Cinema.

This is coolbert:

Courtesy the Chicago Sun Times reviews and ratings of war movies.

MOVIES AND TV - ENTERTAINMENT AND CULTURE.

"America’s 10 best war movies since WWII"

"From ‘Apocalypse Now’ to ‘Zero Dark Thirty,’ here are the finest accounts of the chaos and the aftermath of going into battle."

By Richard Roeper [with co-host Roe Conn].

"In the 75 years since then [the end of World War Two], Hollywood has made hundreds of movies about war, with several ranking among the greatest films of all time regardless of genre. In our newest 'Best Movies' podcast, my co-host Roe Conn and I spotlight 10 of the best American post-war movies released since 1946."

As to the: "ten of the best American post-war movies released since 1946" devoted readers to the blog will just have to read the article and find out for themselves.

Devoted readers to the blog let me hear your comments. Yea or nay.

coolbert.

Ladakh III.

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Some damn fool thing in Ladakh. But President Don of the USA to the rescue? Mediation. Rather that than hostilities.

From TIME online and the story by Billy Perrigo.

"Trump Is Offering to Mediate in the India-China Border Dispute. Here's What to Know About the Escalating Tensions"

AS HAS BEEN THE SUBJECT OF PREVIOUS BLOG ENTRIES HERE AND HERE, INDIAN AND CHINESE MILITARY FACING-OFF AND BIG TIME. ATOMIC POWERS AT LOGGERHEADS, HAVING BEEN SO FOR DECADES WITH NO SOLUTION IN SIGHT.

Mediation a possible? President Don of the USA to preside?

"Tensions along the 2,000 mile stretch have been high for decades, with the Indian government reporting more than 1,000 mostly minor incursions by Chinese troops between 2016-18. But hostilities have increased over the last several weeks following large Chinese troop movements into previously Indian-controlled territory."

Border disputes of this nature intractable and often only resolved by war. Border disputes between China and India hardly confined to Ladakh. The beat goes on. This time possibly with nuclear munitions?

coolbert.

Mysterious.

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Consider this to be in the strange but true category!

Thanks to the tip from Freeper.

"Scientists test substance found buried with warrior and his sword in 221BC"

"What is the 2,000-year-old brown mystery liquid found in ancient Chinese tomb? Scientists test substance found buried with warrior and his sword in 221BC"

THE PROVERBIAL ANCIENT CHINESE SECRET? IT VERY WELL MIGHT BE?

Bronze ware within which the mysterious liquid substance was found. Bronze a good choice as a container. Bronze can last a long time under the right conditions. Substance as contained within relatively fresh?

"More than 3 litres of mysterious, brownish liquid was poured out from a hole." That IS a considerable amount of liquid lasting for over two thousand years.

"Though members of the public have speculated the vessel may have contained some early form of grain alcohol, Mr Yan’s institute said it has invited experts from Chinese capital Beijing to test the substance before confirming anything."

SOLDIERS TRADITIONALLY ALWAYS THOUGHT TO BE HEAVY DRINKERS. INTOXICATING BEVERAGE.

coolbert.

Bins.

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Within context of a recent prior blog entry:

"Pentagon Bins US Rare Earth Projects Funding in Setback for Plans to Cut Reliance on China - Report" 

From the Russian Internet media outlet Sputnik and the article by Oleg Burunov.

THAT WORD "BINS" POORLY CHOSEN? I INFER AS MEANING PLACED IN COLD-STORAGE.

"In mid-May, Republican Senator Ted Cruz proposed a bill aimed at reducing US reliance on Chinese rare earth metals. China remains the world's largest producer of these strategic minerals needed to produce consumer electronics and a spate of weapons."

"Reuters has cited three unnamed sources as saying that the Pentagon last month reversed its decision to fund two projects to process rare earth metals in the US."

RARE EARTHS NOT SO RARE! RATHER COMMON SO I HAVE BEEN TOLD! 95 % OF THE WORLD'S CURRENT STOCKPILE OF RARE EARTHS IN THE POSSESSION OF CHINA!

President Trump in proposing to purchase Greenland from Denmark was a response to the current rare-earths "crisis". President Don desires American self -sufficiency.

Adam Smith would be proud!

coolbert.

Ladakh II.

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Some damn fool thing in Ladakh Part II. Troops massing. Troops are always massing. Both sides in this case have atomic weapons. Fast track this blog entry too.

See previous blog entry the topic the confrontation between China and India.

"India and China Move In More Troops as Border Tensions Rise"

Thanks to Bloomberg and Archana Chaudhary Sudhi Ranjan Sen

"India has moved additional troops along its northern border as it prepares for an extended conflict with neighbor China, after several rounds of talks failed to ease tensions between the nuclear-armed rivals. China has already placed about 5,000 soldiers and armored vehicles within its side of the disputed border in the Ladakh region . . . India is adding a similar number of troops as well as artillery guns along the border to fend off the continuing incursions by Chinese army"

AGAIN, AT THIS EXACT MOMENT IN TIME AND WITHIN THE CONTEXT OF THE COVID-19 VIRUS IT SURPRISES ME THE CHINESE WOULD DARE TO AGITATE IN SUCH A FASHION.

Inscrutable these Orientals?

coolbert.

Pratas/Bluegill.

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Some damn fool thing in the South China Sea? The Pratas Islands??

Without question the situation South China Sea to become even more tense? Traditional great power geo-strategic politics at work.

From the English tabloid The Sun and the tip from Freeper:

"COLD FRONT China deploys two new aircraft carriers to stoke tensions with US after warning of a ‘new cold war’"

"CHINA is reportedly set to deploy its two new aircraft carriers off the coast of Taiwan as it warns the US of a 'new cold war'".

"The huge carriers, the Liaoning and Shandong, are currently engaged in combat readiness training in the tightly controlled Bohai Bay, in the Yellow Sea before sailing to join an invasion war game near Pratas island."

Graphic thanks to The Sun. Pratas little itty-bitty fly speck islands as claimed by both Taiwan and mainland China.

Again thanks The Sun for the graphic. A task force of two Chinese aircraft carriers in coordinated operations the military exercise having the Pratas Islands as the target. Chinese amphibious military units are actually going ashore. That would be very bad. The Chinese too within the context of the Covid-19 pandemic have chosen the worst possible moment for this "exercise" to occur.

Consider also from the wiki entry for Pratas Islands the military history circa WW2:

"Japanese naval personnel occupied Pratas Island during World War II. The Japanese Navy used the island as a weather station and listening outpost [seaplane base also?] until 29 May 1945 when a landing party consisting of Australian commandos and US naval personnel from the submarine USS Bluegill raised the US flag, declared the island a United States territory, and named it Bluegill Island. The landing party destroyed a radio tower, weather station, fuel and ammunition dumps, and several buildings. No lives were lost during this raid as all of the island's occupants fled just days prior to Bluegill's raid. The islands were later restored to the Republic of China's Guangdong Province."

INDEED. THE USA CAN JUSTIFIABLY JURISDICTION AND SOVEREIGNTY THE PRATAS ISLANDS BY RIGHT OF CONQUEST? DISMISS SUCH AN IDEA OUT-OF-HAND?

coolbert.

Glory?

This is coolbert:

Here with a blog entry that was fast-tracked.

More desecration of war memorials. A despicable action that must be universally condemned. Pittsburgh, PA. USA.

"Pittsburgh War Memorial Vandalized with Red Paint"

VANDALIZED WITH RED PAINT PLUS MESSAGES OF POLITICAL HATE!

"A war memorial in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, has been vandalized with red paint on Memorial Day".

"The memorial is known as the World War I Doughboy, located at the 'Y' of Penn and Butler Streets in the Lawrenceville neighborhood of Pittsburgh, was covered in red spray paint, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reported."

The message painted onto the memorial read, “JUNE 19, 1986, GLORY TO THE DAY OF HEROISM.”

KDKA reported that there also appeared to be hammer and sickle logo sprayed onto the memorial.

Possible motive to include:

* JUNETEENTH [19 June] the special significance.

"Juneteenth, also known as Freedom Day, Jubilee Day, Cel-Liberation Day or the Black Fourth of July, is an American holiday that commemorates June 19, 1865. On this day, after almost two and half years since the implementation of the Emancipation Proclamation, enslaved African Americans were informed of their liberation from the slavery present in the former Confederate States of America"

* Peruvian prison massacres. Suppression of rioting Peruvian Maoist insurrectionists.

"The Peruvian prison massacres occurred on June 18–19, 1986, after a series of riots in the San Pedro, Santa Mónica, and El Frontón prisons in Lima and Callao. The military repression of these riots resulted in the loss of at least 224 lives."

See previous blog entries [with additional embedded links] the topic war memorial desecration:

https://militaryanalysis.blogspot.com/2019/11/abomination-ii.html

https://militaryanalysis.blogspot.com/2019/11/abomination-i.html

coolbert.

MRS. AMERICA.

This is coolbert:

"Good evening, Mr. and Mrs. America from border to border and coast to coast and all the ships at sea. Let's go to press." - - Walter Winchell.

Let's go to the blog rather.

See this trailer for the recently released movie "MRS. AMERICA". The women/feminist  movement in the 1970's versus the polarizing and controversial personality Phyllis Schlafly.

Phyllis Schlafly opposed to the women/feminist movement in the Seventies. Phyllis it is agreed more or less single-handed-ly defeating efforts to pass the Equal Rights Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. As with most prominent and controversial persons of history, Phyllis reviled by some, adored by many and even grudgingly admired by those in opposition to her. 

Phyllis Schlafly having pronounced opinions regarding the incorporation of women into the U.S. military:

* "Much of the demand for women in combat comes from female officers who are eager for medals and promotion."

* "Putting women in military combat is the cutting edge of the feminist goal to force us into the androgynous society."

* "Every country that experimented with women in actual combat has abandoned the idea, and the notion that Israel uses women in combat is a feminist myth."

* "History offers no evidence for the proposition that the assignment of women to military combat jobs is the way to win wars, improve combat readiness, or promote national security."

* "Forcing women in or near land combat will hurt recruiting, not help."

* "No country in history ever sent mothers of toddlers off to fight enemy soldiers until the United States did this in the Iraq war."

"an•drog•y•nous - - being neither distinguish-ably masculine nor feminine, as in dress, appearance, or behavior."

HEY! I never did anything more about the two American Virginia class nuclear submarines the "manning" table which was to consist strictly of women. What happened to that?

coolbert.

Fingers.

This is coolbert:

Danger! Danger! India and China again in military confrontation.

At the worst possible moment the Chinese do this? Pre-meditated [?] provocative actions that will only infuriate and confound?

From The Print and as seen at Freeper. Thanks to both.

"Chinese troops challenge India at multiple locations in eastern Ladakh, standoff continues"

"The Chinese troops have 'come in' about 3 km into Indian territory South East of the Galwan Valley, largely known as Hot Springs area in eastern Ladakh . . . Beijing has also moved in men at the 'finger areas' of Pangong Lake while increasing build up on its side of the Line of Actual Control (LAC). The Pangong Lake’s northern bank juts forward like a palm, and the various protrusions are identified as 'fingers' to demarcate territory."

BORDER DISPUTE NEVER RESOLVED. HARDLY THIS ANYTHING BUT CAREFULLY PLANNED. MULTIPLE CROSSINGS SIMULTANEOUSLY.

coolbert.

Asien.

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Der Dicke! The fat one. As with Goering the same with Comrade Kim?

World War Two armored train Asien [Asia] of Hermann Goering. Again, as with Goering the same with Kim? Both Hermann [WW2] and Kim [today] fond of their armored trains for secure travel and and enjoying the high life at the same time.

From the Mark Felton You Tube video the armored train of Hermann Goering. Hardly just a secure means of travel. Conspicuous and overly extravagant luxury way over the top. That armored train of Comrade Kim more or less the same way? Do it large or don't do it at all is the motto? No expense spared. And thank you Mark Felton.

Goering an excessively greedy, gluttonous and overly-consumptive individual. Comrade Kim also! I would say like father like son but that would be inappropriate.

coolbert.

Trade.

This is coolbert:

WE HAVE TO RELY ON THE BRITISH TO TELL US THIS??

Free trade, national defense and Adam Smith. Thanks to Freeper.

"US dependence on Chinese imports posing potential threat on national security, think tank says"

"A new report by a British think tank shows that the U.S. is strategically dependent on China for 414 categories of imports, of which 114 service its critical national infrastructure -- and in some cases, these could pose a national security risk."

AMERICAN MILITARY NOT TOTALLY 100 % SELF-SUFFICIENT WITH REGARD TO HOME-GROWN PRODUCT FOR NATIONAL DEFENSE.

ADAM SMITH THE GREAT ECONOMIST AND ADVOCATE OF FREE-TRADE CITING SEVERAL EXCEPTIONS TO THE CONCEPT AND POLICY OF FREE TRADE. ONE OF WHICH WAS ITEMS AS NECESSARY FOR NATIONAL DEFENSE, WAR MUNITIONS TO THE GREATEST DEGREE POSSIBLE PROCURED LOCALLY.

Consider the British Acts of Navigation from the Seventeenth Century:

"The Acts of Navigation, originally enacted under Oliver Cromwell and elaborated upon by Charles II and his successors, gave British ships with British crews, a monopoly of British trade. Subsidiary regulations prohibited for strategic reasons the colonies exporting ships' accessories (masts, spars, rudders and sails) and naval supplies, and prohibited their conveying ordinary commercial exports to anywhere other than via
Britain first."

Britain First! America First! Not now, but should be.

coolbert.

Yevgeny.

This is coolbert:

“your son had a choice to stay alive. He could have converted to Islam, but he did not agree to take his cross off.” - - Purported executioner.

From the Internet web site Executed Today:

"1996: Yevgeny Rodionov, Chechen War martyr and folk saint"

"On this date in 1996 — his 19th birthday — Russian hostage Yevgeny Rodionov was beheaded by his captors outside a village in Chechnya."

"The young conscript was seized by guerrillas/terrorists/rebels along with three other comrades* during the horrible Chechen War."

EXECUTED BY BEHEADING AFTER RANSOM DEMANDS COULD NOT BE MET. YEVGENY NOW A MARTYR FOR THE FAITH [RUSSIAN ORTHODOXY]. YEVGENY COULD HAVE BEEN SPARED IF HE HAD DENIED HIS RELIGION BUT HE DID NOT.

I have often asked myself how would I have responded in such a situation. And of course the 100 % true answer is you will not know until you actually face events of that nature in person.

YEVGENY HAS DEPARTED THIS EXISTENCE BUT IS NOT FORGOTTEN.

coolbert.

Pessimism.

This is coolbert:

“'As a weapon system to equip an airplane with the lasers we think necessary in terms of their power level …and get them to altitudes where atmospheric turbulence can be mitigated appropriately, that combination of things can’t go on one platform,' . . . 'I’m extremely skeptical that we can put a large laser on an aircraft and use it to shoot down an adversary missile even from very close.'” - - Mike Griffin Pentagon’s top R and D chief.

6th generation warplanes equipped with directed energy weaponry the idea kaput?

"Pentagon’s top R&D chief hints that lasers may never work on aircraft"

From the War is Boring Internet web site a feature article.

"The Undersecretary of Defense for Research and Engineering [R and D] claims that it may not be feasible for an aircraft to be able to shoot down a missile with a laser- at least for now."

Lasers as envisioned for 6th generation warplanes and used as direct energy weapons need A LOT of power. A power plant as currently is available [or as best can be seen in the foreseen future] TOO HEAVY to be carried aloft by an air superiority fighter plane. The weapon will work but the plane will not be able to take-off or get high enough into the atmosphere for the laser to work with effectiveness? Combat range of a warplane severely limited by take-off weight.

See previous blog entries the topic the directed energy weapon:

https://militaryanalysis.blogspot.com/2019/06/sixth-i.html

https://militaryanalysis.blogspot.com/2018/07/growth.html

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

https://militaryanalysis.blogspot.com/2019/11/burn.html 

coolbert.

Exchange II.

This is coolbert:

"We gather here to take revenge of Zionists crimes against Palestinians who have dead or have lost their lifes, families and grounds" [message as sent in the original by the hackers]

From Israel Wired the article by Avi thanks to the tip from Freeper.

Within context of the previous blog entry more cyber-warfare. Iran and Israel again the combatants it seems. Critical infrastructure essential to life this time not threatened. Cyber-attack in this case appears to be soup to nuts, across the board, the general public the target.

"Iran Launches Major CyberAttack on Israeli Sites"

"Iranian hackers launched a massive cyberattack this morning on Israel, taking down thousands of Israeli websites. This video u [sic] just saw [an Iranian video], showing the destruction of Israel by missile attacks, appeared on all the hacked websites together with other messages and links about Israel’s destruction."

THIS IS THE NUISANCE, THE THREAT, THE SHOW OF FORCE. SEE WHAT WE CAN DO.

coolbert.

Exchange.

This is coolbert:

"Because water is defined as 'critical infrastructure' in Israel, the incident was reported to the Israel National Cyber Directorate and other intelligence agencies in Israel."

Israel and Iran. Cyber warfare. Tit-for-tat.

As reported by the New York Times.

"Exchange of Cyberattacks"

"Israel was behind a cyber-attack that disrupted a major port in Iran, done in response to an attempt by the Revolutionary Guards to infiltrate an Israeli water facility."

Iran attacks first, Israel retaliates. Tepid exchange of cyber-attack at this point but an indication of what can occur. And understandably so the Israeli worried. WATER is "critical infrastructure" in the Middle East, always has been, always will be. Deny water to the adversary and you are threatening in a major way.

Cyber-attack if successful no real difference than a conventional "kinetic" military attack if the target put out of action, not able to function, incapacitated.

See previous blog entries regarding cyber-attack:

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

https://militaryanalysis.blogspot.com/2019/06/cyber-iran.html

https://militaryanalysis.blogspot.com/2019/05/cash.html

https://militaryanalysis.blogspot.com/2019/04/blackout.html

Cyber-attack better understood as WME? Weapon of Mass Effect! 

coolbert.

EUA.

This is coolbert:

"You don’t just sling along a tactical nuke on any aircraft, but the integration and certification is quite a complex process, and relies on the country owning the nukes being ready to share some of their most highly classified military secrets."

From the Internet web site of the Finnish blogger Corporal Frisk an aspect of the proposed Euro Corps, Euro Force, Euro Army that needs to be properly examined in advance.

NUCLEAR WEAPONS AND DELIVERY SYSTEMS FOR SAME.

"On German Nukes and Tornadoes"

I suggest without qualification or reservation this Corporal Frisk article. Highlights what I see too as problems as will be associated with the formation of an INDEPENDENT and UNITED European army. An INDEPENDENT and UNITED European army, Euro Force, Euro Corps as advocated by such political personalities as Macron and Merkel of France and Germany respectively.

AN INDEPENDENT AND UNITED EUROPEAN MILITARY SEPARATE FROM NATO!

Problems from my perspective with the proposed formation of the Euro army, Euro Force, Euro Corps to include:

* Expenditures for conventional armaments to be large. This will not be popular with the voters.

* Conscription will become a must and standard? This will not be popular with the voters.

* The Euro Corps/Army/Force will NEED to have a tactical nuclear capacity. This will not be popular with the voters.

TACTICAL ATOMIC MUNITIONS THE DELIVERY SYSTEM AT THIS MOMENT IN TIME THE GERMAN FLOWN PANAVIA TORNADO. A WARPLANE BEING DECOMMISSIONED.

[French current have a very tepid tactical atomic weapon delivery system, cruise-missile, air launched. I am speaking of a much robust atomic-equipped force.]

FURTHER THE NOW-BEING RETIRED PANAVIA TORNADO VERSIONS HAVING THE DEDICATED ABILITY TO COUNTER ENEMY GROUND-BASED AIR DEFENSES. SEAD/DEAD.

"These are specialised electronic warfare aircraft, flying the SEAD/DEAD [Suppression Enemy Air Defense] mission of taking out enemy air defences and radars. This is an extremely rare capability for any air force to have, besides Germany only Italy, the US Navy, and Australia sport dedicated tactical SEAD jets"

TORNADO NEEDING TO BE REPLACED FOR SPECIFIC MISSIONS BUT WITH WHAT EXACTLY THAT IS THE QUESTION.

See previous blog entries [some with additional links] the topic the proposed Euro Corps, Euro Force,. Euro Army"

https://militaryanalysis.blogspot.com/2019/02/deutschland.html

https://militaryanalysis.blogspot.com/2019/03/omissions.html

coolbert.

Forgotten?

This is coolbert:

For a long time I have been curious about this.

French military [and the British for that matter] having gone to war in 1939 not pursuing a more aggressive combat status. French troops assuming a defensive posture and venturing east the Maginot Line but in a very tepid and uninspired manner.

FRENCH MILITARY THE OFFENSE "TEPID AND UNINSPIRING" EVEN WHILE POSSESSING A SIGNIFICANT AND PERHAPS OVERWHELMING ADVANTAGE SO IT WOULD SEEM. GERMAN TROOPS GUARDING THE WESTERN WALL [SIEGFRIED LINE] AND THE GERMAN BORDER WITH FRANCE OUTNUMBERED AND OUTGUNNED.

Herewith a Mark Felton You Tube video the French offensive of 1939 elaborated upon.

French troops their advance into German territory relatively minor [four miles slightly more than six kilometers]. Advance but then rather quick withdrawal. Back to the Maginot Line. And why was this? French manpower, artillery and armor far more than the German. A concerted action if pressed could have gone much further and greatly relieved the pressure on the Poles? French armor more numerous than the German counter-part and far [?] better, more or less impervious to German anti-tank weaponry.

Historical reasons for lack of French resolve in 1939 usually listed as:

1. French politicians hesitant for fear of excessive casualties.

2. Siegfried Line thought to be too heavily defended and too strong [it was not].

3. French lacking an adequate supply train to support and sustain further combat forward action.

4. The Soviet Union occupying half of Poland as had been agreed with Germany.  The French perceived [?] further combat on behalf of Poland would have meant a possible tussle with the Soviet Union too?

The French archives from the period can be gleaned if they exist anymore and will tell us what we need to know? I am skeptical.

coolbert.

Matapan.

This is coolbert:

"Most of history's major naval battles, for instance, have been fought inshore, often as an adjunct to land campaign. Opposing naval forces had trouble finding one another the in open ocean, and even as late as World War II distance invariably humbled surveillance systems." - - Robert Crowley as found in the "MILITARY HISTORY: The Readers's Companion".

Consider within the context of World War II the naval engagement Cape Matapan. Thanks to You Tube and the Internet video web site Historigraph.

Matapan. 1941. Naval warfare British and Italian naval forces in mortal combat. Without naval aviation both contingents would have been more or less oblivious of the presence, location and strength of the other side even while steaming more or less directly toward one another.

The aftermath of Matapan the Italian navy for the remainder of the war a relative non-entity.

coolbert.

Limoges.

This is coolbert:

"My lord. The Black Prince approaches. With a large retinue."

Edward the Black Prince of England. Called the Black Prince because of his badness? So it is alleged.

The man given a bad deal in history. His manner of behavior as described hard but not cruel? Edward encouraging his troops to engage in atrocity contrary to the common practices of land warfare as existed and were acknowledged at the time?

"Was Edward the Black Prince really a nasty piece of work?"

Edward famous/infamous in history for his repeated chevauchée. Repeated military raids into French territory. provoke the recalcitrant French nobility into battle. Compel them to. Using murder, rape, arson and pillage as his provocations. Committing said provocations again on a repeated and large scale.

"Chevauchée: A chevauchée was a raiding method of medieval warfare for weakening the enemy, primarily by burning and pillaging enemy territory in order to reduce the productivity of a region"

This is all  wrong? The perception of Edward rather more mild instead?

"A newly discovered letter that has lain unread for over 600 years is forcing a rethink of a 14th Century prince with a controversial reputation"

REPUTATION [of Edward] RETHOUGHT AND NOT EXONERATED. IT ONLY TOOK OVER SIX-HUNDRED YEARS.

"He was the superstar of his age, winning his spurs in battle aged just 16. But the reputation of Edward of Woodstock - or the Black Prince, as he has become known to history - is still the subject of the same type of dispute that rages over the reputations of Richard III and Oliver Cromwell."

MOST SPECIFICALLY SO THE MASSACRE OF THE INHABITANTS OF LIMOGES THE TYPE OF ATROCITY AS ATTRIBUTED TO EDWARD. THREE-THOUSAND FRENCH CIVILIANS, NON-COMBATANTS KILLED, SO IT IS SAID.

That casualty figure in reality only three-hundred men-at-arms according to the latest evidence?

Edward referred to as the Black Prince: 1. That he was a perpetrator of atrocity. 2. That he word black armor. Take your pick.

WELL, IT ONLY TOOK SLIGHTLY MORE THAN SIX HUNDRED YEARS FOR THIS ALL TO COME OUT? I GUESS BETTER LATE THAN NEVER?

coolbert.

Joseph.

 This is coolbert:

 “heat and thirst by day, cold and hunger by night . . . exhausting vigils, extreme marches, and fighting at every step.” - - Garibaldi.

From the Internet web site Gloria Romanorum this item of interest.

"Commander of the Union Army: Giuseppe Garibaldi?"

A FOREIGN NATIONAL OFFERED COMMAND OF THE UNION ARMY DURING THE AMERICAN CIVIL WAR? PREPOSTEROUS?

   "I wish [Sanford?] to proceed at once and enter into communication with the distinguished soldier of freedom [Garibaldi]. Say to him that this government believes his services in the present contest for the unity and liberty of the American People, would be exceedingly useful, and that, therefore, they are earnestly desired and invited. Tell him that this government believes he will, if possible, accept this call, because it is too certain that the fall of the American Union, if indeed it were possible, would be a disastrous blow to the cause of Human Freedom equally here, in Europe, and throughout the world.

    Tell him [Garabaldi] that he will receive a Major-General’s commission in the army of the United States, with its appointments, with the hearty welcome of the American People." - -  Secretary of State William Seward to Henry Sanford, American minister in Brussels.

Garibaldi offered the rank of Major General in the Union Army BUT NOT command of all the Union forces. Garibaldi balking at the offer when full understanding when full details of the complete arrangement made clear.

Garabaldi described by the eminent English historian A. J. P. Taylor as:  "the only wholly admirable figure in modern history".

Whoa boy!!

coolbert.

Readiness.

This is coolbert:

More than anything else notice and pay attention to the readiness as mentioned, percentage of warplanes actually ready for combat.

From the Russian media Internet web site Sputnik:

"US Ditches Plans to Raise Combat Readiness of Fighter Jets"

"The US Air Force is hoping to revive the plan in a different and less costly form in the future, but has no program schedule assigned at the current time."

"F-16s boosted combat readiness from 70 percent to 75 percent, F-22s gained an impressive 19 percent up to 68 percent of jets being ready to fight. The most recent addition to the aerial fleet, the troubled fifth-generation F-35 stealth fighter jet, raised combat readiness levels to 74 percent from around 55 percent"

The entire topic of combat warplane "readiness" too complicated to be covered in a single post. MORE to follow.

 coolbert.

Barbie.

This is coolbert:

Boys beware. Barbie wants to meet you. Sure she does.

"Meet 'Combat Barbie', The Sexy Marine Who's Firing Up Instagram"

COVER-GIRL MAXIM MAGAZINE.

"The badass beauty's all-American feed is riddled with smoldering bikini pics and selfies. It's no wonder she's become a full-blown internet celebrity with over 140,000 followers."

Download these images or become of "follower" and you run the risk of downloading malware to your smart phone? You can become an unknowing target and asset of a foreign intelligence agency [or perhaps even the asset of a friendly intelligence agency] in the process! Even as an old man however I have to admit not-too-bad.

Please see all previous blog entries [some with embedded other links] as are relevant:

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

https://militaryanalysis.blogspot.com/2019/05/jawan.html

 https://militaryanalysis.blogspot.com/2019/04/telefon.html

 https://militaryanalysis.blogspot.com/2019/03/track.html

 https://militaryanalysis.blogspot.com/2019/01/kelly.html

Indeed, as a patriotic and loyal American, ex-military, I do have some hesitancy and trepidation about this post. But there it is. 

coolbert.

Bolivarian.

This is coolbert:

Courtesy here to Forbes and the tip from Lucius that article by H.I. Sutton

"The Mystery Of The Venezuelan Navy’s Submarines"

The strange case of the missing Venezuelan Navy Type-209 submarines??

"Venezuela currently has two German made Type-209 submarines. Their operational status remains to be ... [??]."

"The Venezuelan Navy, formally the Bolivarian Navy of Venezuela, celebrated 60 years of submarine operations on May 4 . . .While the Navy and government congratulated the submarine arm its long service, the submarines [Type-209] themselves are strangely absent. There are serious doubts as to whether any of Venezuela’s submarines [Type-209] are still operational."

OVERDUE FOR REFIT OR REPLACEMENT. SEEMED TO HAVE DISAPPEARED?

The instantaneous reaction [?] in some quarters will be that these two submarines have been pressed into the service of the narco-traffickers. Used to transport in a clandestine massive quantities of drugs and do so on an international scale. 

Submarines of a nature far-beyond the crudely-built semi-submersible only low-profile boats that the narco-traffickers have been known to use?

SO WHAT HAS HAPPENED TO THE SUBMARINES?

I highly recommend without qualification or reservation the H.I. Sutton Internet web site "Covert Shores". Outstanding!

coolbert.

Von Hagenbach.

This is coolbert:

"His regime of arbitrariness and terror extended to murder, rape, illegal taxation and wanton confiscation of private property, and the victim[s] of his depredations included inhabitants of neighbouring territories as well as Swiss merchants on their way to and from the Frankfurt fair …"

Murder, rape, pillage. I am not sure about arson.

The villain. Peter von Hagenbach. His execution in 1474 justice was done.

"1474: Peter von Hagenbach, war crimes milestone"

"On this date in 1474, Peter von Hagenbach was tried in a remarkable judicial proceeding in the Rhine city of Breisach, found guilty, and publicly beheaded by the end of the day."

PETER A MILITARY  MAN VIOLENT AND UNCONTROLLED EVEN BY THE STANDARDS OF MEDIEVAL EUROPE.

THE TRIAL OF PETER INDEED USED AS A PRECEDENT FOR THE NUREMBERG WAR CRIME TRIALS ALMOST FIVE HUNDRED YEARS LATER?

Devoted readers of the blog will have to decide for themselves.

Of significance at the time a panel of judges with an international scope [international as was understood at the time] presiding over the trial. 

The article thanks to the Internet web site Executed Today.com

coolbert.

Scare.

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"had [the Russians] 'provoked a completely inappropriate reaction from Russia.' . . . 'are calling [Russians are calling] on Czech citizens to physically liquidate those who have their [fingerprints] on removing the statue.'”

Hybrid. Interference. Scare. 

More on the removal of the memorial statue of the famous Soviet Marshal Konev. As was the basis for a previous recent blog entry.

"Russia waging ‘HYBRID WAR’ on Europe by protesting removal of Soviet liberator statue, claims Czech official who had it torn down"

"A Prague official responsible for removing a statue of Marshal Konev urged Brussels to protect the EU against Moscow’s 'interference' and 'hybrid war,' playing the time-tested ‘Russia scare’ card that never fails to be effective."

CZECH AT LEAST DURING THE TIME OF THE COLD WAR WERE THOUGHT TO BE FAIRLY RELIABLE MEMBERS OF THE WARSAW PACT?  THAT WAS NOT REALLY SO?

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TF 75.5.

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Here with a military good-news story. Thanks to the Coffee or Die Internet web site Black Rifle Coffee the article by Navy Chief Petty Officer Matthew.

U.S. Navy SeaBee [ CB Construction Battalion] doing yeoman service during a time of the CV-19 virus pandemic.

"SEABEES BUILD MEDICAL FACILITY TO SUPPORT COVID-19 EFFORTS IN GUAM"

Naval ground units [CB's] continuing a proud tradition. As it was in the Second World War so as it is now seventy-five years later. Without one bit less of achievement or standard.

"Sailors assigned to Task Force 75.5 achieved the engineering initial operating capability of a 150-bed expeditionary medical facility as part of the Defense Department’s fight against COVID-19 on Naval Base Guam, April 25."

"Reaching engineering initial operating capability means the medical facility is structurally ready to perform its core medical care mission when medical staff arrives. Construction will continue until achieving full operating capability, meaning the facility is fully constructed and able to execute all of its designed tasks."

SeaBee units during the era of the Second World War [WW2] their ability nothing short of phenomenal. Able to convert an area of pristine untouched jungle into beach into a working port facility with adjacent airfield and do so within a period of two weeks.

Personnel comprising the SeaBee units during WW2 in civilian life masons, iron workers, carpenters, plumbers, electricians, heavy machine operators. Officers civil engineers. Well versed in their profession or trade prior to induction into the military. Standing tall CB.

AGAIN, AN OUTSTANDING TRADITION OF SERVICE CONTINUES AND GOOD FOR IT.

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$ Billions.

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Mine clearing Russian style. The brute force approach. But it does work. Syria.

"Syrian Troops Demine Hundreds of Hectares of Land in Bid to Rebuild War-Torn Nation"

"Damascus has estimated that it will cost between $200 and $400 billion to rebuild the infrastructure damaged or destroyed during the foreign-backed-civil war which kicked off in 2011. It remains unclear where the money will come from, as the US and its Syrian Kurdish militia allies have taken control of much of Syria’s oil-rich eastern territories."

LOOK AT THE DOLLARS!!

"Syrian troops have demined another 1.7 hectares (4.2 acres) of territory in the past 24 hours, the Russian Defence Ministry’s Centre for Reconciliation has reported."

That area as cleared equal to slightly less than four American football fields. 

SOVIET ERA TANK [T-54] WITH MINE-CLEARING PLOW OR MINE-CLEARING ROLLER DOING THE JOB. CRUDE BUT EFFECTIVE AS THEY SAY.

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Coup VZ.

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From only yesterday and within context of a most recent blog entry it seems the Venezuelan was onto something. See also additional blog entry here.

From Several sources:

1. "Venezuelan authorities say they have foiled a raid by 'foreign mercenaries' trying to reach the Latin American nation by sea to launch terrorist attacks and assassinate government officials."

"A group of mercenaries have tried to infiltrate Venezuela’s major port of La Guaira, located just north of the nation’s capital of Caracas, said in a televised address. The incident, which the minister [Interior Minister Nestor Reverol]  called 'an invasion by sea,' was part of preparations for another coup attempt"

2. "Ex-Green Beret Was Behind Failed Attempt At 'Armed Invasion' Of Venezuela Funded By US Billionaires"

". . . . the Associated Press [AP] has unearthed the stunning details of a prior failed coup attempt that seem straight out of a Hollywood script, given it involved a plot centered on about 300 'heavily armed volunteers' who unsuccessfully tried to topple Nicolas Maduro in a 'private coup' allegedly funded by US billionaires."

INDEED, PRISONERS HAVE BEEN TAKEN AND ARE NOW ON DISPLAY! I AM SURE WE ARE GOING TO HEAR MORE OF THIS.

coolbert.

EMALS II.

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YAW, PITCH, ROLL. EMALS KAPUT!

From G2mil Jan 20, 2020 - EMALS.

EMALS = ElectroMagnetic Aircraft Launch System.

"Two years ago, I [G2mil] wrote about the US Navy's biggest scandal, the EMALS disaster. The Navy's newest aircraft carrier [USS Gerald R. Ford] can't reliably launch jet aircraft. It continued to fail and after a two year break to fix problems, has just began launching and recovering aircraft again. We are told all problems were fixed with a software update. I [G2mil] hope so"

"It sounds simple to input the aircraft weight and the system provides the exact electrical power needed to properly launch an aircraft, and this works at land bases where the launch rails never move. The problem with the elevators and EMALS is that a moving carrier moves. It twists and rolls and bends every so slightly and so do the electromagnetic rails. But just a .5mm shift reduces the launch output, and up to 5mm misalignment eliminates launch power. There is no way to know the precise alignment of the rails for each launch since they constantly flex. There is also the huge maintenance issue of electrical cables exposed just below the deck, but it seems the only way this new carrier [USS Ford] can reliably launch aircraft is in dry dock."

Read from the wiki entry everything you need to know about EMALS:

ElectroMagnetic Aircraft Launch System.

"The ElectroMagnetic Aircraft Launch System is a type of aircraft launching system developed by General Atomics for the United States Navy."

WORKS WELL ON LAND BUT NOT SO WELL AT SEA. AND NO ONE EVER THOUGHT OF THIS DURING R AND D OR TESTING?

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Hrib.

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I do not want to believe it is so. But I fear it is so.

I know the Russians take their war memorials very seriously. But this is ridiculous.

From the English tabloid Daily Mail Internet web site and thanks to the tip from Freeper the article by Harry Howard For Mailonline and Af:

"Prague mayor who removed Soviet war hero statue goes under police protection amid fears of an assassination plot after 'Russian enters Czech Republic with ricin in his briefcase'"

Soviet era war memorial statue of the famous Marshal Konev removed. Replaced by a memorial to a current-day Russian dissident. Insulting and infuriating to the Russian leadership.

Russian fury, umbrage and response however apparently taken to an extreme?

RICIN TOUTED AS A WEAPON OF MASS DESTRUCTION IF IN WEAPONIZED FORM.

Marshal Konev from the Soviet/Russian standpoint a great hero. His role in the Second World War [WW2] quite significant indeed. Konev his stature at least equal to that of a Montgomery or a Bradley.

Konev also in the aftermath of WW2 participating in events of an unseemly nature from the perspective of NATO.

1. Suppression of the 1956 Hungarian Uprising. 2. Construction of the Berlin Wall.

See previous blog entries [some with additional embedded links] as pertain to war memorials and controversy as often created by same:

https://militaryanalysis.blogspot.com/2019/11/abomination-ii.html

https://militaryanalysis.blogspot.com/2019/11/abomination-i.html

https://militaryanalysis.blogspot.com/2019/01/outrage-raf.html

coolbert.

Protocols.

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Mask/unmask. Hostile environment. Chemical/Biological/Radiological/Nuclear.

From the Coffee or Die/Black Rifle Internet web site Mil/Intel article by Chase Millsap and Dustin Damon.

"BELIEVE IT OR NOT, YOUR CO CAN ORDER YOU TO BE A HUMAN GUINEA PIG"

Technological detection devices not totally to be relied upon in case of chemical attack. What are deemed and described as "human guinea pigs" subjected to what was previously a hostile environment [CBRN]. Unmasking protocol to be rigidly followed.

Consider unmasking protocol as taught to leaders [CO] of U.S. Marines:

I. Designate two-three Marines.

A. Brief them on the procedures to be followed.
B. Have them sit in a shaded area out of direct sunlight.
C. Ensure they are unarmed.

II. The selected Marines will.

A. Take a deep breath.
B. Keep their eyes open.
C. Break the seal of their masks for fifteen seconds.
D. Then reseal and clear their masks.
E. Wait for ten minutes.

Comments:

* Unit commander [CO] choosing those personnel to unmask from the least critical troops within the unit.

* Eyes open when breaking seal of mask. Check for the presence of mustard agent in aerosol form. Exposure to aerosol mustard agent can begin to cause blindness with seven seconds.

* That ten minutes [IIE.] having elapsed, selected personnel can then totally unmask an be observed for another ten minutes. A lack of symptoms to chemical agent poisoning indicative of a safe surrounding environment. The rest of the unit then able to also unmask and do so safely with assurance.

DO NOT THINK THAT AMERICAN MILITARY PERSONNEL BEING DESIGNATED AS   "HUMAN GUINEA PIGS" UNUSUAL OR EVEN ILLEGAL. BY LAW AMERICAN MILITARY PERSONNEL CANNOT REFUSE MEDICAL TREATMENT OF ANY SORT. MEDICAL TREATMENT SO BROADLY DEFINED AS TO MEAN ANY SORT OF PROPHYLACTIC MEASURES.

YOU MUST OBEY! THAT IS THE ESSENCE OF THE SOLDIERLY ETHOS!

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FREMM FFG-X.

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Out with the old [LCS] and in with the new [FREMM].

It is a done deal evidently. Expedited without delay there having been a sense of urgency.

From the Internet web site The Drive and the article by Joseph Trevithick.

"Navy Picks Italian Design For Its New FFG-X Guided Missile Frigate"

"The frigate, which will be built at the Italian firm's Wisconsin-based subsidiary, is based on ships already in service with four allied navies."

American Littoral Combat Ship [LCS] found to be deficient. A number already in the inventory but performance lacking and disappointing. A replacement needed and fast. FREMM chosen.

FREMM a proven winner. Multi-purpose warship more than adequate for the task as envisioned.

See at the wiki entry for FREMM armaments of an amazing variety on one ship. Each nation according to the needs specifying war-making bang stuff  to include the rapid-fire OTO MELARA gun.

See previous blog entries as applicable to the LCS replacement:

https://militaryanalysis.blogspot.com/2020/03/must.html

https://militaryanalysis.blogspot.com/2020/02/gone.html

Consider also the comments of the Soviet era defector Suvorov technological developments of the Italian in the realm of naval warfare prior to the Second World War quite advanced:

"before the Second World War Italy's technology was at an incredibly high level . . . achievements, especially in the sphere of aviation, submarines and high-speed launches, were really amazing . . . the Italians were the unrecognized geniuses of military and naval technology." - - Suvorov.

THE ITALIAN TRADITION CONTINUES? GOOD TO GO NOW RATHER THAN BETTER THAN TOMORROW? AND LESS THAN $1 BILLION PER COPY.

coolbert.