Refused III.

This is coolbert:

Conclusion!

NOT in the last one-hundred years have Russian warships been REFUSED REFUELING RIGHTS?

More than one-hundred years probably? NOT since the Russo-Japanese war of 1905 has there been such an occurrence?

I am thinking of the sailing and voyage of the Russian 2nd Pacific Squadron en route to destruction at the Battle of Tsushima.

Enormous quantities of coal needed for refueling and the various world powers both refusing transit and additional supplies!

Read for yourself:

"Russo-Japanese War: The 18,000-mile voyage"

"the large 2nd Pacific Squadron needed an enormous amount of coal—about half a million tons for the whole voyage—with no ports of its own along the route for resupply. Britain of course would never assist; France imposed restrictions on the amount and timing of resupply at its ports; Kaiser Wilhelm at last offered a solution. Colliers of the Hamburg-Amerika line would meet the Russian vessels at points along the way to supply a total of 60 cargoes of coal."

The pre-Dreadnought class of warship of the period needing a constant replenishment of coal, coaling-stations what they were called a requisite element of empire as that term understood during that era.

"col-lier  noun  1. a ship for carrying coal."

The Russian then [1905] and now [2016] lacking an ability for replenishment of fuel and supplies while at sea?

Latakia in Syria  is the destination of those Russian warships? More than anything else this is a show of world geo-political muscle flexing on the part of the Russian? Just from a practicality standpoint it seems the situation could be more easily handled.

coolbert.

Refused II.

This is coolbert:

From MARCONI through Harry and dated as of 27 October and as copied largely in entirety..

Continuing with discussion, those Russian warships en route to Syria REFUSED refueling rights!

"SPAIN INVOLVED".

"Spain cancels permission for Russian warship refueling in Ceuta.  The Spanish government has canceled the authorization that had been granted to a fleet of Russian warships, headed by the aircraft carrier Admiral Kuznetsov, to make a stop at the Spanish enclave city of Ceuta on its way to the eastern Mediterranean."

"The ships had been due to refuel and to take on water and supplies at the North African port."

. . . .

     "NATO has been keeping a close eye on the battle group since it sailed out of the Arctic port of Severomorsk several days ago.  The fleet is being monitored by two NATO Standing Maritime Groups, the first of which is led by Spanish frigate Almirante Juan de Borbon."
    
"The Russian ships were also shadowed by two Spanish patrol boats as they made their way along the Spanish coast and passed through the Strait of Gibraltar on Wednesday morning.  The Russian Navy regularly docks at Ceuta: more than 60 of its vessels have used the port since 2011.  It provides a boost to the local economy"
    
"The Spanish Foreign Ministry spokesperson said on Tuesday that permission for such stops was granted on a case-by-case basis, depending on the nature of the ship involved and any possible security risks but on this occasion, the authorization had generated controversy."

PERMISSION FOR REFUELING RIGHTS FIRST GRANTED AND THEN TAKEN AWAY?

coolbert.

Refused I.

This is coolbert:

Again from the latest edition of the DEBKAfile newsletter as from only a short while ago that contingent of Russian warships having now passed through the English channel en route to Syria BEING REFUSED REFUELING RIGHTS BY THE SPANISH!!

NATO SAYS NO!!

"Russian warships apparently refused refueling permission by Spain"

26 October.

"Russian warships heading for Syria were apparently refused refueling permission at . . . Spain's North African port of Ceuta Wednesday after the UK raised concerns. Prime Minister Theresa May's spokesperson said that the British government will continue to monitor the situation. NATO expressed concern that the ships could be used to help bomb civilians in Aleppo, but said the final decision on resupply rested with Spain. The Kuznetsov battle group has been sailing for the past week from Russia via the English Channel to the Mediterranean. It was expected to pass through the Strait of Gibraltar on Wednesday and take on fuel and supplies at Ceuta."

NOTHING LIKE THIS HAS OCCURRED SINCE THE RUSSO-JAPANESE WAR OF 1905!

coolbert.

Al Bab/Manbij/Raqqa.

This is coolbert:

Also as seen at the latest edition of the DEBKAfile newsletter clarification as to the intent of the Turk vis-à-vis the Islamic State.

The Ottoman [Turk] moves south. First we take Manhattan, then we take Raqqa.

"Turkey will participate in offensive to liberate Raqqa from ISIS: Erdogan"

27 October.

"Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan said Thursday that his country will continue its military operation in northern Syria to support rebels fighting the Islamic State organization. The operation is now expanding to Al Bab, located about 40 km south of the Turkish border. Erdogan said that after Al Bab is purged of ISIS forces, the operation will target Manbij, controlled by Kurdish fighters, and 'then we will go towards Raqqa', the terrorist organization's capital in Syria."

FORCES ON THE GROUND IN NUMBERS NEEDED TO FINALLY DESTROY THE COMBATANTS OF THE ISLAMIC STATE ONCE AND FOR ALL. AND IT WILL BE TURK IN PREPONDERANCE THAT WILL DO SO?

coolbert.

Mosul Iraq IV.

This is coolbert:

Conclusion!

Once more from the latest edition of the DEBKAfile newsletter.

Spoiling/diversionary attacks by the combatants of the Islamic State in response to the coalition effort to capture Mosul continuing.

"Fiercely resistant ISIS seizes two Iraqi cities"

25 October.

"One obstacle after another - often unforeseen - is slowing the coalition's advance on Mosul . . . It is becoming obvious that ISIS is following a plan to circle around Mosul in a wide radius and pouncing on important spots for diversionary attacks: Last week, they overran Kirkuk; this week, Sinjar and Rutba. The capture of Sinjar in northern Iraq near the Syrian border was the Islamists' second victory against the Kurdish Peshmerga. Its fall saved ISIS' main supply route from Iraq to its Syrian stronghold in Raqqa from being cut off. For the Kurdish Peshmerga, it was disastrous. Sinjar was the main assembly center for Syrian Kurdish fighters coming in to aid their brothers in the fight for Mosul. A large concentration of the outlawed Turkish Kurdish PKK was also present. The fighting in Kirkuk only died down Sunday after three days, leaving at least 100 Iraqi and Kurdish fighters dead. ISIS captured the Anbar desert town of Rutba, 700km southwest of Mosul, by a three-pronged strike. Rutba commands the Baghdad-Amman highway. It is also situated near the Ayn al-Asad Air Base, the largest US military facility in Iraq, which hosts US air and special operations units. Iraqi government forces were deployed to guard this strategic town, but they were no match for ISIS."

"Large numbers of Iraqi, Kurdish and local Sunni fighters fell in battle there. It has become apparent from these events that the planners of the Mosul operation, Haidar al-Abadi's generals and the American officers fighting with them did not take into account that ISIS would mount major attacks in unexpected places far and near to throw the coalition assault on Mosul off balance."

WHO HAS THE BETTER GENERALS? ISIL OR THE COALITION? SO FAR IT APPEARS THE FORMER RATHER THAN THE LATTER! OH MY!

coolbert.

Mosul Iraq III.

This is coolbert:

Yet more from the latest edition of the DEBKAfile newsletter.

ISIL on the move and continuing quite successfully so with spoiling/diversionary attacks.

"ISIS captures Rutba in 48-hour battle"

25 October.

"The Islamic State Tuesday completed its capture of Rutba, a western Iraqi town of 20,000 inhabitants 200 km from the Jordanian border. Arab media describe how bomb cars driven by jihadist suicide killers were blown up among groups of Iraqi soldiers causing many casualties.

ISIL COMBATANTS NOT ONLY ON THE OFFENSIVE BUT SUCCESSFULLY CAPTURING NEW GROUND! HARDLY I WOULD THINK THE TYPE OF RESPONSE YOU MIGHT EXPECT FROM AN ADVERSARY IN A WEAKENED STATE.

coolbert.

Mosul Iraq II.

This is coolbert:

Also from the latest edition of the DEBKAfile newsletter.

That decision of the Turk [Sunni] to enter the fray and the battle for Mosul, aiding and abetting the Kurdish Peshmerga rising the ire of the Iranian [Shia].

"Tehran will fight Turkey's role in Mosul operation"

24 October

"The involvement of Turkish special operations, armored and artillery forces in support of the Kurdish Peshmerga battle to drive ISIS out of Bashiqa, 12 south of Mosul, marks a pivotal moment in the US-led coalition's anti-ISIS offensive to free Iraq's second city. The entire Mosul operation hangs in the balance since Turkey stepped into the fighting in Iraq, at the initiative of the US. Instead of fighting ISIS, the coalition's partners are squaring off to fight each other."

Those Iraqi Shia militias now also involved in the fighting in and around Mosul. Shia militias acting as proxies of the Iranian.

NO unified command and the various combatants even at odds with one another, their strategic goals varying and complex.

coolbert.

.

Mosul Iraq I.

This is coolbert:

Here begins a series of blog entries the topic of which is the continuing battle for the city of Mosul. At this moment only apparently the environs of the city under attack by the coalition forces, the city proper having not even been entered.

Thanks in all cases of this series to the latest edition of the DEBKAfile newsletter.

"ISIS sidetracks Mosul operation to fronts around the city"

23 October.

"A week into the Mosul offensive, the combined US-Iraqi-Kurdish armies have so far not broken through the defensive belt ISIS has thrown around the town . . . The terrorist group has moreover
mounted several counter-attacks on a wider scale than generally reported. In Kirkuk, clashes between Kurdish and Islamist fighters continued Sunday on the third day of the ISIS raid of the oil city, despite claims that Kurdish authorities had regained control. At least 80 dead are reported there. ISIS also attacked the Anbar provincial town of Rutba, 700km southeast of Mosul. This town is the key to control of the Baghdad-Amman highway and is situated near the Ayn al-Asad Air Base, the biggest US military facility in Iraq, where US air and special operations units are housed. The fighting there continues. North of Mosul, a Kurdish Peshmerga contingent is engaged in a major battle to seize ISIS strongholds in the town of Bashiqa. There, despite Kurdish advances, part of the city remains in ISIS hands. And east of Mosul, Iraqi forces which went into action Friday to wrest Al-Hamdaniyah from ISIS are still far from their goal."

ISIL combatants also continuing their spoiling/diversionary offensive operations.

NO BODY EVER THOUGHT THE CAPTURE OF MOSUL WAS GOING TO BE EASY AND IT IS PROVING NOT TO BE.

Again, all this even before the city proper entered!!

coolbert.

Bulava.

This is coolbert:

NEVER CAME CLOSE!

Yet more from Strategy Page as extracted the trials and travails of the Russian SLBM [submarine launched missile] Bulava.

"Strategic Weapons: The Bulava Blues And The Soviet Curse"

"October 18, 2016: In late September 2016 Russia again tested its new SLBM (Sea Launched Ballistic Missile) design, the Bulava (also known as R-30 3M30 and SS-NX-30). Two missiles were fired from a submerged Borei class sub. One missile appeared to be a success while the other was obviously a failure as it exploded in mid-air. That means three of the last four Bulava test launches were failures and of the 27 test launches since the first one in 2004, about 50 percent were complete or partial failures. Early on Russian officials thought they could solve the design, quality control and management problems and achieve a success rate for test launches of 80 percent. Bulava never came close."

"By way of comparison an 80 percent success rate, while great for the Russians would be considered a failure for a Western SLBM. For example, test firings of production models of the U.S. Navy Trident II SLBM have never failed. Trident II is the standard SLBM for American SSBNs. There have been 143 of these missile launches, which involve an SSBN firing one of their Trident IIs, with the nuclear warhead replaced by one of similar weight but containing sensors and communications equipment. The test results for the Trident while in development were equally impressive, with 87 percent successful (in 23 development tests) for the Trident I and 98 percent (49 tests) of the Trident II."

THOSE BOREI CLASS SUBMARINES WILL BE AS PREVIOUSLY NOTED A TIGER WITHOUT TEETH? BULAVA HAS DIFFICULTIES FOR WHICH THERE SEEMS TO BE NO AMELIORATION?

U.S si, Russia no! Ohio class sub si, Borei no!

coolbert.

LoC.

This is coolbert:

Super hot message flash.

From the You Tube video presentation of Steven Ben Nun as is occurring as we speak.

Pakistan and India in conflict. Two nuclear powers exchanging blows with one another. The potentiality for escalation with exceedingly harsh consequences great.

"ALERT, ALERT WAR Heavy Fighting Breaks Out Between India and Pakistan"

As reported twenty Pakistani soldiers killed on the Line of Contact [LoC]. Presumably this in Kashmir?

Presumably this might be retaliation for the recent terrorist sapper attack that killed several dozen of Indian troops in the same locale.

NUCLEAR POWERS IN CONFLICT AT WHATEVER LEVEL OF HOSTILITIES VERY WORRISOME!

Hold on to your hats devoted readers to the blog!!

coolbert.

Sun & Moon.

This is coolbert:

From the Professor Al Nofi CIC # 456 as seen at Strategy Page we have a description of one more eclipse [solar or lunar], that phenomenon having a military dimension to it

As it was during the time of the ancient Roman!

    "A lunar eclipse on September 27, AD 14, helped quell a mutiny in Pannonia by the legions VIII Augusta, VIIII Hispana, and XV Apollinaris, it being taken as a sign of divine anger."

"Pannonia was an ancient province of the Roman Empire bounded north and east by the Danube, coterminous westward with Noricum and upper Italy, and southward with Dalmatia and upper Moesia."

Celestial phenomenon of an unusual and awesome nature often accompanying military conflict. The ecli0pse of the sun and moon those instances to include but surely not limited to:

 * The Battle of Delhi, 1300 B.C.
 * Gaugamela, 331 B.C.
 * Siege of Constantinople, 1453.
 * Prophetstown, 1806.
 * Battle of Isandhlwana, 1879. .
 * Tannenberg, 1914.

 "There will be signs in the sun, moon and stars." Luke 21:25.

And in all cases again awesome!

coolbert.

Ottomans!

This is coolbert:

Yet ONE MORE complicating factor. That battle to capture Mosul from the Islamic State NOW the Turk wants a role. An already fractured coalition and loosely held together force of Kurd and Iraqi National Army now must take into considerations the wishes and desire of the Turk?

As reported by the DEBKAfile newsletter:

"Mosul: Turkey insists its forces 'cannot remain idle'"

"PM Binali Yildirim [Turkey PM] said it might be necessary to take action because Iraq and the US had not kept their promises. He said both countries had allowed Shia militias and Kurdish separatists to take part in the operation. Iraqi PM Haider al-Abadi on Saturday told the US that there was no need for Turkish forces as yet. Fighting on the sixth day of the offensive on Saturday was reported to be intense, as the Iraqi military seized more ground. ... Correspondents say Mr Abadi's refusal to countenance the prospect of Turkish involvement in the Mosul offensive could upset Turkish President [Erdogan] ..."

NO unity of command and now the new boy wants to enter the fray. With their own goals in minds. What next?

coolbert.

1-2, 2-1.

This is coolbert:

One step forward and two steps backward. Or is it two steps forward and one step backward?

ISIL with spoiling/diversionary attacks in response to the coalition Mosul offensive.

Recall the coalition forces as opposed to the Islamic State have NOT EVEN REACHED THE MOSUL CITY LIMITS but already counter-action by ISIL combatants has occurred.

As seen at the DEBKAfile:

Kirkuk is RED!

"In Iraq, ISIS Attacks City Of Kirkuk As Battle For Mosul Rages"

"ISIS fighters launched attacks on police Friday in the city of Kirkuk, as Iraqi security forces continued a massive military offensive to try to pry Mosul, one of Iraq's largest cities, from the militant group. 'The fighters struck [Kirkuk] before dawn, with suicide bombers hitting four police stations and gunmen killing police'"

That headline somewhat MISLEADING? As I said, the coalition forces have not even reached yet the city limits of Mosul. Somewhat yet to go and already ISIL has a ready response for which no anticipation or planning was made? ISIL ruthless, adaptive and flexible!

coolbert.

Mosul Offensive V.

This is coolbert:

Conclusion!

That Iraqi offensive the objective the capture of Mosul now stalled? According to DEBKAfile this is so! Again from the newsletter and copied almost in entirety.

"Obama vs. Baghdad on Sunni cleansing of Mosul"

20 October.

"A major dispute on combat tactics which has sprung up between Washington and Baghdad hangs over the coalition's Mosul offensive after three days of combat. Thursday, Oct. 20, President Barack Obama and US commanders challenged Iraq's Shiite Prime Minister Haydar al-Abadi and his generals over a 500km long route, the Ba'aj Road, which does not appear on maps, but is pivotal for the offensive's continuation . . . This route is a kind of 'Burma road' developed by the Islamic State as a private corridor between Mosul in Iraq and Raqqa, the terrorist group's Syrian capital, during the terrorist group's two years of control. The argument flared over a demand by President Obama and US commanders that Iraqi government forces turn to the Syrian border and block the Ba'aj Road, and so cut off the ISIS fighters' escape and supply route from Mosul to Syria. The Americans can't bomb the corridor because it is also packed with a stream of refugees in flight from the fighting in Mosul. However, according to our sources, the Iraqi prime minister countered this demand with a proviso unacceptable to Washington. He was prepared to order Iraqi forces to block the Ba'aj Road provided Mosul's entire population of 750,000 Sunni Muslims was expelled from the city. He argued that ISIS could not be defeated until then because some of the Sunnis were supporting and collaborating with the Islamist terrorists. Obama fiercely opposes the mass expulsion, seeing it as an attempt by the Shiite prime minister to cleanse Iraq's second city of its Sunni inhabitants and using the Mosul offensive against ISIS as a pretext for such action."

This "Burma Road" of the Islamic State was not taken into consideration during planning for the Mosul operation? American warplanes, the ace up the sleeve of the allied force not able to engage enemy targets such is the numbers of refugees fleeing the embattled city?

coolbert.

Mosul Offensive IV.

This is coolbert:

Once more from DEBKAfile as extracted almost in entirety and continuing with the topic of the Mosul offensive.

"The big Mosul offensive is stuck, halted by ISIS"

19 October.

"Less than a day after its launch, the big Mosul offensive prepared for more than a year by the US, the Iraqi army, Kurdish forces and others, ground to a halt Tuesday Oct. 17 . . . although none of the parties admitted as much. Iraqi Prime Minister Haidar Al-Abadi said his troops were busy opening up corridors for some million civilians to escape, while US sources suggested that the Islamic State would use primitive chemical weapons against the advancing Iraqi and Kurdish forces. Both had the ring of cover stories to account for the spearhead forces, the Iraq army's 9th Armored Division and the Federal Police special anti-terror units, being thrown back Tuesday on their way to Mosul from the east and the south, while still 10-15km short of the city. They sustained heavy losses in lives and hardware. The Iraqi anti-terror force withdrew from the village of al-Houd outside Mosul, a move which left the Kurdish Peshmerga no option but to stop its sweep of the villages around the city or expose their flanks to ISIS suicide and car bomb assaults. Tuesday night, both Iraqi and Kurdish commanders announced a pause in their advance and said they would meet Wednesday to decide how to proceed. The Islamic State might have been expected to take advantage of the prior warning of the offensive for a stand in defense of the Iraqi capital of Abu Bakr Al-Baghdadi's caliphate and so exploit the conflicting interests of the invading force. But ISIS leaders decided against waiting for the combined offensive. Indeed, according to DEBKAfile's sources, thousands of jihadis made tracks out of the city two or three months ago, leaving several hundred fighters behind to harass the approaching forces and retain a foothold in Mosul."

THAT MAIN COMBAT ELEMENT OF THE ISLAMIC STATE IN MOSUL HAS ALREADY AND EVEN SOME TIME AGO FLED THE CITY IN ANTICIPATION OF THE IRAQI OFFENSIVE!

Only one day into the offensive and the situation while not dire is hardly upbeat. The commanders of the Iraqi and Kurdish military units must FIRST meet and decide how to proceed. AGAIN, NO UNIFIED COMMAND!

coolbert.

Mosul Offensive III.

This is coolbert:

Continuing with extracts from the DEBKAfile newsletter, the topic again the Iraqi offensive the capture of Mosul the objective.

"Hundreds of ISIS fighters fleeing from Mosul to Syria"

19 October.

"Hundreds of fighters from the Islamic State organization were fleeing westward from Iraq's Nineveh province, where the city of Mosul is located, in the direction of Syria on Wednesday. They are using a road built by ISIS that connects Mosul to Raqqa, the terrorist organization's capital in Syria. The possibility that the fighters are using civilians, who were also seen fleeing the city, as human shields is being checked"

TYPICAL ISLAMIC STATE RUTHLESSNESS IN ACTION! THE USE OF HUMAN SHIELDS AN OBVIOUS VIOLATION OF THE RULES OF LAND WARFARE!

DON'T EXPECT ANYTHING LESS FROM ISIL!

coolbert.

Mosul Offensive II.

This is coolbert:

Continuing with extracts from the DEBKAfile, the campaign to liberate Mosul NOT going according to plan.

"Iraqi and Kurdish commanders pause Mosul offensive"

18 October.

"The frontlines to the east of Mosul were largely quiet Tuesday, a day after Iraqi Kurdish forces advanced amid a barrage of United States-led airstrikes and heavy artillery. 'We are just holding our positions,' said Colonel Khathar Sheikhan of the Kurdish Peshmerga, which captured a handful of villages east of Mosul on Monday. An Iraqi special forces commander said his troops had delayed an advance following a request from Kurdish forces for more time to achieve their goals. Iraqi Brig. Gen. Haider Fadhil said his men had planned to move at dawn, but postponed the operation until Iraqi army and Kurdish commanders meet later on Tuesday."

"I don't want any messages saying 'I'm holding my position.' We're not holding a goddamned thing. We're advancing constantly and we're not interested in holding anything except the enemy's balls. We're going to hold him by his balls and we're going to kick him in the ass; twist his balls and kick the living shit out of him all the time. Our plan of operation is to advance and keep on advancing. We're going to go through the enemy like shit through a tinhorn." - - G. S. Patton.

THE IRAQI AND KURDISH COMMANDERS HAVE TO MEET FIRST. NO UNIFIED COMMAND. UNFOCUSED ENERGY AND FORCE NOT CONCERTED!!

coolbert.

Mosul Offensive I.

This is coolbert:

It is a go!

The long-awaited Iraqi offensive to re-capture the important city of Mosul is underway.

Here begins a series of blog entries extracts from the latest edition of the DEBKAfile newsletter the topic of which is the Iraqi campaign to liberate the city of Mosul from the Islamic State. Images thanks in all cases to AP and Getty! Thank you AP and Getty.
.
And from the very get-go problems have arisen.

"Suicide bombers, fires slow US-backed Iraqi advance into Mosul"

18 October.

"The battle for the liberation of Mosul was slowed on its first day by a series of suicide attacks, fires and the homemade bombs that littered the roads and fields in the path of the advancing US-led coalition convoys. Black fumes from oil fires obscured the retreating Islamist fighters and their hideouts from air strikes. Some mingled with civilian inhabitants. Kurdish Peshmerga troops meanwhile combed through the surrounding villages street by street for hidden ISIS fighters. The huge, long-waited Mosul offensive is being carried out by a motley assortment of often rival fighting forces"

The "motley crew" as described sans unified command. Combat action of participants it would seem  unfocused not concerted and concentrated. An egregious violation of one of the most basic principles of war!!

To be continued.

coolbert.

Yantar EW.

This is coolbert:

From the latest edition of the DEBKAfile news letter we have an exclusive. Russian naval forces the vicinity of the eastern Mediterranean being further bolstered.,

 "EXCLUSIVE: A sophisticated Russian spy ship deploys off Syria, Lebanon"

15 October.

"The Russian Navy has just moved into position the advanced spy ship Yantar opposite the Lebanese coast at a point midway between Syria and Israel . . . It is therefore located for moving at speed either to Syrian or to Israeli waters. The Balzam-class vessel is 344 ft long, mounts Medium Frequency sonar, High Frequency dipping sonar, Electronic warfare gear to include jammers, interception devices and code-breaking software. These ships were revolutionary when built in the 80s, when they carried not only intercept and direction-finding electronics but also the necessary computing power to feed raw signal data into on-board information processing computers. An Underway replenishment system was installed as well."

I suspect LONG-TERM DEPLOYMENT the mission of which is to support the Northern Fleet of the Russian navy currently en route to Syrian waters.

Yantar NOT the Soviet/Russian electronic warfare "trawler" of a by-gone age. Far more sophisticated!

coolbert.

Cyber Attack?

This is coolbert:

Yet more from the latest edition of the DEBKAfile news letter.

This is the REASON for the DEFCON 3 status of the U.S. military?

"Obama administration mulls covert cyber action against Kremlin"

15 October.

"The Obama administration is contemplating an unprecedented cyber covert action against Russia in retaliation for alleged Russian interference in the American presidential election, US intelligence officials told NBC News. Insider sources say the CIA has been asked to deliver options to the White House for a wide-ranging 'clandestine' cyber operation designed to harass and 'embarrass' the Kremlin leadership"

WILL NOT BE CLANDESTINE, THAT IS FOR SURE. HAS ALREADY BEEN ANNOUNCED. IN PUBLIC SURREPTITIOUSNESS AS THAT WORD UNDERSTOOD HARDLY POSSIBLE NOW. ALSO I FEAR NO ONE TO BE "EMBARRASSED".

coolbert.

M-46 & Lancaster.

This is coolbert:

More BEST!

Military hardware in this instance as rated BEST during a particular conflict.

BEST of course a very subjective. In these two particular cases however I might think that judgment well warranted.

1. Soviet 130 mm gun M-46.

The M-46 saw extensive use by the NVA [North Vietnamese Army] in Vietnam War, especially at the siege of Khe Sanh. It was regarded by both sides as the best all-round field artillery of the Vietnam War.

See a You Tube video of a Vietnamese M-46 gun in action.

2. British Avro Lancaster heavy bomber.

"Adolf Galland (commander of the Luftwaffe fighters) considered the Lancaster to be 'the best night bomber of the war'"

See also another You Tube Video. That Lancaster and crew on a night bombing run. 

The M-46 gun that rating a consensus opinion. In the case of the Lancaster, when Adolph Galland speaks, we have a more reliable, objective and correct judgment?

coolbert.

Cliffs of Dover.

This is coolbert:

From the tabloid Daily Mail the Russian North Sea Fleet has now transited the English channel. An event the like of which that has not occurred at least since the Dogger Bank affair of 1905.

Without any visual aid civilians standing at the edge of the famous White Cliffs of Dover perfectly able to observe the movement of the Russian warships terribly arrayed!

"Putin's warships sail past the White Cliffs of Dover: Russian attack fleet is spotted from the British coast on its way to launch a devastating wave of new air strikes on Syria"

    * "The Admiral Kuznetsov passed the Dover Strait shortly before lunch on its way to attack jihadis in Syria"
    * "The powerful Russian fleet was ordered to travel though the English Channel's shipping lanes  in single file" 
    * "The Royal Navy and Nato allies are keeping the Russian carrier fleet under close observation"
    * "Putin has recalled two corvettes from the Mediterranean to divide the Royal Navy's response to his fleet"
    * "Russians have mocked Royal Navy as 'weak' and claimed Britain 'overreacted' by deploying warships"

THAT AMOUNT OF TOXIC BLACK SMOKE AS EMITTED BY THE AIRCRAFT CARRIER ADMIRAL KUZNETSOV COMMENTED ON BY EVERYONE!

That Russian Baltic fleet of 1905 involved in the Dogger Bank Incident and also seen passing close of Singapore.

As was reported by the Auckland Star of 1905 read that account!! The "Fleet Doomed to Die"!

OH, this all bodes no good!

coolbert.

Ilya Ilyin.

This is coolbert:

To understand Vlad Putin at some level you must also understand this man?

ILYA ILYIN.

From the IRRUSSIANALITY Internet web site:

"PUTIN’S PHILOSOPHER"

"In his speech to the Russian parliament on 4 December [2014], Vladimir Putin quoted philosopher Ivan Ilyin, who died 60 years ago today. Putin supervised the repatriation and reburial of Ilyin’s body in 2005, and has laid flowers on Ilyin’s grave. He has quoted him several times before. Ilyin’s Our Tasks (Nashi Zadachi) was one of three books distributed by the Kremlin as recommended reading to regional governors and senior members of the United Russia party . . . If Putin has a favourite philosopher, Ilyin seems to be the man."

 "Ilyin became the unofficial ideologist of the White Army in exile, and much of his work thereafter was as much political as it was philosophical, and was aimed at a wider audience than other philosophers."

"Ivan Alexandrovich Ilyin (1883-1954) was a Russian religious and political philosopher, White emigre publicist, and an ideologue of the Russian All-Military Union ... Ivan Ilyin was a conservative Russian monarchist in the Slavophile tradition ... Ilyin was staunchly opposed to Nazism in his writings, particularly its xenophobic character ... In his 1949 article, Ilyin argued against both totalitarianism and "formal" democracy in favor of a 'third way' of building a state in Russia

"Ilyin’s work covered a large variety of subjects . . . three themes stand out: gosudarstvennost’ (statehood); pravosoznanie (legal consciousness); and natsionalizm (nationalism)."

* Gosudarstvennost’. Ilyin was a firm believer in a strong state.

* Pravosoznanie: A lawyer by training, Ilyin was a firm believer in the importance of law.

* Natsionalizm: Ilyin was a nationalist. Love of country was a central part of his philosophy.

From a comment to the article by colliemum:

"Thank you – and forgive my abysmal ignorance: I’ve never heard of Ivan Ilyin. So your post was highly educational."

Well, for me too. I also "never heard" of Ilyin. I figure most everyone else the same. Devoted readers to the blog are now also informed and so much the better for it as well!

coolbert.

Channel Dash.

This is coolbert:

From THE Sun English tabloid we have coverage of an event the like of which has not occurred in over seventy years.

Russian warships en route to Syria pass through the English channel, flexing their muscles as they go, intimidating a NATO nation in a very open and overt manner.

"RUSSIANS IN OUR SIGHTS Royal Navy heroes stalk Putin’s nuke fleet as it heads for English Channel – after Russian media mocked our ‘tiny’ and ‘weak’ forces"

"Putin's Northern Fleet is passing through the North Sea and English Channel on its way to the Mediterranean"

Let me reiterate that at least to my knowledge an event of this magnitude has not occurred in at least seventy years. A hostile naval flotilla passing through the English channel acting in what appears to be a hostile manner. Quite overtly and menacingly an attempt at intimidation during a time of crisis.

All of this related to Russian efforts to prop up and save the regime of a despot?

That enhanced level of American military readiness in response to this Russian naval maneuver? I cannot say with certainty. But ominous YES!

coolbert.

Admiral Fisher.

This is coolbert:

"Whoever commands the sea commands the trade; whosoever commands the trade of the world commands the riches of the world, and consequently the world itself.” - - Sir Walter Raleigh.

More regarding the choke point and the important to sea power [that combination of naval force and merchant marine shipping] those choke points to include Bab al-Mandeb.

"Maritime Choke Points and Strategic Interruption"

"First articulated as a strategic concept by British Admiral Sir John “Jackie” Fisher in the early part of the 20th century, these choke points are as important now to the Western industrialized nations as they were to Imperial Britain at the beginning of that century."

[. . . .]

"In military strategy, a choke point (or chokepoint) is a geographical feature on land such as a valley, defile or a bridge or at sea such as a strait, which an armed force is forced to pass, sometimes on a substantially narrower front and therefore greatly decreasing its combat power, to reach its objective. A choke point can allow a numerically inferior defending force to thwart a larger opponent if the attacker cannot bring superior numbers to bear."

Modern oceanic choke points not all necessarily those as designated such by Jackie Fisher. Click on image to see a larger view.

"Fisher’s choke points were geographical features he believed vital for the Royal Navy’s ability to keep commerce flowing throughout the British Empire"

As listed by Admiral Fisher those choke points to include:

* Hormuz Strait.
* Strait of Malacca.
* Bab-el-Mandeb.
* Panama Canal.
* Suez Canal.
* Turkish Straits/Bosporus.
* Strait of Gibraltar.
* Cape Horn..
* The Cape of Good Hope.

Those British overseas possessions, variously referred to as Crown Colonies, Protectorates, Dominions, Settlements, Principalities, etc., seen at the time as vital to controlling the various oceanic choke points mostly gone now. An English presence in Singapore, Aden, British Honduras, Cyprus, South Africa, Oman gone for decades now!

The world today is far different from the time and era of Admiral Jackie Fisher. Choke points more or less in the context of naval supremacy and sea power in totality remain more or less the same!

coolbert.

Borei & Bulava.

This is coolbert:

From several sources nuclear weapons systems as tested by the Russian not being a threat but being planned well in advance. DON'T WORRY!

SSBN = Ballistic missile launching nuclear submarine.

First from Russian Times:

1. "Russian submarines, strategic missile troops test fire 3 long-range ballistic rockets"

"Russia has successfully conducted three separate ballistic rocket launches. Two tests were carried out by Russian submarines from the Northern and Pacific fleets, while another intercontinental ballistic missile was launched from the Plesetsk space center."

Back in the days of the old Soviet Union automobiles did not collide, planes did not fall from the sky, ships did not sink, trains did not run off the track AND MISSILES ALWAYS FIRED PERFECTLY AND HIT THE TARGET AS INTENDED!

Additionally as seen at Strategy Page:

2. "Russia: No Honor Among Siloviki"

"September 28, 2016: Off the Pacific coast there were two more test launches of the new Russian SLBM (Sea Launched Ballistic Missile) design, the Bulava (also known as R-30 3M30 and SS-NX-30). One missile worked while the other failed and exploded. This is not encouraging . . . The new Borei class SSBNs . . . cannot really enter service until they have a reliable SLBM and that can only be the Bulava. So far 38 percent of the test launches have failed. The two recent tests were the first since 2013 because time was needed to fix the management and manufacturing problems that were known to be the main cause of the Bulava problems."

Russian Borei class SSBN submarine at dock. A warship without firepower sans Bulava. That missile so far with a very high rate of  failure. Borei will be a tiger without teeth?

Yet again from MARCONI through Harry THESE TESTS PLANNED FOR SOME TIME IN ADVANCE!

"[recent] multiple missile tests have also been planned for some time as part of new SSBN readiness trials.

One by land and two by sea. In the case of the latter one failure.

 One Bulava during the most recent round of tests did not succeed? More for the Kremlin to worry about?

coolbert.

Gate of Tears.

This is coolbert:

More on the subject of the Strait of Bab al-Mandeb.

Red Sea to the north, Indian Ocean to the south. Yemen to the east, Djibouti to the west.

"The Bab-el-Mandeb . . .  is a strait located between Yemen on the Arabian Peninsula, and Djibouti and Eritrea in the Horn of Africa. It connects the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden."

THE RED SEA CONNECTING TO THE SUEZ CANAL, THE MEDITERRANEAN AND BEYOND TO EUROPE!

'The Bab-el-Mandeb acts as a strategic link between the Indian Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea via the Red Sea and the Suez Canal. In 2006, an estimated 3.3 million barrels (520,000 m3) of oil [about 8 %] passed through the strait per day, out of a world total of about 43 million barrels per day (6,800,000 m3/d) moved by tankers."

. . . .

In addition, dig this amazing stuff:

"On February 22, 2008, a company owned by Tarek bin Laden unveiled plans to build a bridge named Bridge of the Horns across the strait, linking Yemen with Djibouti"

NEED I ADD THAT TAREK IS A MEMBER IN GOOD STANDING OF THE VERY WEALTHY BIN LADEN FAMILY! YES, TAREK A BROTHER OR A HALF-BROTHER OF THE INFAMOUS OSAMA!

At the widest point the strait less than twenty miles [thirty-two kilometers] wide!

Narrowness of the strait a choke point OBVIOUS even the most casual of observers, without question. AND CONTROL OF WHICH CRUCIAL TO WORLD COMMERCE!

coolbert.

Dupin.

This is coolbert:

"I am Colonel Dupin. Obey or you are dead! All resistance is futile...I protect the good but have no mercy for evil men. I kill men, I rape women, I murder children; I exterminate the enemy by fire, by steel and by blood; remember my words!"

Yet more from the Internet web site "The Mad Monarchist". That French counter-insurgency unit during the French invasion of Mexico referred to the as the "Red Devils" commanded by this man.

Colonel Dupin. Cashiered French officer who found a niche as commanding counter-guerrilla units of the Mexican Imperial Army.

Mexican Imperial Army = those military forces loyal to Maximilian.

Juaristas = those insurgents in resistance to Maximilian.

"Monarchist Profile: Colonel Charles Dupin"

"When the war in Mexico, particularly along the northern frontier, degenerated into guerrilla warfare it was Emperor Napoleon III himself who recalled the aging Dupin for service in Mexico.. . . he had a reputation for courage and fearlessness, he was also known to employ methods ranging from extremely harsh to downright brutal. Nonetheless, Colonel Dupin came to Mexico and was given command of the contra-guerrillas operating on the coast and along the Texas border. He cut an imposing figure in his braided uniform, wide sombrero and a cigar always clenched in his teeth. His mission was to fight fire with fire, to wipe out the bandits and Juaristas in the region and he had no qualms about returning harshness with harshness and cruelty with cruelty."

IT DOESN'T MATTER WHETHER THE CAT IS WHITE OR BLACK, ONLY THAT IT CATCHES MICE? GUERRILLAS AND PARTISAN BANDS OF THE ENEMY IN PARTICULAR AND USE ANY MEANS NECESSARY TO DO SO!

Et inimici exterminare ignis, et ferrum, et sanguine!

coolbert.

Red Devils.

This is coolbert:

"their brutal tactics, 'ensured the submission of the people [but] was not likely to engender loyalty'”.

Military action during the French invasion of Mexico I am only in a very vague manner familiar with.

Mexican Imperial Army = those military loyal to and commanded by Maximilian.

Thanks to the Internet web site "The Mad Monarchist" an article describing the means and methods of that dedicated Mexican Imperial Army counter-insurgency unit referred to as "The Red Devils".

"Monarchist Military: The Red Devils"

"During the period of the French intervention and [the] Second Mexican Empire of all the units of the Mexican Imperial Army none were so feared or hated by the republican revolutionary forces as the contra-guerrillas commanded by the notorious Colonel Charles Dupin. Operating mostly in north and northeast Mexico the contra-guerrillas were formed in October of 1862 as a modest force of two cavalry squadrons. They proved so ruthlessly effective however and became such an elite force (with better pay, better food but riskier service) that by the summer of 1864 the force had grown to 850 soldiers organized into the two cavalry squadrons plus four infantry companies and a two gun mountain artillery battery. Today it is common to portray the contras as a French force but, in fact, they were part of the Imperial Mexican Army and, despite being commanded by a French officer, most in the French army viewed the contras with considerable distaste."

"However . . . harsh and even ruthless in their methods Colonel Dupin and his contras were frighteningly effective. Dupin has been described as savage and brilliant, courageous and brutal. The contras came from an extremely diverse background; mercenaries, regular soldiers of various nationalities, frontier ruffians and even a few Americans [deserters?] after the civil war there. Discipline was harsh for such a rowdy bunch but they had to be for the type of war they were fighting. The contras essentially employed the same brutal tactics used by the republican bandits against them. The fighting on the northern frontier was particularly brutal and both sides could be equally merciless. Dupin himself purposely encouraged the popular image of himself and his contras as invincible and bloodthirsty, employing a little wild-west type psychological warfare that ensured they were feared all across northern Mexico."

SUBMISSION BUT NOT LOYALTY!

See the entire Mad Monarchist archive regarding the counter-guerrilla forces of the Mexican Imperial Army.

I highly recommend the Internet web site "The Mad Monarchist" without qualification or reservation. Very well done whether you agree or disagree.

coolbert.

Baron.

This is coolbert:

Madman?

"Did Japan Read the Baron's Playbook?"

"Baron Roman von Ungern-Sternberg . . . may have been a bit on the 'unusual' side but he had a grand vision and was nothing if not ambitious. We have talked in the past about his aspirations and his, albeit short-lived, efforts to bring his vision to reality. It says something that, despite being only very briefly on the scene in Outer Mongolia, the 'Mad Baron' became something of a legendary figure . . . A legend though, is of course a fanciful tale, not reality. However, one could be forgiven for thinking that there may have been something to the basic premise considering the extent to which the 'cause' of the bizarre baron was taken up by the forces of the Empire of Japan during and prior to the Second World War."

Those ASPIRATIONS, VISION AND INTENTION of the Baron which was to create a multi-ethnic Eurasian steppe-land nation, a re-creation of the ancient Empire of Genghis Khan and as accomplished by "[a] multi-national counter-revolutionary army of White Russians, Mongols, Tibetans, Manchus, Japanese and other peoples of the region".

Read the entire Mad Monarchist archive concerning Baron Roman. 

I highly recommend the Mad Monarchist Internet web site. Communists not welcome!

coolbert.

Bab al-Mandeb!

This is coolbert:

More from the latest edition of the DEBKAfile newsletter:

"Iran’s 34th fleet faces US flotilla opposite Yemen"

14 October.

 "Iran’s Navy commander Rear Admiral Habibollah Sayyari announced Thursday, Oct. 13, that the Iranian 34th Fleet had deployed warships to the Bab al-Mandeb strait opposite the shores of Yemen. He made no mention of the US Tomahawk attack two days ago that destroyed three Iranian radar stations set up on Yemen’s Red Sea shore in rebel Houthi territory, in retaliation for Iranian missile attacks on American warships"

"Iran continues its sea confrontation with the US opposite Yemen by posting its 34th fleet opposite the US Navy flotilla, including its largest warship, the Bushehr."

THE IRANIAN NAVY CONTINGENT ENTERS THE FRAY IN YEMEN AND DOES DO SO IN A SURREPTIOUS MANNER OR USING PROXIES!

As it was over one-hundred years ago, access to and fro the Red Sea and Indian Ocean choke point of Bab al-Mandeb and Aden crucial to world geo-politics and control of access to raw materials.

Admiral Jackie Fischer was right!

coolbert.

IRGC Yemen.

This is coolbert:

America fights back!

Once more from the latest edition of the DEBKAfile news letter:

"US Tomahawks destroy Iran's radar bases in Yemen"

13 October.

"Tomahawk cruise missiles launched by US Navy destroyer USS Nitze early Thursday, Oct. 13, destroyed three Iranian-Yemeni coastal radar stations, after C-802 anti-ship missiles supplied by Iran to Yemeni Houthi rebels were fired at US naval vessels off the Yemeni coast. The stations were built and operated by Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) for their Yemeni proxies to back up a threat to blockade the Red Sea. From Oct. 9, the new missiles four times targeted the US flotilla shortly after it arrived to patrol the Red Sea and the Bab al-Mandeb Strait. Neither the US nor Iran has acknowledged their mounting confrontation over control of these strategic waters, which Tehran is waging through its Yemeni proxy . . . A highly advanced radar installation is required for the use of the C-802. Two radar stations set up outside Yemen’s two principal Red Sea ports, Mokha and Hudaydah, earlier this month were operated by IRGC missile and radar teams until they were destroyed Thursday . . . The third station was added for triangulation. The destruction of all three by US Tomahawks has knocked out the Houthis’ ability to use C-802 missiles and Iran’s threat to blockade the Red Sea."

As I said, those missiles fired at American warships more than likely not under the control of the Houthi rebel. Under the control of Iranian Revolutionary Guards, the firing of those C-802 presumably done only with the consent of the highest governmental authority in Iran!

The battle for the control of the waters around Aden and Bab al-Mandeb has begun!

That significance of the waters contiguous to Aden and the Strait of Bab al-Mandeb not having changed in over one-hundred years. Admiral Jackie Fischer was right!

coolbert.

Houthi Yemen.

This is coolbert:

From that latest edition of the DEBKAfile newsletter:

"Yemeni Houthis fire 2 Iranian-made missiles at US destroyer – and miss"

10 October 

"For the first time in two years, Yemeni Houthi rebels Saturday fired on an American vessel, launching two missiles at the US Navy guided-missile destroyer US Mason . . . The failed attack came a week after a United Arab Emirates vessel was badly damaged by a missile launched from the Houthi-controlled Yemeni shore . . . The Yemeni insurgents have been armed with advanced Chinese-made C-802 (NATO-named CSS-N-8) anti-ship missiles upgraded by Iran, as part of Tehran’s proxy bid to seize control of the strategic Red Sea strait. The same missile fired by Hizballah in 2006 crippled the Israeli Navy’s Hanit at the outset of the Second Lebanese"

MORE THAN LIKELY THIS IS NOT HOUTHI REBELS FIRING AT THE AMERICAN SHIPS AND THE UAE VESSEL BEFORE THEM! ARE EITHER IRANIAN MILITARY OR REVOLUTIONARY GUARDS OR THE HEZBOLLAH PROXY OPERATING AND FIRING THE MISSILES.

Consider also that these attacks allow the U.S. Navy an opportunity to evaluate anti-ship missile defense. A real-world life or death situation that cannot be replicated during maneuvers or tests.

coolbert.

Mosul.

This is coolbert:

Mosul the battle begins? Mark you calendar and mark it well.

From the latest edition of the DEBKAfile newsletter:

"Obama set for Mosul battle, leaves Aleppo to Putin"

8 October.

"The warlike rhetoric heard from Washington over the plight of the stricken Syrian town of Aleppo does not represent any current Obama administration plan for military intervention to halt the ever-mounting carnage . . . for now, the US president’s mind is fixed exclusively on the preparations for the Oct. 19 offensive for the liberation of the Iraqi city of Mosul from ISIS occupation. US, Iraqi, Iraqi and Kurdish forces are aligned for the battle. Obama is brooking no distractions from his main objective. He hopes the Mosul operation will be over and done with by mid-December, so that when he exits the White House in January, he will have chalked up a major victory against the Islamic State as part of his legacy."

Announce the date for the big offensive to oust ISIL from the city of Mosul and ALSO while you are at it why not give the bad guys a copy of your entire operational plan.

Beware Mosul to having been mined by ISIL so that the place will resemble one big exploding detonation after another. Apocalyptic in nature!

OH, what do I know?

coolbert.

Crook II.

This is coolbert:

Conclusion!

His name was Crook but he was no crook!

General Crook both as a soldier and military governor demonstrating skill and ability with vision and forethought, that combination of talent rarely found in any individual.

Crook also apparently an enlightened man, able to combine the carrot and stick with good intentions in mind!

From the wiki entry for George Crook and his participation in the American Indian Wars specifically his campaign against renegade Apache Indians. Again, that correct combination of carrot and stick most effective::

"In 1882 he returned to Arizona, forced the Mormons, squatters, miners, and stock-raisers to vacate the Indian lands on which they had seized, encouraged the Apaches in planting, and pledged them the protection of the government. In the spring of 1883 the Chiricahuas entrenched themselves in the fastness of the mountains on the northern Mexican boundary, and began a series of raids. Gen. Crook struck the trail, and, instead of following, took it backward, penetrated into and took possession of their strongholds, and, as fast as the warriors returned from their plundering excursions, made them prisoners. He marched over 200 miles, made 400 prisoners, and captured all the horses and plunder. During the two years following, he had sole charge of the Indians, and in that time no depredation occurred. He set them all at work on their farms, abolished the system of trading and paying in goods and store orders indulged in by contractors, paid cash direct to the Indians for all his supplies, and stimulated them to increased exertion. The tribes became self-supporting within three years."

Crook functioning in the capacity both as a combat commander and military governor his performance in both roles outstanding!

coolbert.

Crook I.

This is coolbert:

Here with a number of quotations as attributed to the American general officer George Crook.

Thanks to the tip from Professor Al Nofi at Strategy Page!

His name was Crook but he was no Crook! General George Crook.

"General George Crook, considered by many of his contemporaries, and historians alike to be the US Army's most skilled Indian fighter, respected Native Americans as valiant foes who deserved to be treated fairly and humanely in defeat."

To the remarks and quotations:

Poor governance! Crook coming to the same conclusion as Don Alvaro centuries before!

In this particular instance General Crook has the missionary in mind? the missionary concerned with the afterlife while neglecting the temporal here and now!

Wow! I couldn't have said any of it better myself! Crook rather enlightened for his time, even way beyond the normal it can be surmised! With a half-dozen good men in command such as George Crook much of the conflict between the white settler and the American Indian could have resolved in a much more amicable manner? NOT resolved unless good governance was forthcoming. And in most cases it was not!

To be continued.

coolbert.

DEFCON 3.

This is coolbert:

Hot super red Flash message.

NO WHERE in the main stream media did I see this topic covered.

Thanks to the Internet web site Before Its News and the tip from Al for this info:

"War Drums: Warning System Has Just Been Raised to DEFCON 3"

 "The DEFCON Warning System Alert status has just been raised to code Yellow. DEFCON 3. Tensions between Russia and the United States have reached levels beyond the cold war in the recent week. The situation between Russia and the United States is extremely fluid at the moment. In all likelihood as dynamic as at times during the Cuban Missile Crisis of 1962."

AMERICAN MILITARY FORCES PLACED ON AN ENHANCED READINESS STATUS!

Fluid and dynamic! To say the least!

coolbert.

Fulcrum MiG-29.

This is coolbert:

A history lesson for Martin.

"Why Would Pentagon Pretend to Fly Russia’s Military Jets?" by Martin Berger.

"The Internet has lately been filled with pictures of American military pilots rushing towards US warplanes closely resembling Russia’s Su-34, painted in a recognizable light blue paint scheme that has never been used in the US military, but is routinely used by the Russian Air Force."

This particular Fulcrum having German Luftwaffe markings. Aircraft as inherited from the old East German airforce.

PAINTING THE AMERICAN WARPLANE IN A MANNER ALA RUSSIAN A PRELUDE TO A FALSE FLAG ATTACK DESIGNED TO CREATE FURTHER TENSION LEADING TO WAR BETWEEN THE WESTERN POWERS AND RUSSIA AS IT IS SUGGESTED!

I would bring to the attention of Mr. Berger that the United States Air Force [USAF] does NOT NEED TO PRETEND TO FLY RUSSIAN JET WARPLANES.

For several decades now the MiG-29 Fulcrum has been in the inventory of the USAF. The American government having purchased twenty-one MiG-29 from Moldova and DONE SO SOME TIME AGO!

"Exposed: America Purchased 21 Lethal Russian Mig-29 Fighters"

How many of those twenty-one Fulcrum are operational, still up and flying a mystery. Any devoted reader to the blog having a handle on this?

coolbert.