20 January 2023 (02:57-UTC-07 Tango 06) 30 Dey 1401/27 Jumada t-Tania 1444/29 Xin-Chou 4720/20 январь 2023 года
“The presence of a British Brigadier in our divisional command group is one of the key elements that makes the 1st Armored Division a terrific place to serve. Our nation’s leaders have long recognized a special relationship built on trust, mutual respect, shared values between the United Kingdom and the United States of America.”-Major General Patrick Matlock, Commander of Fort Bliss, Texas, July 2020
How many patriots, yankees, U.S. taxpayers, knew that for just under two years the U.S. First Armored Division had a deputy commander from NATO-United Kingdom?
Major General Patrick Matlock awards the Legion of Merit to Royal Army Brigadier Leigh Tingey, during a farewell ceremony on Fort Bliss, Texas, 23JUL2020. U.S. Army? photo by Jean S. Han.
Red Coat, I mean, Royal Army Brigadier General Leigh Tingey was deputy commander of the 1st Armored Division, on Fort Bliss, Texas, from August 2018 to July 2020. But wait, there is more, Tingley was the second such Red Coat to serve as deputy commander of U.S. forces within the United States! According to a 1st Armored Division 28JUL2020 press release, by Jean S. Han, as of July 2020 at least 2-thousand-5-hundred Red Coats, and their families, are serving on U.S. military bases in 28 states!
U.S. Army? photo by Private First Class Matthew Marcellus, 01JUL2020.
Han ended the press release by stating that Brigadier Tingey will use his experience on Fort Bliss to benefit the Royal Army.
Ukrainian Il-76 in United Nations ‘peacekeeping’ service on Moi International Airport, Mombasa, Kenya, November 1992.
From U.S. Army FM 44-80, Visual Aircraft Recognition, July 1993 edition.
A Russian Il-76 delivers humanitarian aid at Goma Airport (then part of Zaire), for the Rwandan refugees, 03AUG1994. U.S. Air Force photo by Technical Sergeant Val Gempis.
Another contracted Il-76 delivers humanitarian aid from Canada on Goma Airport (then part of Zaire), for the Rwandan refugees, 03AUG1994. U.S. Air Force photo by Technical Sergeant Marvin Krause.
Russian Il-76 off-loads NATO-Canadian military equipment on Kigali Airport, Rwanda, 05AUG1994. U.S. Air Force photo by Technical Sergeant Marvin Krause.
Russian Il-76 serving in the United Nations ‘peacekeeping’ operations, Sarajevo Airport, Bosnia-Herzegovina, 09JUN1995. U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sergeant Michael J. Haggerty.
Russian vehicles roll off an Il-76 onto Tuzla Air Base, Bosnia-Herzegovina, 12JAN1996. USAF photo by Senior Airman Ken Bergmann.
Notice the military versions of the Il-76 have tail guns, while the silly-vilian (civilian) versions do not.
A Russian Il-76TD delivers humanitarian aid on Roberts International Airport, Liberia, under the guard of U.S. Marines. U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Corporal Nathan E. Eason, 14AUG2003.
A contracted Il-76 delivers supplies to U.S. forces on Mosul, Iraq, 19SEP2003.
A derilict Iraqi Airways Il-76 sits on the tarmac of Baghdad International Airport. After Desert Storm, the U.S./NATO imposed a ‘no-fly’ zone over Iraq, including Iraqi civilian airline traffic, effectively killing Iraqi Airways. That changed in 2006. USAF photo by Staff Sergeant Scott Sturkol, 21OCT2003.
The Il-78 (NATO reporting name Midas) is the aerial fueler version of the Il-76.
Indian Air Force Ilyushin IL-78MKI Midas aerial refueler on Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska, 29JUL2004. USAF photo by Staff Sergeant Matthew Hannen.
Navigator station on the Indian Air Force IL-78 Midas. USAF photo by Staff Sergeant Matthew Hannen, 30JUL2004.
Inside the cargo area of the Indian IL-78 Midas. USAF photo by Staff Sergeant Matthew Hannen, 30JUL2004.
An Il-76 delivers a Mi-2 crop-duster on Baghdad International Airport, Iraq. U.S. Army photo by First Sergeant Robert Heberling, 03MAY2006.
Contracted Il-76 unloads supplies for U.S. forces in Iraq, 20MAR2008. USAF photo by Sabrina Johnson.
A contracted Il-76TD sits next to USAF C-17s on Bagram Air Base, Afghanistan, 19NOV2009. USAF photo by Senior Airman Felicia Juenke.
The U.S. Air Force contracted to use the Russian Ilyushin Il-76 ‘Candid’ to support increased U.S. troop deployments to Afghanistan. Video report by Staff Sergeant Nathan Delgado, 31DEC2009:
South Carolina National Guard personnel arrive on Kandahar Airfield, Afghanistan, 10JUN2012. Behind them, amid the gaggle of V22 Ospreys, is a Russian Il-76. U.S. Air Force photo by Technical Sergeant Caycee Watson.
Ukraine Crisis: February 2014 (NATO backed coup) to present.
In 2015, Russia began using the new Il-76MD-90A.
In May, 2015, the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) used an Il-76 to deliver humanitarian aid to Nepal, following a devastating earthquake. USAF photo by Staff Sergeant Melissa B. White, 08MAY2015.
NATO video, NATO-Belgian troops take a ride on a Ukrainian military Il-76MD, 23OCT2015:
Russia uses Il-76MD hospital aircraft called ‘Scalpels’, to return Russian journalists and military personnel who’ve been wounded in the NATO instigated Syrian ‘civil war’.
Candid reports for duty with the USAF in Kuwait, 11MAR2019. USAF photo by Technical Sergeant Robert Cloys.
USAF photo by Technical Sergeant Robert Cloys, 11MAR2019.
USAF photo by Technical Sergeant Robert Cloys, 11MAR2019.
An Il-76 working for the USAF on Ali Al Salem Air Base, Kuwait, 09JUL2019. South Carolina Air National Guard photo by Captain Stephen Hudson.
USAF time-lapse video by Technical Sergeant Michael Mason, loading a contracted Il-76 in Kuwait, 09JUL2019:
In August 2019, a Ukrainian Il-76TD was blown up by rebel forces in Libya. The NATO instigated ‘civil war’ is still raging, and believe it or not both Ukraine and Russia support the NATO approved ‘government’ forces!
Russian Defense Ministry video of Il-76MD rough-field landing/taking-off at Forward Area Refueling Point (FARP), near Orenburg, August2019:
In March 2020, Russia sent nine Il-76s to NATO-Italy, carrying medical personnel to help NATO-Italy fight the so-called covid pandemic.
Il-76MD water bomber.
In Summer 2021, Iran sent a waterbombing Il-76TD to NATO-Turkey to help fight wildfires.
In 2021, Russia announced it will overhaul six of India’s Il-78MKI Midas tankers.
Russian Defense Ministry video of Il-76 airborne troop operation, during wargame in Belarus, September 2021:
Palettes of CoViD-19 vaccines were delivered to Yemen, using an Il-76. This included vaccines paid for by U.S. taxpayers through USAID. A previous delivery was made in August 2021. They were delivered by the UN-WHO/Gates Foundation/World Bank’s Gavi Alliance. Photo by Drew Sullivan, 20DEC2021.
Pakistani Il-78s being upgraded to MP standard in Ukraine, photo posted February 2022.
Photo via UARussia (United Aircraft Russia), November 2022.
Russian news report about newest Il-76, the Il-76MD-90A, the video shows the roll-out of the 18th ‘MD-90A’ on 29NOV2022:
The fifth production Il-76MD-90A, of 2022, made its first flight on 04DEC2022. Since 2014, at least 18 of the new Candids have been built.
On 10DEC2022, Russian Aerospace Forces took official possession of two new Il-76 aircraft, one an upgraded Il-76MDM, the other a new build Il-76MD-90A. The ‘MD-90A’ has a new designed wing, strengthened landing gear, more efficient turbines, a ‘glass cockpit’, and an electronic defense system against anti-aircraft missiles.
During the month of June, 2022, the Idaho Army National Guard’s 1st Battalion-148th Field Artillery Regiment-116th Cavalry Brigade Combat Team (aka Snake River Brigade) pounded the countryside of Morocco, on the African continent. Apparently it is part of having good international relations, and somehow reduces deployments: “One goal of the National Defense Strategy is to have good international relations and partnerships. Building multinational relationships, increasing their tactical proficiency and understanding how to work together reduces deployment requirements for our military and our international partners, and helps provide global security.”-Major Ryan Batt, 1st Battalion-148th Field Artillery Regiment-116th Cavalry Brigade Combat Team
A now all too familar sight in Idaho, boarding a contracted plane for deployment, this time to Morocco, 18JUN2022. Idaho National Guard photo by Idaho Air National Guard’s Master Sergeant Becky Vanshur.
Somebody needed some attention from an Idaho -Snake River- Medic, this was not a drill (real blood folks). Idaho National Guard photo by Idaho Air National Guard’s Master Sergeant Becky Vanshur, 25JUN2022.
“Global security and the National Defense Strategy is important not only to us in Idaho but as a whole nation and should be important globally. This relationship has always been there, and we want to keep it strong moving forward.”-Major Ryan Batt, 1st Battalion-148th Field Artillery Regiment-116th Cavalry Brigade Combat Team
Idaho National Guard photo by Idaho Air National Guard’s Master Sergeant Becky Vanshur, 21JUN2022.
Back to the pounding of Morocco. This was part of what has become the largest yearly U.S./NATO wargame on the African continent, called African Lion. About 80 Idaho Army & Air Guard personnel joined others from Oregon, Utah and Wisconsin Army National Guards, as well as a U.S. Marine Corps Reserve unit from California, and a Regular Army (RA, aka full-time active duty) unit from Texas, along with military personnel from Brazil, NATO-Canada, Ghana, Morocco, NATO-Netherlands, Senegal, Tunisia and NATO-United Kingdom. Whew, more than 8-thousand military personnel!
‘Rock Drill’ before the action. Idaho National Guard photo by Idaho Air National Guard’s Master Sergeant Becky Vanshur, 24JUN2022. Named Rock Drill because most of the time you use rocks to represent different things on the battlefield.
Originally, Exercise African Lion started as a computer simulation in 1998, between a U.S. Army airborne unit in NATO-Italy and an airborne unit in Morocco. It was held every two years. By 2005, it involved actual military personnel on the ground in Morocco. In 2007 it became a yearly wargame, involving more and more U.S. personnel and other NATO countries (again proving that this type of National Defense Strategy does not reduce deployments, or anything else). Interestingly, in March 2020, General Stephen Townsend, the commander of U.S. Africa Command (USAfriComm), stated “African Lion has been significantly reduced in scale and scope based on concerns that we all have about the safety of our troops and those of our partners.” Really?
‘Punching the Tube’. Idaho National Guard photo by Idaho Air National Guard’s Master Sergeant Becky Vanshur, 22JUN2022.
The Idaho National Guard also took part in African Lion in March 2019.
Idaho National Guard photo by Idaho Air National Guard’s Master Sergeant Becky Vanshur, 22JUN2022.
FiSTs & COLTs, I was a 13F decades ago in Pocatello. They get to call in and direct the artillery fire. Idaho National Guard photo by Idaho Air National Guard’s Master Sergeant Becky Vanshur, 24JUN2022.
COLT=Combat Observation Lasing Team
FiST=Fire Support Team
“Fire!” Idaho National Guard photo by Idaho Air National Guard’s Master Sergeant Becky Vanshur, 22JUN2022.
“Shot Out!” Idaho National Guard photo by Idaho Air National Guard’s Master Sergeant Becky Vanshur, 24JUN2022.
“Splash!” Idaho National Guard photo by Idaho Air National Guard’s Master Sergeant Becky Vanshur, 24JUN2022.
Video sequences recorded by Idaho Air National Guard’s Master Sergeant Becky Vanshur, 26JUN2022, edited together by me:
During the Cold War, Yugoslavia developed their own version of the Soviet T-72, using NATO targeting systems, called the M-84. Now, Serbia is using the new MS (MC in Serbian Cyrillic) version of the T-72.
Mounting the 12.7mm heavy machine gun. Photo via Ministry of Defense Republic of Serbia, 26SEP2022.
Photo via Ministry of Defense Republic of Serbia, 26SEP2022.
Tank Commander station. Photo via Ministry of Defense Republic of Serbia, 26SEP2022.
Photo via Ministry of Defense Republic of Serbia, 26SEP2022.
Photo via Ministry of Defense Republic of Serbia, 26SEP2022.
The battalion that operates the T-72MS is known as the ‘March 2022 Generation’ T-72M Battalion.
Photo via Ministry of Defense Republic of Serbia, 20JUL2022.
Photo via Ministry of Defense Republic of Serbia, 20JUL2022.
Photo via Ministry of Defense Republic of Serbia, 20JUL2022.
‘Punching’ the gun tube. Photo via Ministry of Defense Republic of Serbia, 20JUL2022.
Checking the fuel level in the fender mounted fuel tank. Photo via Ministry of Defense Republic of Serbia, 30DEC2021.
The abilities of the T-72MS were presented to the Serbian taxpayers during wargame Lighting Strike 2021, in June 2021.
During wargame Lighting Strike 2021. Photo via Ministry of Defense Republic of Serbia, 27JUN2021.
Serbian Defense Ministry video, T-72MS action during Lightning Strike 2021:
During wargame Lighting Strike 2021. Photo via Ministry of Defense Republic of Serbia, 27JUN2021.
Photo via Ministry of Defense Republic of Serbia, 21JUN2021.
The Serbian Defense Ministry claims the T-72MS is a joint development between Russia and Serbia. However, all 30 T-72MS tanks were made in Russia. They are described as having ‘special protections’, and is basically an upgraded T-72B1. The deal was announced in 2019, with the first Serbian ‘White Eagles’ arriving towards the end of Gregorian 2020.
Photo via Ministry of Defense Republic of Serbia, 23MAY2021.
In May 2021, the donated T-72MS were paraded in front of Defense Ministry officials:
Photo via Ministry of Defense Republic of Serbia, 23MAY2021.
28 December 2022 (09:46-UTC-07 Tango 06) 07 Dey 1401/04 Jumada t-Tania 1444/06 Ren-Zi (12th month) 4720/28 Декабрь 2022 года
“The Greek population directly benefits as each company eligible to compete on U.S. Army contract actions will provide the population of Greece a steady and reliable source of income as our posture grows or is sustained in support of Atlantic Resolve.”-Major Luis Palma, Balkans Regional Contracting Office Chief, 409th Contracting Support Brigade, U.S. Army
Photo via Vata Burim, 28NOV2022.
On 28NOV2022, as many as 1-hundred Greek vendors attended the Thessaloniki Vendor Outreach Fair, put-on by the United States Army, and the U.S. Consulate General, and the Thessaloniki Chamber of Commerce and Industry. It was a workshop to teach local Greek businesses how to get their share of the U.S. taxpayer funded military-civilian contracting system.
Hellenic Army photo by Colonel Vasilis Yaglis, 25NOV2022.
Since that 2014 coup, U.S. led NATO launched Operation Atlantic Resolve, ostensibly to counter ‘Russian aggression’. NATO-Greece became a major port of disembarkation for the U.S.-NATO forces assigned to Atlantic Resolve: “We’ve been doing this at Alexandroupoli for years now. This meeting was helpful… because they received all the guidance they need to get registered and examine the platforms the U.S. government uses. This is always good, to get local business involved with the military operation. We have the approval of the community because they gain something. It’s a win-win situation.”-Colonel Vasilios Yaglis, Hellenic (Greek) Army
Hellenic Army photo by Colonel Vasilis Yaglis, 25NOV2022.
But wait, there is more! The U.S. Army revealed that troop and material shipments through Greece will only increase, and that more permanent operations are planned, meaning even more taxpayer funded business for Greek vendors: “The continued increase of U.S. and NATO presence at Alexandroupoli, has leveraged positive impacts to the community, bolstering the economy to include jobs. U.S. military operations have supported the continued growth of the city to become a critical strategic node for transport and military logistics.”-Andre Cameron, director of Transportation Corps Detachment, Eastern Mediterranean-Greece, Military Surface Deployment and Distribution Command
“With Soldiers rotating there every other month, let’s put up more permanent structures and improve the quality of life. As opposed to putting a tent up for 40 days, we’re looking at pre-fabricated modular type structures.”-Colonel Matthew DiNenna, commander of Area Support Group Balkans
The U.S. Army’s 21st Theater Sustainment Command also revealed that in just the month of November 2022, more than 2-thousand-4-hundred major pieces of military gear went through the NATO-Greek ports of Alexandroupoli and Thessaloniki, and the NATO-Poland port of Gdynia.
After the collapse of the Soviet Union, Armenia joined NATO’s North Atlantic Cooperation Council in 1992, joining NATO’s Partnership for Peace program in 1994. But, it was not until 2015 that Armenia was officially certified to take part in NATO ‘peacekeeping’ operations.
Incomplete list of armored ground vehicles.
BMP-1:
Armenia Defense Ministry photo, 03APR2020.
BMP-2:
Armenia Defense Ministry photo, 24SEP2020.
Armenia Defense Ministry photo, 24SEP2020.
M939, 5-tons truck with armored cab:
Mostly silent U.S. Army video from May 2006, Armenian military Engineers operating out of Camp Delta, Iraq, using armored cab M939s:
21 December 2022 (13:58-UTC-07 Tango 06) 30 Azar 1401/27 Jumada l-Ula 1444/28 Ren-Zi 4720/21 Декабрь 2022 года
Is this the real reason they didn’t want to cancel the Olympics? Yet more proof The Olympics is nothing more than a scam-job to steal from taxpayers: Government cost of Tokyo Olympics proven to be several billions of U.S. dollars more than officially reported!
The accounting ‘error’ was discovered by Japan’s Board of Audit, which concluded that the government of Japan spent US$3.5-billion on the Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics, about two-and-a-half times more than what the Tokyo Games Committee reported in June.
And that was for the national government’s costs, the Tokyo Metropolitan Government itself spent US$4.5 billion! Japan’s Board of Audit says total overall cost to conduct the Tokyo (Pandemic) Olympics is currently at US$12.9 billion!
The Japan Sports Agency claims it is working with the national government to come up with a better way of reporting event expenses!
Probably the most prolific combat helicopter ever made, incomplete list of current users:
Afghan Mi-24 Hind-D.
Algerian Super Hind (modified in South Africa).
Angolan Hind.
Armenian Hinds.
Belarussian Mi-24.
NATO-Belgium operated Mi-24P helicopters during NATO wargame Saber Junction, in Vilseck, Germany, 10OCT2012. U.S. Army photo by Specialist Evangelia Grigiss.
Brazilian AH-2 Saber (Mi-35M).
NATO-Bulgaria Mi-24 Hind-D. U.S. Army photo by Sergeant Robert Douglas, 11JUN2019.
Cuban Fuerzas Armadas Revolucionarias Mi-24 Hind-D, not known when photo was made.
NATO-Czech Republic (Czechia) Mi-24V.
Egyptian Mi-35M.
NATO ‘partner’ Georgia’s Hind-D, 30APR2022. Photo via Georgian Ministry of Defense.
Ministry of Defense of Georgia video showing new facility where Hinds, and other aircraft, can be re-built, released October 2020:
NATO Hungary Mi-24 Hind-D, 03JUN2021. U.S. Army photo by Major Robert Fellingham.
U.S. Army video showing Indonesian Mi-35P, September 2014:
Iraq’s new Mi-35M Hind.
Brand new Mi-35M for Kazakhstan, still wearing Russian flag on tail.
A recent, but not clear, photo of a Kyrgyz Republic (Kyrgyzstan) Hind. They still use the Red Star of the old Soviet Union.
Libyan ‘Haftar’ Mi-35.
Macedonian Mi-25(24) Hind-D. U.S. Air Force photo by Technical Sergeant John M. Foster, 04SEP2003.
Mozambican Mi-25(24).
Myanmarese Mi-35P.
Nigerian Mi-35.
Peru’s Hind-D, March 2018.
NATO-Poland Mi-24 Hind-D, 13OCT2022. Hawaii Army National Guard photo by Specialist Kevin T. Brown Junior.
Serbian Defense Ministry video, arrival of new Mi-35Ms dubbed Vučić’s Flying Tanks, 16AUG2019:
Syrian Hind-Ds.
Turkmenistan’s Mi-24P.
NATO-United States, Mi-24 Hind-D, Yuma Marine Corps Air Station-Weapons and Tactics Instructor Course, 09OCT2015. U.S. Marine Corps photograph by Staff Sergeant Artur Shvartsberg.
A NATO-United States Mi-24 Hind-D on Lancaster Airport, Texas, 29JUN2022. It is painted in the Cold War era style of Warsaw Pact Bulgaria. U.S. Air Force photo by Airman First Class Courtney Sebastianelli.
Uzbek Army ‘live-fire’ video posted July 2022, Uzbekistan tries out its new Mi-35M:
Welcome to borderland hell under U.S. President Joseph Robinette Biden Junior, incomplete (just the tip of the iceberg) list of videos and reports from the United States Coast Guard (USCG) about the increasing flood of boat people from Bahamas, Cuba, and Haiti, for November 2022:
The U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) District 7 reported that on 03DEC2022, they returned 79 illegals, captured in November, to their home country of The Bahamas.
The USCG District 7 reported that on 01DEC2022, they returned 118 illegals to their home country of Cuba. The illegals had been captured during six interceptions during the month of November.
The USCG District 7 reported that, on 30NOV2022, 192 illegals were sent back to their home country of Cuba. The USCG reported that the 192 illegals had been captured in 13 separate incidents during November.
The USCG District 7 reported that they had returned 180 illegals to their home country of Haiti, on 25NOV2022.
65 illegals were sent back to Cuba, on 24NOV2022.
185 illegals were sent back to Cuba, on 22NOV2022.
217 illegals from Haiti were transferred to The Bahamas, on 19NOV2022.
The USCG reported that they had returned 95 illegals back to their home country of Cuba, on 17NOV2022.
74 illegals were sent back to Cuba, on 16NOV2022.
U.S. Coast Guard District 7 photo, 09NOV2022.
A boat full of illegals from Cuba, captured near Elbow Cay, Bahamas, 09NOV2022. The USCG returned 91 illegals to Cuba on 14NOV2022.
A USCGC Atlanitc Area photo by Petty Officer Third Class Bethany Squires, 13NOV2022.
USCG crew captures illegals from Cuba, somewhere in the Atlantic Ocean, 13NOV2022.
83 illegals were sent back to Cuba, on 12NOV2022.
67 illegals were sent back to Cuba, on 07NOV2022.
68 illegals were sent back to Cuba, on 04NOV2022.
FLORIDA: According to data collated by World Population Review, ‘Boat People’ and other illegals entering through the state of Florida cost taxpayers $5.46-billion between 2020 and 2022!
USCG District 7 photo, 28NOV2022.
About 15-miles southwest of Marquesas Key, yet another boat full of illegals from Cuba is captured, 28NOV2022.
Near Upper Matecumbre Key, the USCG District 7 intercepted a boat full of illegals from Cuba. Video by Petty Officer Second Class Jose Hernandez, 26NOV2022:
On 25NOV2022, the Palm Beach Sheriffs Office notified the USCG of illegals approaching east of Lake Worth Inlet. USCG District 7 video of captured boat:
USCG District 7 video (by Petty Officer Second Class by Michael Himes), capture of illegals from Cuba near Alligator Reef, on 24NOV2022:
USCG District 7 video (by Petty Officer Second Class Jose Hernandez), boat overloaded with illegals from Haiti, near Rodriguez Key, 22NOV2022:
USCG District 7 video (by Petty Officer Third Class Ryan Estrada) of capture of illegals, approximately 9-miles off Islamorada, 14NOV2022:
PUERTO RICO:
USCG District 7 PADET San Juan photo by Ricardo Castrodad, 10NOV2022.
On 10NOV2022, the USCG captured 43 Dominican Republic nationals, and six Haitians, approximately 36-nautical miles northwest of Aguadilla.
USCG District 8 photo, 28NOV2022.
TEXAS: The World Population Review says illegal immigrants in Texas cost taxpayers $8.88-billion from 2020-2022!
On 28NOV2022, the USCG caught four Mexican fishermen with 330-pounds of illegally caught fish, approximately 55-miles north of the Maritime Boundary Line.
USCG District 8 photo, 10NOV2022.
12-miles north of the Maritime Boundary Line, the USCG captured five fishermen from Mexico, illegally fishing in U.S. territory, on 10NOV2022.