Proxies.

This is coolbert:

Yet more from the latest edition of the DEBKAfile newsletter.

Syrian Army and associated proxy forces and backed up by Russian air power continue to advance. Rebels as opposed to the despot Assad under attack NOT THOSE COMBATANTS OF THE ISLAMIC STATE.

The Russian plans the offensive and issues the orders, others obey!!

1. "Russian-backed Syria pushes ahead after taking key town of Salma"

22 January.

"Syrian forces pushed forward Friday to capture more parts of Latakia province from rebel hands after taking the key town of Salma backed by Russian air strikes. The town was held by Syrian rebels for three years during which they fired on government-held Latakia and threatened the nearby Russian base."

2. "Second Russian-Syrian-Hizballah conquest near Latakia"

24 January.

"Syrian-Hizballah forces backed by Russia captured Rabia, the last town held by rebels in the province of Latakia after the fall of Salma . . . For four years, Rabia was in rebel hands, including the Al Qaeda affiliate the Nusra Front. The combined Syrian-Hizballah force fought under Russian officers with the support of heavy Russian air strikes." 

3. "Syrian army takes key town near Israeli border in major breakthrough"

26 January.

"A Syrian army force under the command of Iranian and Russian officers has captured Sheikh Maskin, a key southern town near the Israeli border, thereby isolating rebel groups in the Deraa region. . . . Sheikh Maskin controls the southern hub of the roads leading to the Jebel Druze town of Suwaida, the Golan town of Quneitra and Damascus."

coolbert.

Suicide Bomber.

This is coolbert:

Also from the latest edition of the DEBKAfile newsletter and as has been previously reported the combatant units of ISIL remain on the offensive.

1. "ISIS attacks last Syrian army stronghold in Deir ez-Zour"

24 January.

"Dozens of ISIS suicide fighters hurled themselves in waves on the last Syrian army stronghold in the eastern town of Deir ez-Zour and its environs (pop: 200,000 civilians.) Its fall would catastrophically mark the end of the Assad regime’s control of eastern Syria."

2. "ISIS attacks Syrian army checkpoint in Homs; over 20 killed, 100 wounded"

26 January.

"More than 20 people, including Syrian officers and enlisted men, were killed and over 100 wounded when a suicide bomber and a car bomb exploded next to a Syrian army checkpoint in the city of Homs on Tuesday afternoon. ISIS claimed responsibility for the attack."

Again, the use of the suicide bomber or even multiple numbers of suicide bombers incorporated into all ISIL operations.

coolbert.

Hazara?

This is coolbert:

Promises made but promises not kept. From the latest edition of the DEBKAfile.

"Russians let Hizballah into Daraa, breaking their promise to Israel"

28 January.

"On Wednesday, Jan. 27 a large Hizballah force entered the southern Syrian town of Daraa, a critically dangerous event for Israel’s security . . . This was a blatant violation of President Vladimir Putin’s commitments to Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu and Jordanian King Abdullah that Iranian and Iran-backed forces, such as Hizballah and Iraqi and Afghani Shiite militias [Hazara?], would not be permitted to reach their borders in consequence of Russia’s military intervention in the Syria war."

PROXIES FIGHTING IN THE SYRIAN CIVIL WAR AND NOW TO INCLUDE AFGHAN NATIONALS? SHIA THAT MIGHT BE PART OF THE HAZARA MINORITY GROUP?

coolbert.

Libya MNF.

This is coolbert:

Apparently that MNF Libya now active and on the move. Thanks to the latest edition of the DEBKAfile newsletter.

"US-Russian marines set up bridgehead in E. Libya for campaign against ISIS"

23 January.

"The US-Russian war offensive building up in Libya to eradicate spreading ISIS influence, the first such collaboration in many decades, is but an extension of their expanding military partnership in Syria. It has been extended to include the EU. Last weekend, the first US, Russian, French and Italian Special Forces quietly landed at a point south of Tobruk near the Libyan-Egyptian frontier after 1,000 British SAS troops had prepared the ground."

"The landing area is located some 144 kilometers from Darnah, the main bastion of extremist Libyan Islamic groups linked to Al Qaeda or ISIS, of which the ultra-violent Ansar al Sharia is the most powerful."

Coalition warfare always difficult. And who exactly is the dominant player in the MNF and do you have a single dedicated and competent commander?

coolbert.

Eight Steps.

This is coolbert:

The eight step method?

From a most recent edition of Time magazine:

"An 8-step plan to defeat ISIS"

By Admiral [American] James Stavridis.

1. "Establish a robust and dependable command and control backbone, [commanded] by at least a three-star general officer."

2. "Increase intelligence sharing across the coalition . . ."

3. "Incorporate a strong cyber element into the plan . . ."

4. "Create a coalition Special Operations task force . . ."

5. "Integrate with other government agencies . . ."

6. "Set up between 15,000 and 20,000 U.S. and coalition troops to conduct two training missions. one with the Kurds . . . and the other with Iraqi security forces in Baghdad . . ."

7. "Increase the air campaign to broaden its base . . ."

8. "Bring boots on the ground in the urban enters . . ."

Coalition warfare difficult? Eisenhower understood the problems associated with coalition warfare and was able to mitigate instances of discord during World War Two much to his credit. We need another Eisenhower, is that what I am saying?

AND THAT "ROBUST AND DEPENDABLE COMMAND AND CONTROL BACKBONE" IS TO BE COMMANDED BY ONLY AN AMERICAN?

coolbert.

Sverge!

This is coolbert:

General Anders Brännström.

From the Breitbart article thanks to the tip from Freeper:

"Sweden’s Army Chief Warns Of WORLD WAR 3 Inside Europe ‘Within a Few Years’"

 "Citing the situation in Sweden, the recent decisions of domestic politicians, and global instability, the chief of the Swedish army General Anders Brännström told men under his command they could expect to be fighting a war in Europe against skilled opponents 'within a few years'".

. . . .

"It is unusual for a serving senior military figure, much less the professional head of an Army to speak out on such political matters in Europe. Yet these comments are not just the General’s opinion, he added, remarking his senior colleagues all held the same thoughts. He said: 'this is a serious position shared by most. This is a completely different situation to the one we had ten years ago.'"

THINK ALSO THE RECENT PRONOUNCEMENTS OF THE SWISS ARMY CHIEF OF STAFF.

 "The supreme function of statesmanship is to provide against preventable evils." - - E. Powell. Forewarned and forearmed and all that.


coolbert.

Payroll.

This is coolbert:

Yet one more blog entry germane to the subject of ISIL combatant finances. Thanks to the excellent Internet web site isegoria.org.

"ISIS Salaries"

"ISIS might seem like a ragtag group of terrorists, but it operates as a government that hands out biweekly paychecks"

"ISIS soldiers earn between $400 and $1,200 a month, plus a $50 stipend for their wives and $25 for each child, according to the Congressional Research Service."

[...]

“'On account of the exceptional circumstances the Islamic State is facing, it has been decided to reduce the salaries that are paid to all mujahideen by half, and it is not allowed for anyone to be exempted from this decision, whatever his position,' the ISIS’ government wrote in a memorandum."

[...]

See previous blog entries the topic is ISIL funding and finances:

http://militaryanalysis.blogspot.com/2016/01/salary.html

http://militaryanalysis.blogspot.com/2016/01/millions_34.html

http://militaryanalysis.blogspot.com/2015/12/cash-flow.html

coolbert.

 

Humvee ISIL.

This is coolbert:

“In the collapse of Mosul, we lost a lot of weapons,” . . . “We lost 2,300 Humvees in Mosul alone.” - - Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi 

From a variety of sources that amount of war-booty as captured intact by the Islamic State over one and one-half years ago now immense.

Consisting in large measure of a monumental number of Humvee!

1. "ISIS Takes Dozens of Captured US Humvees, Tanks to Syria from Iraq"

NO, NOT DOZENS, OVER TWENTY-THREE HUNDRED!!

"The Pentagon is alarmed by reports that the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) has captured dozens of US Humvees, tanks and weapons, which the militants are now sending to Syria."

Many of those captured Humvee armored and having a turret with gun shield and mount for a heavy machine gun. A super-technical.

2. "Equipped with Humvees, ISIL Clashes with Rivals in Syria"

"BEIRUT — The Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) battled with rival opposition fighters in northern Syria on Sunday, using U.S.-made military vehicles captured from neighboring Iraq for the first time, a monitoring group said."

3. "‘2,300 Humvees in Mosul alone’: Iraq reveals number of US arms falling into ISIS hands"

"Iraq has admitted that ISIS jihadists captured huge caches of US-made weapons, including thousands of Humvees seized from Iraqi forces retreating from Mosul last year. The spoils of war have since then been used by ISIS to gain ground in Iraq and Syria."

This Humvee appears to be armored and has sustained hits to the windshield relatively unscathed. That is an ISIL adherent firing some sort of heavy machine gun those prominent horizontal muzzle flashes indicative of a Dushka MG. ISIL flag flying prominently.

For shame! Those Pirates Bedu now on the offensive [?] and making very good use of the many armored Humvee as captured, with or without the turret, gun shield and mount for a heavy machine gun. A light form of armored personnel carrier and infantry fighting vehicle. All courtesy indirectly of Uncle Sam.

coolbert.

M1926.

This is coolbert:

From the latest issue of WW II magazine and especially thanks to Larry Decuers, curator at The National World War II Museum some clarification as to the life saving device as seen in this iconic image

American soldier on Omaha [?] beach, Normandy, 6 June 1944. Life belt as worn, some troops having to jump into five to six feet [2 meters] of water prior to wading ashore.

"a world War II-era U.S. Navy 1926 inflatable flotation belt . . . It could be used as a life preserver by activating two CO2 cartridges in the belt or blowing into a smaller pair of rubber inflation tubes . . . the belt is most famously know for being issued to U.S. Army D-Day invasion troops . . . the designers intended it be right under the armpits when inflated - - otherwise a wearer would tip in water, submerging his head and chest. Tragically, this is exactly what happened to many men on D-Day who drowned when they inflated life belts being worn too low."

A LIFE SAVING DEVICE [M1926] BUT CAN KILL YOU IF WORN IMPROPERLY. SEE MY PREVIOUS BLOG ENTRY, THE LIFE VESTS AS ISSUED AND WORN BY THE ARMY PERSONNEL ABOARD THE LEOPOLDVILLE!

A LITTLE BIT OF TRAINING AND INSTRUCTION CAN GO A LONG WAY!!

coolbert.

TKS & Platform-M.

This is coolbert:

Before there was Platform-M there was the Polish TKS.

And many others also besides the TKS.

Baby tanks, armored referred to as tankettes. In that period between the two world wars tankette design and development quite common.

Tracked vehicles with limited armor and limited firepower both.

Usefulness only to the infantry in a supporting role, better than nothing!

NOT a robot vehicle. A tankette. That machine gun a 7.92 mm caliber only. Armor able to deflect small-arms fire only.

That antidote to the tankette and even the current Platform-M a sniper rifle such as the Soviet era SVD firing an armor-piercing-incendiary round [API]. Dedicated marksman crawling around on the battlefield embedded with the infantry able to take out a tankette with a single round at extended ranges [up to 800 meters] for the SVD!!

coolbert.

Aceh & Snouck.

This is coolbert:

From the "What-When-How" Internet web site:

"ACEH WAR (Western Colonialism)"

"That Aceh War 'military struggles that took place in Aceh for forty years, from 1873 to 1913'"

"The sultanate of Aceh developed as an independent state in the fifteenth century. In the beginning of the seventeenth century, the sultanate of Aceh reached the summit of its political and economic power, and was one of the largest states in the region. At this time, it had control over large parts of both the island of Sumatra in present-day Indonesia and the peninsula of Malacca in Malaysia."

Aceh Islamic warriors, combatants during that thirty year state of conflict with the Dutch colonialist power. Today the Islamic Aceh warrior is armed with AK, RPG and PKM.

With particular emphasis in this case on the influence of Snouck Hurgronje. Means, methods and techniques as formulated by and advocated by Snouck, the object the defeat of the Aceh rebels.

Snouck a convert to Islam and also having married a Javanese Princess you might suggest no better person "in the know".

* "[the] government advisor and scholar of Islam Christiaan Snouck Hurgronje (1857-1936) dominated government policy in Aceh in the late 1890s. On the basis of field research in Aceh from 1891 to 1893, Snouck Hurgronje advised strongly that the Dutch depart from a wait-and-see policy and break Acehnese resistance with force [brute force used in a brutal manner]. Snouck Hurgronje promoted the view that resistance in Aceh was religious in character, led by fanatic Islamic leaders (ulema) who were intent on waging a holy war or jihad against the infidel Dutch. The government was hesitant, however, and only adopted Snouck Hurgronje’s proposal in 1896 after several incidents."

* "The implementation of the new policy was in the hands of Major (later General) van Heutsz. Snouck Hurgronje pushed for van Heutsz’s appointment as civil and military governor of Aceh, which appointment came about in 1898. Snouck Hurgronje was appointed as advisor for indigenous and Arabic affairs in the same year, and in this position he served as van Heutsz’s second in command from 1898 to 1903"

* "After 1900 the ideas of Snouck Hurgronje and van Heutsz about pacification started to diverge, with the result that the former left Aceh in 1901, although he formally kept his position until 1903."

* "What Snouck Hurgronje had overlooked in his original analysis of the early 1890s was that Aceh had come under the influence of nationalism and the resistance against the Dutch was as much a social movement of ordinary people fighting for emancipation from their feudal bonds as it was a religious movement. Destroying the resistance through brute force also meant mental decay, apathy, and eventually the destruction of society."

And over one hundred years now since the end of the Aceh War Snouck might be surprised that the apparent militancy of the Aceh people remains undiminished? Even devoted adherents to a cause [that of the Islamic State] almost "beyond the seas"! To this even Snouck would not have an answer?

coolbert.

Salary.

This is coolbert:

Also from the latest edition of the DEBKAfile newsletter.

"ISIS slashes salaries by 50% due to 'exceptional circumstances'?"

20 January.

"The financial arm of Islamic State announced Tuesday that the salaries of the terrorist organization's members would be cut in half due to 'exceptional circumstances.' ISIS has issued a 'fatwa,' permitting members to impose and collect taxes from local citizens to compensate for the salary reduction"

TO WHAT EXTENT THIS ACTION IS DUE TO THE BOMBING OF THE ISIL PAYROLL DISTRIBUTION CENTER IN MOSUL IS UNCLEAR. ISIL COMBATANTS ARE BEING TOLD TO TIGHTEN THEIR BELTS.

NO MONEY NO FIGHT! EVEN IDEALIST YOUNG PEOPLE HOPE TO BE PAID FROM TIME TO TIME FOR THEIR EFFORTS.

coolbert.

Robot Russian.

This is coolbert:

Domo arigato Mr. Roboto!

From the latest issue of the DEBKAfile newsletter the issue is at hand, the game is afoot, the robots move.

"Russian robots on the ground for four-army assault to retake Aleppo"

18 January.

"Russian, Syrian, Iranian and Hizballah troops were taking up positions Monday, Jan. 18, for a massive offensive to retake Aleppo, Syria's second city, hoping to break the backs of rebel resistance."

"A victory in Aleppo (prewar population: 1 million) is expected in Moscow, Tehran and Damascus to reverse the tide of the war and force the Syrian rebels to accept that their insurgency is at an end and their only remaining option is to join the peace process initiated by Russia on Syria's future. Two novel Russian robot systems will take part in the operation - the Platform-M combat robot and the Argo Mobility Platform."

This is the Russian Platform-M. Tracked robot vehicle equipped with what appears to be four anti-tank guided-missiles [ATGM] and a heavy machine gun. Probably incorporates low-light and forward-looking infra-red vision of some sort at a minimum.

coolbert.

Quemoy.

This is coolbert:

Been a long time now since we last heard of Quemoy and Matsu.

Indeed, SIXTY YEARS AGO IT WAS THOUGHT THAT THE UNITED STATES MIGHT ACTUALLY BECOME INVOLVED IN A NUCLEAR WAR WITH CHINA OVER THE DISPUTED ISLANDS. It did not transpire as such but there was a great fear.

"China’s PLA forces carry out landing drills near Taiwan outpost days after elections"

Called Chin-Men in this graphic. Known better to the world as Quemoy.

"China’s People's Liberation Army held live-fire exercises and training drills close to Taiwan only days after the presidential elections, which saw Tsai Ing-wen, of the Democratic Progressive Party, winning a convincing victory."

"The People’s Liberation Army based in the Fujian provincial city of Xiamen – 10km [slightly more than six miles] opposite one of self-ruled Taiwan’s outposts – has carried out live-fire exercises and landing drills just days after the pro-independence opposition party won elections in Taiwan."

. . . .

"Xiamen lies opposite to Quemoy, an island controlled by Taiwan since Kuomintang military forces were defeated by the Communists and fled to Taiwan in 1949."

Click on image for a larger view. Quemoy and Matsu [further north] little fly-speck islands close to mainland China. A bone caught in the throat for decades so to speak. The Taiwan Strait Crisis.

From sixty years ago the number of artillery shells fired from mainland China toward Nationalist targets on Quemoy and Matsu was a daily tally item as reported by the main stream media via the evening news.

Sixty years deja vu all over again? You decide.

coolbert.

ISIL 10 %.

This is coolbert:

Also from the latest edition of the DEBKAfile newsletter some disconcerting info regarding the fight against the Islamic State.

Contrary to what is presented in the main stream media, ISIL continues to advance?

"ISIS offensives forcing Iraqi army to focus on defending Baghdad" 

12 January.

"At least 48 people were killed and 200 people were wounded in ISIS suicide bombings and shootings Monday in Baghdad and the other areas – the highest number of casualties from ISIS attacks in three months."

This images purports to show territorial gains [green], losses [red] and consolidation [black] of the Islamic State during the year 2015. Click on image to see a larger view.

"The Islamic State is still strongly on the offensive, although Western military sources are trying to present the Iraqi army as gaining the upper hand in the fighting, including exaggerated reports of Iraqi attacks on ISIS positions around Mosul. In fact, ever since Iraqi forces captured the center of the ruined city of Ramadi, ISIS fighters are fighting a guerrilla war from the eastern outskirts. The jihadists are also pushing forward in three additional sectors: Haditha in the western Anbar province; the Shiite Baghdad al-Jadidah, a Shiite area in south Baghdad; and Muqdadiyah in the eastern province of Diyala. They are forcing the Iraqi army to divert strength from other sectors to defend the capital."

THIS SOUNDS TO ME AS THE WORK OF PIRATES BEDU! ELITE, FAST-MOVING AND HIGHLY MOBILE AND VERY WELL ARMED ISIL COMBATANTS FIGHTING IN THE ANCIENT AND VENERABLE MANNER OF THE BEDOUIN!

coolbert.

Radioactive Russian.

This is coolbert:

From MARCO POLO through Harry some items of interest, the radioactive elements of those many Soviet era nuclear submarines a tremendous environmental problem for which the Russian has no means of proper disposal. Efforts to alleviate the difficulty currently underway with mixed results.

1. ". . . the Italian shipyard 'Muggiano' is building a special-purpose barge for the Russian Navy, whose sole purpose is to transport radioactive parts and sections of broken-up nuclear submarines. It is called 'Itarus' . . . it will be completed in coming April, and will be towed to Murmansk. The barge looks like a floating dock. Its over-all length is 85 meters. Its width is 31.2 meters. On both the sides of the flat deck, there are barriers 29 meters high, made of thick steel plates. It is not powered."

Itarus under construction. Size again is 85 meters [267 feet] long, 31 meters [97 feet] wide, 29 meters [91 feet] high. A monster of a barge.

 2. "There is a place called 'Sayda Guba' on Kola Peninsula in arctic Russia, where a four-kilometer-long tunnel was dug, which is the storage for radioactive sections from dismantled nuclear submarines. They are likely to be stored there for the next four hundred years or so. Reportedly, at this time, at a Severodvinsk dockyard, six Soviet-era submarines are being dismantled."

AND HOW EXACTLY IS THE REACTOR AND THE SPENT FUEL OF A DECOMMISSIONED AMERICAN NUCLEAR SUBMARINE DISPOSED OF? I DON'T KNOW. ACCORDING TO ADMIRAL OLIVER AN AMERICAN NUCLEAR SUBMARINER EXPOSED TO ONE HUNDRED TIMES LESS RADIATION THAN HIS SOVIET COUNTER-PART DURING A SINGLE PATROL!!

coolbert.

Salang Tunnel.

This is coolbert:

From that era of the Soviet invasion of Afghan the particulars of this disaster never clarified. Other than very bad!!

Salang tunnel and the Salang Tunnel fire. As copied more or less in entirety from the wiki.

"The Salang tunnel fire occurred on 3 November 1982 in Afghanistan's Salang tunnel during the Soviet occupation of Afghanistan. Details are uncertain, but the incident may have been the deadliest known road accident, and one of the deadliest fires of modern times."

"The Salang tunnel, which opened the famous Salang Pass (or Kotal-e Salang) to motor traffic, was built by Soviet engineers and eased traffic across the Hindu Kush mountain range that separates northern and southern Afghanistan."

"Very few facts are known about the fire. All information available constitutes little more than hearsay, in part because the Soviet Army was not inclined to reveal massive losses during wartime. Most sources agree that it involved a Soviet Army convoy traveling southward through the tunnel."

"Initial reports described fuel and ordnance explosions, and estimates of the death toll were as high as 2,700. The death toll was subsequently revised downwards many times."

"According to Soviet Army records, on 3 November 1982 two military convoys (2211 and 2212) collided in the Salang tunnel causing a traffic jam. There were no fires or explosions. Sixty-four Soviet soldiers and 112 Afghan people were killed by carbon monoxide emitted by idling engines."

"Another report from a traveler, who has been to the region, sounds very different from this official version: A fuel tanker in a military convoy exploded inside (the cause of the explosion remains somewhat in doubt with the Russians still claiming it was an accident and the Mujahideen still claiming it was a successful attack) the Salang Tunnel, unleashing an explosive chain reaction. Drivers of cars, trucks, and buses evidently continued to enter the tunnel after the explosion. Soviet troops, fearing that the explosion might have been a rebel attack, closed off both ends with tanks, trapping many inside. Some burned to death; others were killed by smoke and by carbon monoxide escaping from vehicles whose drivers kept their engines idling to stay warm in the freezing cold. As many as 700 Soviet troops and 2,000 Afghan soldiers and civilians may have died."

See at the Daily Mail an article with photographs a much different Afghan that existed prior to the constant state of warfare as has existed for almost four full decades now!! Way before the Taliban there was a much more kindlier and gentler Afghan.

coolbert.

GAM.

This is coolbert:

Lots of stuff goes together in this particular blog entry.

Thanks to War is Boring and the tip from Freeper:

That Indonesian province of Banda Aceh [very northern tip of the island of Sumatra] most restive and the connection to the Islamic State most apparent.

"GAM Militants Didn’t Fight For Sharia Law"

"But now they're living with it" [Banda Aceh the only locale in Indonesia where sharia law enforced]

The eternal Islamic Malay insurgent of GAM. These guys remind me so much of those Moro rebels of the Philippines. BIFF and such. Always at war with "city hall" generation upon generation everlasting.

"The quiet outskirts of Banda Aceh, the capital of a province once known as Indonesia’s bloodiest, hid a history of violent revolution and counterrevolution"

"Aceh, the westernmost region of Sumatra, has a long history of insurgency. Before the Netherlands subsumed the Acehnese into the Dutch East Indies, they considered themselves allies of the Ottoman Empire and defenders of its caliphate."

"Acehnese insurgents fought the Dutch in the Aceh War 1873-1904, the Japanese in 1942–1945 and the Dutch again in 1945-1949. In the following decades, some Acehnese thought that these victories warranted independence from Indonesia, which they considered an artificial nation."

. . . .

"Hasan di Tiro founded the Free Aceh Movement, or GAM, in 1976 along separatist and secularist lines. GAM fighters trained in Libya and attacked Indonesian soldiers, who, in turn, killed thousands of militants and sympathizers, including civilians. Around 20,000 people died in the war."

FIGHTERS FROM BANDA ACEH NOW PRESENT AND COUNTED AMONG THE COMBATANTS OF THE ISLAMIC STATE! THE HISTORICAL CONNECTION WITH THAT PART OF THE WORLD MOST SURPRISING!

During that thirty year period of the Aceh War the Dutchman Snouck most instrumental in formulating policy to fight the Islamic insurgents of Banda Aceh. Persons such as Snouck no longer exist?

coolbert.

Dvornikov.

This is coolbert:

From the latest edition of the DEBKAfile newsletter a Russian praetor now active in the Middle East.

"Gen. Dvornikov: Russia’s combined C-in-C and top diplomat in Syria" 

10 January.

"Gen. Alexander Dvornikov is revealed here as Russia’s top soldier in Syria who must strike a balance between collaboration with Iran and understandings with Israel. In his Damascus posting, the general has control of the twin Russian commands in Damascus and Baghdad, enabling him to stay on top of events and in control of decisions 24/7. This is a key position of enormous authority and extreme diplomatic sensitivity. The Saudis see him as major foe, while the Iranians resent Moscow’s understandings with Israel."

Russian senior military commander combining those military functions and that of the diplomat in one position.

As would have a praetor during the Roman Republic. I cannot be sure if that is the correct term, praetor but close enough. That praetor confining his activities to: "their duties must not concern them with minima, "little things". They were by definition doers of maxima."

coolbert.

Leopoldville.

This is coolbert:

As extracted from Sharkhunters KTB # 277 thanks to Harry more on the sinking of the SS LEOPOLDVILLE.

American soldiers crossing the English channel their troop ship sunk, loss of life in part due to improper use of emergency gear.

From the memo as forwarded to Admiral King. SECRET [as of January 230, 1945].

16. "The following recommendations are made with the firm belief that loss of life will be minimized in any future catastrophe in channel waters"

a) "That fire drill and abandon ship drill be carried out on ever ship carrying troops before she proceeds to sea" (the LEOPOLDVILLE had upwards of 6 hours after completing loading and before reaching the channel waters.)

b) "That each soldier, on going aboard, be made to put on his life jacket to see that he thoroughly understand the method wearing it and how it should be secured, further, that he be instructed not to inflate his life jacket until he is in the water."

LIFE JACKETS WORN AND INFLATED THE TROOP JUMPING INTO THE WATER FROM THE DECK OF THE SHIP QUITE OFTEN SUFFERING A BROKEN NECK DUE TO THE IMPACT!!

INFLATE THAT LIFE JACKET ONLY AFTER YOU HIT THE WATER!

In addition and as noted in the memorandum:

"The Belgian crew abandoned ship long before the American soldiers and made no effort to release the various emergency equipment which was on hand."

YELLOW-BELLIED COWARDS! PROBABLY NOT EVEN BELGIAN? FOR EVERLASTING SHAME!

coolbert.

Napoleon III.

This is coolbert:

Conclusion!

That success of Napoleon as a military commander due to a combination of factors, the Emperor able to assemble a variety of concepts into the "total package" for which his adversaries did not have a good response..

As found on the Internet this article explains it all?

"The Success of Napoleon" by Richard Podruchny

In the proverbial nutshell those "factors" contributing to the success of Napoleon as a battlefield commander to include but scarcely limited to:

* Artillery more numerous, lighter, more mobile, but not sacrificing accuracy, range, killing-power.

Artillery often formed into a Grande Batterie able to annihilate an adversary at a specific critical point.

* Combined arms, corps and divisional formations.

An army divided in echelons of corps and division size. Each possessing their own combined arms organization [infantry, artillery, cavalry], capable of autonomous and independent action or acting as part of the whole as required.

* Conscription resulting in large-sized formations possessing a revolutionary zeal and patriotism.

Industry on a massive scale mobilized for the war effort "nationalized manufacturing of war material".

* Promotion and command based on merit and a can-do ability among subordinates.

* Superior application of the operational art. [movement of large units to achieve goals and mission]

Quick and fast maneuver facilitated by an extraordinary French marching ability.

Napoleon as commander and generalissimo in the aftermath of the French Revolution perceiving his mission to spread the positive attributes of liberty, fraternity and equality to all of Europe and beyond. Using military force to do so whether you wanted it or not!

coolbert.

Napoleon II.

This is coolbert:

Napoleon as a successful battlefield commander in measure due to the war-making strategies, doctrines, tactics as promulgated and enunciated by these Frenchmen.

1. Pierre-Joseph Bourcet.

"Pierre-Joseph Bourcet (1 March 1700 – 14 October 1780) was a French tactician, general, chief of staff, mapmaker and military educator."

2. Jacques-Antoine-Hippolyte de Guibert.

"Jacques-Antoine-Hippolyte, Comte de Guibert (12 November 1743 – 6 May 1790) was a French general and military writer . . . In 1770, he published an essay on tactics which was very influential in his time."

3. Jean-Baptiste Vaquette de Gribeauval.

"Lieutenant General Jean-Baptiste Vaquette de Gribeauval (15 September 1715 – 9 May 1789) was a French artillery officer and engineer who revolutionized French cannon, creating a new production system that allowed lighter, more uniform guns without sacrificing range"

4. Jean-Pierre du Teil, baron du Teil.

"Jean-Pierre du Teil, baron du Teil, seigneur de Pommier, Chars, les Rousselières, Vaux and of other places (14 July 1722 - 27 February 1794) was a French artillery general and one of the most important influences on Napoleon I during his training at the École d'artillerie in Auxonne"

NAPOLEON ABLE TO ASSEMBLE THE "TOTAL PACKAGE". INNOVATIVE WARFARE MORE EFFICIENT AND BETTER.

I guess when someone [ Baron du Teil] is the "seigneur de Pommier, Chars, les Rousselières, Vaux and of other places" you ought to listen and surely Napoleon did.

coolbert.

Napoleon I.

This is coolbert:

As extracted from the Victor Hanson Davis Internet web site.

Napoleon the military man, a conqueror and dictatorial maniacal ruler, but also a man "iconic" and worthy of great respect, even from the French intellectual class.

"Is Trump Our Napoleon?"

. . . .

"For a decade and a half Napoleon wrecked Europe. He hijacked the platitudes of the French Revolution to mask his own dictatorship at home and imperialism abroad. Yet today, two centuries after his defeat at the Battle of Waterloo, he remains an icon for many in, and a few outside, France. Why? How could geniuses like the novelists Victor Hugo and Stendhal acknowledge Napoleon’s pathologies and the damage that he did to the early 19th century European world, and yet enthuse that he made the French feel both politically and morally 'great'? Most French even today believe that he did."

. . . .

"Moreover, Napoleon’s own political agenda was a mishmash of conservative authoritarianism and populist social justice. So effective was the strange brew that even to this day scholars fight over whether Napoleon was a proto-Hitler whose unhinged ambitions led to millions of innocent European, Russian, Caribbean and North Africa dead, or a loyal defender of the French Revolution, whose eleventh-hour iron hand alone kept alive the threatened ideals of fraternity and egalitarianism."

Merely taking into consideration alone the military career of Napoleon according to Trevor Dupuy:

"it is impossible to overemphasize the gigantic impact of Napoleon on  warfare, the art of war, and military theory . . . Napoleon was presented by circumstance with open-ended opportunities for the employment of mi8litary force. he had the intellect, ability, will, and - - above all - - genius, to seize opportunities . . . In the process he transformed war as has no other man before or since."

Also from Trevor Dupuy regarding the generalship of Napoleon:

"Napoleon Bonaparte commanded in more battles than any other general in history. By one count he exercised command in fifty-five major of significant battles, to say nothing of perhaps another hundred engagements or skirmishes or sieges."

"Greatness - - Something or someone that is larger in size, quality, or quantity may be called 'great.'"

Napoleon undoubtedly a "great man" and France "great" within that definition. NOT however "great" within the modern understanding of the word?

coolbert.

MRF Philippines.

This is coolbert:

All this a response to the ongoing situation in the Spratly Islands obviously.

The United States and the Philippines for a long time have had a bi-lateral defense treaty.

NOW a slightly increased and enhanced presence of U.S. military capability/

"Philippines offers eight bases to U.S. under new military deal"

"MANILA (Reuters) - The Philippines has offered the United States eight bases where it can build facilities to store equipment and supplies under a new security deal, a military spokesman said on Wednesday, amid rising tension with China over the South China Sea."

"Last year, the Philippines and the United States signed the Enhanced Defence Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) granting Washington increased military presence in its former colony, rotating ships and planes for humanitarian and maritime security operations."

Pre-positioned equipment and training facilities for American military units to rotate in/out on a regular basis.

Quite similar to the MRF Darwin facility already being used in Australia. BUT NO PERMANENT BASES!

All of this a warning to China at the same time I might expect.

coolbert.

FN-6.

This is coolbert:

AGAIN THE SUBJECT OF THE MANPAD PEA-SHOOTER SURFACE-AIR-MISSILE WITHIN THE CONTEXT OF THE ISLAMIC STATE.

From intelNews.org:

"How are Ukrainian weapons ending up in the hands of ISIS?"

"Significant amounts of Ukrainian-manufactured weapons are ending up in the hands of the Islamic State, prompting accusations that Kiev may be arming the militant group in an effort to impair its regional foe Russia . . ."

Weaponry that includes the Chinese FN-6 pea-shooter surface-air-missile. An analog of the Soviet era Grail SA-7.

 "Khaiyat [arms dealer allegedly captured while in the midst of obtaining and selling black-market weapons to the Islamic State] told his Kuwaiti captors that FN-6 portable antiaircraft surface-to-air missiles were among the weapons he bought in Ukraine. The FN-6 is a Chinese-manufactured weapon, which has never been sold to the Ukrainian military."

Grail and FN-6 as has been noted "game changers". Have money can buy. And USE too!

coolbert.

Division Daguet.

This is coolbert:

ONLY from yesterday was any of this made clear to me.

That French light armored division as deployed and participating in combat during the First Gulf War NOT necessarily consisting of Frenchmen as that world Frenchmen normally, ordinarily, and commonly understood.

"The French Light Armored Division: The Legacy of the Division Legere Macanique" By Bell, Raymond E., Jr.

"Division Daguet was the French Army's contribution to the United Nations (UN) coalition that defeated Iraq during Operation Desert Storm. I The ad hoc division had no number designation because its elements came from at least five other French divisions."

"One reason for having such a configuration was the French law prohibiting drafted soldiers from serving outside France except as part of NATO. It was necessary to assemble the desired unit from professional soldiers in other formations of the same type."

"The principal reason for this organization was the desire to field a force specifically tailored to battlefield tasks the French could be expected to execute."

"The division core from the 6th Light Armored Division included the 2d Foreign Legion Infantry Regiment (an infantry battalion using wheeled armored personnel carriers-APCs), the I st Regiment of Spahis (an armored reconnaissance battalion-ARB), the Ist Foreign Legion Cavalry Regiment (ARB), the 6th Command and Control Battalion and the 6th Foreign Legion Engineer Regiment"

As it was in the days of the First Indo-China War so it was during the First Gulf War a French conscript COULD NOT BE COMPELLED DURING A TIME OF WAR TO SERVE OUTSIDE OF FRANCE!

That French light armored division as stated an ad hoc composite unit specifically task tailored for the mission and heavily weighted with personnel etranger. French Foreign Legion. That command nucleus of professional soldiers French long-term serving officers!

The French no longer have conscription so this sort of thing will never again be an issue? I think that is so!

coolbert.

Grail SA-7.

This is coolbert:

From an acknowledged aviation expert some observations regarding the thermal batteries as associated with the Soviet era Grail SA-7 pea-shooter surface-air-missile.

1. "the battery for whatever reason had a shelf life said to be in the 'few months' category--such as two or three months.  Once the device is turned on (as when a threat is perceived, to prepare it for track and launch), it has only a few minutes of active life before the battery is dead. And the batteries could not be replaced--at least not outside the manufacturer's factory."

Also Grail SA-7 too having a limited versatility but nonetheless effective when employed properly within parameters.

2."The weapon was useful only against slow moving, very low altitude flying targets, such as prop planes or helicopters traveling at less than 200 knots and below 4,500 feet.  It was and is, however, a game changer in that those kinds of weapons of war and transport become highly vulnerable to the SA-7, requiring changes in approach, altitudes, tactics, airfield size and safety, and more.  Notice of one or two of these items being delivered to an area meant that everything within about 50 miles was suddenly flying higher, dropping parachutes or supplies from difficult heights, planes being modified to carry and dispense intense flares to decoy the infra-red guidance system, etc."

Battery for the SA-7 "could not be replaced - - at least not outside the manufacturer's factory" EXCEPT THAT ISIL CAN NOW DO SO!

coolbert.

Millions.

This is coolbert:

Repeat this process about a thousand times and maybe you will be getting somewhere. Maybe!

 Once more from the Sheldon Adelson Internet web site Israel Hayom.

"US jets bomb Islamic State cash pile worth 'millions' in Iraq"

"American fighter planes strike cash distribution center in Islamic State stronghold of Mosul, destroying what defense officials describe as 'millions' of dollars • Strike carried out at dawn Sunday to avoid civilian casualties in the busy area."

"A U.S. aircraft bombed an Islamic State cash distribution site in Iraq on Monday, part of efforts by the American-led coalition to disrupt the militant group's financing of its activities, the U.S. military said."

. . . .

"Citing unnamed U.S. defense officials, CNN said the building in Mosul -- one of Islamic State's main strongholds -- was destroyed by two 2,000-pound bombs. The officials could not say exactly how much money was there or in what currency, but one described it as 'millions,' CNN reported."

THE IDEA WAS AVOID CIVILIAN CASUALTIES. COLLATERAL DAMAGE FROM A PAIR OF TWO-THOUSAND POUND BOMBS GOING OFF MORE OR LESS SIMULTANEOUSLY I MIGHT THINK RATHER SEVERE NO MATTER WHAT THE CIRCUMSTANCES AND PRECAUTIONS TAKEN.

coolbert.

Heavy Infantry.

This is coolbert:

The best light infantry in the world is now becoming fast the best heavy infantry in the world?

Hezbollah the state within a state fighting as proxies for the despot Assad supplied now with heavy weaponry. All thanks to Vlad!

Thanks to Sheldon Adelson and his Internet web site Israel Hayom.

"Hezbollah: Russia is supplying us with heavy weapons"

"'The Russians are our allies and give us weapons,' says Hezbollah commander quoted on The Daily Beast • 'When it comes to Israel, Hezbollah doesn't take directions from anyone,' says another Hezbollah commander."

"Russia is directly providing Hezbollah with heavy weapons, Hezbollah field commanders told The Daily Beast website."

. . . .

"A different Hezbollah commander said Russia has not imposed any restrictions on how Hezbollah can use Russian weapons. This means the arms could be used against Israel"

HEAVY weapons as defined being: "long-range tactical missiles, laser guided rockets, and anti-tank weapons from Russia."

Hezbollah according to my understanding has had that stuff for some time now and has also used in combat vis-a-vis Israel. This IS NOT NEW?

coolbert.

Pathankot.

This is coolbert:

From a variety of sources!

It does appear that the attack on the Indian Air Force base at Pathankot DID NOT ENDANGER ANY NUCLEAR WEAPONS  OR NUCLEAR WEAPONS ASSETS!

"Pathankot is the base for MiG-21 Bison fighters and Mi-35 attack helicopters and the terrorists were ordered to blow up aircraft stationed at the air base."

This almost sounds as a sapper attack as might have been the case during the Vietnam War.

"According to the Army , the terrorists were carrying high velocity grenades having capacity to damage tanks. Besides that, army also recovered wire cutters, radio sets, a pamphlet of Jaish-e-Muhammed and other sophisticated weaponry."

Those "high velocity grenades" more than likely some type of rocket-propelled-grenade [RPG].

"The current status of India's air-based nuclear weapons is unclear. In addition to their ground-attack role, however, it is believed that the Dassault Mirage 2000s and SEPECAT Jaguars of the Indian Air Force are able to provide a secondary nuclear-strike role. The SEPECAT Jaguar was designed to be able to carry and deploy nuclear weapons and the Indian Air Force has identified the jet as being capable of delivering Indian nuclear weapons."

"Attacking nuclear weapons while in storage in situ not necessarily resulting in atomic detonation but creating an incident with world-wide ramifications!!"

Headlines more than damage the goal!!

coolbert.

Garud Commando.

This is coolbert:

My instantaneous thought regarding the recent attack on the Indian air force base of Pathankot was TO WHAT EXTENT WERE NUCLEAR WEAPON ASSETS IF ANY ENDANGERED!

The Indian air force does have contingents of dedicated infantry a primary mission of which is guarding air force bases.

This is the Garud Commando.

A unit having both an offensive and defensive capability:

"The Garud Commando Force is the Special Forces unit of the Indian Air Force. It was formed in September 2004 and has a strength of approximately 2000 personnel."

"Garud is tasked with the protection of critical Air Force bases and installations; search and rescue during peace and hostilities and disaster relief during calamities."

Attacks of this nature such as just occurred at Pathankot not existing in a vacuum:

"After attempts by terrorists to attack two major air bases in Jammu and Kashmir in 2001, Indian Air Force commanders felt the need for a specialized force to protect these critical elements and to have a dedicated Commando Force trained in Special Forces techniques . . . [to include] . . .  response to terror-threats to airfields."

Garud Commando indeed active and deploying for battle during this terrorist incursion:

"On January 2, 2016, the unit took a casualty during the 2016 Pathankot attack when Commando Gursewak Singh died in action. All the IAF assets were declared safe."

Those various nations having Air Force infantry to include but not necessarily limited to the United States, Britain, France, Germany, Australia, Malaysia, India.

See previous blog entries the topic of which is air force infantry:

http://militaryanalysis.blogspot.com/2010/10/paskau.html

http://militaryanalysis.blogspot.com/2008/10/infantry.html

coolbert.

Ramadi.

This is coolbert:

All it takes is eighty Australians.

As extracted from Strategy Page the observations of the usually very reliable and astute Colonel Austin Bay with my commentary.

"Ramadi as a Lesson in Defeating the Islamic State" by Austin Bay

"An Iraqi army counteroffensive has retaken the city of Ramadi and dealt the Islamic State group a major defeat. The victory is hard-earned. It also has a back story."

"In May of this year [2015], when Islamic State fighters seized Ramadi, its Iraqi defenders fled. Cellphone video recorded caught their flight, and the Islamic State put the imagery of fear and cowardice to immediate use."

"But come December, [2015] the Iraqi army has returned, and except for holdouts in a suburb, the Islamic State's holy warriors have retreated. Cellphone cameras now record Iraqi soldiers celebrating."

. . . .

"Coalition special operations troops are no longer so covert. Special-ops.org reported that 80 Australian special forces soldiers embedded in front-line Iraqi units and directed over 1,000 airstrikes. This is precisely what Washington should have done in mid-2014, when the Islamic State first invaded Iraq: provide embedded air control teams and combat advisers."

Comments:

* In the proverbial nutshell the presence of the Australian troops made the world of difference as was needed. Without the Australians and the airstrikes Ramadi would have become a carve-up almost senseless. BY THEMSELVES THE IRAQI NATIONAL ARMY WOULD NOT HAVE SUCCEEDED?

* Those main fighting units of the Islamic State NO LONGER will involve themselves in treacherous city fighting as has been the case recently in Kobani and Ramadi? In this case Ramadi was defended by a small number of second-stringers that still gave a good account of themselves?

I fear the Islamic State to be much more resilient with greater staying power than the experts might like to accept is the case. Time will tell.

coolbert.

Scientists.

This is coolbert:

Scientists! ISIL Polytechnique Institute at work!

Again from the latest as seen at the DEBKAfile newsletter:

"ISIS said to develops heat-seeking anti-air missiles at 'jihadi university' in Raqqa"

5 January.

"Sky TV has uncovered evidence of an ISIS 'jihadi university' in Raqqa, Syria, where scientists are hired to come up with new ways to carry out attacks. They have been able to re-commission age-ing surface to air heat-seeking missiles with a homemade thermal battery which are capable of destroying an aircraft, which are of great concern to commercial airlines. The ISIS faculty has also developed fully working remote controlled driver-less cars for use as mobile bombs."

Those thermal batteries of the molten salt variety the development of which was inextricably linked to weapons requirements from the era of the Second world War.

"Thermal batteries originated during World War II when German scientist Georg Otto Erb developed the first practical cells, using a salt mixture as an electrolyte. Erb developed batteries for military applications, including the V-1 flying bomb and the V-2 rocket, and artillery fuzing systems."

Where there is a will there is often a way. ISIL has the will and is finding the way? Those on the receiving end of a MANPAD will know for sure.

coolbert.

MNF Libya.

This is coolbert:

ISIL affiliate in Libya most active.. Forewarned is forearmed!

Also from the latest edition of the DEBKAfile newsletter here is the type of thing the multi-national military force headed for Libya MUST take into consideration.

"Over 70 killed, 100 wounded in ISIS truck bomb in Libya"

7 January.

"More than 70 people were killed and over 100 wounded on in an attack by a truck packed with explosives and suicide bombers on a police compound in the western Libyan city of Zliten on Thursday morning. ISIS took responsibility."

TAKE HEED ONE AND ALL!

The Islamic State combatants incorporating into all military operations the suicide bomber. Truck bombs of massive size as driven by a death-dealing jihadi totally without regard to his own life.

Forewarned is forearmed indeed ONLY if the message understood and proper precautions taken. Let us hope so.

coolbert.

Patria & Struma.

This is coolbert:

"The Shch-213 submarine... encountered on the morning of 24.2.1942 an unprotected enemy vessel Struma... The ship was successfully torpedoed from a distance of [1,118 meters] and sunk... Junior officers... Unit Commander and non-commissioned officers... and the Red Fleet sailor who fired the torpedo... have shown courage."

 From that era of the Second World War several more "Hell Ship" disasters. So many of them!

1. SS Patria.

 "The Patria disaster was the sinking on 25 November 1940 by the Haganah of a French-built ocean liner, the 11,885-ton SS Patria, in the port of Haifa, killing 267 people and injuring 172."

"At the time of the sinking, the Patria was carrying about 1,800 Jewish refugees from Nazi-occupied Europe whom the British authorities were deporting from Mandatory Palestine to Mauritius because they lacked entry permits. Zionist organizations opposed the deportation, and the underground paramilitary Haganah group planted a bomb intended to disable the ship to prevent it from leaving Haifa."

"The Haganah claims to have miscalculated the effects of the explosion. The bomb blew the steel frame off one full side of the ship and the ship sank in less than 16 minutes, trapping hundreds in the hold."

2. MV Struma.

"The Struma disaster was the sinking on 24 February 1942 of a ship, MV Struma, that had been trying to take several hundred Jewish refugees from Axis-allied Romania to Mandatory Palestine. She was a small iron-hulled ship of only 240 GRT that had been built in 1867 as a steam-powered schooner but had recently been re-engineered with an unreliable second-hand diesel engine . . . an estimated 781 refugees were crammed into her."

"Struma '​s diesel engine failed several times between her departure from Constanţa on the Black Sea on 12 December 1941 and her arrival in Istanbul on 15 December . . . Turkish authorities towed Struma from Istanbul through the Bosphorus out to the coast of Şile in North Istanbul. Within hours, in the morning of 24 February, the Soviet submarine Shch-213 torpedoed her, killing an estimated 781 refugees plus 10 crew, making it the Black Sea's largest exclusively civilian naval disaster of World War II."

"A hell ship is a ship with extremely unpleasant living conditions or with a reputation for cruelty among the crew."

OH YES it is! And the combination of unpleasantness and cruelty making matters much worse. Those numbers of survivors as pulled from the water most of the time pathetically small. Rescue efforts often half-hearted or even nonexistent.

coolbert.

Heart Disease.

This is coolbert:

Of this hypothesis and assertion I am somewhat skeptical. Other factors are at work.

"Could heart disease in the South be a lingering effect of the American Civil War?"

"A map of deaths from heart disease reveals the American South ablaze in red; of the 10 states with the highest rate of death from heart disease among white people in 2010, all but two are below the Mason-Dixon line."

". . . Could the heavy toll of heart disease in the American South today have been triggered, in part, by the region’s rapid rise out poverty since the 1950s?"

". . . that decades of poverty caused by the Civil War shaped people’s organs and physiology in a way that left them particularly unsuited for a cushy life. The current health disparities in the South . . . developed as Southerners encountered more prosperous lifestyle than their bodies were prepared for, including more food and less manual labor."

Comments:

* For a period of about one hundred years the American South relatively poor when compared to the rest of the United States. From the devastation of war. This is true.

* Those states of the Confederacy at the time of the American Civil War the fifth richest nation on the planet. Gone with the wind in the aftermath of the war.

* Whites in the American South comprising a more ethnically homogeneous population. Their susceptibility to heart disease possibly and more than likely genetically related.

* Whites in the American South commonly eat a dairy-based diet. NOT heart healthy.

* Pellegra a diet related disease common in the American South until fairly recently. That bland diet of bacon, corn pone, corn bread and molasses not conducive to good health.

Damn Yankees did it? I think not.

coolbert.

Ghelman.

This is coolbert:

As seen at The Daily Beast more propaganda [?] directed at the Islamic State.

The author however not having a full and complete understanding of the cultural context.

Gay youth thrown to his death by ISIL. His sex partner remaining unscathed however.

And how is this?

"The Secret, Hypocritical Gay World of ISIS"

"ISIS murdered a 15-year-old accused of being gay but spared the life of his ‘rapist,’ a senior jihadi commander. What lies behind the brutal double standard?"

"The murder of a 15-year-old teenager, thrown to his death by ISIS for being gay, not only reveals—yet again—the terror group’s murderous homophobia, but also the hypocrisy that exists alongside it."

. . . .

“'A tradition in which adult males engaged in sexual pleasure with pre-pubescent boys--ghelman--including hermaphroditic boys, has existed before the creation of Islam,' . . . 'Because these encounters didn't result in pregnancies, they became more commonplace after Islam had taken root.'"

Carnal acts between two men not forbidden under Islam. Homosexuality forbidden but ONLY IF THE TWO MEN ARE IN LOVE WITH ONE ANOTHER! SATISFYING YOUR SEXUAL LUST OF ITSELF NOT DEFINED AS HOMOSEXUALITY IN THE WESTERN CONTEXT.

Got it "straight" now?

coolbert.

Cyrenecia.

This is coolbert:

NOWHERE in the main stream media have I seen mention of this:

"1,000 Crack British Troops Deployed to Libyan Oil Fields to ‘Halt the Advance of ISIS’"


Halt! Merely halt? NOT annihilate or defeat? Merely halt?

"British Special Forces have been deployed in Libya to wrest back control of more than a dozen oil fields seized by Islamic State (IS, formerly ISIS/ISIL) militants, it has emerged."

"Approximately 6,000 European and US soldiers, including 1,000 British troops, will be involved in a number of offensives set up to halt the advance of the jihadist terror group."

"The operation will be led by Italian forces and supported mainly by Britain and France."

Those historical links between Libya and Italy quite strong.

During Roman times what we now call Libya was referred to as Cyrenecia.

The "break-basket" of Rome, Leptis Magnus in particular. Back in days of yore it was grain that was important. Today it is OIL!

Roman ruins proliferate in Libya, antiquities from the time of the various Emperors quite intact.

That recent history of Italy and the Italian in North Africa rather less inspiring. Libya as the territory now understood occupied, colonized and settled by Italians. Guerrilla warfare endemic the entire time.

The Italian and NATO forces will be warmly greeted by the Libyan people? EVEN THIS CAN BE SURMISED TO BE A NATO MISSION? ARTICLE 5 OF THE NATO CHARTER HAS BEEN INVOKED?:

And hardly however can we forget the Italian military enigma from both World Wars. The Italian not so brilliant in battle! NOW it will be different?

coolbert.

H-Bomb!

This is coolbert:

Kim and the North Koreans now have thermonuclear weaponry?

So it is alleged this morning.

As reported, this "ups the ante significantly"??

All previous calculations must now be set aside. The UN Security Council is going to hold an emergency meeting?

"North Korea says it successfully conducts hydrogen bomb test"

"(CNN) Sticking it to its foes, North Korea on Wednesday celebrated what it called a successful hydrogen bomb test -- a milestone that, if true, marks a colossal advancement for the reclusive regime and a big test for leaders worldwide to determine what to do about it."

. . . .

"Pyongyang has been very vocal about its nuclear ambitions, pressing on despite widespread condemnation, sanctions and other punishments. Having a hydrogen bomb -- a device far more powerful than the plutonium weapons that North Korea has used in three earlier underground nuclear tests -- ups the ante significantly."

The image accompanying this blog entry is doctored [?] by Photoshop, the porcine visage of Kim of Pyongyang unmistakable nonetheless.

Previously it was thought the North Korean did possess primitive nuclear munitions but of doubtful reliability. Primitive in the sense of being experimental gadgets not deliver-able atomic warheads! All bets are off if indeed now has fusion weapons?

Party hardy dude, WORLD beware!

coolbert.

AGI Soviet.

This is coolbert:

Okean AGI!

As described in the novel "The Intruders" by Steven Coontz and American aircraft carrier task group is being observed by a Soviet fishing trawler AGI of the Okean class:

"The Soviet intelligence ship Reduktor jointed the task group during the night and fell in line astern . . . . she was a small converted trawler. Had she not been festooned with a a dazzling array of radio antennas that rose from her superstructure and masts, one would assume her crew was still looking for fish."

"So there they were. Russians. In Reduktor's compartments they were busy with their reel-to reel tape drives - - probably all made in Japan - - recording every word, peep or chirp on every radio frequency that the U.S. Navy had ever been known to use. Doubtlessly they monitored other frequencies occasionally as well, just in case. These tapes would be examined by experts who would construct from them detailed analyses of how the U.S. Navy operated and what it capabilities were. Encrypted transmissions would be turned over to specialists who would try to break the codes."

"In short the crew of the Reduktor were spies."

"There was one other possibility, not very probably, but possible. Reduktor might be a beacon ship marking the position of the American task group for Soviet forces."

Okean class trawler Linza. "Festooned with a a dazzling array of radio antennas". Click on image for a larger view.

Think rather than the trawler not possibly a beacon but more than likely WERE A BEACON!

Do not preclude also an embedded and organic offensive capability for these AGI! Naval GRU spetsnaz personnel, underwater demolitions men able to deploy during a time of war or even peacetime for that matter if and when the "go" signal given.

coolbert.

AGI Norway.

This is coolbert:

Godoynes!

As described in the book "Deep Black" the nation of Norway vital to the NATO mission during that period of the Cold War.

AGI flying a false flag courtesy of American Central Intelligence [CIA]? A trawler [a sealer in actuality] operating in that area of the Barents Sea with what might be termed "plausible deniability".

SOVIET MISSILE FIRING SUBMARINES OPERATING OUT OF BASTIONS IN THE BARENTS SEA! "YOU ARE BEING WATCHED COMRADE"!

"Norwegian intelligence collection ships (AGI) operating in the Barents Sea. Commenting on the AGI Godoynes, which operated under the code name Sunshine in 1955, Ernst Jacobsen of the Norwegian Defense Research Establishment, who designed some of the monitoring equipment in the ship, said that the Godoynes—a converted sealer—was ‘bursting at the seams with modern American searching equipment, operated by American specialists.’ The Central Intelligence Agency sponsored the ship and other Norwegian ELINT activities. The Norwegians operated a series of AGIs in the ELINT role in the Barents Sea from 1952 to 1976."

I might think that role and mission much more than mere ELINT. All AGI missions multi-faceted and might include but hardly limited to:

* SIGINT.
* Monitor enemy fleet movements.
* Monitor nuclear tests.
* Monitor missiles tests.
* Establish submarine "signatures".
* Hydrographic research.

It might even be that the Soviet Okean class of AGI is based on the CIA operated [?] Godoynes?

coolbert.

AGI China.

This is coolbert:

The topic is AGI. From MARCO POLO through Harry:

AGI  = Auxiliary General Intelligence.

Quite often referred to as "spy ship". More correctly defined and understood as intelligence gathering and reconnaissance vessels.

"China has three topmost electronic intelligence collection ships (AGI) of 'Dondiao'-class (Type 815 and (15G) - 'Beijixing' (Polaris), 'Tianwangxing' (Uranus) and 'Haiwangxing' (Neptune). Another is said to be under construction at the Hudong Zhonghua shipyard in Shanghai."

   "In 2014, the 'Polaris' was sent to Hawaiian waters to reconnoiter on the international naval exercise 'RIMPAC' while the Chinese Navy was participating in the exercise with three ships. Some Americans called this height of impudence, and demanded that in future China be kept out of the 'RIMPAC.'"

   "Up to now, the 'Polaris' has been with China's Eastern Sea Fleet at Tsingdao, while 'Uranus' with South Sea Fleet at Hainan Island.  Sources in China have said that now the 'Neptune' as well has been assigned to the South Sea Fleet at a naval base in the South China Sea."

Chinese AGI new, bright and shiny! And I imagine "loaded".

Thank you MARCO POLO!

AGI been around for a long time, ever since the beginning of the Cold War. The beat goes on and then some!!

"Spy ships in the modern sense have been used at least since the early Cold War, and are in use by all major powers. Their uses, in addition to listening in on communications and spy on enemy fleet movements, were to monitor nuclear tests and missile launches (especially of potential ICBMs)."

"One of the most important functions for both Cold War spy ship fleets, especially in the 1960s, was the gathering of submarine 'signatures' - the patterns of noise that could often identify the specific type of submarine and were thus valuable in anti-submarine warfare. During that era, the USA fielded about 80 vessels, usually classified as 'environmental research' craft, while the Soviets had around 60 ships, often converted trawlers or hydro graphic research ships."

Multi-faceted mission with 70 % of the surface of the planet as mission possible! Water!

coolbert.