For several years the United States, other NATO members as well as the European Union, have been spending their taxpayer’s money on building up Georgia’s border police.
Since the end of 2019, agricultural analysts have been warning of a global sugar shortage and thanks to a combination of pandemic, logistics, market and labor shenanigans, it is now upon us. Here’s a list of links to news reports and food industry analysis, as of 10FEB2021.
Idaho; I live in Southeastern Idaho and since last year soda-pops made with 100% sugar (instead of 100% high fructose corn syrup, which is what the overwhelming majority of sodas are made with) have been disappearing. In the past two weeks 100% sugar sodas have all but completely disappeared from local grocery store shelves (except for some very expensive gourmet sodas sold in individual bottles).
There is a town in Texas named Egypt, but in August 2020 the U.S. state of Texas and the government of the country of Egypt formed a military alliance.
During the January 2021 presidential inauguration SNAFU (Situation Normal, All Fucked Up) the Czech Republic’s embassy staff provided traditional Czech goulash and bread to five-hundred Texas and Nebraska National Guard personnel deployed to the failed ‘state’ of Washington DC.
On 24AUG2020, Egypt officially became a new military partner at a signing ceremony at Camp Mabry, Texas (another signing ceremony took place in Cairo, Egypt, later in the year).
Photo by Staff Sergeant Eliverto Larios.
Earlier in the year, March 2020, Texas Army National Guard took over ‘peace-keeping’ ops from Guam Army National Guard in Egypt’s Sinai Peninsula.
As part of the official alliance, Egyptian military and civil officials toured border operations along the Texas-Mexico border.
The border tour included a ride in an air-boat on the Rio Grande/Río Bravo del Norte.
The official information about the new ‘long-term partnership’ says Texas and Egypt will conduct operations involving C-130 transport aircraft, F-16 fighter aircraft, cyber defense, logistics, special forces, homeland security response preparedness, military support to civilian authorities, and humanitarian and disaster assistance response.
Photo by Sergeant First Class Nicholas Salcido.
In March 2015, officials with the Egyptian Military Nursing Training Academy came to Fort Sam Houston, Texas, to seek advice from the U.S. Army Medical Department Center and School, as well as the Christian (Catholic) University of the Incarnate Word in San Antonio, in how to deal with the increasing medical problems of the Egyptian population.
The State Partnership Program boasts that 84 countries have signed alliances with various state National Guard organizations.
“We are going to have to stop being the policemen of the world.”-Donald Trump, August 2015 interview with Hugh Hewitt
U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Christopher Quail, 22JAN2021.
U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Christopher Quail, 22JAN2021.
On 22JAN2021, a Kuwaiti C-17 Globmaster-3 landed on Dover Air Force Base (AFB) in Delaware, United States.
USAF photo by Senior Airman Christopher Quail, 22JAN2021.
According to the U.S. Department of Defense, the Kuwaiti C-17 was visiting Dover AFB as part of a completion of a military sales deal. Dover AFB is directly involved in $3.5-billion worth of yearly U.S. military sales to other countries.
USAF photo by Senior Airman Christopher Quail, 22JAN2021.
2021 is also the 30th Anniversary of the U.S. liberation of Kuwait during Operation Desert Storm.
USAF photo by Senior Airman Christopher Quail, 22JAN2021.
USAF photo by Senior Airman Christopher Quail, 22JAN2021.
California Air National Guard, 144th Fighter Wing, 194th Fighter Squadron’s F-15C Eagle #84-004 preps to take-off from Fresno Yosemite International Airport, California, to participate in the Orange Flag wargame, along with aircrews from Edwards Air Force Base and China Lake Naval Air Station, 10DEC2019.
Photo by Captain Jason Sanchez.
Photo by Captain Jason Sanchez.
2019 California Capital Airshow at Mather Airport near Sacramento.
Photo by Technical Sergeant Charles Vaughn.
84-004 lands at Starokostiantyniv Air Base, Ukraine, for wargame Clear Sky, 06OCT2018.
Photo by Technical Sergeant Charles Vaughn.
#84-004 was painted in an eagle motif for the 194FS’s 75th Anniversary, which was officially in 2018. The 194FS was established in 1946, but was not federally recognized until 1948.
Clear Sky video explainer by Staff Sergeant Christian Jadot:
Photo by Technical Sergeant Charles Vaughn.
A California Eagle taxis past Ukrainian Sukhoi 27s, 09OCT2018.
Video report by Staff Sergeant Christian Jadot, a happy California Eagle pilot talks about “finally” being in Ukraine:
U.S. Ramey Sector Border Patrol agents, with the assistance of a U.S. Coast Guard HC-144 Ocean Sentry aircrew, apprehended two male Dominican Republic nationals and seized 157 pounds (71 Kilos) of cocaine near Villa Montana in Isabela, Puerto Rico, 23JAN2021.
Photo by Petty Officer Second Class Amanda Wyrick.
U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Spencer (WMEC 905) credited with capturing more than $10-million of illegal drugs.
During May 2016, the Oregon Air National Guard spread their F-15C Eagle (Kotkat) wings all the way to Finland (Suomi), for NATO’s Operation Atlantic Resolve.
Oregon Air National Guard photo by Technical Sergeant Jefferson Thompson, 10MAY2016.
One of the 173rd’s Eagles was decked-out with a special one year only paint scheme in commemoration of the 75th Anniversary of the Oregon Air National Guard.
Oregon Air National Guard photo by Technical Sergeant Jefferson Thompson, 10MAY2016.
Oregon’s 173rd Fighter Wing operated out of Finland’s Rissala Air Base, aka Kuopio Airport.
Finnish Defense Forces video of Oregon’s visit:
Kuopio Airport/Rissala Air Base is home to Finland’s Karelia Air Command. This is the flag of Karelia Air Command.
Oregon Air National Guard explainer video report:
Oregon Air National Guard photo by Technical Sergeant Jefferson Thompson, 10MAY2016.
Oregon’s F-15Cs flew alongside Finland’s F/A-18s, fighting against Swedish Saab aircraft during the NATO wargame.
Photo by Petty Officer Third Class John Hightower.
On 09JAN2021, the USCGC Stone found itself off the coast of South American country Guyana. The U.S. Coast Guard is now working with the Guyana Coast Guard to fight ‘illegal activities’, as per a September 2020 agreement.
Puerto Rico:On 07JAN2021, the U.S. Coast Guard transfers custody of a fugitive, with a standing warrant for an alleged murder, to U.S. Marshals agents in Mayaguez.
The primary identifying feature between Mil 8 and 17 versions is; the Mil 8 has the tail rotor on the pilot’s right side, the Mil 17 has the tail rotor on the pilot’s left side. All other details are subject to change.
Video by Bob Ditchey, Hip door gunner live-fire, 13MAY2018:
2014 video, Mil 17B(V)-5 helicopters inflight over Afghanistan:
2014 video, by Senior Airman Brandi Hansen, of NATO member Czech Republic advisers on a training flight, with live-fire door gunning, in an Afghan Mil 17B(V)-5 helicopter. Czech Republic has a long history of using Mil helicopters and was sent to help train Afghans:
2013 NATO video report; Uruzgan based 4th Brigade of the Afghan National Army conducted resupply and casualty evacuations:
Forward Operating Base Shank in Logar province, 04AUG2012. U.S. Army photo by Specialist Austin Berner.
Photo by Technical Sergeant Dennis Henry.
In 2012, NATO member Czech Republic deployed air-crews to Afghanistan. They got acquainted with the terrain by taking rides in Afghan Mil 17B(V)-5.
Photo by Technical Sergeant Dennis Henry.
Photo by Technical Sergeant Dennis Henry.
Photo by Technical Sergeant Dennis Henry
U.S. Navy photo by Petty Officer Second Class Jonathan David Chandler. Sun rises on a Mil-8 helicopter on Camp Bastion, Helmand province, 23OCT2011.
Video by Sergeant Bryan Spradlin, October 2010, showing U.S. and Afghan forces refueling and rearming a Hip:
During Afghan national elections Hip helicopters are used to deliver empty ballot boxes, and then retrieve full ballot boxes after voting. These pics are from September 2010.
Maybe it’s time the United States use its military to control ballots during national level elections?
Photo by Petty Officer Second Class Ernesto Hernandez Fonte.
August 2010, U.S. advisers fire the rockets of a Mil 17. U.S. advisers were prepping to train-up Afghan aircrews in using the Hip as a gunship.
Photo by Staff Sergeant Teddy Wade. Contracted Mil Mi-8 helicopter lands at FOB Airborne, 25NOV2009.
Hip door gunners, 03OCT2009. U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sergeant Angelita Lawrence.
By November 2008, Afghanistan had received three new U.S. taxpayer funded Mi-17 Hips. U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sergeant Keith Brown, 25NOV2008.
NATO Romania’s armored river gunboats are operated by a unit called Division 88. Romania has been operating river gunboats on the Danube River since 1860, making Romania the oldest ‘modern’ navy to do so.
Photo via Naval Forces Romania, October 2021.
This Shield of Dobrogea video, posted in March 2021, shows gunboat ops during exercise Danube Protector:
Arizona Army National Guard photo by Staff Sergeant Adrian Borunda, 15JUL2017.
Romanian armored gunboat F-178 Smârdan in action on the Danube (Dunăre), during NATO’s Saber Guardian 2017.
NATO video, quad 23mm anti-aircraft guns blazing on the Smârdan during Saber Guardian 2017:
Mihail Kogălniceanu class F-47 gunboat, U.S. Army photo by Private First Class Nicholas Vidro, 16JUL2017.
Romanian river monitor F-47 Lascăr Catargiu, Saber Guardian 2017.
NATO video of river patrol boat, armored gunboats, and larger monitors, supporting Danube river crossing operations, big guns firing (wait for it):
Smârdan class F-176 Rohave, USA photo by Specialist Christopher Estrada, 22JUN2019.
Armored gunboat F-176 Rahova provides cover for Danube river crossing, Saber Guardian June 2019.
NATO video of Danube river crossing, armored gunboats and a monitor, Saber Guardian 2019:
Romania has three Mihail Kogălniceanu class river monitors, beginning operations in the 1990s:
F-45 Mihail Kogălniceanu, photo via Naval Forces Romania, February 2022.
Photo via Naval Forces Romania, October 2021.
Photo via Naval Forces Romania, October 2021.
F-47 Lascăr Catargiu.
F-47 on public display, photo via Naval Forces Romania, August 2021.
Photo via Naval Forces Romania, August 2020.
Photo via Naval Forces Romania, August 2020.
F-46 Ion C. Brătianu.
Mihail Kogălniceanu class and Smârdan class launching rockets. Photo via Naval Forces Romania, October 2021.
Five Smârdan class armored river gunboats, beginning operations in the late 1980s-early 1990s:
F-176 Rohave, photo via Naval Forces Romania, June 2021.
F-177 Opanez, photo via Naval Forces Romania, May 2021.
F-177 Opanez, photo via Naval Forces Romania, May 2021.
Rocket launchers are optional, photo via Naval Forces Romania, April 2021.
F-178 Smârdan, photo via Naval Forces Romania, June 2021.
Photo via Naval Forces Romania, September 2021.
Photo via Naval Forces Romania, July 2021.
F-179 Posada, photo via Naval Forces Romania, May 2021.
F-179 Posada, photo via Naval Forces Romania, May 2021.
F-179 equipped with two optional rocket launchers, photo via Naval Forces Romania, October 2021.
Photo via Naval Forces Romania, August 2020.
F-180 Rovine, photo via Naval Forces Romania, July 2021.
Photo via Naval Forces Romania, October 2021.
F-180 with one optional rocket launcher, photo via Naval Forces Romania, October 2021.
Photo via Naval Forces Romania, October 2020.
Division 88 operates about a dozen of these non-named VD-141 river patrol boats. The VD-141 class began operations in the 1980s:
Patrol boat F-147, February 2022, photo via Naval Forces Romania.
Shield of Dobrogea video posted in January 2020, Division 88’s smaller river patrol boats:
Guns of a VD-141 class, photo via Naval Forces Romania, June 2021.
Shield of Dobrogea video of Division 88 river gunboats in action, posted November 2019 (although a lot of the video is actually from 2017):
Official Romanian Navy promotional video about Division 88 river gunboat operations, posted April 2019:
River gunboat ops, posted by Shield of Dobrogea, May 2018:
More gunboat action, posted April 2018:
River gunboat report posted April 2017:
A long video about Romania’s river gunboats, from 2015:
As part of the official alliance, Egyptian military and civil officials toured border operations along the Texas-Mexico border.
The border tour included a ride in an air-boat on the Rio Grande/Río Bravo del Norte.
In 2018, the U.S. Customs and Border Patrol (CBP)
Kuopio Airport/Rissala Air Base is home to Finland’s Karelia Air Command. This is the flag of Karelia Air Command.
On 07JAN2021, the U.S. Coast Guard transfers custody of a fugitive, with a standing warrant for an alleged murder, to U.S. Marshals agents in Mayaguez.
During Afghan national elections Hip helicopters are used to deliver empty ballot boxes, and then retrieve full ballot boxes after voting. These pics are from September 2010.
Maybe it’s time the United States use its military to control ballots during national level elections?
Fellow NATO member 
