Lions of Jordan.

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Caracal we know about. Lions of Jordan I did not know about. And now a third unit forming.

Androgynous. Having characteristics of both male and female. As does the caracal cat. Israel combat units consisting of both men and women.

All thanks to Sheldon Adelson and Israel Hayom.

1. "IDF to open third mixed-gender combat battalion"

"This year's August draft will also inaugurate the third mixed-gender combat battalion in the Israel Defense Forces, Israel Hayom has learned. The new battalion will be defined as a light infantry battalion assigned to protect the borders, much like the existing Caracal and Lions of Jordan battalions."

2. From an Israel Defense Forces Facebook web site:

"Welcome the IDF’s newest infantry battalion, the 'Lions of Jordan'. The 'Lions'are like any other infantry battalion, except for one aspect: they form a co-ed infantry force. Women in the unit will train and fight alongside men. Their task will be to guard Israel’s eastern border – a role that will place them on the front line of Israel’s defense" 

Two women [lionesses] of the "Lions of Jordan" battalion. Wearing the "clown" helmet cover. May I remind you that in a pride of lions it is normally the female that do the killing.

Women incorporated into combat units is a response to a demographic problem with the Israeli draft age population? Contrary to popular opinion a rather significant percentage of Israeli citizens are exempt from compulsory military service. A demographic that slowly but surely grows from year to year. That demographic consisting of young Israeli Arab youth and haredim Jewish ultra-orthodox.

These mixed gender combat arms units will mainly patrol, do reconnaissance, border watch, etc. TASKS FOR WHICH IT IS OFTEN SUGGESTED THAT WOMEN DO BETTER THAN MEN! We shall see!

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Shock & Awe Comanche.

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Those instances of shock and awe as was the case from a previous blog entry to include Bandera Pass.

The paramilitary Texas Rangers versus the American Indian Comanche tribe. Fifty rangers arrayed against three hundred Comanche. Those rangers it should be noted backed up by a force of one hundred and fifty American Indian friendlies.

It might very well be that Bandera Pass is the very first instance of repeating weaponry as that term understood today used. Paterson Colt revolver firing five shots before reloading. Each Ranger equipped with a pair of such revolvers, firepower far in excess of the single-shot muzzle handguns of the period.

The Comanche formidable opponents, well versed in the warfare of the light cavalry, experienced fighters, very confident, ACCUSTOMED TO MAKING RAIDS INTO MEXICO FOR THE BETTER PART OF TWO HUNDRED YEARS AND NOT AFRAID TO ENGAGE IN MORTAL COMBAT MORE OR LESS WITH ANYONE.

Those rangers able to put their Paterson Colt revolvers to good use, complete and utter rout of the Comanche contingent the result. A MASSIVE DISPLAY OF SUPERIOR FIREPOWER, SHOCK AND AWE INDEED!

From a conversation with a weapons expert and a man who has read extensively from the first-hand accounts of those rangers experienced in the para-military warfare of that time and era:

 "That was the Rangers' big deal--they trained . . . over and over again so that they would provide disciplined fire in the face of the enemy. Comanches counted on fighting groups of white men who all fired at once, usually during a fake charge to draw their fire, then rode in amongst the panicked white guys now holding empty rifles and did their jobs with arrows, hatchets and lances.  Very few casualties for the Indians, as moving targets sliding over the backs of their horses onto the opposite side with only a hand and foot showing, were extremely hard to hit, especially when the receiving parties were terrified of the reputation of their enemies to begin with."

"So at the Battle of Bandera Pass, there was a second volley, halfway expected, at which point every Indian was riding head up toward the Rangers' circle, knowing there could not be a third volley. (and the second volley might have come as a bit of a shock in its intensity--previously a volley consisted of half the rifles firing once then the other half for the second volley--instead, they experienced ALL of the enemy firing in the first volley, then a second volley was just as powerful as the first as each enemy soldier fired again)" 

"Then came a third volley as they likely charged in, confident now of an easy kill with an enemy with empty weapons--unheard of, and the point at which most of the bravest, first into the enemy's defensive circle, where shot out of their saddles (or bareback--figure of speech).  Shock, milling about, then a fourth volley and maybe a fifth and they were running.  Then things settled down for a longer fight at range--at which Indian bows and arrows were useless and the white guys' rifles made their mark."

"Another thing the rangers taught their recruits early on: accuracy. Every shot had to count."

AND WOE TO THE RANGER WHO COULD NOT MAKE EVERY SHOT COUNT! BANISHMENT FROM FURTHER RANGER EMPLOYMENT, A DARWINIAN SELECTION PROCESS AND NECESSARY AT THAT!!

SIGHT PICTURE, SIGHT ALIGNMENT, SQUEEZE!

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Assad & ISIL.

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We have all heard the adage that "the enemy of my enemy is my friend". But this is ridiculous. That number of combatants and factions in the Syrian civil war from moment to moment changing and in inexplicable ways.

1. "Syria: Isis advance on Aleppo aided by Assad regime air strikes, US says"
"The US has accused the Syrian government of providing air support to an advance by Islamic State militants against opposition groups north of Aleppo."

"Fighters opposing the Syrian president, Bashar al-Assad, have made the same claims since Sunday, when Isis began advancing towards the town of Azaz near the Turkish border."

"The seizure of Azaz, 20 miles north-west of Aleppo, would imperil the main opposition supply line into Syria’s biggest city, the rebel-held east of which has been besieged by government forces for more than two years."

2. "New Battles Rage Near Aleppo Between Syrian Insurgents and ISIS"

"Syrian insurgents rushed reinforcements into combat on Tuesday against rival Islamic State militants who have seized crucial territory near the northern city of Aleppo in recent days, building on the momentum the group has achieved in other battlefield successes in Syria and Iraq. Amid increased fears that Aleppo could be the next big prize to fall to the Islamic State in the latest twist to the four-year-old Syrian civil war, Syrian opposition leaders accused the government of essentially collaborating with the Islamic State, also known as ISIS and ISIL, by bombing other rival insurgent groups"

Those "opposition groups" as styled with a western orientation and democratic [to the extent anything in the Middle East can be characterized as democratic] simultaneously in conflict with the regime in Damascus and ISIL. HAVING TO FIGHT IN TWO DIRECTIONS AT THE SAME TIME AND NOT HAVING THE WHEREWITHAL TO DO SO!

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F-15 Lakenheath.

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Thanks to Foxtrot Alpha and the trip from Freeper.

"UK Based F-15Es Flew A Secret Long-Range Mission Over Africa On Monday"

"A pair of RAF Lakenheath based USAF F-15E Strike Eagles that were bristling with live bombs and air-to-air missiles, along five KC-135R tankers, flew on a secretive and grueling 12 hour mission over the Southern Mediterranean on Monday, May 25th, Memorial Day."

American F-15 in the fighter-bomber role conduct a secret mission the exact details and success of which are unknown.

You need to read the whole article. Most informative.

That combination of civilian radio monitors, plane spotters and persons using a web site similar to Flightradar24.com radar images able to discern and follow the aircraft en route to Libya and return.

Technology, means and methods once only available to certain select group of military personnel now is in the possession of the average-everyday citizen and put to good use. In many cases at least with the Internet web sites that are pertinent, it is all FREE!!

Amazing and remarkable.

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887EKM.

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From MARCO POLO through Harry:

"India's Hindustan Shipyard Limited recently announced that one of the Indian Navy's diesel-electric submarines -- 'Sindhukirti' -- had completed a large-scale modernization work, and was now under sea trials. The work on the submarine had started in 2006. Therefore, it took nine years to be completed! The work was performed at the company's yard in Vishakhapatnam (south-eastern India), in which Russian engineers participated. On that submarine, 100-kilometer long electrical wires and 30-kilometer long compression piping were replaced. A new sonar system, called 'Ushus' was installed. Besides, hundreds of other new systems, both Indian and foreign, were installed. The shipyard says that it is far more difficult to modernize a submarine than to build one from the scratch."

. . . .

"These submarines are all Russian-built 'Project 887EKM (NATO's 'Kilo')' type."

It can be reasonably suggested that by the time the submarine has completed the modernization process to an extent is already out-of-date?

The modern nuclear powered submarine of the HMS Astute class the most complicated thing made by man. I might think also a diesel/electric Kilo class boat even if not brand-new not so very far behind in complexity.

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VBIED.

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Thanks to Colonel Austin Bay and the Strategy Page Internet web site we have more cogent explanation of what has recently transpired at Ramadi.

"Counter ISIL's Truck Bombs with Real Close Air Support"

You need to read the entire article!!

As excerpted:

"VBIED (VBID) is a military acronym for Vehicle Borne Improvised Explosive Device. That translates in civilian as truck bombs, or conceivably, armored car bombs. Pack a vehicle with explosives and detonate it near a target . . . In the Middle East truck bombs are typically employed as kamikazes. Suicide drivers guide their trucks to targets. Kamikazes were smart weapons. So are VBIEDs."

"On May 14, ISIL used at least three VBIEDs in a near-simultaneous attack. The bombs detonated, leveling a city block. ISIL fighters followed the blasts with a ground assault."

"ISIL's Ramadi tactical plan used VBIEDs the way US commanders employ an artillery preparation or air strike."

The suicide bomber on foot wearing an explosive vest or in a vehicle equipped with a blockbuster bomb an integral part of all ISIL operations.

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Shia & Sunni.

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DEBKA V. Conclusion.

29 May:

"US puts onus for fighting ISIS on Iraqis"

“'The United States is not going to be responsible for securing the security situation inside of Iraq,' White House spokesman Josh Earnest announced Thursday. 'It is up to the Iraqis to fight and defeat the Islamic State,' he said. 'Our strategy is to support the Iraqi security forces……back them on the battlefield with coalition military air power as they take the fight to ISIL in their own country.'”

"Washington knows that the Iraqi government and army are no longer fully functional and so security will fall to the Shiite militias which are busier fighting amongst each other than fighting ISIS."

AND!

"No army in Mid East is challenging ISIS . . . "Not a single competent army capable of launching all-out war on ISIS in Syria or Iraq is to be found"

The response from a knowledgeable person experienced in the area [Middle East and Iraq]:

"Shia militias are being used by the Iraqi government to fight for Ramadi and other places in al Anbar Province, which is predominantly populated by Sunni sect members.  That virtually guarantees an all-out civil war, which we (US/Coalition) barely avoided by arming Sunni militias and giving them power in the Iraqi government) . . . A sectarian militia in another sect's area is likely to be involved in any number of human rights/war crimes violations. Even if not, their every action will be alleged to be so, just because they are the other group of infidels. It is worse than having a foreign invader around (such as was the US/Coalition forces), because at least the armies of the foreigners could create a reputation for even-handedness and discipline, compared to a fairly untrained force made upon the opposing sect--which comes with an announced, centuries-old vengeance agenda to impose."

An ancient and "centuries-old vengeance agenda" EXACERBATED IN THE EXTREME BY THE BRUTALITY AND VENALITY OF ISIL. THE MASS EXECUTIONS AND DESTRUCTION OF SHIA MOSQUES AND HOLY PLACES.

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