Harried.

This is coolbert:

In finality as a response to the challenge as posed by the Colonel USMC.

That Israeli perspective the American "retreat" from Syrian SDF/YPG territory. That "retreat" as deemed the subject of many recent blog entries too numerous to list.

"US retreat from Syria likely prevented war with Iran"

RETREAT TOO HARSH A TERM. A PLANNED AND PHASED WITHDRAWAL ALMOST A YEAR IN THE MAKING. RETREAT SUGGESTIVE OF A BEATEN AND ROUTED ARMY.

"Trump has learned the lessons of history"

"President Trump’s executive command decision likely has saved thousands of American soldiers' lives".

ISRAELI CONCERNS MOST MARKED AND IN CONTEXT WITH THE PREVIOUS BLOG ENTRY.

See also an additional blog entry the topic Iranian activities and intentions in the area:

"Soleimani primes pro-Iranian militias in Syria and Iraq for terror attacks on exiting US forces"

"American troops will not be allowed in a manner without being harried constantly. Chased and constantly set-upon is the hope of the commander of the Iranian Revolutionary Guards."

The late Colonel David Hackworth rating the Iranian as # 1 threat to the USA. Ideological hatred of an implacable nature hardly diminished by a period of decades. Iran too their missile force combined with a potentiality of atomic munitions most worrisome.

coolbert.

Sprinkling.

This is coolbert:

Within context I was going to suggest that Israel and Iran both represent the eight-hundred pound gorilla in the room but that phrase not so totally 100 % accurate.

The Syrian Civil War the role of foreign interventionists and the proxies forces of foreign interventionists undeniable.

Furthermore this blog entry also as a continuation of the challenge as posed by the Colonel USMC.

CONSIDER NOW THE INTERESTS AND AGENDA OF FOREIGN INTERVENTIONISTS AND THEIR PROXIES IN THE SYRIAN CIVIL WAR TO BE NOW A DRIVING FACTOR IN THE CONFLICT.

Especially I have in mind the UNREPORTED, UNHERALDED AND UNDECLARED WAR between Israel and the Iranian Revolutionary Guards Corps [IRGC]. Iran making liberal use in a variety of ways their subordinate proxies.

See a merely sprinkling of previous blog entries as germane:

https://militaryanalysis.blogspot.com/2019/09/joint.html

https://militaryanalysis.blogspot.com/2019/08/brigade-45.html

https://militaryanalysis.blogspot.com/2019/08/beirut.html

https://militaryanalysis.blogspot.com/2019/08/zap.html

https://militaryanalysis.blogspot.com/2019/07/biggest.html

https://militaryanalysis.blogspot.com/2019/06/95.html

A war consisting of Israeli air strikes against IRGC targets, Syria, Iraq, Lebanon.

Israeli Air Force [IAF] destroying weapons depots, weapons factories, attempting to deny the Iranian the land-bridge between Iran/Iraq/Syria/Lebanon.

From the Israeli perspective Iranian conspiracy and intrigue in the region constitute an EXISTENTIAL THREAT!! Conspiracy and intrigue as integral to all aspects of the Syrian Civil War!

coolbert.

Underwear.

This is coolbert:

Autopsy! Jihadi! Abu Bakr!

One again thanks to the tip from Freeper:

"Kurdish General: Informant Stole ISIS Leader al-Baghdadi’s Underwear for U.S."

"A Kurdish general [SDF/YPG] revealed Monday that an informant stole the underwear of ISIS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi to prove to his credibility U.S. intelligence . . . Gen. Mazloum Abdi of the Syrian Democratic Forces, said his intelligence unit had a source who was privy to the layout of al-Baghdadi’s secret compound near the Turkish border."

DNA evidence desirable. Confirm with 100 % assurance that the Caliph is indeed dead. A nasty business but within the realm of counter-insurgency [COIN] that now seems to be standard procedure.

Confirm or deny also the validity of an intelligence source.

Forensics as was reputedly done also on Osama bin Laden. A stool sample obtained. To determine if Osama indeed needed dialysis treatment on a regular basis as an intelligence source has reported. Totally 100 % confirmation to the identity of Osama a plus.

Bona fides in the field of intelligence most important!

coolbert.

Deteriorate.

This is coolbert:

FROM ONLY TODAY AND AS WE SPEAK TURKISH INCURSION INTO SYRIAN SOVEREIGN TERRITORY HAS GONE FROM BAD TO WORSE!

Thanks here to the tip from Freeper the original story as seen at the English tabloid The Daily Mail:

"Syrian and Turkish armies open fire on each other for the first time since Erdogan [tr]"

"Syrian and Turkish armies opened fire on each other today for the first time since Ankara began its incursion against the Kurds. Artillery and machine-gun fire was exchanged near the village of Assadiya, south of the border town of Ras al-Ain, the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said. Six Syrian soldiers were killed, according to the war monitor. President Bashar al-Assad had bolstered Kurdish strongholds in northern Syria after Turkey's Recep Tayyip Erdogan began his offensive on October 9 to establish a 75-mile wide, 20-mile deep buffer zone."

Turkey a member of NATO. Turkey able to invoke Article Five of the NATO charter? All other constituent members of the alliance must now come to the aid of Turkey? I doubt that will happen but this is a potential escalation of hostilities without question. Russian mediation will be crucial in settling this dispute and further conflict. So we hope. Syria the situation can deteriorate and do so very rapidly.

coolbert.

Thierry.

This is coolbert:

Anti-state•anti-war•pro-market. Some most recent articles from the LewRockwell.com Internet web site and thanks to same.

The French perspective Rojava/NE Syria thanks to Thierry Meyssan courtesy his Voltairenet.org Internet web site.

1. "Kurdistan, Imagined by French Colonialism".

2. "The Turkish Invasion of Rojava".

* Anadola Agency has found that the French army is actively engaged in Syria in nine different spots. * Even in the event of a U.S pullout from Syria, France said it would continue supporting YPG/PKK terror groups with its roughly 200 troops in the war-torn country. * French troops in Syrian seem almost totally dependent on the U.S. capabilities. * France is far from being capable of filing in for the U.S. military presence should the latter withdraw. Click on image to see a larger view.

U.S. CAPABILITIES AS TO MEAN PREDOMINANTLY LOGISTICAL SUPPORT.

Among the fighters of the Islamic State [ISIL] many French citizens. French determined to not allow those French citizens adherents to the cause of the Islamic State to return home. French presence and determination in the SDF/YPG Syrian Kurd region deemed as absolutely vital to French interests and security.

Even with the U.S troops withdrawal from Rojava French troops will remain?

Hardly I need to remind France as with Turkey constituent members of NATO. Turks and French at odds also hardly a recommended situation.

coolbert.

UAV Idlib.

This is coolbert:

Responding once more to the challenge as posed by the Colonel USMC.

Incursions of Turkish regular army troops south of the Turkish/Syrian border hardly a rarity. That most recent threat as posed to Syrian YPG not a random and unique occurrence. Threat to Syrian/Russian/SDF/YPG as emanating from Turk proxies and associated terrorist groups existing and have existed for some time.

Intervention of the Russian or American using diplomacy also not unusual.

Turkish machinations in the area in part to restore to some degree [even if minor] territories once within the sovereign territory of the old Ottoman Empire? The Sultan [Erdogan] does indeed have megalomaniac aspirations?

See previous blog entries as germane to the topic:

"Drone attack on Russian bases in Syria came from Turkish-backed rebels – MoD"

"Turkey warns Damascus not to send troops to Afrin"

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

DIPLOMACY AND A NEGOTIATED SETTLEMENT TO THE SYRIAN CIVIL WAR A MUST. AGREED UPON IN AN AMICABLE MANNER BY ALL WARRING PARTIES! FOREIGN INTERVENTIONISTS INCLUDED. HOW SUCH A NEGOTIATED SETTLEMENT WILL OCCUR I CANNOT SAY BUT NO OTHER MEANINGFUL SOLUTION POSSIBLE. !

Not American troops remaining in the area for another thirty years at the least!!

coolbert.

Buffer.

This is coolbert:

More from the latest edition of the DEBKAfile newsletter.

And also once again in the response to the challenge as posed by the Colonel USMC.

THAT SITUATION VIS-A-VIS THE TURK, THE SDF/YPG NOT SO DIRE. NOT A MILITARY OPERATION ON THE PART OF THE TURK THE OBJECT THE ANNIHILATION OF THE KURD YPG AS WAS FEARED. INTERVENTION OF THE RUSSIAN CRUCIAL.

1. "Russian forces take over America’s N. Syria bases, E. Syrian airspace, and concern for Kurds"

21 October.

"When President Vladimir Putin meets Recep Erdogan at Sochi on Tuesday, Oct. 22, Russian special forces will be moving into evacuated US positions in N. Syria, including the big Tabqa air base."

"Tabqa can accommodate Russian bombers and air cargoes and is located for complete control of eastern Syria, including the Kurdish regions and the Syrian Iraqi border, excepting only the US garrison at al Tanf which sits athwart the intersection of the Syrian, Iraqi and Jordanian borders."

"This changeover was almost certainly coordinated between Washington and Moscow, like all the military steps emanating from the Turkish operation against the Kurds of N. Syria. With responsibility now for the Kurds, Putin will avoid the charges leveled against Trump of abandoning an ally against ISIS to Turkish genocide."

2. "Putin forces Erdogan to call off Turkey’s operation against the Kurds in NE Syria"

22 October.

"Six hours of discussion in Sochi ended in a deal between President Vladimir Putin and President Recep Erdogan for a buffer zone, a halt in Turkey’s operation in NE Syria and its pullback from the country,

"Their [Erdogan and Putin] memorandum of understanding has five main points:

1.    Russia agreed to remove the Syrian Kurdish YPG militia to beyond 30 km [19 miles] from the Turkish border, after which their troops will jointly patrol a narrow 10km [6 miles] deep 'safe zone.'
2.    From Wednesday, Russian military police and Syrian border guards will facilitate the removal of YPG members and weapons to beyond the zone within 150 hours
3.    This truce would be extended as of Wednesday noon.
4.    Syrian Kurds would remain in Ras al-Ayn and Tal Abyad, which Turkish forces never captured, but leave Tal Rifaat and Manjib.
5.    The Turkish army therefore terminates its current operation against the Kurds."

3. "Erdogan notifies Trump that Turkey’s Syria operation is over"

23 October.

"Turkish president Recep Erdogan informed President Donald Trump on Wednesday, after meeting Russia’ Vladimir Putin, that he has ended his military operation in northern Syria and pulled Turkish troops out. Trump responded by revoking the sanctions applied against Turkey last week, while warning Ankara that the sanctions would snap back with increased harshness if Turkish forces renew their attacks on the Kurds of northern Syria."

SYRIAN KURDISH YPG FIGHTERS REMOVED FROM THE BORDER AREA WITH TURKEY. A BUFFER ZONE CREATED. TURKISH FEARS ALLAYED! IS THIS A BAD THING?

coolbert.

Action.

This is coolbert:

"The plan is the base from all change is made."

We don't want war but!

Additional headline from the latest edition of the DEBKAfile newsletter. And continuing yet further and still more with response to the challenge as made by the Colonel USMC.

"Pompeo: Trump prepared for military action against Turkey if necessary"

22 October.

"Secretary of State Mike Pompeo told a CNBC: 'We prefer peace to war, but you should know that President Donald Trump is fully prepared to take military actions against Turkey in Syria if necessary.'
 As he [Pompeo] spoke, more than 1,000 US troops were pulling back from bases in Syria to western Iraq."

CONSIDER THE POSSIBLE RAMIFICATIONS OF A MILITARY SHOWDOWN AND OUTRIGHT COMBAT BETWEEN AMERICAN AND TURKISH MILITARY FORCES. CONSTITUENT MEMBERS OF NATO AT ODDS TREATY MEMBERS IN CONFLICT WITH ONE ANOTHER MUCH TO THE DETRIMENT OF EVERYONE!

MILITARY ACTION WITH CONTEXT OF CONTINUAL ATTACK ON THE SYRIAN KURD AND SDF FIGHTERS OF AN OVERWHELMING NATURE BEYOND EXPECTATIONS.

USA MILITARY WAS PREPARED TO TAKE ACTION IF AND WHEN TURKISH INCURSIONS BECAME BEYOND CERTAIN

Intervention of American military forces on behalf of the Syrian Kurds and SDF fighters if and when it was to occur fraught with danger of the most extreme kind.

INCIRLIK AIR BASE, AMERICAN AIR FORCE PERSONNEL, ATOMIC WEAPONS.

American military personnel held hostage and the possible compromise of atomic weaponry.

Compromise in the sense if the atomic munitions needed to used, those weapons not accessible.

SEE FROM A PREVIOUS BLOG ENTRY THE COMMENTS OF THE TURKISH TELEVISION JOURNALIST IBRAHIM KARAGUL REGARDING THOSE NUCLEAR WEAPONS.

[that those atomic weapons at a minimum were not removed a long time ago is amazing to me. Surely planners could perceive the danger a compromise of such munitions would pose. OH, I am sure the Sultan [Erdogan] in Angora [Ankara] would like to get his hands on those bombs.]

SEE ADDITIONALLY PREVIOUS BLOG ENTRIES INCIRLIK, ATOMIC WEAPONS, THE TURKISH CONNECTION.:

"Erdogan locks US airmen, nuclear arms in Incirlik"

"Rushed evacuation of US nukes from Incirlik"

"Ankara threatens to ground US fighters at key Turkish air base"

"Erdogan says Turkey should have nuclear weapons like Israel"

Beware, greatly beware.

coolbert.

Abu Bakr.

This is coolbert:

Major headlines. Good news. The self-proclaimed caliph and head of the Islamic State [ISIL] his demise is not greatly exaggerated!!

As from CNN see the total coverage and the responses from various sources:

"Trump: ISIS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi is dead"

Also as reported by the outstanding Internet web site isegoria.net and as announced by President Trump:

"He [Abu Bakr] died after running into a dead end tunnel, whimpering and crying and screaming all the way. The compound had been cleared by this time with people either surrendering or being shot and killed. Eleven young children were moved out of the house and are uninjured. The only ones remaining were Baghdadi in the tunnel and he had dragged three of his young children with him. They were led to certain death. He [Abu Bakr] reached the end of the tunnel as our dogs chased him down. He ignited his vest, killing himself and the three children. His body was mutilated by the blast."

My comments:

1. It will be suggested that Abu Bakr was not really killed. The body as purported to be Abu Bakr was blown to bits and positive identification is impossible.

2. It will also be suggested that this raid and demise of Abu Bakr is a publicity stunt. As ordered by President Trump to create distraction from the on-going impeachment inquiry.

Whatever transpires in the future the murderous despot has met his end much as did another murderous despot seventy-four years ago. And we can thank the American Special Operations troops for a job well done.

coolbert.

Plan.

This is coolbert:

"The plan is the base from which all change is made!"

Continuing with yet still more with regard to the withdrawal of American troops from the Northeast [NE] are of Syria. Additionally in response to the challenge as posed the Colonel USMC.

All times courtesy the latest edition of the DEBKAfile newsletter.

1. "Esper: US troops withdrawing from Syria to relocate in Iraq"

18 October.

"US Defense Secretary Mark Esper said on Saturday night that all of the nearly 1,000 troops the US is pulling out of northern Syria are to be re-positioned in western Iraq to continue the campaign against Islamic State (ISIS) and 'to help defend Iraq.'”

As was planned from almost one year ago.

"2. Iraqi trucks evacuate US Syrian bases, some equipment trashed"

21 October.

"Western and Syrian reporters witnessing the US pullback from the embattled areas of northern Syria report that convoys of 100 Iraqi trucks each are transporting the contents of the bases to western Iraq, escorted by US military APCs. The abandoned bases were described as containing dorms, shooting ranges, a command center, a communications hub, vehicle repair workshops, training areas, a medical clinic and entertainment and sports areas. The departing US troops have been blowing up and trashing large quantities of documents, computers, signaling systems, weapons and ammunition."

3. "Trump backtracks on N. Syria: Some US troops to stay, one air base retained"

24 October.

"Only some of the thousand US troops on their way out of northern Syria will leave. Others will remain 'to keep the Bashar al-Assad regime and Iranian forces away from Syria’s oil fields.'”

"DEBKAfile reports that the airfield is at Rmeilan, in the Kurdish province of Hasaka opposite the Iraqi border. A US air force presence there will provide a base for American attack helicopters and armed drones to retain control over North Syrian air space and its border with Iraq . .  Both bases will be guarded by several hundred US special forces, who will also counter counter ISIS forces trying to make a comeback. Trump’s backtrack allays some of Israel’s concerns about Iran gaining an open door from Iraq into Syria."

The plan is the base from which all change is made!

American ground troops as withdrawing from the Rojava area hardly doing with any consideration to planning or with total disregard for SDF/YPG allies. Anything but that.

THE PLAN IS THE BASE FROM WHICH ALL CHANGE IS MADE. THE GREATER THE NUMBER OF ASSUMPTIONS MADE, THE GREATER THE CORRECTNESS OF THOSE ASSUMPTIONS AND YOU NEED LITTLE ALTERATION TO THE ORIGINAL PLAN. PLAN HOWEVER ALMOST NEVER SUBJECTED TO SOME SORT OF CHANGE, DYNAMICS DEMANDING OTHERWISE. WAR IS OFTEN DESCRIBED AS CHAOS. MORE CORRECTLY UNDERSTAND WAR AS CONTROLLED CHAOS?

coolbert.

Unprecedented.

This is coolbert:

Chinese? Chinese military in Syria? Chinese?

Could it be so? Sounds almost preposterous!

Still more a response to the challenge as posted by the Colonel USMC.

PLA = Peoples Liberation Army.

That aspect of the Syrian Civil War the presence of so many foreign interventionists and proxies of foreign interventionists.

Potentially add the Chinese military [PLA] to that long list of foreign interventionists. Chinese their concern the TIP [Turkistan Islamic Party]. Chinese nationals, ethnic Uighur. TIP as deemed a TERRORIST organization.

See previous blog entries regarding same:

"Thousands of Chinese elite troops head to Syria to combat Uighur Islamists"

"Chinese Ambassador To Syria: We Are Willing To Participate 'In Some Way' In The Battle For Idlib Alongside The Assad Army"

"China to join Idlib offensive, took part in Russian Mediterranean drill"

NO CHINESE DEPLOYMENT OF MILITARY FORCES BEYOND THE CHINESE BORDERS [EXCEPTION KOREA] IN SIX HUNDRED YEARS. SUCH AN EXPEDITIONARY FORCE ALLOW THE CHINESE TO DEMONSTRATE GLOBAL REACH AND ALLOW THEIR MILITARY TO GAIN VALUABLE COMBAT EXPERIENCE.

coolbert.

TIP II.

This is coolbert:

TIP of the iceberg? Continuing yet again with a response to the challenge as posed by the Colonel USMC.

The situation in Rojava [Northeast Syria] and the danger to the combat and civilian elements of the [Syrian Democratic Forces [SDF] and the Kurdish ethnic group [YPG] greatly ameliorated by a cease-fire and truce as negotiated between the Turk and Russian?

Rojava and the American military withdrawal apparently only secondary now to the machinations for good or bad of various world powers that have an interest in the area. World power politics in action.

HARDLY HOWEVER IS THIS CURRENT CEASE-FIRE/TRUCE UNIQUE. PREVIOUS CEASE-FIRE/TRUCE THE ROJAVA REGION HAVE BEEN IMPLEMENTED BETWEEN THE WARRING FACTIONS, THE SUBJECT OF A PREVIOUS BLOG ENTRY.

The Sultan [Erdogan] in Angora [Ankara] his motivations now as in the past threefold:

1. Resettle Syrian Arab refugees in that northern part of Syria as controlled by the Turkish military and Turkish proxy forces. 2. Eliminate the military threat to Turkey as posed by the YPG fighters. 3. Guarantee a safe haven for ethnic Turk Uighurs as now and for sometime occupying abandoned Syrian villages.

See also previous blog entries the subject Uighurs in Syria:

"Uighur Syria!"

"Chinese Uighur Settlers Flow into Syria, Replacing War Refugees"

TIP THE TURKISTAN ISLAMIC PARTY [TIP] UIGHUR COMBATANTS AS SUPPORTED BY TURKEY AND ALLIED WITH THE AL NUSRA FRONT AN AFFILIATE OR AN OFF-SHOOT OF AL QAEDA.

THE TIP OF THE ICEBERG AND IT IS ALL SO COMPLICATED, ISN'T IT? A GOOD REASON FOR THE USA TO STAY OUT OF THE FRAY?

coolbert.

Border.

This is coolbert:

Continuing with blog entries in response to the challenge as issued by the Colonel USMC.

Understand fully well the Syrian Civil War perhaps that most complex and convoluted conflict in human history. Only the Russian Civil War and the Spanish Civil War from recent times compares? And before that The Thirty Years War additionally?

The Syrian Civil War as characterized by a myriad of warring factions internally and the presence of foreign interventionists on a large-scale. Foreign interventionists often employing proxy forces to do their dirty work. A most complicated situation exacerbated by the rise and apparent fall of the Islamic State [ISIL].

Indeed, the Syrian Civil War has become not merely an internal struggle for power in Syria but more importantly now the war as a venue for world power competition. World powers and aspiring world powers each having their own agenda and goals, conflicting.

The Syrian Civil War has the potential to become a much larger regional war with global ramifications that can only be guessed at but in all cases detrimental to a healthy world economy.

Within such a context consider: 1. "War is too important to be left to the generals." 2. War is politics by other means."

With regard to the latest developments in Northeast [NE] Syria and the withdrawal of American troops the contention being that the Kurds being left high-and-dry consider my prior blog entries.

That Syrian Democratic Front [SDF] and Syrian Kurdish militia [YPG] hardly it can be said abandoned as we normally, generally and commonly understand the word abandon to mean.

A SDF/YPG Border Force of 30,000 troops trained and well-armed. Albeit I might think no armor and no artillery. But with an organic air defense capability [as provided by USA] that can prove crucial.

Border Force also consisting of combat experienced and successful fighters, of proven mettle and having on previous occasions having repelled concerted Turkish action.

1. "US and Syrian Kurds setting up 30,000-strong border force"

2. "YPG/USA/SDF/FSA II."

3. "Erdogan can't deliver on his threats to drive out Syrian Kurdish militia"

THE SULTAN [ERDOGAN] IN ANGORA [ANKARA] HAVE BEGAN AN ILL-CONSIDERED MILITARY OPERATION THAT DOES NO ONE ANY GOOD. HARDLY I THINK HOWEVER SO CALAMITOUS AS THOUGHT.

Devoted readers to the blog let me hear from you on this topic. I eagerly await your reply.

This war to be settled by negotiated settlement of the locals and not imposed by foreign interventionists. Let us hope for the best. Nobody ever said any of this was going to be easy.

coolbert.

Rojava.

This is coolbert:

Here begins a series of blog entries a response to a challenge as posed by the Colonel USMC.

The most recent withdrawal of American special operations forces from north Syria [Rojava to the Kurdish ethnic group] now seen as extremely controversial.

Withdrawal as described with lurid language. Retreat! Abandonment! Bug-out! Sell-out! Betrayal! Unplanned! Precipitous! Pell-mell! Back stab! Doesn't sound as if it could be any worse.

Retreat as the subject of articles from a variety of sources with universal condemnation so it seems.

1. "U.S. soldiers who fought alongside Kurds blast Trump's Syria retreat"

2. "James Mattis On Trump’s Syria Withdrawal: ‘Re-Instilling Trust Is Going To Be Very Difficult’"

3. "Fearing US abandonment, Kurds kept back channels wide open"

4. "Turkey, Syria, the Kurds, and Trump’s Abandonment of Foreign Policy"

Now for the rest of the story. Retreat? Abandonment? Bug-out? Sell-out? Betrayal? Unplanned? Precipitous? Pell-mell? Back stab? NO!

From over a year ago now see my prior blog entry. The withdrawal of American special operations units in Northeast [NE] Syria planned and announced well in advance.

"The US will still 'maintain a presence' after troop pullout from NE Syria"

"Following the backlash from President Trump’s decision to withdraw US troops from NE Syria, senior administration officials Friday night, Dec. 21 offered Mid East leaders clarifications for allaying their concerns."

Additionally as was announced from a year ago:

* American presence to be diminished but not totally eliminated.
* Withdrawal of American combat units not to be precipitous but phased.
* Further Turkish intervention not to be so extreme as anticipated.
* Allied forces [Iraqi] in the region positioned for rapid reaction if needed.

In finality from my perspective consider: 1. American military units not abandoning the Kurds. Rather the opposite. Ever since the First Gulf War [1991] U.S. troops guaranteeing within the Kurdish Autonomous Zone protection from outside attack. 2. What exact alternative exists to the withdrawal of American military units from NE Syria? Sovereign territory of a sovereign nation-state occupied by a foreign power [USA] uninvited! American troops remaining in place for thirty years more?

Devoted readers to the blog let me hear from you on this one. More on this topic to follow. Much more.

coolbert.

Foxbat.

This is coolbert:

From over fifty years ago. The high-speed Soviet warplane that scared the pants off of NATO.

A threat as perceived by NATO awesome but only with hindsight found to be lacking?

From Sputnik:

"Gotta Go Fast: MiG-25 Fighter Jet Frightened NATO With its Insane Velocity, US Media Reveals"

"The military aircraft, created in 1964 still remains faster than any other fighter plane even from the fourth and fifth generations."

"The world's fastest fighter jet, the MiG-25 (NATO reporting name Foxbat) frightened the US and its NATO allies when it was designed by the Soviet Union, according to the military-themed portal We Are the Mighty."

Foxbat indeed capable of Mach 3 flight. Seen as a distinct and formidable threat to NATO air superiority.

However the mission and threat as posed by Foxbat poorly understood by NATO military intelligence.

Foxbat strictly designed as an interceptor warplane the mission of which was to get really high really fast and shoot down an intruding American supersonic bomber aviation. An American supersonic bomber threat that never materialized. [B-70 Valkyrie supersonic bomber prototypes flown but never manufactured]

Foxbat as rather deployed and among the assets the Soviet PVO Strany. Air defense of the Soviet homeland.

FOXBAT NOT AN AIR SUPERIORITY FIGHTER PLANE OR MULTI-ROLE COMBAT-AIRCRAFT. NOR HAVING THE RANGE TO DELIVER ANTI-SHIP MISSILES THE TARGET NATO WARSHIPS IN THE GREENLAND-UK GAP.

Foxbat a reconnaissance version observed in Mach 3 flight. A single pass over Israel.

FOXBAT IN THE AFTERMATH OF THE MISSION OVER ISRAEL THE PLANE SCRAPPED, SO MUCH DAMAGE DONE TO THE ENGINE!

Foxbat becoming Foxhound [MiG-31. Two-seater interceptor warplane still in service.

It is not so much reality that counts but the perception of reality that counts??

coolbert.

Presence.

This is coolbert:

Backstab?

"The US will still 'maintain a presence' after troop pullout from NE Syria"

As was originally posted 22 December of last year but has now been updated with regard to most recent developments.

"Following the backlash from President Trump’s decision to withdraw US troops from NE Syria, senior administration officials Friday night, Dec. 21 offered Mid East leaders clarifications for allaying their concerns."

Clarifications as perhaps most needed in the case of those coalition forces as allied with the American military in the struggle with the Islamic State.

In particular the SDF [Syrian Democratic Forces] and even further and more pertinent the Kurdish fighters that comprise the bulk [?] of the SDF combat forces. Without the Kurds the battle against the Islamic State could not have won? A debt of gratitude is owed all SDF combatants.

The great fear the back-stab as deemed. A hasty and ill-thought-out American withdrawal placing the SDF in great danger.

* American presence to be diminished but not totally eliminated.
* Withdrawal of American combat units not to be precipitous but phased.
* Further Turkish intervention not to be so extreme as anticipated.
* Allied forces [Iraqi] in the region positioned for rapid reaction if needed.

coolbert.

China Idlib.

This is coolbert:

NOT in almost six hundred years has such a thing occurred!

Chinese marines poised and ready? The assault on Idlib if and when it occurs to include Communist Chinese military contingents?

Continuing from the latest edition of the DEBKAfile newsletter.

"China to join Idlib offensive, took part in Russian Mediterranean drill"
   
10 September.

"Chinese warships, fighter jets and bombers took part in the big week-long Russian naval exercise in the eastern Mediterranean that ended on Saturday, Sept. 8 . . .  It was Beijing's first military participation in the seven-year Syrian war and it has been kept under close wraps by Moscow, Washington and Jerusalem. Our military sources report that 3,500 Chinese marines are on standby for flights to Syria to join the Russian-Iranian-Syrian campaign for retaking Idlib province from rebel hands . . . Beijing has a special interest in this campaign in view of the strong presence among the jihadist groups holed up in Idlib of several thousand Uighur Islamists . . . members of the banned Turkistan Islamic Party . . . Al Qaeda's branch in China."

NOT SINCE THE FIFTEENTH CENTURY HAVE CHINESE MARINES GONE INTO COMBAT SO FAR FROM HOME! IDLIB OF CONCERN  TO BEIJING THOSE UIGHUR COMBATANTS NOMINALLY CHINESE NATIONALS.

coolbert.

Demonstrations.

This is coolbert:

WE NEARLY LOST THE PRESIDENT THAT DAY. PRESIDENT OF THE USA. Commander-in-Chief [CiC] of the armed forces.

Demonstrations of naval firepower for the CiC of the American military gone awry. The President nearly being killed. TWICE!

1. "Tyler narrowly escapes death on the USS Princeton".

"Naval gun of prodigious power but not fully tested exploding during a demonstration for President Tyler of the USA. Tyler surviving almost as a miracle. Persons on-deck at the time many killed and wounded."

Read the whole thing.

2. "THE IOWA INCIDENT, 14 NOVEMBER 1943"

"USS Iowa battleship fired on by friendly escorting vessel. Naval weapons live fire demonstration for President Franklin Roosevelt."

Live torpedo armed and directed at the USS Iowa. Iowa able to take evasive action, President Roosevelt unscathed.

SUCH WAS THE FEAR THAT THIS WAS AN ASSASSINATION ATTEMPT ON THE LIFE OF PRESIDENT ROOSEVELT!

Read the whole thing.

Item # 1 I was well aware of. Item # 2 not so. Close call in either case. Weapons of whatever nature loaded or otherwise normally not allowed in the vicinity the President. [exception of course in the instance of the Secret Service protective detail]

coolbert.

Additions.

This is coolbert:

See my previous blog entries here, here and here the topic of which was the future of the battleship in the ancient and venerable form, a major force in naval warfare.

A modern battleship not armed as say the USS Iowa with sixteen inch turreted guns [406 mm] but rather carrying and reliant on an array of weaponry.

Not included in my list of weaponry as to be found in a modern battleship of the type as envisioned by myself CIWS. Close-in-weapons-support. Of the Phalanx variety. Phalanx demonstrably effective [see previous blog entry] against near-supersonic missiles [GRAD type 122 mm rocket artillery] of a very small cross-section and radar signature.

CIWS also needed to defeat small boat attack of the swarm nature. Mount CIWS on towers so the weapons system has an ability to shoot downwards at incoming surface attacker.

Additionally needed would be some sort of anti-drone defense of the type already deployed/active and found to be effective. Defeat the armed combat drone of whatever type. Organic unit of Marines vital for this mission.

coolbert.

Dreadnought III.

This is coolbert:

See my previous blog entries on the same topic here and here.

From a Russian military Internet web site copied in entirety the posting at a forum by KomissarBojanchev.

"Possibility of return of the Battleship? Empty Possibility of return of the battleship?"

"Do you think building cannon armed dreadnoughts is the answer for future warfare? Giving it an MBT [main battle tank] grade composite armor of massive thickness would make AshMs [anti-ship missiles] nearly useless against it since most have fragmentation warheads only useful against the unarmored CVs [aircraft carriers] and destroyers of today and while HEAT [high-explosive anti-tank] warheads might penetrate its armor it would only affect one compartment of the modern dreadnought and wont do much damage unless it is extremely lucky enough to hit an ammo compartment. Also giving it a respectable CIWS [close-in weapons system] will negate the threat of missiles and bombs even more. While the base range of an average 406mm [sixteen inch] projectile would be only about 40km [twenty-five miles] having using assisted shells will give it range surpassing some AshMs. If a 152mm assisted round can go 80km, a 203mm round might go around 120km [seventy-five miles] imagine how much a will a 400+mm [sixteen inch+] round go! The battleship would expend its ammo a lot slower than a missile armed ship. And if a battleships gun could do heavy damage to an armored WW2 cruiser imagine how volleys of guided 406mm [sixteen inch] shells will pulverize unarmored missile destroyers and carriers. Even so adding missiles will still be a good idea for very long range strikes (the iowas had tomahawks). A modern battleship carrying 460mm [sixteen inch] turrets (and carrying about 1000 rounds) and 16 brahmos [supersonic anti-ship missile] or klub-K [Russian anti-ship missile] missiles would be easily the most powerful ship in the sea. Of course carriers could still be useful but adding a battleship to the task force would make it a lot more powerful."

ANSWERS TO THE QUESTION AS POSED MORE OR LESS UNIFORMLY NEGATIVE.

And thank you KomissarBojanchev.

coolbert.

MDC2.

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Multi-Domain Command and Control (MDC2).

From a previous blog entry the question as asked: "Details of this latest modernization not given but said to include and to concentrate on multi-domain warfare. Whatever that includes."

Multi-domain warfare!

From the Internet web site War on the Rocks and for the perusal of the devoted reader to the blog info on multi-domain warfare.

"MULTI-DOMAIN BATTLE: AIRLAND BATTLE, ONCE MORE, WITH FEELING"

"So, what is this Multi-Domain Battle that everyone seems to be talking about? Is it a brave new concept that will carry the day and the Army to a revolution in military affairs? Or is it just AirLand Battle with a dose of cyber?"

See also additional web sites with an index or various articles the topic of which is multi-domain warfare:

https://www.tradoc.army.mil/Multi-Domain-Operations/

https://breakingdefense.com/multi-domain-warfare/

Personally I do not understand and do not pretend to know so.

coolbert.

Overhaul.

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U.S. Army due for a major overhaul. According to the Russia media outlet Sputnik that is.

Major "overhaul" as has not occurred now in forty years or more? We have to rely on the  Russian Internet media for such reporting.

"US Army Embarks on 16-Year Modernization Program to Match ‘Pacing Threat’ Russia, China"

"The Army’s [USA] latest modernization strategy report revealed they will prioritize countering military developments in China and Russia, the US’ 'pacing threat,' as the branch begins a four-stage plan to become a multi-domain force by 2035.

From over forty years ago it was the concepts and doctrine of AirLand Battle [2000]. A means for NATO defense against a massive Soviet attack [doctrine as not totally confined to NATO also envisioning military operations in the Middle East and Korea employing the same weapons and doctrine].

AirLand to be successful in large measure based on the development and fielding of war-winning weaponry to include:

* Bradley vehicle.

* Abrams tank.

* Apache attack helicopter.

* Patriot air defense missile.

* MLRS. Multiple Launch Rocket System.

AirLand Battle and the weaponry as associated with same proving to be successful. Not only a deterrent against Soviet attack [Big Red moves west] but think also Gulf War I and the destruction of Saddam's army, an action accomplished with relative and surprising ease.

Details of this latest modernization not given but said to include and to concentrate on multi-domain warfare. Whatever that includes. Again the idea deterrence but also having a war-winning formula that combination of weapons and doctrine most vital and having been thought through well in advance.

coolbert.

SLRC.

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Consider this to be the U.S. Army answer to the hypersonic weapon problem? From a variety of sources and authors.

SLRC = Strategic Long-Range Cannon.

An artillery cannon possessing incredible range. I can understand there is merit to this idea. You can fire more rounds repeatedly at long-range cheaper than using hyper-sonic missiles. Missiles expensive!

1. "Army Building 1,000-Mile Supergun".

"While the Strategic Long-Range Cannon will hit targets at ranges comparable to bleeding-edge hypersonics missiles, Army officials emphasized the cannon is built on proven principles, just bigger."

2. "The U.S. Army Wants a Cannon with a Crazy and Nearly Impossible Range".

"The U.S. Army wants to push its long-range guns into territory artillery officers have previously only dreamt of. The service’s Strategic Long Range Cannon is projected to fire way, way, way farther than any existing gun, or any gun ever made."

3. "US working on 1150 mile range supergun".

"The US Strategic Long Range Cannon (SLRC) will have a range of up to 1,150 miles."

"The Strategic Long Range Cannon could be a follow-up to supergun work that Gerard Bull started for Iraq from 1988-1990. It could be a long barrel using high-performance propellant powder."

"The SLRC could also be a scaled up railgun."

Details of the SLRC not known. Will be MOVE-ABLE but not MOBILE. Electro-magnetic railgun as favored by the U.S. Navy that project now discontinuted? Or is SLRC an adaptation of the railgun?

ACCURACY TOO MOST IMPORTANT. YOU WANT TO FIRE A PROJECTILE LONG-RANGE BUT ALSO HIT AND DESTROY THE TARGET!

coolbert.

EU BG.

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The Pan-European military force? Not just on paper or a concept as in the minds of European Union bureaucrats and politicians?

The EU Battlegroup. Consider this a new one of me.

"An EU Battlegroup (EU BG) is a military unit adhering to the Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP) of the European Union (EU). Often based on contributions from a coalition of member states, each of the eighteen Battlegroups consists of a battalion-sized force (1,500 troops) reinforced with combat support elements"

Battalion sized combat-arms size force task tailored reinforced. For use if needed within the EU to deal with external threat and also possibly as peacekeeping troops outside the EU.

BATTLEGROUPS APPARENTLY MULTI-NATIONAL AND MULTI-LINGUAL!

Rapid reaction type force even when combined really not capable of thwarting massive invasion of the Euro Zone by an external enemy. Missions as designated with far less in mind.

Type Rapid reaction force:
Size 18 battalions, including:
*14 battalions with ~1,500 soldiers
*4 battalions with ~2,500 soldiers

I GUESS YOU GOTTA START SOMEWHERE!

coolbert.

Sworbe.

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The Sworbe Pocket. Germans under the command of Field Marshal Ferdinand Schörner.

Hold out! To the end! No retreat! Terrain of no great value!

Thanks to You Tube video. Sworbe I had never heard of. 

Consider: 1. Sworbe yet one more example of German senior officers acting in a manner [after discussion perhaps?] contrary to the explicit and direct orders of Hitler himself. 2. Also one more instance of the successful reverse amphibious operation. Amphibious operations considered to the most difficult of all military tasks. Such an operation while under intense pressure even more so. 3. Ferdinand Schörner having so strongly encouraged his men to fight under hopeless conditions at the very end of WW2 himself donned a civilian suit and was flown out of the battle area to surrender to American forces.

coolbert.

Schörner.

This is coolbert:

The good, the bad, the ugly! German style WW2.

Conclusion.

The bad! Ferdinand Schörner.

"Ferdinand Schörner . . . was a German army officer and Nazi war criminal. He was a general and later Field Marshal in the Wehrmacht of Nazi Germany during World War II. He commanded several army groups and was the last Commander-in-chief of the German Army."

"Schörner is commonly represented in historical literature as a simple disciplinarian and a slavish devotee of Hitler's defensive orders, after Germany lost the initiative in second half of World War II 1942/43. More recent research . . . depicts Schörner as a talented commander with 'astonishing' organizational ability in managing an army group of 500,000 men during the fighting in late 1944 on the Eastern Front. He was harsh against superiors as well as subordinates and carried out operations on his own authority against Hitler's orders when he considered it necessary"

THE STEREOTYPICAL UNREPENTANT NAZI! BUT NOT IN ALL CASES SO ABSOLUTELY OBEDIENT TO HITLER, DEFYING DIRECT ORDERS IN SOME INSTANCES.

FERDINAND A SENIOR COMMANDER MOST NOTED FOR HIS SUMMARY EXECUTIONS OF GERMAN SOLDIERS THOUGHT TO BE DESERTING, MALINGERING OR SHIRKING!

Within the context of "organizational ability" the German generals during World War Two noted for their ability on very short notice to form ad hoc credible fighting units. Making bricks without straw!

coolbert.

Schwerin.

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The good, the bad, the ugly! German WW2 style.

And as is germane to several recent previous blog entries. See here and here.

The good. Von Schwerin.

"Gerhard Helmut Detleff Graf von Schwerin . . . was a German General der Panzertruppe during World War II."

German general officer of distinguished ability during the Second World War. And a man it seems to a degree a free-thinker.

Legacy prior to the war [WW2], during the war and after the war controversial

The type of German officer in the Prussian style as despised by Hitler. A German officer in the Prussian style a reactionary as Hitler would have deemed, not so much anti-Nazi but rather desiring a return to the days of the German Empire and rule by the Kaiser.

Schwerin making intimations to the British prior to September 1939 that the German officer corps under certain exact circumstances be willing to replace Hitler and the Nazi regime with a government more amenable to the western allies England and France.

Schwerin in disobedience to direct orders from Hitler attempting [unsuccessfully] to surrender the German city of Aachen intact without a fight to the American forces [1944]. Schwerin lucky he was not executed.

Finally Schwerin as a driving force post-war the creation of the Bundeswehr. A kindlier and gentler but still effective and respected German army.

"In May 1950 Schwerin was appointed to the post of chief advisor on military issues and security policy to the Chancellor Konrad Adenauer, and head of the covert government agency . . . responsible for the reconstruction of West Germany's military whilst under American occupation during the Cold War."

Schwerin undoubtedly a complex character!

coolbert.

Sail.

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"The fairwater sail or bridge fin is a totally undesirable appendage when viewed from any hydrodynamic or hydrostatic aspect or, indeed, from any other aspect including stealth." - - Javier Silvano Arzola.

Sailless submarine?

From the Internet web site of H I Sutton and thanks to same.

"Chinese Navy’s New Mystery Submarine"

"China continues to surprise the defense world. It is probably the only country on earth who can build a full-size submarine without any details leaking out."

"This submarine is a unique design which has no sail to speak of. All other submarines have this fin-like structure rising up from the middle of the deck where the periscope goes. Until now it has been a defining characteristic of a submarine: this boat is flatter and has a tiny bump where the sail should go."

No sail but a slight bump. Image thanks to H. I. Sutton.

Also from the Internet web site of H. I. Sutton see an entire article as devoted to the sailless concept. As if the idea has never been proposed before. Various nations including the Soviet Union, USA and France have see an obvious advantage to the sailless submarine but never became an accomplished fact.

coolbert.

Folly.

This is coolbert:

WARNING! If you are an American and view this You Tube video be prepared for a painful experience. Not easy to watch and listen to but within context of the Vietnam War aspects that hardly can be denied.

Thanks to the tip from Nicky in this instance.

"A presentation and reading by Hamilton Gregory, author of 'McNamara's Folly: The Use of Low-IQ Troops in the Vietnam.' Because so many college students were avoiding military service during the Vietnam War, Defense Secretary Robert McNamara lowered mental standards to induct 354,000 low-IQ men. Their death toll in combat was appalling."

Assets of using low-IQ troops far outweighed by the debits. Persons 1. Did not want to be in the army in the first place AND had no reason being drafted anyhow. 2. Beyond that did not want to be in Vietnam even more so. Mr. Hamilton certainly knows the subject matter well from intimate experience and also is an excellent and persuasive speaker

Not mentioned is that quite often low-IQ troops having severe discipline problems and often discharged with less than honorable duty status. A big red-flag for future employment in whatever capacity. Benefits as normally due the veteran also denied.

Combat losses described as appalling. Combat losses not only to the low-IQ GI but also fellow soldiers as well.

Dolorous in the extreme and a situation we hope never occurs again!

coolbert.

Phalanx.

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Consider this a must watch. TURN YOUR SPEAKERS UP HIGH!

Israeli air defense in action. Rocket artillery as fired from Lebanon toward Israeli targets incoming rocket artillery intercepted and shot down by Phalanx. Rapid fire 20 mm cannon with awesome fire power radar guided and automated when switched on, beyond the control of human operators.

Phalanx in the U.S. Navy inventory for some time. Was not aware a ground-based version existed. Now getting a real-world combat test and found to be not wanting. Honestly, I am even surprised as to the almost overwhelming effectiveness of the system.

Daleks. Salt shakers at work. Watch and enjoy and thanks to the tip from Chuckie.

Rocket artillery rounds I believe of the Soviet era GRAD 122 mm variety or an Iranian knock-off. I guess the only consideration for the defender is not to run out of ammunition. A spectacle and an indication that American military innovation and engineering not lacking in the slightest.

coolbert.

Lucius.

This is coolbert:

Also from Strategy Page Professor Al Nofi CIC # 475 in finality one more Roman soldier as mentioned by Pliny the Elder a contender for that military man possessing conspicuous courageous behavior and valor on the battlefield!

Lucius Siccius Dentatus.

"Lucius Siccius or Sicinius Dentatus (died circa 450 BC) was a Roman soldier . . . famed for his martial bravery. He was a champion of the plebeians in their struggle with the patricians. His cognomen Dentatus means 'born with teeth."

"Cognomen - - A cognomen was the third name of a citizen of ancient Rome, under Roman naming conventions . . . Hereditary cognomina were used to augment the second name in order to identify a particular branch within a family or family within a clan"

According to Pliny the Elder, over his lifetime Siccius had fought in 120 battles, received 45 honorable wounds . . . Siccius was eight times champion in single combat, with forty five scars on the front of his body and none on the rear.

They just don't make them like Lucius anymore, do they?

coolbert.

Prosthesis.

This is coolbert:

 “What person has possessed the most outstanding courage is a subject of unending enquiry.”
- - Pliny the Elder.

The military man as a result of combat losing a limb. Subsequently being fitted with a prosthesis and continuing the fight and doing so quite successfully qualifies as an indication of great courage and will!

Thanks once more to the Professor Al Nofi CIC #475:

Marcus Sergius Silus:

". . . nobody, in my judgment [Pliny] at all events, can rightly rank any human being above Marcus Sergius, albeit his great-grandson Catilina diminishes the credit of his name.

"Sergius lost his right hand in his second campaign. By the end of two further campaigns, he had been wounded twenty-three times, with the result that he was crippled in both hands and both feet, only his spirit being intact; yet although disabled, he served in numerous subsequent campaigns."

Sergius even when disabled fitted with a prosthesis and continuing to fight in the thick of the fray.

"Sergius had a right hand of iron made for himself and going into action with it tied to his arm, raised the siege of Cremona [c. 206-207 BC], saved Piacenza [209 BC], captured twelve enemy camps". .

Additionally:

From more modern times two instances of military men, aviators both, fitted with prosthesis and continuing to engage in mortal combat with the enemy, and most successfully so.

1. "Sir Douglas Bader, WW2. RAF. Dogsbody"

"Group Captain Sir Douglas Robert Steuart Bader  . . . was a Royal Air Force flying ace during the Second World War."

PRIOR TO THE WAR BADER HAS LOST BOTH LEGS WHILE PERFORMING AEROBATICS. WAS RECALLED TO FLIGHT STATUS WHEN WW2 BEGAN AND FLEW MOST COURAGEOUSLY UNTIL HIS CAPTURE. AS AN ACT OF CHIVALRY THE GERMAN ALLOWING THE RAF TO DROP SPARE PROSTHESIS TO BADER DURING HIS CAPTIVITY.

2. Hans-Ulrich Rudel. Eagle of the East. WW2.

"Hans-Ulrich Rudel . . . was a German ground-attack pilot during World War II. Rudel was the most decorated German serviceman of World War II"

"On 8 February 1945, Rudel was badly wounded in the right foot, and landed inside German lines . . .  Rudel's leg was amputated below the knee. He returned to flying on 25 March 1945. He claimed 26 more tanks destroyed by the end of the war."

ONLY SIX WEEKS AFTER LOSING THE LOWER HALF OF HIS RIGHT LEG RUDEL BACK AT THE CONTROLS AND FIGHTING UNTIL WARS END, QUITE VALIANTLY SO!

Some may take exception as to the inclusion of Rudel but I am taking only into account the military man who receiving a grievous wound and yet continues to fight with prosthesis.

coolbert.

Silus.

This is coolbert:

“What person has possessed the most outstanding courage is a subject of unending enquiry.” - - Pliny the Elder.

Thanks to the Strategy Page CIC # 475 article by Professor Al Nofi, as extracted and heavily edited.

Achievements of valor + achievements of fortune. Fortune = luck.

That most outstanding individual Roman soldier of antiquity according to Pliny:

Marcus Sergius Silus [ 240 BC until some time after 197 BC.]

"'. . . nobody, in my judgment [Pliny the Elder] at all events, can rightly rank any human being above Marcus Sergius, albeit his great-grandson Catilina diminishes the credit of his name.'"

"'Sergius lost his right hand in his second campaign. By the end of two further campaigns, he had been wounded twenty-three times, with the result that he was crippled in both hands and both feet, only his spirit being intact; yet although disabled, he served in numerous subsequent campaigns'".

Consider from much modern times [WW1 and WW2] military commanders as wounded repeatedly yet continuing to lead from the front. Individuals for better or worse to include:

* Hyacinth von Strachwitz. Fourteen wounding.

* Bernard Freyberg. Nine wounding.

* Robert Frederick. Eight wounding.

* Oskar Dirlewanger. Twelve wounding.

* Ralph Monclar. 100 % disability.

Bernard Freyberg also during a time of war sustaining non-combat related injury all the while suffering a heart ailment??

Some may take exception to the inclusion of Oscar Dirlewanger but I speak only of repeated wounding and nothing more.

coolbert.

Reactionary.

This is coolbert:

Within context of the Second World War [WW2] some tidbits regarding the German officer corps.

1. The German professional officer corps during the Second World War [WW2] as described by Hitler a "reactionary" force. Meaning those officers greatly desiring a return of Imperial German rule as was during the time of the Kaiser and a societal status for the military elite as was the case prior to the Great War [WW1].

2. In the aftermath of WW2 almost all German flag officer [general or admiral] placed under arrest by the victorious allied powers. Subject to interrogation and possibly charged with war crimes. That only significant exception Captain Rogge of the surface raider Atlantis. Rogge [later promoted to Admiral] his wartime conduct exemplary and chivalrous in the extreme.

3. German lower-ranking officers post-war engaging in political dialogue with native German speakers of the allied occupying powers. Political dialogue the purpose of which was to convince the future leadership of German society that rehabilitation was possible if fascist tendencies and mores abandoned in favor of Christian, democratic and capitalist ideals. Henry Kissinger one such native German speaker of the allied occupying powers.

4. Consider also even before there was a Bundeswehr there were re-constituted German military units  [allied power auspices] under the command of naval officer Hans Rudolf Rösing.

German naval personnel the task of which was naval-mine clearing. Dangerous duty in the extreme but essential. Rösing a successful U-boat captain during the war having spent a year under arrest finding suitable employment for himself and his band of German volunteers.

Rösing also achieving the rank of flag officer [admiral] post-war.

You put the mines there, now go get them out!

coolbert.

Heusinger.

This is coolbert:

From the Internet web site GalacticConnection this item. Thanks to GalacticConnection.

1. "HITLER’S CHIEF OF STAFF LATER BECAME NATO’S CHIEF OF STAFF"

"Adolf Beuno Heinrich Ernst Heusinger . . . was a German military officer, whose career spanned the German Empire, the Weimar Republic, Nazi Germany and West Germany . . . He served as acting Chief of the General Staff of the Army for two weeks in 1944 . . . He later became a general for West Germany and served as head of the West German military from 1957 to 1961 as well as Chairman of the NATO Military Committee from 1961 to 1964."

CHIEF OF STAFF [OPERATIONS AND PLANNING] OF THE WEHRMACHT FOR TWO WEEKS!

"So instead of facing trial and paying for the crimes he committed, this war criminal who personally signed orders to murder allied POW’s during the war, this human trash that helped Hitler plan and carry out the atrocities and war crimes that the German army perpetuated in Europe and Russia, this psychopathic murderer was allowed to rebuild the West German army and later to become one of NATO‘s heads in Europe."

Additionally and within context thanks to the Internet web site Quora:

2. "How many former Wehrmacht generals helped form the new Bundeswehr?"

Ten flag officers of either general or admiral rank. Those named:

*- Hans Speidel *- Friedrich Foertsch *- Adolf Heusinger *- Friedrich Ruge (Vice Admiral) *- Walter Gladisch (Admiral) *- Robert Knauss *- Fridolin von Senger und Etterlin *- Rudolf Meister *- Hans Röttiger *- Heinrich von Vietinghoff-Scheel

IT CAN ARGUED THAT THESE MEN WERE EXPERTS ON HOW TO FIGHT THE SOVIET RED ARMY AND ALSO AT THE SAME TIME EXPERTS ON HOW TO NOT FIGHT THE SOVIET RED ARMY?

3. "About how many former Wehrmacht and SS members joined the Bundeswehr?"

Considering Wehrmacht alone:

"According to the German government, in 1956 (the new German Army, Bundeswehr, was founded in 1955), 31 Generals (out of a total of 38) and 100 Colonels (237) were former soldiers of the Wehrmacht."

Regarding the (Waffen) SS:

"In 1961, 159 former SS officers, 330 former SS NCO’s and 210 former SS soldiers 'after rigorous screening' were allowed to serve as professional soldiers in the new German Army."

SS Mann as having been "screened" and almost all [if not all] having served at a lower level of command or merely a low-ranking troop. Screened as to participation in the OTHER THINGS. Devoted readers to the blog will know what I refer to as the OTHER THINGS!

Waffen SS the fighting arm of the SS. As to be distinguished [not entirely so] from those SS men that ran the death camps.

ONCE MORE, BUNDESWEHR TROOPS FORMERLY WEHRMACHT AND SS EXPERTS ON THE HOW TO AND HOW NOT TO FIGHT THE SOVIET RED ARMY? EXPERTISE IN THIS REGARD  BY OTHER CONSTITUENT MEMBERS OF NATO TOTALLY LACKING!

coolbert.

Voronezh.

This is coolbert:

"Work continues on the construction of new radar stations for the missile early warning network in the Komi Republic and the Murmansk region. These works are planned to be completed in 2022,"

From Sputnik Russian Internet media and copyright by same.

"Russia Rolls Out Missile Early Warning Systems in Arctic"

Not however Steelyard, Druga-2, or the Russian Woodpecker. Radars early-warning [EW] of the anti-ballistic missile variety.

"MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Two new Voronezh-type missile early warning radars will become operational in 2022 in the Komi Republic and the Murmansk region in northern Russia"

From the wiki we can glean some info as to the latest Russian anti-ballistic missile radar. Voronezh.

"Voronezh radars . . . are the current generation of Russian early-warning radar, providing long distance monitoring of airspace against ballistic missile attack and aircraft monitoring."

"Voronezh-DM (77Ya6-DM) works in the decimeter range (UHF) . . . At a distance of 8000 km [5,000 miles], the radar can detect targets the size of a 'football ball'."

Radar the operating frequency in the VHF and UHF range:

Voronezh-M: 150–200 MHz (VHF)
Voronezh-DM: 0.1 m wavelength (UHF)

NO WORRY OF VORONEZH IN ANY FORM DISRUPTING THE HIGH FREQUENCY INTERNATIONAL BROADCAST BANDS. THE WOODPECKER DOES NOT LIVE! AND WE ARE ALL THE BETTER FOR IT!

coolbert.

Engines II.

This is coolbert:

Engines B-52. Conclusion!

Eight is better than four?

Further comment with regard to re-engining the B-52H bomber.

From conversation with an acknowledge aviation authority and thanks profusely to same:

"retrofit - - to replace existing parts, equipment, etc., with updated parts or systems".

"I like the simpler idea of replacing one-for-one rather than one-for-two, with the slightly more powerful thrust options of 18-20,000lbs substituting for today’s 17,000lbs while not overpowering a wing designed aerodynamically and structurally for the 17,000lb engines."

"Replacing two engines in each pod with one bigger, more powerful engine might indeed give more thrust, but would lead to weight and asymmetric thrust issues, plus the need to reroute the double fuel, electric, and hydraulics lines coming from the wings into each twin engine pod, requiring yet more redesign and and restructuring problems for the wings. Replacing the present eight engines with eight similar sized engines (to the current engines), albeit with a slightly improved thrust, would result in minimal wing strengthening problems and asymmetric thrust problems that have already been resolved by the present design. That latter proposal, coupled with no need to reroute/redesign the electrical, hydraulic, and fuel lines going into the pods would make it a more viable and feasible option"

"A pilot always likes a bit more thrust than the designers and manufacturers give us, but, as in the suggested larger engines, replacing two with one, there can be too much of a good thing"

WOW! And thank you acknowledged aviation authority. Without question your authority in such matters fully 100 % acknowledged! We are all the better for your insights!

coolbert.

Engines I.

This is coolbert:

Once more with regard to the B-52H models being retrofitted consider the topic of re-engining what it is called.

"A re-engining of the B-52 fleet has been explored for many years, and previously focused on replacing the eight original low-bypass Pratt and Whitney TF33 turbofans with four much bigger turbofans . . . The USAF has now decided to replace the 17,000-pound-thrust TF33s with 'engines of a similar size, weight, and thrust.'”

COMMERCIALLY OBTAINABLE ENGINES OF MUCH MORE MODERN DESIGN!

"Rolls-Royce is proposing its BR725 turbofan rated at 17,000 pounds' maximum thrust, as found on the Gulfstream G650 business jet . . . A Rolls-Royce spokesman told AIN that if F130 engines were selected for the B-52, they would be assembled and tested in the US."

OFF TO WORK WE GO WITH BUSINESS JET ENGINES?

"A spokesman for GE Aviation told AIN [ainonline] that it would offer two re-engining options for the B-52: the CF34-10 which powers regional airliners and is rated at 18-20,000lbs, or the Passport engine rated at 18-20,000lbs and which was recently certified for the Bombardier Global 7000 business jet."

AGAIN, OFF TO WORK WE GO WITH BUSINESS JET ENGINES FOR THE B-52?

FOUR OR EIGHT? THAT IS THE QUESTION? MORE TO FOLLOW!

coolbert.