & now winning the hearts....
  • On other hand Pakistan made most actions on WoT & suffered the most in human lives lost (70,000) economy impacted (lost of estimated $100 billion). Despite of all sufferings, Pakistan cleared all their Tribal belt affected areas, fencing the border, around 1000 check posts being constructed, all areas are accessible.
After all this destruction in our country for someone else fight, we are still to be blamed for others failing/non competitiveness ....

Thank You, really, and I appreciate your's as well. Let me say up front, that as the Air Force Brat, I have always appreciated the People of Pakistan and consider them friends and allies! Were we to sit down together and look at each of your points, I'm rather certain that we as two friends could arrive at something closely resembling the truth...

Number one, let me apologize to you and your people, I can't begin to know the hurt and anger you no doubt feel sincerely from the heart! I am as angry as you are, and I am sincerely broken hearted by Mr. Obama's inept and incompetent restart of hostilities in Afghanistan, and his heartless and ignorant abandonment of our friends and allies in Iraq, and yes Equation, ISIS is Obama's Baby! and He and Hillary OWN the "Arab Spring!"

and that's ALL I'm going to say about that!

again Timepass, my sincere apologies for our incompetence, I hope you can find it in your heart to forgive us,,, sincerely bowing to you my Brother, with a sincere and contrite heart,, I'm praying we can all do better!
 

timepass

Brigadier
Thank You, really, and I appreciate your's as well. Let me say up front, that as the Air Force Brat, I have always appreciated the People of Pakistan and consider them friends and allies! Were we to sit down together and look at each of your points, I'm rather certain that we as two friends could arrive at something closely resembling the truth...

Number one, let me apologize to you and your people, I can't begin to know the hurt and anger you no doubt feel sincerely from the heart! I am as angry as you are, and I am sincerely broken hearted by Mr. Obama's inept and incompetent restart of hostilities in Afghanistan, and his heartless and ignorant abandonment of our friends and allies in Iraq, and yes Equation, ISIS is Obama's Baby! and He and Hillary OWN the "Arab Spring!"

and that's ALL I'm going to say about that!

again Timepass, my sincere apologies for our incompetence, I hope you can find it in your heart to forgive us,,, sincerely bowing to you my Brother, with a sincere and contrite heart,, I'm praying we can all do better!

Thanks....Brother for your understanding.....we Pakistanis are always treat you & US citizens as a close friends but the continuation of ditching policies by US administration have created the hatred....

I hope US Administration/Pentagon/CIA will start thinking the way you have explained.....Believe me Bro 75% issues will be resolved of the world.

Thanks again....& appreciated...
 

timepass

Brigadier
Pakistan May Block Supply Path US Troops Use to Reach Afghanistan

Please, Log in or Register to view URLs content!


1057018722.jpg


MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Pakistani authorities are considering the option of blocking supplies of US troops deployed in Afghanistan through its territory amid the diplomatic tensions between Islamabad and Washington, media reported Monday.

On January 1, US President
Please, Log in or Register to view URLs content!
accused Islamabad of providing "safe haven to the terrorists" despite multibillion US assistance to
Please, Log in or Register to view URLs content!
. On Thursday, State Department spokesperson Heather Nauert said that the
Please, Log in or Register to view URLs content!
was suspending the delivery of military equipment and security aid to Pakistan. According to the spokeswoman, such a measure was a response to the local authorities’ insufficient measures in the fight against terrorist groups.

Pakistani The Nation media outlet reported, citing senior officials from the nation's foreign ministry, that
Please, Log in or Register to view URLs content!
was discussing the move, however the decision has not been made yet.

Please, Log in or Register to view URLs content!


The newspaper added that the move could be used in response to the diplomatic steps taken by the United States.

The United States has been in Afghanistan for almost 17 years following the September 11, 2001 attacks in Washington and New York. US troops in Afghanistan are being supplied with food and military equipment by the routes from Pakistan to Afghanistan.
 

kwaigonegin

Colonel
Like I've said many times before this world doesn't operate in black and white but rather multiple 'billion' shades of gray. Do I think that there are terrorist sympathizers within the ranks of the Pakistani government and amongst some of her populace? of course! Do I think that some of them have covertly infiltrated outfits like ISI and may have assisted rogue terror groups either in enabling their objectives or prevent intel gathering from government? of course!

However, do I also think that majority of Pakistanis including most in the government are against terrorism? Absolutely! If you take all the fluff aside there is no doubt that Pakistan as a sovereign country has killed and disbanded a lot of terrorist cells and prevented much of their tactical operations. I know this to be fact and anyone in the CIA, NSA etc can tell you the same thing.

If the recognized Pakistani government is FOR the terrorist, then there would've been ZERO spec ops, drone missions, or CIA operatives in-country. They would've all been kicked out or executed as spies or foreign enemy combatants.

From the US government perspective I can understand their frustration on why certain objectives are not met from their lens but they need to evalaute things in a holistic and objective manner instead of sending out ignorant messages while barely knowing all the facts which will cause serious repercussions from the snowball effect.

A POTUS's job while extremely complicated mired in red tape, politics etc has however very simple objectives. Those objectives include keeping the US and by extension her citizentry safe, maintain a good economic outlook AND maintaining or increase US influence around the world. Any actions, no matter how benign or silly that detracts or goes counter against these simple objectives should be eliminated.
 

Air Force Brat

Brigadier
Super Moderator
Pakistan May Block Supply Path US Troops Use to Reach Afghanistan

Please, Log in or Register to view URLs content!


1057018722.jpg


MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Pakistani authorities are considering the option of blocking supplies of US troops deployed in Afghanistan through its territory amid the diplomatic tensions between Islamabad and Washington, media reported Monday.

On January 1, US President
Please, Log in or Register to view URLs content!
accused Islamabad of providing "safe haven to the terrorists" despite multibillion US assistance to
Please, Log in or Register to view URLs content!
. On Thursday, State Department spokesperson Heather Nauert said that the
Please, Log in or Register to view URLs content!
was suspending the delivery of military equipment and security aid to Pakistan. According to the spokeswoman, such a measure was a response to the local authorities’ insufficient measures in the fight against terrorist groups.

Pakistani The Nation media outlet reported, citing senior officials from the nation's foreign ministry, that
Please, Log in or Register to view URLs content!
was discussing the move, however the decision has not been made yet.

Please, Log in or Register to view URLs content!


The newspaper added that the move could be used in response to the diplomatic steps taken by the United States.

The United States has been in Afghanistan for almost 17 years following the September 11, 2001 attacks in Washington and New York. US troops in Afghanistan are being supplied with food and military equipment by the routes from Pakistan to Afghanistan.


Like I've said many times before this world doesn't operate in black and white but rather multiple 'billion' shades of gray. Do I think that there are terrorist sympathizers within the ranks of the Pakistani government and amongst some of her populace? of course! Do I think that some of them have covertly infiltrated outfits like ISI and may have assisted rogue terror groups either in enabling their objectives or prevent intel gathering from government? of course!

However, do I also think that majority of Pakistanis including most in the government are against terrorism? Absolutely! If you take all the fluff aside there is no doubt that Pakistan as a sovereign country has killed and disbanded a lot of terrorist cells and prevented much of their tactical operations. I know this to be fact and anyone in the CIA, NSA etc can tell you the same thing.

If the recognized Pakistani government is FOR the terrorist, then there would've been ZERO spec ops, drone missions, or CIA operatives in-country. They would've all been kicked out or executed as spies or foreign enemy combatants.

From the US government perspective I can understand their frustration on why certain objectives are not met from their lens but they need to evalaute things in a holistic and objective manner instead of sending out ignorant messages while barely knowing all the facts which will cause serious repercussions from the snowball effect.

A POTUS's job while extremely complicated mired in red tape, politics etc has however very simple objectives. Those objectives include keeping the US and by extension her citizentry safe, maintain a good economic outlook AND maintaining or increase US influence around the world. Any actions, no matter how benign or silly that detracts or goes counter against these simple objectives should be eliminated.

Exactly, and while I fully support our military and our President! I hate it when good peoples sincere intentions are questioned?? I think the President is anxious to send a message and get the anti-terror mission back on track,,, but blaming our friends, for our own failures?? (under the Obama administration,, who could have guessed we had an objective, or what it was?)

Trump is doing this to put "everybody on notice",,,, but he could have done so in a much more effective manner without insulting our friends and allies.. as Timepass has noted, it is extremely disheartening, and very frustrating to the people and leaders of Pakistan,, it does make me angry and frustrated as well, and the President needs to do his homework, and work on his communication skills.....
 
I was going back and forth, stunned, in
US Military News, Reports, Data, etc.
thread

from
#8959 timepass, Yesterday at 8:34 PM
which I reported for mocking the US President
some 24 hours ago, and not just that nothing happened, actually there're two Likes attached to it by long-time US members

through Sputnik, Sputnik in
US Military News, Reports, Data, etc.
thread:
#8966 timepass, Today at 2:51 PM

and through some Liberal ... all I can do, and will do, is to try contact Jeff through Facebook

the moments I've realized the World is upside down
 
I now read
Please, Log in or Register to view URLs content!

so I post:
In 2017, the Navy and Marine Corps hit the wall, with an string of deadly accidents
Please, Log in or Register to view URLs content!
and
Please, Log in or Register to view URLs content!
. In 2018, we’ll see whether the overstressed sea services
Please, Log in or Register to view URLs content!
to missions.

That means battles both in the Pentagon and on the Hill. The newly named
Please, Log in or Register to view URLs content!
,
Please, Log in or Register to view URLs content!
, seems to be charting a collision course with joint commanders, who he says have run the services ragged with too many missions, and with the
Please, Log in or Register to view URLs content!
, which gave joint headquarters preeminence over the four armed services in many areas. In recent years Congress and the Pentagon have restored some of
Please, Log in or Register to view URLs content!
, but they haven’t questioned the basic balance of power set in law some 31 years ago. Now the
Please, Log in or Register to view URLs content!
which Spencer commissioned has put changing Goldwater-Nichols on the table.

How to make the case for change? “We’ll start every conversation with 17 dead sailors,”
Please, Log in or Register to view URLs content!
in September. But 17 deaths is just the beginning. While Spencer was talking specifically about
Please, Log in or Register to view URLs content!
this summer, transport aircraft crashes killed 19 Marines in July and August. In response, the Commandant, Gen. Robert Neller, ordered rolling
Please, Log in or Register to view URLs content!
at all Marine aviation units.

This summer was just a particularly lethal spike in a long-running trend. Crashes of a C-2 transport and a
Please, Log in or Register to view URLs content!
trainer
Please, Log in or Register to view URLs content!
just since fiscal year 2018 began on October 1st. Three naval aircraft have been lost in accidents since Oct. 1, another three damaged.

In fiscal 2017, Navy aircraft suffered 10
Please, Log in or Register to view URLs content!
involving permanent disability, loss of life, or more than $2 million in damage. The Marines, with a much smaller air fleet, suffered another 10. Long-term, both services have seen rising accident rates ever since 2013, when the
Please, Log in or Register to view URLs content!
abruptly cut funds for training and maintenance. The Marines in particular have seen their accident rate —
Please, Log in or Register to view URLs content!
— more than double over the last two years.

As costly as these accidents are, and as devastating as these deaths have been, the biggest potential catastrophe is a force unready for combat. Early in 2017, the sea services admitted that 53 percent of all naval aircraft were
Please, Log in or Register to view URLs content!
, rising to 62 percent for strike fighters and 74 percent of
Please, Log in or Register to view URLs content!
. As for surface ships, both a former deputy secretary of defense and a panel of retired captains have publicly argued that the recent series of accidents — not just the two fatal ones — shows a force struggling with basic seamanship, let alone the
Please, Log in or Register to view URLs content!
. Meanwhile the third pillar of the Navy, the submarine branch, has avoided deadly accidents but still has an unprecedented proportion of its boats idled awaiting maintenance: Ready submarines are consumed by day-to-day missions for the joint commanders, leaving
Please, Log in or Register to view URLs content!
.

Time & Money

So what do the Navy and Marine Corps need? The most precious commodity is time: time to catch up on training, time to clear up the maintenance backlog. But time is finite, and every day spent getting ready is one less day out doing missions. The services’ concern for readiness — particularly for major wars — conflicts directly with the
Please, Log in or Register to view URLs content!
‘ need for
Please, Log in or Register to view URLs content!
. The current Pentagon process effectively gives the joint commanders a blank check for how heavily forces are committed around the world, with little provision for the services to throw a yellow flag and say “too much.” That’s the system Sec. Spencer seems ready to challenge.

Money would help too, of course. More money for
Please, Log in or Register to view URLs content!
would help readiness, but, less obviously, so would more money for modernization. Buying
Please, Log in or Register to view URLs content!
and aircraft could let the Navy and Marines retire aging, unreliable equipment, which drags down readiness because it’s down for maintenance too often.

Or you could use the new ships and planes to increase the size of the force. Growth improves readiness by spreading the workload over more units, giving each more time for training and maintenance. (Of course, that assumes that the workload doesn’t go up too, and that training and maintenance funds go up proportionately instead of being spread thinner over the larger force). The Chief of Naval Operations himself, Adm. John Richardson, said that
Please, Log in or Register to view URLs content!
, because with more ships at work, none of them would be worked as hard.

Building a bigger fleet is a long-term solution, however, with estimates ranging from
Please, Log in or Register to view URLs content!
to
Please, Log in or Register to view URLs content!
. And despite President Trump’s encouraging rhetoric, the administration
Please, Log in or Register to view URLs content!
to the
Please, Log in or Register to view URLs content!
— which
Please, Log in or Register to view URLs content!
, even as we start the second quarter of the federal fiscal year.

For now, then, the Navy and Marine Corps have to improve readiness without a larger force or even additional training and maintenance money. That means their only option is to take on fewer missions — which is why Sec. Spencer has to challenge
Please, Log in or Register to view URLs content!
.
source is BreakingDefense
Please, Log in or Register to view URLs content!
 
Top