Krasukha-4.

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Russian response in measure to the shoot-down of the Il-20 Coot reconnaissance as promised has now been delivered.

From the latest edition of the DEBKAfile newsletter.

Russian all-encompassing electronic warfare [EW] jamming system now has been delivered to Russian [?] forces in Syria. Israel beware!

"Russia's first Krasukha-4 electronic warfare unit lands in Syria. It can jam spy satellites, enemy radar"

25 September.
   
"The Russian Krasukha-4 mobile electronic warfare system landed in Syria on Tuesday, Sept. 25. It was unloaded at the Russian Khmeimim Air Base near Latakia, one day after Russian Defense Minister Gen. Sergei Shoigu pledged systems for jamming systems of combat aircraft attacking Syria, in punishment for Israel's alleged role in downing the Russian IL-20 spy plane."

"The Krasukha-4 can jam communications systems, disable guided missiles and aircraft, and neutralize Low-Earth Orbit spy satellites and radars (AWACS) at ranges of 150-300km, covering northern and central Israel. The Russian EW system can also damage enemy EW. The IDF has no operational experience of the Krasukha-4, but the Americans have."

Israeli warplanes attacking targets in Syria, NOT EVEN IF INTRUDING SYRIAN AIRSPACE to be subjected to Russian jamming. Jamming to include the denial of GPS guidance systems as to be found on Israeli air-to-ground missiles such as Delilah, Sky Sniper, Rampage.

THIS SITUATION INTENSE, WITHOUT PRECEDENT. DAYS OF GOG AND MAGOG?

coolbert.

S-200 Syria.

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From an Internet web site and the translation from Russian by Al some further info [excerpts] as per the shoot-down of the Russian Il-20 Coot reconnaissance warplane.

A hot topic and finally [?] we have some expert insight. And as copied  more or less in entirety the comments [from the translation] by the Russian officer [ex] Yuri Alexeev:

“Since I [Yuri] studied the S-200 system at military school and then served at it for many years, I can state the following: the Arabs could not have confused an F-16 with an IL-20…"

[as to Yuri being a real live person with the purported background I cannot say with any certainty.]

“All the surfaces of a jet plane reflecting the radar beam are immobile. That’s why the reflected signal formed by the plane’s several ‘hot spots’ has roughly the same frequency and looks like three adjacent vertical lines."

“On the other hand, due to the Doppler effect, a turboprop plane (its rotating propellers create various Doppler additions to the signal frequency) produces a signal in the shape of multiple vertical lines that fill practically the whole radar screen."

“Any training of radar operators and other crew members starts from explaining these very differences. I’m sure our instructors who trained the Arab crew did just that…"

“It has to be said that the S-200B system is complex to maintain and operate. All sorts of procedures are involved in launching a rocket…"

“If the crew managed to launch a missile, they were clearly trained and definitely knew the difference in the footprints of a jet and a turboprop plane…"

“There’s a theory that the Syrian crew followed and attacked an F-16 that then performed an evasive maneuver, pushing into the radar coverage our plane that has a much larger reflective surface. The missile re-targeted it automatically and a hit occurred."

“Yes, that’s possible – but only if our plane was ‘lit up’ by the radar. If there had been no reflected signal, the missile would have self-destructed. That means the Arabs had been tracking our plane and therefore saw the reflected signal on the radar screen."

“Moreover, to re- target, the operator had to switch manually to the automatic tracking of the new target…"

“In my [Yuri] opinion, the Arabs knew what they were tracking and launched a missile deliberately. This is a matter of ‘corporate ethics’."

“Losing a target is the worst thing that can happen to an AA [anti-aircraft] officer. When we were on duty, we were issued pistols. Being young, we’d ask our commanders what the guns were for. They’d reply that, if you lose a target, go and shoot yourself, to save the paperwork at the court martial.

“All personnel at AA missile systems knew that still having un-launched rockets after an enemy raid was a guaranteed death sentence for themselves. It’s likely that the Arabs had been imbued with that principle, so they fired at whatever they saw.”

[readers will recall from the First Gulf War seeing images of the sky over Baghdad during night raids by American combat warplanes. The entire sky filled with rounds AAA rounds being fired and various detonations occurring. Arab AAA crews tend to be quite trigger happy!!]

SYRIAN SURFACE-TO-AIR MISSILE FIRING PERSONNEL MANNING THE S-200 SYSTEM COULD NOT HAVE MISTAKEN THE ISRAELI F-16 FOR THE IL-20 COOT? THIS SHOOT-DOWN COULD NOT HAVE BEEN A CASE OF FRATRICIDE AND MISTAKEN IDENTITY!

As I have said before at least in my mind this all bears a resemblance to the Gulf of Tonkin incident from over fifty years ago now.

RATHER THE COOT INCIDENT IS A FALSE FLAG OPERATION INTENDED TO CREATE A CRISIS TO BE TAKEN ADVANTAGE OF? WHOA BOY!

You the devoted reader to the blog decide for yourself but do so with caution. Once more also thank you Al!

coolbert.

Rampage II.

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The missiles of September, Middle East style!

Consider and read the whole article courtesy of Yoav Limor and the Sheldon Adelson Internet web site Israel Hayom. The Israeli perspective the shoot-down of the Russian reconnaissance warplane and what is transpiring in the aftermath thereof. AS DEEMED A STRATEGICAL CRISIS FOR THE ISRAELI!

 "A tactical incident turned strategic crisis"

"A week after Syrian air defenses accidentally downed ‎a Russian reconnaissance plane over Latakia, this ‎tactical incident has evolved into a serious ‎strategic problem."

"Russia's insistence that Israel was to blame for the ‎incident and the harsh messages coming out of the ‎Kremlin leave little doubt, even among the most ‎optimistic pundits, that reality in Syria is about ‎to change." ‎

SYRIAN TARGETS AS SUBJECT TO ISRAELI ATTACK  MORE LIKELY IRANIAN WEAPONS STORAGE FACILITIES.

Attack also I reasonably infer by Israeli warplanes using stand-off missile systems. Syrian airspace not actually intruded by F-16, F-15, F-35. Aircraft not even needing to violate Syrian airspace as deemed to successfully destroy a target within Syrian territory.

Stand-off missiles to include: * Delilah * Rampage * Sky Sniper or even * EXTRA. [the latter ground-launched]

THAT ISRAELI STRATEGIC CRISIS WITHIN THE CONTEXT OF A MOST RECENT RUSSIAN TWEET EASILY UNDERSTOOD!

    #Shoigu: "#Russia will jam satellite navigation [GPS], on-board radars and communication systems of combat aircraft that attack targets on #Syria/n territory, in the regions over the waters of the #Mediterranean Sea bordering #Syria"

"REGIONS OVER THE WATERS OF THE MEDITERRANEAN BORDERING SYRIA!"

Israeli warplanes even over the Mediterranean and beyond traditional Syrian airspace might now be subject to Russian attack, both direct and indirect!!

Consequences as well might be feared to be most terrible!

coolbert.

S-300.

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Russian response to the downing of the Il-20 reconnaissance warplane retaliation as previously hinted at least to this extent indirect. Thanks to the Investment Watch blog for the heads-up.

"Russia Retaliates to Downed Airplane: Israel Will No Longer Be Capable of Bombing Syria With Impunity"

The Russian two-step in action to consist of:

1. Provide Syrian air defense with an upgraded and more capable S-300 surface-to-air missile system.

2. Jamming of all weapons systems [electronic guidance] used by aggressor warplanes [Israeli] firing at targets located within Syrian territory.

See the Maxim Suchkov tweet regarding item # 2.

    #Shoigu: "#Russia will jam satellite navigation [GPS], on-board radars and communication systems of combat aircraft that attack targets on #Syria/n territory, in the regions over the waters of the #Mediterranean Sea bordering #Syria"

The Syrian will be ready and able in an instance to deploy and use in an effective manner the S-300? Russians will be embedded with the Syrian operators? A push-the-button-now sort of familiarity will be needed?

coolbert.

Prinz.

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A legacy of Able and Baker. American nuclear detonations in the aftermath of World War Two.

"How the U.S. Is Recovering Oil from a Nuked Warship"

"Prinz Eugen, once the pride of the German Navy, is sitting upside down in the Pacific and threatening to leak."

"The U.S. military is trying to recover the oil form a ship that's been underwater for 72 years. In an interesting twist, it's not even an American warship."

"The United States captured the German heavy cruiser Prinz Eugen as a war prize after the end of World War II. The Prinz Eugen capsized in 1946 after being nuked—twice—during the atomic bomb tests at Bikini Atoll. For decades, experts have feared that the radioactive ship's oil might leak into the Pacific. Now the Pentagon is trying to do something about it."

See this video of Baker. Warships subjected to the nuclear blast clearly visible.

Radioactive oil. There it is in the nutshell. That "fleet" moored and subjected to Able and Baker damaged to a much lesser extent than was anticipated. Warships surviving relatively intact even without a crew to do damage control.

AND NO ONE EVER THOUGHT TO REMOVE THE OIL FROM THE PRINZ EUGEN PRIOR TO ABLE AND BAKER? EVIDENTLY NOT! OTHER WARSHIPS PRESENT ALSO THE SAME PROBLEM.?

Radioactive oil recovered you now have barrels full of the stuff that must be stored in a safe location in perpetuity as they say.

Pay me now or pay me later! Later in this case!

coolbert.

DMZ Syria.

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World War Three has been averted? Thank President Erdogan of Turkey if this is so!!

From Freeper and thanks to same.

"US military welcomes Russian-Turkish DMZ agreement in Syria....."

"The U.S. military Tuesday said it supported a plan to establish a demilitarized zone in northern Syria that would separate rebels in their last stronghold from advancing government forces. The agreement to create a buffer zone was worked out Monday in a meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan held in Sochi, Russia. Russia’s defense minister said that under the agreement, Syria would refrain from launching an offensive on Idlib Province, the last major rebel stronghold."

Erdogan having in mind primarily the Uighur? Ethnic Turkish people who have established themselves in that area of Syria in/around Idlib.

A massive and overwhelming attack on Idlib by a combined Russian/Syrian/Hezbollah/Iranian force has been averted? A negotiated settlement can be amicably arrived at? Hard to see that the case but let us hope for the best.

See previous blog entries the topic of which was Idlib.

http://militaryanalysis.blogspot.com/2018/09/china-idlib.html

http://militaryanalysis.blogspot.com/2018/09/atw.html

Cooler heads are now going to prevail?

coolbert.

GoT.

This is coolbert:

Coot gone. Follow-up number two. From Freeper.

We now have a more cogent and reasonable explanation of what occurred with the Russian Il-20 Coot surveillance warplane shoot-down.

ISRAEL IS INVOLVED BUT ONLY INDIRECTLY SO?

THIS DOES SOUND AS GULF OF TONKIN [GoT] DEJA VU ALL OVER AGAIN! INDEED!!

1. "BREAKING NEWS: Russian Aircraft Downed.. Israelis Set Plane Up..Right To 'Adequate Response'"

"Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu has expressed his outrage to Israel's Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman after 15 Russian servicemen died when their plane was shot down by Syrian air defenses during a sudden Israeli air attack. Russia's Defense Ministry says 4 Israeli F-16's used the larger Russian IL-20 plane as a decoy for their attack on the northern Syria city of Latakia."

2. "Syria Shoots Down a Russian Military Plane, and Moscow Blames Israel"

"Syrian antiaircraft missiles shot down a Russian military aircraft carrying 15 service members off the Syrian coast Monday night, the Russian Defense Ministry said. Moscow angrily blamed the Israeli military for what appeared to be a case of friendly fire, saying the Israelis were conducting air raids in the area and had given only a minute’s warning, too little for the Il-20 surveillance plane to fly out of harm’s way."

COOT USED AS A SHIELD BY ATTACKING ISRAELI WARPLANES?  IF THE ISRAELI DID SO IN A DELIBERATE MANNER THIS IS GOING TO BE CONTENTIOUS.

An "adequate response" I infer to some sort of mean retaliation in kind. Most worrisome!

coolbert.

Coot II.

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Coot gone follow-up number one.

Gulf of Tonkin deja vu all over again? As I feared. So many possible culprits? Even fratricide.

Hold onto your hats everyone. This could get grim fast.

From various sources and the original tip from Al.

1. "Putin Says Israel Didn't Down Russian Aircraft; Netanyahu Offers Condolences"

"Earlier, Russia blamed downed military aircraft on Israel's 'deliberate provocations' striking Syria ■ France denies involvement, U.S. says plane shot down by Syrian air defense systems"

2. "Russia blames Israel after military plane shot down off Syria"

"Russia has said Syria shot down one of its military planes - but laid the blame for the deaths of the 15 personnel on board with Israel."

The Israeli did it. The Israeli did not do it. The Syrian did it. Etc. 

At this juncture cooler heads appear to be prevailing. I would hope so. A misinterpretation of events can lead to misguided and unwanted retaliation the consequences of which are both undesirable and unpredictable.

Nebel des Krieges!  Fog of war!

coolbert.

Coot IL-20.

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Coot is gone! Fratricide Syria! 

This how a pattern of escalation spiraling rapidly out of control can begin.

Thanks to the tip from Freeper and further info as per the Aviationist.

1. "Syrian regime accidentally shoots down Russian military plane"

"A Russian maritime patrol aircraft with multiple personnel on board was inadvertently shot down by Syrian regime anti-aircraft artillery on Monday after the Syrians came under attack by Israeli missiles, according to a US official with knowledge of the incident"

My instantaneous thought was that this was RUSSIAN air defense shooting down their own aircraft. NOT the Syrians!

2. "Russia has deployed at least one Il-20 Coot spy plane to Syria"

"Along with the 28 combat planes that have arrived at al-Assad International Airport via Iran hiding under Il-76 cargo planes last week, the Russian Air Force has deployed at least one Il-20 Coot surveillance plane to Syria."

"Even though satellite imagery has not yet unveiled its presence on an apron at the airfield near Latakia, an Il-20 Coot spy plane has already arrived in Syria to reinforce the Russian contingent, according to one of our sources."

COOT analogous to the American P-3 Orion. "Spy plane" as referred with international and military markings not a SPY PLANE as that word SPY ordinarily, commonly and generally understood. Coot rather a reconnaissance and surveillance warplane.

Also my instantaneous reaction was GULF OF TONKIN INCIDENT!  The Russian will seek [hope not!!] some sort of misguided vengeance? As described before, there will occur a pattern of retaliation and escalation of hostilities between international players in the Syrian Civil War that will "spiral" out of control.

coolbert.

Warning!

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BIG RED MOVES WEST! 2018 style with atomics?

Admonitions and warnings from the Russian directed at American Secretary of Defense Mattis.

If and when conflict between NATO and Russia commences, the use of atomic weapons not out of the question.

Move along folks. Nothing new to see here!

"Russia reportedly warned Mattis it could use nuclear weapons in Europe, and it made him see Moscow as an 'existential threat' to the US"

"Russia's warning to Mattis came in regard to the Baltic states, which have warned of Russia's growing interference."

Nothing new here? Think the Soviet battle plan for engaging NATO during the era of the Cold War

"Seven Days to the River Rhine".

SEVEN DAYS TO THE RHINE RIVER THE SOVIET GROUND INVASION OF NATO DEFENDED WEST GERMANY! AN  INVASION WHICH WOULD HAVE MADE WIDESPREAD AND LIBERAL USE OF ATOMIC WEAPONS.

The Baltic States [Lithuania, Estonia, Latvia] once incorporated into the old Soviet Union. Those nations now an integral part of NATO. An attack on the Baltics would be under Article Five of the NATO charter the same as an attack on the United States. An attack to be repelled using all means to do so.

Sounds scary, doesn't it? Well, it sounds scary because it is!

Let me scare you further and remind you that the Russian has brought out-of-mothballs the 240 mm mortar which allegedly has a nuclear weapons capability.

coolbert.



 

Monitors.

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You are being watched!

From the Russian media outlet Russian Times [RT] and as originally reported by other sources.

More on the combined effort to track ship movements vicinity North Korea. Observe and report actual and possible embargo violations.

"US sets up coalition to track foreign ships delivering fuel to North Korea – report"

"A US Navy ship will reportedly host military personnel from the Five Eyes countries plus Japan and South Korea to monitor foreign vessels delivering fuel to the North in violation of UN sanctions.:

"The coalition will include the US, the UK, Australia, New Zealand and Canada – America’s partners within the Five Eyes intelligence-sharing alliance – as well as Japan and South Korea, the Wall Street Journal reported, citing an American military official. This is apparently the first US-led effort to track fuel deliveries to North Korea."

See previous blog entries as germane:

http://militaryanalysis.blogspot.com/2018/09/ran-korea.html

http://militaryanalysis.blogspot.com/2018/09/kayforce-ii.html

Ships! Planes! Personnel! All this a demonstration of solidarity and resolve. Kim take note!

coolbert.

Tank Italia.

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GRU = Soviet military intelligence.

"There may be some people who underestimate Italy as a country of great thinker, but not the GRU. The GRU know that the Italians have very good brains, the brains of great inventors. Few people realize that before the Second World War Italy's technology was at an incredibly high level. The Italians were not especially brilliant in battle, and that obscured the extent of Italian achievement in military technology."

ARMOR ITALIAN STYLE! AS IT WAS IN THE ERA PRIOR TO WW2.

To be honest this You Tube video rather disappointing. Italian armor development from the era of the Great War through the Second World not of the innovative nature as I might have assumed. Italian tank designs based primarily on reverse engineering of already existing foreign models, the Italians incorporating small incremental changes and not a whole lot revolutionary concepts. Italian armor technology in all cases constrained by budget considerations. Italian genius as regards tank design not so terribly outstanding.

See my previous blog entry also the topic of which was Italian tanks as used in combat during the Second World War.

coolbert.

Sir Michael.

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 "Whenever I [Caine] killed someone there was no guilt, no remorse - it didn't feel real. It was during the Korean War and I was just trying to stay alive. It was self-defense. It was always done at night and we never had any idea who we had killed. I didn't even think about it - we had machine guns and we just did it. I never did anything close up or hand-to-hand. It didn't give me nightmares, because the Army brutalizes you. It was like the World War I trenches - half a mile apart - and we were just firing backwards and forwards, so we never knew who any of our victims were as individuals. You never saw the whites of a man's eyes when you killed him."

BEFORE THERE WAS THE MOVIE "ZULU" MICHAEL CAINE LIVED IT!!

See this outstanding video courtesy You Tube. The war experience of Sir Michael. The man fought in a war he did not understand for a people he did not know. But did his bit and is obviously proud of his service. 

See also this Internet web site, the comportment of the Royal Fusiliers in Korea most commendable. Exemplary even. "THE 1ST.BATTALION ROYAL FUSILIERS(THE CITY OF LONDON REGIMENT)".

"Honi soit qui mal y pense".

coolbert.

F-35 ME.

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ME = Middle East.

Continuing and concluding from the latest edition of the DEBKAfile as pertains to the Idlib situation and potentially beyond..

F-35 enters the fray. Poised and ready. Presumably warplanes part and parcel of the U.S. Marine strike force vicinity Yemen.

"First US F-35 planes deployed to Gulf  and Red Sea. Marines drill unblocking Hormuz and Mandeb"

13 September.

"US naval, air and Marine forces have launched a war game off the Horn of Africa coast opposite the Gulf of Aden and the Red Sea - their first drill for practicing a potential regional clash with Iran, whether full-scale or limited. They are focusing on the simulated Iranian blockage of the region's two vital choke points, the Strait of Hormuz in the Persian Gulf and the Red Sea's Straits of Bab al-Mandeb . . . It is the first time that the US has introduced the F-35 for combat duty in these regions."

FIRST COMBAT TEST OF THE F-35. IF AND WHEN NEEDED F-35 WILL PROVIDE AIR SUPPORT TO THE U.S. MARINE AMPHIBIOUS FORCE THE MISSION TO MAINTAIN A FREE-FLOW OF MERCHANT MARINE SHIPPING THROUGH THE CHOKE POINTS OF STRAIT OF HORMUZ AND BAB AL-MANDEB.

coolbert.

ATW.

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To the end!

Here begins a series of blog entries items of interests as extracted from the latest edition of the DEBKAfile newsletter.

"Putin is ready go all the way against the US in Syria. Where does this place Israel?"
   
10 September.

"After a series of aerial bombardments, the Russian-Syrian-Iranian offensive to gain control of Idlib, the last rebel stronghold in Syria, is ready to go, having meanwhile gained a valuable increment of Hizballah fighters, who were redirected to Syria after returning home . . . The stakes in Idlib is so high that the US and Russia have massed large-scale naval and aerial might in the region and British and French forces are on high alert, especially after Moscow's warning that Russia would hit back at pro-American targets in eastern and northern Syria for an Western attack on Iranian/Syrian forces taking part in the Idlib offensive."

Russians and their allied elements poised and ready. Idlib in the cross-hairs. Syrian Arab Army [SAA] having made preparations[?]  to use poison gas during  the assault.

THIS HAS THE MAKINGS OF BECOMING A MUCH WIDER REGIONAL WAR WITH A MULTIPLICITY OF INTERNATIONAL PLAYERS. THAT RED LINE OF POISON GAS ATTACK INVITES RETALIATION WITH THE PROSPECT OF ESCALATION NO ONE WANTS!

coolbert.

Glide.

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Conceptual designs. On paper. Drawing board only. Money has been allocated?

The American counter to the much ballyhooed Russian [and Chinese for that matter] hypersonic weapons systems.

"bal·ly·hoo - - 1. extravagant publicity or fuss."

Thanks to The Drive/Zero Hedge/Jeff for the tip and the article at Zero by Tyler Durden.

"DARPA Designs ‘Glide Breaker’ Interceptor To Hit Enemy Hypersonic Missiles"

"As Russia and China jump ahead of the United States with superior hypersonic weapons, one of the Pentagon’s top research and development arms is playing defense with a new, secret project to guard the nation against Mach 5 missile attacks."

Russian and Chinese unstoppable hypersonic missile and reentry vehicle systems not so impervious as thought? There is a counter? From this You tube video not a whole lot of details given. A Hard-hit weapon as deemed? The bullet hitting a bullet? Again, not a whole lot of details other than is drawing board stuff, conceptual.

The USA having tested some time ago [with not a lot of success?] the X-51 Waverider hypersonic missile. Do not think the American military so far behind the eight-ball [In a bad situation, in a losing position.] with regard to this sort of technology!

coolbert.

Media.

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Who knows? The Russian knows! I'm watching you!

Still more from the Russian media outlet Russian Times [RT] and thanks to same.

"Russian military servicemen banned from sharing any info on Internet in government bill"

"The Russian government has drafted a new bill which, if passed by parliament, would ban military servicemen from disclosing on the web any information about themselves, their units and other military staff."

"The bill specifies that members of the military of any rank should not post information on the Internet about themselves or other servicemen, including pictures and videos, as well as geolocation data. The rule applies equally to foreign citizens who serve in the Russian forces. Retired servicemen, however, are exempt from all restrictions imposed by the motion."

THAT ENEMY SMART PHONES AND SOCIAL MEDIA. MALWARE AS INADVERTENTLY DOWNLOADED CAN PROVIDE A HOSTILE POWER WITH A MEANS OF MONITORING A RUSSIAN SERVICE MEMBER SURREPTITIOUSLY.

Malware often downloaded as software embedded within an image of a risque and racy nature!!

See previous applicable blog entries, a whole host of them:

http://militaryanalysis.blogspot.com/2018/04/honey.html

http://militaryanalysis.blogspot.com/2018/02/ban.html

http://militaryanalysis.blogspot.com/2018/01/fitbit.html

http://militaryanalysis.blogspot.com/2017/03/iphone-marines.html

coolbert.

Duel.

This is coolbert:

Here with a blog entry borderline.germane but nonetheless with a military dimension

Prince Andre would be proud. From the Russian media outlet Russian Times [RT].

Honor must be satisfied and will be!

Not dueling banjos but dueling Russian style!

1. "Duels to be recognized under Russian law as Lib Dems draft bill following general’s challenge"

"The Russian Liberal Democratic party has drafted a bill allowing for official duels and detailing rules for such combat. The move comes after the head of the National Guard challenged an opposition figure to a fight over slander."

"The motion, prepared and drafted by MP Sergey Ivanov states that a duel between Russian citizens should be possible – although it should by no means be deemed a normal way of settling scores."

YOU CAN DO IT BUT PLEASE REALLY DON'T DO SO! MAY I SUGGEST PAINTBALL OR AIR SOFT TYPE OF WEAPONRY TO BE USED!

AND AS TO WHY THIS SUDDEN CONCERN WITH HONOR AND DUELING:

2. "National Guard commander challenges opposition figure Navalny to hand-to-hand fight"

NORMALLY IN THE HISTORICAL SENSE THE PERSON BEING CHALLENGED HAS THE CHOICE OF WEAPONS! AGAIN MAY I SUGGEST PAINTBALL OR AIR SOFT AS THE SELECTION!

We think this as all in jest but I think much more than that!

coolbert.

RAN Korea.

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RAN - Royal Australian Navy.

From a Hot Mail courtesy Harry at Sharkhunters and thanks to WIZARD.

"RAN ON THE MOVE - A pair of Royal Australian Navy mine hunters have departed Sydney for a three-month deployment to North-east Asia, the first such deployment in over seventy years. The deployment comes amidst a major shift in focus for the service as it looks to refocus on Asia after decades in the Middle East."

NORTH-EAST ASIA! Presumably this means waters contiguous to the Korean peninsula?

Yet one more further show of solidarity with allied powers - - an Australian response to the Korean Crisis?

See as well the most recent blog entry as relevant to this naval deployment.

"Forward Australia Fair"!

coolbert.

Rats!

This is coolbert:

Open-season, no bag limit!!

Dog O' War. Rat terrier, the Great War.

From the Internet web site lileks.com the cartoon and the reality!

"the WW1 cartoons of Abian Wallgren."

Abian Wallgren!

"So who was he? A Marine, for starters. An American soldier in the AEF during WW1, Abian 'Wally' Wallgren drew comics for 'Stars and Stripes.' His style was typical for the era - broad goofy caricatures with oversized feet. But for a young man he had wit and promise - some of the cartoons you'll see here are quite accomplished."

Cartoon courtesy Abian done in comedic fashion but the situation real! Vermin and especially rats infesting the trenches of the Great War [WW1]. Rats breeding in profusion, astronomical numbers beyond counting, a pestilence of biblical scale! The periodic killing of rats an important factor during lulls in combat. Dogs found to be the most efficient and best way to combat the trench rat! See the rest of the Abian cartoons also!

Cats not as efficient in catching rats as a terrier. Hunting technique of the terrier better.

French troops and civilians proudly display dead trench rats. That little terrier in the arms of the man on the far left accomplished the feat in fifteen minutes so says the caption accompanying the image.

Yet one more French soldier with a terrier and dead rats. The "daily catch". Impressive!!

Vile animals gone and we are all the better for it too! Those in the trenches of that period even much more. Thank you Mr. Rat Terrier. Yeoman work done in a yeoman fashion.

coolbert.

Rescue.

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Rescue!!

American combat aviators in two wars as awarded the Medal of Honor [MoH] their actions brave to an extreme; also perhaps foolhardy at best and perhaps [?] even in violation of directive, regulations, policies, rules of engagement. Even orders!

Thanks to the tip from Freeper.

1. Charles H. Hammann. World War One.

"1918: When enemy fighters shoot [sic] down Ensign George M. Ludlow’s Machhi M.5 seaplane . . . off the Austria-Hungary coast, Charles H. Hammann lands beside him and rescues the downed aviator. Hamman’s fighter is also damaged, and the winds high and seas choppy, but he manages to take off with Ludlow holding the struts behind him (the plane wasn’t designed to carry two pilots) and flies 65 miles across the Adriatic Sea to the air station at Porto Cassini, Italy."

2. Major Bernard F. Fisher, USAF. Second Indo-China War.

"During the battle [A Shau Valley], Maj. Fisher observed a fellow airman crash land on the battle-torn airstrip. In the belief that the downed pilot was seriously injured and in imminent danger of capture, Maj. Fisher announced his intention to land on the airstrip to effect a rescue."

Land! Recover your fellow airman in danger of capture!  Back into the sky! Return to friendly territory!

For such actions the MoH is awarded and justly so. But NO this sort of action is not recommended.

coolbert.

601B

This is coolbert:

Came across this quite by accident. My instantaneous reaction was spawn of Project Pluto.

Think that Russian Status-6/Kanyon/Poseidon nuclear-powered/nuclear-armed torpedo AND the yet unnamed Russian nuclear-powered and unstoppable cruise missile.

Think also 601B! American "outboard" naval nuclear power plant.

"This Nuclear Outboard Motor Was a Really Terrible Idea"

Thanks to the Internet Web site War is Boring and the article by Steve Weintz.

Inboard motor internal to the ship. Outboard motor external to the vessel and self-contained.

"Podded atomic propulsion was leaky and noisy"

"In the early 1960s the U.S. Navy could have gotten a disposable, atomic-powered outboard motor that would have made America’s warships a Hell of a lot more efficient. But there was the little problem of all that noise and radiation."

Not the best of images but illustrates the concept. American Skipjack class submarine with two "outboard' motors for propulsion. Interior nuclear reactor removed and replaced by the two 601B. Conventional propeller also no longer needed or present.

On paper this concept had great merit. ANY existing, major and conventionally-powered warship in the American naval arsenal could potentially become nuclear-powered. Strap-on "outboards" providing at a slight increase in weight twice the power WITH a more or less unlimited range!

Impressive!! Drawbacks however mitigating the gain. Plus far outweighed by minus. Minus to include: * Noise. * A radioactive spew. * Danger to the crew.

See an additional Internet web site with further discussion of the 601B and the potential plus and minus thereof.

IF IT SOUNDS TOO GOOD TO BE TRUE IT PROBABLY IS NOT TRUE!!

coolbert.

Spook.

This is coolbert:

Forget Erich Hartmann. Forget Baron von Richthofen. Even forget Han-Ulrich Rudel? Rather think Heinz-Wolfgang Schnaufer?

That greatest combat aviator "ace" of all time?

"The Night Fighter Ace Who Shot Down 7 Lancaster Bombers In 19 Minutes"

"Once you know the story of Heinz-Wolfgang Schnaufer, it’s pretty hard to forget. Schnaufer was an incredibly skilled pilot. He was arguably the best fighter pilot in the war. Simply put, this German fighter pilot was the deadliest ace in history – with 121 confirmed kills. He also survived the whole war and only met his death when he crashed his car while on his way to purchase wine in Bordeaux."

"What more, Schnaufer accomplished this feat in only 164 operational sorties over a three year period."

SCHNAUFER THE GREATEST COMBAT ACE WHEN TAKING INTO CONSIDERATION THE MOST ENEMY PLANES SHOT DOWN FOR THE FEWEST MISSIONS!!

Freeman Dyson stating that the German night-fighter force the ONLY German military service to have emerged from the Second World War with their honor intact, unsullied! German night-fighter pilots and aircrews highly respected and feared by their adversaries [almost exclusively the British].

coolbert.

Kayforce II.

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Kayforce = New Zealand military contingent Korean War, United Nations Command.

First and thanks to the tip from Jay, ANZAC  [Australian New Zealand] deploying additional military aircraft to the Sea of Japan.

"Australia, New Zealand deploy aircraft to Japan to help enforce North Korea sanctions"

"WELLINGTON/SYDNEY (Reuters) - Australia and New Zealand said on Friday their governments were deploying three maritime patrol aircraft to Japan to assist with efforts to enforce United Nations sanctions against North Korea."

One patrol aircraft currently on station [Australian]. Three more patrol aircraft [two Australian and one New Zealand] to follow.

VIOLATORS OF INTERNATIONAL SANCTIONS BEWARE! YOU ARE BEING WATCHED! AND RETURN OF THE KIWI!

Kayforce that New Zealand military contingent their contribution to the United Nations Command [UNC] effort during the Korean War unknown to me.

"New Zealand in the Korean War"
Korean War - - Page 1 – Introduction

"New Zealand military forces were involved in Korea from 1950 to 1957. First, they took part in the United Nations ‘police action’ to repel Communist North Korea’s invasion of its southern neighbour. Better known as the Korean War, this conflict lasted from 25 June 1950 to 27 July 1953, when an armistice was agreed. A reduced New Zealand force then remained in Korea in a garrison role until the last troops were finally withdrawn in 1957."

Devoted readers to the blog recall the officer-in-charge of the United Nations Command Rear is an Australian! The "southern people" do have a stake in the current Korean Crisis.

coolbert.





   

Idlib III.

This is coolbert:

Show of force!! Marines let's go Syrian style! A red line has been drawn in the sand?

Conclusion!

As seen at the Free Republic Internet web site:

"US Marines launch live-fire air assault into Syria desert in 'strong message' to Russia"

"More than 100 U.S. Marines launched an air assault in the southern Syrian desert backed by artillery fire to send a 'strong message' to Russia not to send their forces inside a restricted area near an American military outpost, two U.S. defense officials have told Fox News. The show of forces comes as the leaders of Iran, Russia and Turkey are meeting Friday in Tehran to hammer out their next steps in the seven-year Syrian civil war ahead of an expected offensive led by Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s forces into the country’s northwest Idlib Province."

Cross the red line and American intervention will occur beyond what has already been the case in Syria. A regional conflict can escalate quickly in an undesirable manner with consequences unforeseen!

coolbert.

Idlib II.

This is coolbert:

Everyone is making ready! This could go from bad to worse and quick! Idlib!

From the latest edition of the DEBKAfile:

1. "Trump's Syria envoys arrive in ME: US says no to Idlib offensive"

2 September.

"Two senior US envoys for Syria arrived in Jerusalem on Sunday, Sept. 2 to follow up on President Donald Trump's decision to challenge Russian strategy in Syria as well as Iran. James Jeffrey, Special Representative for Syria engagement, and Joel Rayburn, Special Envoy for Syria, will continue from Israel to Turkey and Jordan . . .  Their first priority for clothing US policy with a substantial pro-active role is to avert the scheduled Russian-Iranian-Syrian offensive against Idlib, the last Syrian rebel bastion."

"Moscow responded to this US turnabout by sending a Russian war fleet and special forces in the eastern Mediterranean and Syria. Russia and Iran see a victory in Idlib as the triumphant finale of their successful Syrian venture, and US obstruction as designed to steal their crowning success to serve its own interests."

2. "Russian warplanes pound rebel bastions in Idlib"

4 September.   

"Russia resumed air strikes on rebel-held Idlib on Tuesday, after a 22-day pause, the London-based observatory reported. Earlier, President Donald trump warned Bashar Assad and his Russian and Iranian allies against 'recklessly attacking' the last rebel-held province of Syria.The Russians and Iranians would be making a grave humanitarian mistake to take part in this potential human tragedy," he tweeted."

3. "DEBKAfile: US-Turkish bid to delay Idlib offensive"

5 September.

"Amid heavy Russian air strikes, the US and Turkey are trying to delay the Russian-Iranian-Syrian offensive on rebel-held Idlib province. The effort is led by James Jeffrey, the Trump administration's Syrian negotiator . . . [further] that, notwithstanding differences between Washington and Ankara on the Kurdish issue, President Tayyip Erdogan may be willing to persuade his Russian and Iranian counterpart at their summit in Tehran on Friday to delay the operation for a few days for negotiations."

4. "France ready to attack Syria if chemical weapons used"

6 September.

"French forces are prepared to attack Syrian targets if chemical weapons are used in the forthcoming government offensive to retake Idlib, said French Armed Forces Chief Francois Lecointre to reporters on Thursday."

5. "Russian, Iranian, Turkish leaders meet amid divisions on Idlib"
   
7 September.

"Presidents Vladimir Putin, Hassan Rouhani and Tayyip Erdogan are meeting in Tehran Friday to chart a joint offensive with Syria for taking Idlib, the last rebel bastion in Syria. Erdogan aims to persuade the Russian and Iranian leaders to postpone the offensive or keep it low-key".

HST hard core jihadists and not going to fold easily. Have had months to prepare as did the Islamic State in Mosul.

As I said, prepare for the worst.

coolbert.

Idlib I.

This is coolbert:

Troops are massing. Troops are always massing.

This is the final show-down? The end-game? The OK Corral Syrian style. Fill your hand.

The Syrian Civil War coming to a climactic end and soon? Idlib and the destruction of the last rebel faction/factions as in opposition to the despot Assad now at hand?

From the outstanding Internet web site South Front:

1. "In Maps: Possible Scenario Of Syrian Army Advance In Idlib"

"Multiple pro-government sources speculate that the Syrian Arab Army (SAA) and its allies may soon launch a military operation against Hayat Tahrir al-Sham [HST] (formerly Jabhat al-Nusra, the Syrian branch of al-Qaeda) in the so-called Idlib de-escalation zone soon."

2. "Syria Map Update: Military Situation In Northern Hama, Southern Idlib"

"The military situation in northern Hama and southern Idlib remains complicates as both sides – the Syrina Army and Hayat Tahrir al-Sham [HST] (formerly Jabhat al-Nusra, the Syrian branch of al-Qaeda) are preparing for full-scale clashes there."

"According to the UN, there are currently about 10,000 members of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham and other al-Qaeda-linked factions in the province of Idlib. All of them as well as members of their allied militant groups are deeply concerned by the expected Syrian Army advance in the area."

Soon as the softening-up process has already begun with bombardment by Russian warplanes?

That South Front web site very slick and well done. And please donate. More to follow!

coolbert.

North.

This is coolbert:

As reported by Zero Hedge and thanks to same.

"NORTHCOM Commander: 'The U.S. Homeland Is No Longer A Sanctuary'"

"Air Force General Terrence O’Shaughnessy ended a speech at the 140th National Guard Association conference in New Orleans this weekend with an ominous warning that the era of great power competition doesn’t leave the United States mainland uncontested. The U.S. 'homeland is no longer a sanctuary.'”

"According to The Military Times, O’Shaughnessy says that peer-level adversaries are probing U.S. defenses in multiple domains and that the continental United States is well within their sights."

General Terrence is [?] quite a bit behind the learning curve?

TWO OCEANS NO LONGER A BARRIER TO THE FOREIGN POWER HOSTILE TO THE UNITED STATES! HOMELAND USA NOT A SANCTUARY AND HAS NOT BEEN FOR A LONG TIME NOW!

Risk and hazard to the continental United States [the Homeland] for some decades now [going on the better part of a century] to include primarily:

1. Atomics! From 1945 onward atomic weapons as delivered by long-range intercontinental bomber warplanes. A threat even more worse since the era of the intercontinental ballistic missile [ICBM] also armed with a nuclear warhead.

2. Cyber attack! Hostile powers from a remote location able to cripple or even destroy and make totally useless critical infrastructure as it is deemed. Power plants, the electrical grid system, natural gas production/storage/delivery facilities, etc. Basic, essential and vital elements of modern society and life subject to cyber attack.

3. Street gangs! Street gangs the greatest internal security threat to the United States. Street gangs possessing that proper combination of numbers, weapons, organization, money and ruthlessness.

General Terrence is stating the obvious. That obvious however not so obvious to everyone?

coolbert.

Scallops.

This is coolbert:

There hasn't been anything like this in over forty years!

Back to the olden times. The French and English at odds with one another. Military confrontation of some in the works as a possible? NATO versus NATO. EU member versus EU member. I thought that sort of thing was all in the past. Guess not!

Thanks to the tip from Sputnik and the original article © REUTERS / France 3 Caen Europe.

1. "France Ready to Deploy Warships in Scallop Wars With UK – Reports"

"UK and France are reportedly expected to hold talks over the scallop fishing dispute and to find a solution that might prevent further clashes between fishermen."

THIS IS AN EEZ [ECONOMIC EXCLUSION ZONE] TYPE OF EVENT? ENGLISH TRAWLERS FISHING FOR SCALLOPS IN AN AREA TRADITIONALLY RESERVED FOR FRENCH FISHING VESSELS?

FRENCH WARSHIPS THEIR MISSION TO THWART FURTHER VIOLENCE AND BRING A SEMBLANCE OF ORDER TO A TENSE SITUATION?

As it is now in 2018 so it was it in 1976 but with different protagonists.

THE COD WARS!

2. Cod Wars.

"The Cod Wars . . . were a series of confrontations between the United Kingdom and Iceland on fishing rights in the North Atlantic. Each of the disputes ended with an Icelandic victory. The Third Cod War concluded in 1976, with a highly favourable agreement for Iceland; the United Kingdom conceded to a 200-nautical-mile (370-kilometre) Icelandic exclusive fishery zone after threats that Iceland would withdraw from NATO"

English fishing trawlers during the Cod Wars seen as poaching in traditional Icelandic waters. Confrontation resulting the Royal Navy at that time having to provide escort, a cost prohibitive measure.

Negotiation and amicably agreed upon settlement the only solution to these matters!

coolbert.

Graves.

This is coolbert:

Thanks to a Hot Mail from Sharkhunters and as reported by WIZARD:

"GHOULS AND GRAVE ROBBERS –" 

"The former head of the Royal Navy accused Ministry of Defence civil servants of being ‘pathetic’ for ignoring vital information about the looting of sunken war graves (ships) in the Far East. His source had learned of the wide scale plundering of the wrecks off the coast of Malaysia in May 2017, and contacted Lord West with details of the ships and the companies pillaging them for scrap metal. They include the battleship PRINCE OF WALES which was sunk with the loss of 327 men; the battle cruiser HMS REPULSE which sank with the loss of 508 lives; and the heavy cruiser HMS EXETER which went down with the loss of 40 of her crew."

Warships sunk from the era of the Second World War [WW2] and for decades now laying on the bottom at depth but now being cut up for scrap? This seems to be preposterous and yet I have no doubt it is occurring.

Plenty of scrap metal on the international market I might assume already available. And the cost of salvage and selling recovered steel from an underwater vessel not economically worth while? Those sunken warships as stated war graves. Normally beyond touching or even visiting unless with permission.

From the English Guardian read an entire article devoted to the issue of salvaging steel from these warships. Seems the steel as salvaged from these warships is one of the last sources in the world of very valuable “low background steel” as it is deemed. Recovery of metal possible if the sunken warships are at a depth of less than eighty meters [about 240 feet].

There you have it. There is a definite value to the salvaged steel. You learn something new every day and you are the better for it too!

coolbert.

Inez.

This is coolbert:

Inés de Suárez.

Within context of the previous blog entry yet one more example of the lady Spaniard warrior as participating in combat with the Indians of New Spain. And most successfully so.

Where the conquistadores feared to tread, Inez did not.

"Inés de Suárez, a fearless warrior, and lover of Pedro de Valdivia, the leader of the first successful conquistadores in Chile."

As to the battlefield comportment of Inez consider:

"...and she [Inez] went among them, she told them that if they felt fatigued and if they were wounded she would cure them with her own hands... she went where they were, even among the hooves of the horses; and she did not just cure them, she animated them and raised their morale, sending them back into the battle renewed... one caballero [horseman] whose wounds she had just treated, was so tired and weak from loss of blood that he could not mount his horse. This woman was so moved by his plea for help that she put herself into the midst of the fray and helped him to mount his horse..."

Inez Suarez makes most of use seem small by comparison. Inez hardly I think not in the same category as Don Alonzo but nonetheless courage and bravery under fire hardly lacking!

coolbert.

Don Alonzo!

This is coolbert:

Don Alonzo!

Here from a much previous Military Thoughts blog entry a story in somewhat abbreviated form that is worth repeating.

Don Alonso Diaz Ramirez de Guzman. Best swordsman in all of New Spain during the early part of the 17th century.

This saga of a soldier for Spain in the New World is most amazing.

Wounded many times in battles with the Indians of New Spain [those Spanish colonies in the new world were all referred to as New Spain].

Finally, a disabling wound caused Don Alonso to return to Spain, to be awarded special honors. A petition to the King of Spain is most revealing in telling the story of the many battles of Don Alonso:

"of the last 19 years . . . spent 15 in the service of Your Majesty in the wars of the kingdom of Chile and the Indians of Peru, having traveled to those parts . . . owing to . . . particular inclination to take up arms in defense of the Catholic faith and in the service of Your Majesty . . . under the command of the Field Master Don Diego Bravo de Sarabia, . . . withstood the discomforts of military service . . . in every battle . . . deeds earned. . . the right to carry Your Majesty's flag, serving as . . . Ensign of the infantry company of Captain Gonzalo Rodríguez . . . In that period, . . . distinguished . . . with great courage and valor, suffering wounds, particularly in the battle of Peru. The troops having been reorganized, . . . moved to the company of Captain Guillén de Casanova, governor of the castle of Arauco, and was chosen as a valiant and fine soldier to go out and do battle with the enemy."

Not only was Don Alonso a great soldier, but a great duelist also. In the eyes of some, Don Alonso was the greatest swordsman in all of New Spain. In a duel, Don Alonso could be counted on for a great display of swordsmanship.

Don Alonso Diaz Ramirez de Guzman however [and this is where it gets sticky] was NOT A MAN. Don Alonzo rather Catalina de Eranso A WOMAN posing as a man, and doing it successfully for at least twenty years and doing so under the harshest conditions possible.

DON ALONZO [CATALINA] IN THE AFTERMATH OF DISCOVERY [FOUND OUT TO BE A WOMAN] REQUESTING AND RECEIVING A PERSONAL SESSION WITH THE POPE, AS A CONSEQUENCE GIVEN SPECIAL DISPENSATION TO DRESS AS A MAN AND CONTINUE WITH HIS/HER MILITARY CAREER!

Hardly ever in any context are you going to find a stranger tale! Truth rather than fiction! Don Alonzo indeed makes most us quite small in comparison. They just don't make them like Don Alonzo anymore.

coolbert.

Day.

This is coolbert:

NOT the Gulf of Tonkin Incident. NOT the Tet Offensive. NOT the attack on Camp Holloway.

That most important day in the history of American involvement in the Second Indo-China war 31 August 1963? From the American Thinker and the article by Sam C. Holliday. Resolve of the top American officials made most clear. "Today" as belatedly by one day.

"Today is the anniversary of the most critical decision of the Vietnam War"

"On 31 August, 1963, the most important meeting for Americans regarding the Vietnam War took place to debate U.S. policy and the possibility of a coup against the Diem regime."

Diem or no Diem, that was the question!

Ngo Dinh Diem the President of the Republic of Vietnam [RVN] seen in Washington D.C. as the proverbial loose cannon, a leader ineffectual, the RVN counter-insurgency [COIN] effort bungled and pathetic.

American policy makers at the top echelon of government their decision to continue aiding/abetting/assisting the South Vietnamese COIN effort, hell or high water. Again, Diem or no Diem.

Diem very shortly the victim of a coup, the South Vietnamese military have gained control of the government, Diem perishing in the process.

IT HAS BEEN SPECULATED THAT U.S. OFFICIALS HAD PRIOR KNOWLEDGE OF THE COUP ATTEMPT BUT DID NOTHING TO STOP IT! NOT NECESSARILY THAT THE U.S. GOVERNMENT INITIATED THE COUP NON-INTERFERENCE PROPERLY AND BEST UNDERSTOOD AS  TACIT APPROVAL!

And in three years hence that contingent of American troops in South Vietnam having increased thirty times [30X] in number and the rest is history as they say!

coolbert.

McCain.

This is coolbert:

Yesterday you were an enemy. Today you are a friend. Even beyond that, a god?

As it is now with John McCain so it was also with Frederick Townsend Ward?

From the tip seen at Freeper and thanks to same.

1. "John McCain Remembered as a Friend in Vietnam, Not an Enemy"

"A small monument next to Truc Bach Lake celebrates the downing of McCain’s plane. 'The citizens and military caught Pilot John Sidney McCain,' . . . But in the days after McCain’s death, this monument has been transformed into a makeshift shrine. Admirers have been laying flowers, incense and money at the statue"

MONEY AT THE STATUE MORE THAN LIKE JOSS PAPER!

"Joss paper, as well as other papier-mâché items, are also burned or buried in various Asian funerals, to ensure that the spirit of the deceased has lots of good things in the afterlife" [joss = image in a shrine]

2. Again, as now with John McCain so has it been with Frederick Townsend Ward from a much prior conflict.

The American mercenary and valiant soldier, Frederick Townsend War, a person who exemplified the White Messiah syndrome even after his death more than a century-and-a-half later highly regarded in China, his burial site now an object of veneration. Ward deemed by the Emperor himself as worthy of being considered a joss.

"Ward is also remembered in a Songjiang Roman Catholic Church, and in a Nanjing museum. One visitor wrote 'The grave of Ward, a Protestant, revered as a Chinese Confucian hero, with a temple in his honour, now lies under the altar of a Roman Catholic church [built in 1982], whilst the land itself is the property of the local Buddhist monastery in a Communist state... Ward has not been forgotten in Songjiang and local memory still has Ward's bones under the high altar of the Catholic church'”.

John McCain dropping bombs yesterday. Today bestowing blessings? Stranger things have happened.

coolbert.