Tag Archives: nato

Technology

Cold War Ooops: Sea Harrier malfunction during 75th Anniversary of Naval Aviation

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From February 1986 to February 1987, the U.S. Navy’s Memorial Museum (now National Museum of the U.S. Navy) celebrated the 75th Anniversary of Naval Aviation with airshows around the United States. Of course, the British Empire had to get involved and the Royal Navy sent at least one FRS Mark 1 (FRS.1) Sea Harriers (Two? I read somewhere that there were two Royal Navy Harriers, however, after reviewing tarmac staging area photos I’ve concluded that it was one Royal Navy FRS.1 and a brand new USMC AV-8B.).

FRS.1 #122 takes off on its fateful public demonstration. U.S. Navy photo by Photographer’s Mate Petty Officer Third Class Paquette.

The FRS.1 was relatively new, having entered service in 1979 for testing, with the first operation unit formed in 1980.

The FRS.1 climbs into the sky over Naval Air Station Pensacola, 10MAY1986. USN photo by PH3 Paquette.

The week of May 3rd through 11th, 1986, saw the aircraft fluttering about over Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida.  The photos are dated 10MAY1986. I found an article about that specific airshow, dubbed ‘Magic Week’ in the U.S. Navy’s July-August 1986 issue of Naval Aviation News, all it says on page 40 is “The Air Shows on May 10-11 wrapped up the week’s events….. flights of vintage aircraft such as… as well as current operational aircraft such as…  and a British Sea Harrier.”    

U.S. Marine Corps KC-130F Hercules ‘Fat Albert’ Blue Angels support aircraft demonstrates its RATO abilities, just after #122 landed on its Aden gun pods due to failure of the landing gear to extend. USN photo by PH3 Paquette.

Fat Albert has launched, the FRS.1 pilot opens the canopy, emergency vehicles are on their way. USN photo by PH3 Paquette.

In this photo you see the pilot laying on the grass behind the Sea Harrier. USN photo by PH3 Paquette.

USN photo by PH3 Paquette.

I have not been able to find any official documentation about this incident.

Cold War Battle Damage: ALL HAIL THE HAIL BUSTER! WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU FLY YOUR C-130E THROUGH A HAILSTORM?

Idaho, U.S.

Pandēmus Totalitarian: “We are the instruments of national power”, “achieving dominance of justice” D-o-D uses Pandemic as excuse to complete its takeover of State controlled Militias, Idaho latest victim?

“Ultimately, his role is to facilitate the unity of state and federal forces in achieving dominance of justice in disaster response.”-Major General Giselle Wilz, National Guard Bureau, a comment apparently made in 2018 during discussions concerning hurricane disaster response

12 November 2021 (19:02-UTC-07 Tango 06) 21 Aban 1400/06 Rabi ‘ath-Thani 1443/08 Ji-Hai (10th month) 4719

It is called Dual Status Commander (DSC), it is a relatively new position that gives a commanding officer control of both federal military forces and state National Guard!  At the ‘official’ beginning of the Pandemic in the United States, March 2020, the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) had already appointed (Officially ‘at the request of state governors’.) multiple DSCs with several states. The most recent DSC appointment was in Idaho.

31MAR2020, U.S. Military Academy (West Point): THE MILITARY AND THE PANDEMIC: AN EXPLAINER OF THE NATIONAL GUARD’S ROLE IN THE COVID-19 RESPONSE

The DSC position combines Title 32 and Title 10 operations under one commander (What is Title 32 and Title 10?).  DSCs are Brigadier Generals or Colonels, and in most cases hold the office of a National Guard adjutant general.

The DoD has been toying with the idea of a DSC for more than a couple of decades. I know from my own experience that the federales have been slowly reigning in state controlled National Guard since the 1990s.

In 2003, the retiring Judge Advocate for the Idaho Army National Guard gave his last yearly legal briefing by explaining how state governors had been ‘bribed’ with “briefcases full of money” to sign over their right of control of their National Guard to the office of the President of the United States.  He stated that this ‘bribery’ began under the presidency of William Clinton. The rationalization was that the DoD planners were expecting significant events (aka “no-notice events”) to occur which would require rapid mobilization of Guard units, and the old system of having the President go through each state governor was too slow. In exchange for pre-authorizing federal mobilization of Guard personnel, the DoD would give a compliant state the latest and greatest military gear plus extra federal funding! So called ‘red conservative’ Idaho was one of the first states to sign-on.

Title 32 itself allows for a ‘cross over’ of state National Guard commanders and federal officers, with the consent of both the President and the relative state’s Governor.  Until 2011 this was only for what was called National Special Security Events.  The 2011 National Defense Authorization Act expanded the use of DSC to natural disasters.

In 2004, the first ever DSC was appointed in the state of Georgia, not because of a natural disaster but for the 30th G-8 Economic Summit at Sea Island, Georgia!  Correct, the first use of a DSC was to protect a bunch of rich yahoos while they decided how to get more money out of captive consumers.  The New Georgia Encyclopedia says “Security concerns were handled in a quiet manner, the Sea Island region received an economic boost, and Georgia was able to showcase one of its most attractive tourist destinations.” Just remember, you happy taxpayers paid for that National Special Security Event.

In February 2011, National Guard leaders from 13 states discussed the use of DSCs in response to “domestic incidents”.

03JUL2011, Public Record Media questions legality of DSCs, blames it on failed federal government response to Hurricane Katrina.

December 2012, twenty-two National Guard generals and colonels, representing 18 states and the District of Columbia, attended U.S. Army North’s DSC training course.

December 2015, an Air National Guard Special Operations Colonel becomes the first DSC for Pennsylvania.

During the 2017 Hurricane season, 25 DSCs were appointed, but only three employed Title 10 (federally activated) units.  The military think tank Rand Corporation studied the use of DSCs during the response to Hurricane Maria.  Essentially you can determine the true mission orientation of a military response by who has been made DSC, and by the size and configuration of the Headquarters unit.  The Achilles Heel of DSC controlled operations was revealed in the form of massive reliance on liaisons between all units involved in the disaster response. It turned out that during the response to Hurricane Maria that “demand for liaisons…exceeded the deployed capacity of the DCO/E [Defense Coordinating Officer and Element] and JFLCC [Joint Force Land Component Commander]“.  Another failing of the Hurricane Maria response is that the DSC was not given control of Title 10 units, essentially because it was believed that the DSC would not be able to adequately exercise C2 (Command and Control) over Title 10 units.

Rand Corporation pointed out that a major problem with using the DSC option during natural disasters was Command and Control (aka C2) of both Title 32 and Title 10 units. The review also discovered “potential gaps” in Defense Support of Civil Authorities (DSCA) training, contributing to “obvious gaps in providing the right information to individuals” creating a “knowledge erosion” during the Hurricane Maria response. The recommendations included increased use of smartphones for fast dissemination of information, and to make the DSCA beast larger through increased staffing and additional training events.

The Rand report also reviewed news media coverage of the Hurricane Maria response. They took reporting data from two rival national level news sources; CNN and Fox News.  While CNN issued more reports than Fox, the trend lines were complimentary, both rising days before the expected Hurricane strike, peaking during landfall and a few days afterwards, but then drastically declining from then on.  Rand also concluded that the best ‘bang for their buck’ that the military got for its Hurricane Maria response was with local Puerto Rican news media. I can attest to this having been a TV News Producer from 1993 to 2001, working in television markets that had large pro-military audiences, and because I was a member of the California Army National Guard and then later the Idaho Army National Guard.  My 6pm and 10pm news casts, at all three stations I worked at in my short career, became number one rated precisely because I understood the military and ‘the locals’ (believe it or not that was one major reason why I got into TV news producing), and could present news regarding the military in a way the locals/taxpayers could understand (My career ended due to political differences between me and the new owner of the TV station I worked at, after Al Gore conceded the election to George W. Bush. I told the new owner that “All politicians are suspect, it doesn’t mater which political party they belong to.” It turns out he didn’t like that philosophy.). Anyway, the Rand study also pointed out that more than half of national respondents to surveys stated the government wasn’t doing enough, I noticed this coincides with the decreased reporting of the national level news broadcasters (In the minds of national level TV viewers decreased news reports of a national ongoing event means nothing is being done.).  I was covering the Hurricane Maria response on BlindBatNews and it was a massive effort (You can review the reports starting with Maria: ARMY RESERVE RESPONDE AL LLAMADO DE AYUDA EN PUERTO RICO!). It was also one of the first involving the use of a DSC. The Rand review implied that the military needs to be more involved with getting, and controlling, the national level news media during DSCA events.

Think about what the Rand report concluded and how the military is now using DSCs in a nationwide response to the so called Pandemic.

In March 2020, the states of California, Colorado, Massachusetts, Maryland, New York, Oklahoma, South Carolina and Washington, accepted DSCs to oversee their Pandemic response.

April 2020, Connecticut’s DSC discusses Pandemic mandates with the Uruguayan Ministry of Public Health.

21APR2020, Colorado Air National Guard medics exit a decontamination tent after testing Adams County nursing home residents for CoViD-19. Colorado Air National Guard photo by Senior Master Sergeant John Rohrer.

May 2020, New York National Guard’s DSC Non-Commissioned Officer Command Sergeant Major Arnold Reyes.

August 2020, Texas appoints Pandemic DSC.

From August through September 2021, a DSC was used to oversee federal troops fighting the Dixie Fire in California.

05FEB2021: Audit of Dual‑Status Commanders [DSC] For Use in Defense Support of Civil Authorities [DSCA] Missions In Support of the Coronavirus Disease–2019 [CoViD-19] Pandemic  (This audit states that by May 2020, nine states/territories had DSCs “employed”, with 74 primary and successor DSCs appointed in anticipation of coordinating COVID‑19 response efforts.)

February 2021, Ohio gets first ever DSC.

24MAR2021, Indiana’s gov’na Eric Holcomb granted consent for Brigadier General Patrick C. Thibodeau to become DSC.

April 2021, Maryland DSC says he will enforce national and local leaders’ Pandemic mandates: “We are the instruments of national power….”-Brigadier General Adam Flasch

01APR2021, Tennessee Air National Guard’s Colonel Jason Glass became DSC.

On 22APR2021, Louisiana ’employed’ its first DSC, Brigadier General Cindy Haygood.

July 2021, after a very short stint as Guam’s first DSC, Brigadier General Johnny Lizama retires.

“To best work with our civilian partners, we established Oregon’s first dual status commander that puts all military resources under one command, working jointly with our federal friends and county leaders”-Brigadier General Mark Crosby, Oregon Air National Guard, DSC in charge of Oregon’s Pandemic response (Date of DSC appointment not given, first public appearance as DSC reported on 08JUL2021, attended DSC training in 2013)

August 2021, DESPITE HIGH VAX RATES, OREGON DEPLOYS MILITIA INTO Pandemic “SIT-COM”!

September 2021, Wisconsin National Guard employs a DSC to deal with Afghan refugees as part of Biden’s Operation Allies Welcome.

September 2021, SOUTH CAROLINA MILITIA RE-DEPLOYS FOR NEW VACCINE MISSION!

U.S. Army photo by Specialist James Alegria.

03SEP2021, as Mississippi’s DSC Brigadier General Barry Blanchard toured local hospitals, local news media pointed out this was the first time in U.S. history that the U.S. military has deployed units nationwide in response to a medical emergency.

October 2021, a Wyoming Army National Guard general, who attended the 2013 DSC course, is now accused of sex discrimination.

Idaho Army National Guard photo by Crystal Farris.

On 05OCT2021, Idaho’s gov’na Brad Little ’employed’ The Gem State’s first DSC, Major General Russ Johnson.  Major General Johnson is not The Gem State’s adjutant general, but was recommended by the state’s adjutant general.

02NOV2021, U.S. DoD issued a warning to its civilian employees, get the mandated vaccine or else!

Click here to view the actual Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) between states and the DoD which creates the DSC position.

Pandēmus Totalitarian, 10NOV2021: YES VIRGINIA, THE I-R-S WILL BE NOTIFIED OF EVERY $600 TRANSACTION, STARTING JANUARY 2022, BLAME ARPA!

April 2021: ONE RING TO RULE THEM, BIG BROTHERISM IN THE NAME OF FIGHTING A PANDEMIC? U.S. Navy experiments with finger rings to track a person’s health.

February 2021: BIDEN ORDERS FEMA MASS-VAX SITES! NAVY BUILDING FEMA COVID CAMPS!

Idaho, Influenza, U.S.

Pandemic Perfidy: Military medical teams deploy to FEMA Regions 4, 6, 8 & 10! Blame pre-Pandemic nursing shortage that will last until 2025!

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“…every hospital in America has been saying this. It’s been said over and over nationally, as well as locally, it’s all about staffing.”-Coleen Niemann, Eastern Idaho Regional Medical Center, December 2020

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Since September, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has ordered the deployment of Department of Defense (DoD) medical teams to FEMA Regions 4, 6, 8 and 10 of the United States.

On 02NOV2021, it was revealed that FEMA deployed federal military healthcare workers to Utah (FEMA Region 8).  According to the report, it is to assist in the use of monoclonal antibody treatments (something the main stream U.S. news media doesn’t like acknowledging). In fact, the military revealed that the personnel being deployed are a first time ever ‘monoclonal antibody infusion team’:  “These fifteen military medical personnel, who comprise the first monoclonal antibody infusion team the Department of Defense has deployed, join approximately ten thousand others who have supported the whole-of-government response to the COVID-19 pandemic since March 2020.”-Lieutenant General John R. Evans Junior, U.S. Army North

It was also revealed that Utah hospitals have been using the monoclonal treatment for almost a year now.

In Louisiana, Pandemic case numbers dropped low enough that the U.S. Air Force ended its deployment of medical personnel, 26OCT2021. U.S. Army photo by Specialist Richard Barnes.

By the middle of October, U.S. Army North medical teams deployed to Washington state (FEMA Region 10), officially at the request of Washington’s gov’na.  For months the leftist-liberal gov’na has blamed Washington’s hospital crisis on rightist-conservative Idaho, however a recent local news report pointed out that Washington’s hospitals have been dealing with an increasing staffing shortage since the beginning of the Pandemic!  Healthcare workers in Washington are now mandated to be vaccinated, and that has actually made the lack of staffing worse.  It might be that the gov’na’s request for federal military healthcare personnel is because all DoD personnel are mandated to be vaccinated.

U.S. Army personnel working Kootenai Health Regional Medical Center in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, 04OCT2021. U.S. Army photo by Sergeant Kaden D. Pitt.

23SEP2021, video interview with Idaho nurses who quit because of hospital Pandemic mandates, they warn the mandates are actually making staffing problems worse:

On 07SEP2021, U.S. Army North revealed that FEMA ordered the deployment of medical teams to Idaho (FEMA Region 10), as well as to the Southern states of Alabama (FEMA Region 4), and Arkansas and Tennessee (FEMA Region 6).  This was the result of Idaho’s so called conservative gov’na begging for federal help in August.  The true reason for the gov’na’s plea for help is not overwhelming numbers of Pandemic cases, but lack of healthcare workers, so much so that in August the Idaho Hospital Association begged for relaxation of licensing rules to allow retired nurses and doctors to come back to work!  In December 2020, it was revealed that Idaho has been dealing with a lack of healthcare workers since at least 2018: “…in fact, across the country, around the world, there are shortages of nurses … even before the pandemic. … That’s the thing that limits the capacity, is the caregivers.”-Doctor John Miller, Idaho Falls Community Hospital

Another news report, from 2019, stated that Idaho’s nursing shortage will last until 2025 (based on 2018 data)!

KPVI television Pocatello, Idaho, report from 2011(!), warning of nursing shortage:

KXLY television Spokane, Washington, report from August 2008(!) warning of Idaho’s nursing shortage:

Delta Pandemic, August 2021: FEMA DEPLOYS MILITARY TO LOUISIANA (FEMA Region 6) & MISSISSIPPI (FEMA Region 4)!

Operation Jupiter: U.S. ARMY USING PANDEMIC AS EXCUSE TO INJECT YOU WITH NANO TAR BABIES? AND YOU’RE PAYING FOR IT!

Pandēmus Totalitarian, 03NOV2021: TENS OF THOUSANDS OF U.S. MILITARY, POLICE, FIRE FIGHTERS, NURSES REBEL AGAINST BIDEN’S MANDATE!

Pandemic Perfidy: THE PANDEMIC IS ABOUT LOWERING YOUR GUARD AGAINST TRUE DISEASES?

Vaccine Fail: MORE PROOF VACCINES TURN YOU INTO A SUPER SPREADER! FULLY VACCINATED PUBLIC OFFICIALS GETTING SICK & DYING!

Technology

Cold War Battle Damage: All Hail the Hail Buster! What happens when you fly your C-130E through a hailstorm?

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A case of ‘hail nose’. This is what happens when a Hurlburt Field, Florida, based C-130E gets hit by a hailstorm while in flight. March 1987, U.S. Air Force photo by Technical Sergeant C. A. Thompson.

The damaged C-130E Hercules landed at Naval Air Station New Orleans, Louisiana. USAF photo by Technical Sergeant C. A. Thompson.

Awaiting the repair crew. USAF photo by Technical Sergeant C. A. Thompson.

Damaged SKE (Station Keeping Equipment) radome. USAF photo by Technical Sergeant C. A. Thompson.

Damage to the leading edge of the wing. USAF photo by Technical Sergeant C. A. Thompson.

Broken formation light. USAF photo by Technical Sergeant C. A. Thompson.

Gotta have that metal tape, and I don’t mean that cassette tape of the latest ’80s metal band. USAF photo by Technical Sergeant C. A. Thompson.

A bit of damage to the engine intake. USAF photo by Technical Sergeant C. A. Thompson.

A new nose for the old Hercules. USAF photo by Technical Sergeant C. A. Thompson.

Replacing the ‘greenhouse’ glass. USAF photo by Technical Sergeant C. A. Thompson.

New glass. USAF photo by Technical Sergeant C. A. Thompson.

With hail damage repaired, the crew of the C-130E used reflective tape to give it a new name; Hail Buster! USAF photo by Technical Sergeant C. A. Thompson.

September 2021: OLD HC-130 GETS NEW JOB AS GATE GUARD

Cold War Battle Damage:  S-A-C INTENTIONALLY MACHINE-GUNS A B-52, USING THE B-D-I-G!

Technology

Cold War Battle Damage: SAC intentionally machine-guns a B-52, using the B-D-I-G!

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In April 1984, the U.S. Air Force’s (USAF) Strategic Air Command (SAC) conducted the sixth NIGHT TRAIN/GLOBAL SHIELD exercise, which took place on several USAF bases around the world.

Click here to read a PDF of a once secret USAF document about Night Train ’84.

Members of the 2953rd Combat Logistics Support Squadron arrive on Davis Monthan Air Force Base (The Boneyard), Arizona, for Exercise NIGHT TRAIN/GLOBAL SHIELD, April 1984. U.S. Air Force photo by Technical Sergeant Rob Marshall.

On ‘The Boneyard’ (Davis-Monthan AFB, Arizona), Night Train ’84 tested the Airmen’s ability to quickly repair battle damaged B-52 bombers, which included the use of experimental manually operated tools and a ‘Battel Damage Infliction Gun’.

The battle damage infliction gun is offloaded. The gun was provided by the Foreign Munitions Test and Evaluation Group of the Air Force Wright Aeronautical Laboratories. USAF photo by Technical Sergeant Rob Marshall.

From left to right, 30mm fragmentation, 20mm high explosive, 20mm incendiary, and 20mm armor piercing. USAF photo by Technical Sergeant Rob Marshall.

The BDIG. USAF photo by Technical Sergeant Rob Marshall.

The BDIG was aimed at various parts of the sacrificial B-52. USAF photo by Technical Sergeant Rob Marshall.

Loading a 30mm frag round into the BDIG. USAF photo by Technical Sergeant Rob Marshall.

A blast shield consisting of a steel framed bunch of wood 4x4s was used to reduce the spread of shrapnel. USAF photo by Technical Sergeant Rob Marshall.

The BDIG is unleased. USAF photo by Technical Sergeant Rob Marshall.

A 20mm high explosive round tears through the left wing tip of a mothballed B-52, April 1987. USAF photo by Technical Sergeant Rob Marshall.

The damage done to the left wing tip area, the entry wound is smaller than the exit wound on the top of the wing, a lot of internal damage. USAF photo by Technical Sergeant Rob Marshall.

Airmen work to repair the internal damage. USAF photo by Technical Sergeant Rob Marshall.

Repair work was 24 hours, the exercise was simulating a combat situation, specifically a nuclear war with the Soviet Union. USAF photo by Technical Sergeant Rob Marshall.

20mm projectiles punch through the B-52’s elevator. USAF photo by Technical Sergeant Rob Marshall.

USAF photo by Technical Sergeant Rob Marshall.

Entry wound on the front main wheel bay. USAF photo by Technical Sergeant Rob Marshall.

Working in the massive wheel bay. USAF photo by Technical Sergeant Rob Marshall.

Building a shipping crate for a B-52’s main landing gear door. USAF photo by Technical Sergeant Rob Marshall.

Since the exercise was about a running nuclear war with the Soviet Union, Airmen had to perform their jobs in full MOPP (Mission Oriented Protective Posture) gear for NBC (Nuclear Biological Chemical) warfare. USAF photo by Technical Sergeant Rob Marshall.

Having been there done that myself, I can tell you that working even for a short time in full MOPP is a…… frustrating to say the least. USAF photo by Technical Sergeant Rob Marshall.

An engine nacelle, damaged by the BDIG, had to be replaced. The Airman not wearing MOPP gear is an observer, grading the others on their performance. USAF photo by Technical Sergeant Rob Marshall.

Under cover of darkness, a sheet metal worker patches a large hole in the pylon holding the engine nacelle, made by the BDIG. USAF photo by Technical Sergeant Rob Marshall.

At the time, this was an experimental manually operated ‘blind fastener’ installation kit used to repair sheet metal. USAF photo by Technical Sergeant Rob Marshall.

Manually operated tools are gold during a nuclear war. Nuclear explosions create EMPs (electro magnetic pulses) which knock out any electronics, and electric power. USAF photo by Technical Sergeant Rob Marshall.

Cold War Battle Damage: THE HIND-END OF DESERT STORM

Pandemic Overflight: BOMB THE VIRUS BACK TO THE STONEAGE!

U.S.

Biden’s War: ‘Rebellious’ Snake River (Idaho, Oregon) deploys! Politician begs Idahoans to resist the Will of Biden!

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05NOV2021, Gowen Field/Boise Airport, troops with the 116th Cavalry Brigade board a charter airliner bound for Kuwait. Idaho National Guard photo by Master Sergeant Becky Vanshur.

Idaho National Guard photo by Master Sergeant Becky Vanshur.

Some of you might remember the spat between the Idaho gov’na and lieutenant gov’na, you know, about deploying Idaho National Guard to the U.S. border with Mexico.  Now we know the reason that was canceled (and by the way, the gov’na and lieutenant gov’na are still bickering over the failed deployment to the border with Mexico).

My Idaho National Guard ‘alma mater’.

As I warned back in August, Idaho based 116th Cavalry Brigade Combat Team (aka Snake River Brigade, The Snake) is being deployed to The Middle East (Southwest Asia) for the next 12 months.  However, on 05NOV2021 KLIX News Radio reported that even more 116th Cav militia personnel will be sent to relieve other military units in Southwest Asia, in Summer of 2022!

04NOV2021, Senior NCO’s of B-Co, 3rd Battalion, 116th Cavalry Regiment, take part in deployment ceremony in Hermiston, Oregon. Oregon National Guard photo by John Hughel.

Oregon National Guard photo by John Hughel.

Army National Guard troops from Idaho and Oregon, as well as Guard militia from Florida, Montana and Nevada, conducted deployment ceremonies between 02NOV and 04NOV2021, just a couple of days after an eighth Oregon county voted to leave The Beaver State of Oregon and join The Gem State of Idaho.

Delta Company, 1st Squadron, 221st Cavalry at their deployment ceremony, 02NOV2021, in Las Vegas. Nevada National Guard photo by Specialist Adrianne Lopez.

KIFI TV report, 04NOV2021:

The Idaho-Florida-Montana-Nevada-Oregon troops will be taking part in the U.S. Army’s Task Force Spartan, which is part of Operation Enduring Freedom’s Operation Spartan Shield.  The operation is based in Kuwait, and focuses on actions in Iraq and Syria.  It should be noted that Idaho Air National Guard’s 124th Fighter Wing (operating A-10Cs) deployed to the same area at the beginning of Summer 2020.

05NOV2021: Anti-federalist Idaho politician reacts to deployment, asks “When do we get to use the guns?”

Cavalry is pronounced Cav-All-Rie, not Cal-Va-Rie.

September 2021: Why has Biden ramped up military giveaways and build-up of troops regarding the Mother of all Money Pits (Iraq)?

Biden’s War, August 2021:

IDAHO GETS ‘SMART’ ARTILLERY ROUNDS, REVEALS “UPCOMING MOBILIZATIONS”

AFGHANISTAN SNAFU, U.S. MILITARY KILLED IN “BLOODBATH”!

Influenza

Pandēmus Totalitarian: Tens of thousands of U.S. Military, Police, Fire Fighters, Nurses rebel against Biden’s Mandate!

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Survey data published in December 2020, before vaccines became mandated.

Incomplete list of videos and links to news reports as of 03NOV2021:

Biden allows insurance rates to be jacked up for employees and employers who do not comply with Pandemic mandates!

Prisoners must be vaccinated:

Iowa creates new Vaccine Waiver Law in an attempt to protect employees from Pandemic mandates!

American and Southwest airlines refuse to comply with Texas’ ban on mandating vaccinations for employees! (Is this the true cause of their flight cancelations?)

Alabama nurses say Pandemic mandates come at the worst time; when the U.S. is already in the midst of a healthcare worker shortage, mandates will only make the shortage worse:

Short staffed Arizona hospital extends vaccine deadline to February 2022, due to fear of losing too many employees, at least 50% of the healthcare workers refuse to get vaccinated saying current vaccine data is not sufficient:

Permanently disabled doctor refuses vaccination, gets fired!

Under influence by Joe Biden, Penn State University expands vaccine mandate to nine campuses, all students and all healthcare workers!

California based healthcare operation Kaiser-Permanente is refusing religious exemption claims, saying they consider them to be fraudulent!

Kaiser Permanente fires nurse in San Diego hospital for refusing to get vaccinated!

An In-N-Out Burger restaurant in California shuts down, refuses to enforce San Francisco’s draconian vaccination law!

In-N-Out Burger restaurant in Pleasant Hill shutdown by county officials for refusing to enforce Pandemic mandate:

University of California Los Angeles doctor escorted from his job, because he refuses to get vaccinated!

Los Angeles County Sheriff admits he does not have enough personnel to enforce the new Pandemic mandates!

More than one thousand LA County deputies have left their jobs, another 4-thousand threaten to quit:

Colorado data on healthcare workers refusing to get vaccinated is not reliable as hospitals have already fired, or placed on ‘vacation’, workers who refuse vaccination!

Colorado hospital denies life saving operation to woman with end stage renal failure, because she is not vaccinated:

https://youtu.be/kwiA3fzRsD4

U.S. Supreme Court throws out healthcare workers’ religious exemption claim!

At least 4-hundred healthcare works at one hospital in Michigan quit in protest of Pandemic mandates!

County in Florida hit with multi-million dollar state fine for firing employees who refused vaccination!

Appeals court backs-up healthcare workers in Louisiana who refuse vaccination:

19 of the 50 U.S. states sue Joe Biden over Pandemic mandates! (Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, Idaho, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, North Dakota, South Carolina, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, West Virginia, and Wyoming)

Illinois Democrats demand a new law that would legalize ‘repercussions’ against people who refuse vaccination!

Lawsuit reveals that Chicago has already been furloughing police and fire fighters who refuse to get vaccinated!

01NOV2021, Chicago Mayor ‘flips the finger’ at police who refuse to get vaccinated:

Judge goes against NYC police union’s request for vaccine exemption!

Forget emergency responders, de Blasio has already furloughed 9-thousand employees!

Barrington School Committee furloughs three teachers for refusing vaccination!

Redmond, Washington, fire fighters refuse vaccination!

Losing your job due to refusing mandated vaccines will also cost you any unemployment assistance!

Entertainer Ice Cube refuses mandated vaccine, loses $9-million paycheck!

While the U.S. military is cracking down hard on personnel who refuse vaccines, Biden gives government contractors new vaccine mandate rule, including “…a limited period of counseling and education, followed by additional disciplinary measures…”!

The Department of Defense (DoD) warns civilian employees to get vaccinated, or else!

Report says DoD has no system in place to verify that civilian employees are vaccinated!

25% of DoD grade school system employees are not vaccinated!

Guam Department of Education employees refuse vaccination and testing:

USN says it is prepped to keel-haul any Sailor who refuses vaccination!

USMC swears it will ‘boot’ any Marine who refuses to get vaccinated!

At least 12-thousand USAF Airmen refuse mandated vaccines!

USAF fires 40 newly hired recruits for refusing mandated vaccines!

On 02NOV2021, U.S. Army Aviation and Missile  Command gave a vide conference explanation of Pandemic mandates, saying “guidance” regarding enforcement is constantly changing.

Pandemic Perfidy: U.S. Department of Defense, on 01NOV2021, stated “Those with previous COVID-19 infection(s) or antibody test results are not considered fully vaccinated…”

Pandēmus Totalitarian, October 2021: CIVIL WAR AS POLICE ACROSS THE U.S. REBEL AGAINST MANDATES! MANDATES ARE ABOUT MONEY!

Business/Economics, International, U.S.

World War 3: U.S. Army’s ‘new’ Counter Threat Finance operations! No more Special Forces?

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“Money always moves with a purpose. It’s fun to be able to be this close and be able to determine what that purpose is and to be able to influence it, to be able to disrupt, or inform to prevent or disrupt, an adversary’s ability to raise, use, move, or store money.”-Major Jon P. Evans, U.S. Army’s 266th Finance Support Center (based in Germany), 03NOV2021

That’s correct, the U.S. Army has launched what it calls CTF (Counter Threat Finance) operations, in Kuwait.  The CTF operation is being conducted by what is called a Finance Support Center (FiSC), a typical finance unit that is normally the ‘bean counter’ of a larger Army unit.

“First is what we call fiscal preparation of the environment. We’ll go in and do an economic analysis of a country or a region and see who the key trading partners are, how much U.S. spending goes in there, look at their banking network, and just look at some other macroeconomic indicators like unemployment, inflation, levels of corruption. We use that fiscal preparation of the environment, the FPE, to develop a finance support package, and then that FSP will go into a targeting process to look at individuals or companies to either prevent them from doing business with the government or to produce other effects.”-Major Jon P. Evans, 266th Finance Support Center

CTFs are not new, but this is the first time a non-Special Operations Forces unit is conducting the counter finance op. For a few years now, U.S. Army Special Operations Forces have been running CTFs on the African continent, and elsewhere, in the hopes of financially starving-out groups considered to be terrorist threats against U.S. interests. Obviously this isn’t working in Africa (and didn’t work in Afghanistan) as earlier this year Joe Biden issued an executive order telling the military to prepare to evacuate African ‘friendlies’ as part of the greater Operation Allies Refuge.

The U.S. Army’s CTFs are part of the larger Counter Threat Finance and Sanctions (TFS, don’t know why they drop the C in the acronym) run by the U.S. Department of State.

For years under the George W. Bush administration military run CTFs were debated, finally, in 2008 a directive was issued for the Department of Defense (DoD) to create a CTF policy.  However, a 2010 CTF directive, under Barack H. Obama, states (in its References) that the 2008 Bush directive was “hereby canceled”.

An FBI agent conducts the first CTF course for National Guard personnel, 09DEC2011. Air National Guard photo by Technical Sergeant Betty Squatrito-Martin.

At the end of 2011, the DoD ordered the U.S. National Guard Bureau (NGB) to begin training for CTFs under the guise of counter-drug training.  The 26 new counter threat finance personnel attended a three week training course at Joint Base Anacostia Bolling, November 29th-December 16, 2011: “This is a start to a whole new effort for the Guard. This effort that the Guardsmen are a part of helps build a skill base that I predict is going to be a growing part of what we do in the future.”-William F. Wechsler, Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Counternarcotics and Global Threats

In March 2012, the Army War College suggested that the DoD shift to from counter-drug to “CTF targeting against terrorists and those supporting terrorist activities”.

In April 2012, the NGB made it official and added CTFs to its Counterdrug Program.

In May of 2014, National Guard Counterdrug CTF Program Manager, Captain Mesha Cichon, stated “The Counter Threat Finance career field is in its infancy, so any training our Soldiers and Airman can get to improve their skill set, is imperative.” Also, the boss of CTF at Joint Interagency Task Force South, Tammy Bowers, stated “CTF analysis is so new, we have to reach out to each other…  In a few short years, we’ve developed an impressive cadre….” 

Also in 2014, the DoD ordered that “a common lexicon for CTF, target nomination procedures, and guidance in defining measures of performance for CTF activities” be created regarding CTF operations globally.

2015, Brookings Institute: Counter Threat Finance-Not a Silver Bullet

Criminal Analysts Open Source Techniques training, May 2017. Air National Guard photo by Master Sergeant Betty Squatrito-Martin.

In May 2017, National Guard personnel attended counter-drug/CTF training (officially called Criminal Analysts Open Source Techniques) in Indiana, which focused on Social Media: “The online tools, techniques and methods we use to support law enforcement efforts are constantly evolving. We must continue to advance and train our Counterdrug members to meet this demand.”-First Sergeant Donald Cooley, criminal analyst

In May of this year, a DoD review of CTF operations by USAFRICOM, USCENTCOM, USEUCOM, and USINDOPACOM, revealed that they “did not establish and maintain formalized command procedures” because “personnel relied primarily upon their own experience and knowledge to conduct CTF activities.”  In other words, military CTF operations were failing because each military unit was ‘doing its own thing’, the DoD again re-issued the 2014 order to develop a common/standardized CTF plan of action.

Apparently the new use of regular military finance units is part of the attempt to standardize CTF operations.

U.S. Army Counter Threat Finance Analyst: “conduct financial profiles, suspicious activity report reviews, commodity flow analysis and financial document exploitation. These duties will complement analysts existing skills in cell phone forensics, link analysis, open source intelligence and report writing. Their job will be to counter financing used by illicit networks that traffic narcotics, precursor chemicals, launder illicit proceeds and related activities that support drug trafficking organizations, narcoterrorism, and transnational criminal organizations.”

World War Three: BIDEN IS A BRITISH EMPIRE RED COAT? NEW ALLIANCE FOR FUTURE WAR WITH CHINA!

USAF PREPS TO USE C-130s ON U.S. HIGHWAYS! RED DAWN FOR REALS?

Money of all Money Pits: $500-MILLION PLUS FOR IRAQ IN FISCAL 2021, MORE PROOF U.S. TAXES ARE FUNDING BIG OIL COMPANIES!

Technology

Cold War Vehicle I-D: Convair UC-880, the one & only!

Image

UC-880 at a U.S. Navy air show, May 1984. Photo by Don S. Montgomery.

The Convair UC-880 was the only 880-22M converted for use by the U.S. Navy.

Convair UC-880 at an air show, September 1985. Photo by Don S. Montgomery.

UC-880 was a former FAA (Federal Aviation Administration) training aircraft purchased in 1961 (airframe #22-7-3-55).  Flight Systems purchased the FAA 880-22M in 1980, for use at Naval Test Center-Patuxent River, it was used to test refueling of F-14D and F/A-18 aircraft, and other aircraft used during cruise missile testing.

UC-880 refueling a TA-4J Skyhawk, September 1986. USN photo.

Filling-up a F-4 Phantom-2, while an A-6 Intruder waits its turn, September 1986. USN photo.

The UC-880 wore at least two different paint schemes.

UC-880 during an ‘open house’ at the Patuxent River Naval Air Test Center, 16MAY1987. Photo by Don S. Montgomery.

Photo by Don S. Montgomery.

USN photo by Vernon Pugh, sometime in 1989.

Refueling F/A-18 Hornet. USN photo by Vernon Pugh, dated January 1990.

USN photo by Vernon Pugh, dated January 1990.

Refueling F/A-18EPE (Enhanced Performance Engines) Hornet. USN photo by Vernon Pugh, dated November 1991.

USN photo by Vernon Pugh, dated May 1992.

The only Convair UC-880 aircraft refuels the F-14D Tomcat prototype, August 1992. USN photo by Vernon Pugh.

August 1992. USN photo by Vernon Pugh.

The UC-880 was written-off after a cargo hold explosive decompression test, in 1995.

Vehicle I-D: NASA’S TWISTY-BENDY F/A-18A

NASA’S 737, TEST-BED FOR THE CIVILIAN AIRLINER INDUSTRY!

Technology, U.S.

USS Bonhomme Richard (LHD 6): Steel Inferno, one Year later, Sabotage & lack of Leadership=Death of a Ship!

Video

31 October 2021 (15:56-UTC-07 Tango 06) 09 Aban 1400/24 Rabi ‘al-Awwal 1443/26 Wu-Xu (9th month) 4719

“The original Bonhomme Richard Sailors gave their all to prevail against seemingly impossible odds, and they won. They taught us that you don’t always save the ship, but you never stop fighting. The reputation of that fighting spirit began to proceed our Navy wherever we sailed and that same spirit persists today.”-Rear Admiral Philip Sobeck, Expeditionary Strike Group Three, 14APR2021

In July of 2020, the Wasp Class assault ship United States Ship (USS) Bonhomme Richard LHD-6 was sabotaged by a disgruntled sailor. The fire burned for days, and not only were U.S. Navy (USN) fire fighters called to action but local San Diego area fire fighters as well.  63 people were slightly wounded.

Removal of the aft mast, 04AUG2020. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Jeffrey F. Yale.

USN photo by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Jeffrey F. Yale.

The aft mast was removed due to structural integrity problems. USN photo by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Jeffrey F. Yale.

Just last week, the USN released a report concerning the fire, it blames current Standards of Practice (SoP) regarding maintenance practices such as stowage of combustible material and lack of proper training of maintenance crews. The Pacific Fleet Command Investigation also concluded that “a lack of familiarity with requirements and procedural noncompliance at multiple levels of command” made the result of the sabotage/fire much worse.

USN video by Mass Communication Specialist Third Class Cosmo Walrath, removal of Traffic Control Tower due to structural instability, 04MAR2021:

LHD-6 is the third USN ship to carry the name Bonhomme Richard, it had a short but busy life.  Commissioned on 15AUG1998, besides the usual training and humanitarian missions, LHD-6 took part in Operations Stabilize, Southern Watch, Enduring Freedom, Iraqi Freedom, and Unified Assistance.

On its death bed, the crew celebrates the 22nd ‘birthday’ of LHD-6, on 14AUG2021. USN photo by Mass Communication Specialist Third Class Cosmo Walrath.

The first Bonhomme Richard was the ex-French armed cargo ship Duc de Duras. The French ‘loaned’ it to the newly created United States in 1779, to help with the Revolutionary War against the British Empire. The now famous John Paul Jones changed the name to Bonhomme Richard, which was the pseudonym for Benjamin Franklin. It was this USS Bonhomme Richard that Rear Admiral Philip Sobeck was referring to in the quote from 14APR2021.

USN photo by Mass Communication Specialist Second Class Alex Millar.

On 14APR2021, a private decommissioning ceremony for LHD-6 was held at Naval Base San Diego, California (the official date of decommissioning is 15APR2021).  It will be scrapped in Brownsville, Texas. The estimated cost to rebuild the ship is the reason, more than $3-billion, far more than the original build cost and almost as much as a brand new latest technology assault ship.

The USN used the Pandemic as an excuse as to why the decommissioning was not a public event: “Due to public health and safety concerns related to the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, the ceremony will be limited in attendance by invitation only.”-U.S. Pacific Fleet statement, 07APR2021

USS Bonhomme Richard (LHD 6), July 2020: INTO THE STEEL INFERNO!

Vehicle I-D: THE MANY LIVES OF LST-786