I don't think Putin will do it because he believes in MAD, not because of any problem in the strategic rocket forces, which have been resolving since the bad old days in the 90s.

Don't underestimate the new bear. They've made incredible leaps and bounds in getting back into the game since the 90s. They had the Georgians for breakfast when they had some of our nicer kit and the other times we've met proper Russian gear we've ended up on the bad end of things.

Remember the RPG-29 knocking out those Abrams?

And here I thought that we had a "reset" with the Sov^^^ er I mean Russia.

Sadly, a lot of officers and senior NCO's who did have the experience training to fight large armies like the Russian Ground Forces, well a lot are heading to retirement. Those that weren't "downsized" in The '90s, or who left the dry rotting DOD of the Clinton-era.

Thankfully Russia is still the "midget with a big right arm". They always used their military to bully the west during the Cold War. But they let that arm go flabby after the Wall Came DownTM.

The problem was that the west never saw it. Europe was happy in their little coccon: their left and right could rage against US troops in Europe while they were happy to let a shrinking DOD foot the bill for NATO ops.

Clinton misread the end of the Cold War. He actually thought that North Korea would have gone the way of East Germany. George W. Bush was so blinded by 9/11 that when he "looked into Putin's soul" he missed. So I'm not surprised that the current tongs at Foggy Bottom are either saying Ukraine is nothing or are screaming "The End Is Near".

Funny that both cross party lines.

I'm not too afraid of Russia's little adventure in Crimea. "Things that can't go on forever won't. They will either pull out or run out of fuel and cash. Seems US sanctions are causing Russia's economy to head south.

China is the one to worry about. They see the west pretty much with out collective thumbs in our forth point of contact. China has many little Crimeas: Taiwan, the South China Sea, their support of North Korea.

As long as Russia and China are played against each other and sanctions keep working, things can work out. Otherwise, it's looking like 1939 out there...

The big difference is it is lot easier to work with china by comparison.

At the moment. Bet there were plenty of commentators muttering that Russia was a lot easier to work with back in 1995/96 and the Taiwan Strait Crisis.

Still, it does seem that the Chinese government tends to be more pragmatic and a lot more focused on internal stability, rather than the risks like straight-out invading a neighbor.

Apparently, laying down your weapons and waving the white flag is not cowardice, but engaging in a seven-hour fire fight and then retreating from your position is cowardice.

^ Remember, strength is weakness.

If there was cowardice to be had, it was Singha apparently refusing to put the surrender order in writing (from what I've seen elsewhere) so he could deny it if the fact was later brought to light.

In short, fuck UNDOF. With over a century of experience with the Moros the Filipino armed forces know what comes of surrendering to RIFs, and it ain't everyone gathering around a campfire and singing Kumbaya.

Besides, they already knew what would happen if they laid down arms: Same thing that happened to the Fijians, being taken prisoner. Assuming that laying down their arms would result in the prisoners being released instead is just silly.

The Indians are well experienced with terror groups and dishonorable armies. Don't presume Singha's actions are somehow a commentary on Indian versus Filipino military thinking.

This is also a country that was ripped in half (Pakistan) and almost again with religious riots and mass murders by both sides. Entire neighborhoods were massacred in very bloody fashions.

That's even excluding the Sikh genocide and the random flareups in Goa thanks to the Portuguese. Hell, India's history pretty much begins with the Aryans annihilating the Dasas.

They have a lot to tread carefully about lest they repeat a bad mistake they can't afford. India has nukes. Pakistan has nukes. Everyone has to be smart with this.

Airman denied reenlistment for refusing to say 'so help me God'

When this goes to court, the airman is going to win this one. As it is, this requirement is either forcing him to swear to God (against his religious beliefs, against the Constitution he is also swearing to defend), or it is forcing him to give a false oath (against the Air Force's core values, in particular "Integrity", also against the rules set down by God, who they are trying to force him to swear an oath to).

So yeah, it's a mess. I'd be curious if the airman even wants to reenlist when this is all done.

edited 4th Sep '14 7:55:16 PM by AFP

Might get a halfway decent settlement though. At least he's standing up for his principles.

AFP:I am with you on this one. It would be odd if he didn't win. Or worse yet rather telling if he lost.

edited 4th Sep '14 8:18:32 PM by TuefelHundenIV

The tigerstripes are goofy, but the AB Us aren't all that bad for garrison use. No gain to spending a bunch of money on new uniforms.

Plus, the AC Us are made out of tissue paper. Super comfy, but they wear out fast. Wore a hole in a pair of trousers while working an office job.

Note: I'd rather we switch to multicam one way or the other, or go back to BD Us, but I entirely understand why that may not actually ever happen, if only due to cost. We'll just buy some more Army uniforms when we need to deploy and keep using what we've got at home.

edited 4th Sep '14 9:16:44 PM by AFP

Apart from their Rule of Cool aura of badassery, tigerstripe camouflage is generally effective in tropical environments such as that of Southeast Asia, where the pattern is popular with the region's militaries. However, it's less well off in any other climate, and seems really unwieldy to be the general standard uniform that the USAF wanted it to be.

Yeah, fun fact, tropical jungles are a rare thing to find on your average airfield. And the grey-blue color scheme seems unlikely to blend with jungles anyways.

Outgunned Philippine General Seeks Upgrade

edited 5th Sep '14 8:27:29 AM by entropy13

BBC: UK aircraft carrier Prince of Wales to go into service

Of course this is assuming that it even gets built in the first place.

edited 5th Sep '14 1:22:11 PM by Deadbeatloser22

That they even considered selling it right off the bat is either insane, or a throwback to when Britain built everybody's navy for them

It almost happened to the previous generation of carriers — one was almost (or was) sold to the Australians. And then The Falklands War broke out...

Until Putin did his little Ukrainian excursion, Europe was happy to let NATO wilt on the vine.

Even this small uptick isn't enough. Europe needs to pull it's own weight. US forces are tiny compared to what they were even ten years ago. And if the Pacific heats up, they'll shrink again.

As for the Philippines, they need to lobby for some of that sweet, sweet, US government surplus: MRAP's, OH-58's, UH-1N's, C-130's, C-27's, patrol boats, older frigates. They could give them a good home.

What the Phillipines seriously needs is a half-decent navy; IIRC, it's becoming increasingly common for fishermen in the northern islands to go out of business because the PLAN (People's Liberation Army Navy) have occupied their traditional fishing grounds. That's not even mentioning the island bases that the Chinese are instructing. You know your navy is an absolutely pathetic one when its largest combat vessel is a single coast guard cutter.

How is Europe supposed to rearm when it's already strapped for cash and governments are cutting spending everywhere they can. Rearmament is unpopular on a good day, imagine how bad it will be taken if it's done while social services are being cut because the governments and banks screwed up and everyone but them has to pay for it.

Break Out the Museum Piece I suppose; hopefully European militaries still have stocks of weapons and equipment left over from the Cold War, especially Germany what with its formerly huge conscript armies. Re-militarization, if done slowly and cautiously, could also help get the EU's economy kicking into gear with the increased job opportunities and so forth - the arms industries would surely benefit, while militaries would be more inclined to compete with civilian employers in attracting young people.