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Drone Strike Kills 2 'Qaida' in Yemen
Today's Headlines
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22 23:19 Zenobia Floger6220 [1]
-Lurid Crime Tales-
Poll Worker Who Voted Multiple Times For Obama For Family Members Released Early From Prison
[CBS/AP] A former Ohio poll worker sentenced to five years in prison for voting illegally on behalf of other people has been released from prison after less than a year behind bars.

Melowese Richardson of Madisonville was released Tuesday after her attorney says she gave him permission to reveal that she has bipolar disorder.

Her attorney, David Singleton, shared Richardson's medical records with Hamilton County Prosecutor Joe Deters. After reviewing the case, Deters asked Judge Robert Ruehlman to allow Richardson to be released.

"In the interest of justice, it is time for her to go home," Deters said, according to WCPO-TV.
What about the rest of those also convicted in Cincinnati of voting illegally? I mean, one of them was a nun!
Ruehlman agreed and placed Richardson on five years of probation.

Singleton said justice was served with Richardson's early release.

"Justice was done in this case today,"Singleton told WXIX-TV. "We are grateful to Prosecuting Attorney Joe Deters for stepping up to ask the judge to release Melowese in light of the new information. We are thankful to Judge Ruehlman for revisiting his sentence and placing Ms. Richardson on probation."

The 59-year-old Richardson previously told a TV station that she had voted multiple times for President Barack Obama on behalf of herself and family members. She had said she had no intent to commit voter fraud.
Melowese, on displacing a roller,
Discovered bats in her cupola:
"Since I voted in droves
For the fishes and loaves,
I'm relieved that I'm only bipolar!"
Posted by: Zenobia Floger6220 || 03/13/2014 00:00 || Comments || Link || [1 views] Top|| File under:

#1  They need 'em for mid-terms
Posted by: g(r)omgoru || 03/13/2014 5:02 Comments || Top||

#2  Understated snark of the day.
Posted by: M. Murcek || 03/13/2014 8:08 Comments || Top||

#3  and g(r)omgoru SCORES ON A SLAP SHOT FROM THE POINT!!!!!!
Posted by: AlanC || 03/13/2014 9:12 Comments || Top||

#4  Any old excuse will do.
Posted by: Redneck Jim || 03/13/2014 9:22 Comments || Top||

#5  she lost the right to vote, right, Holder?
Posted by: Frank G || 03/13/2014 22:01 Comments || Top||


Law enforcement respond to Vedic City unrest
[HEARTLANDCONNECTION] Vedic City, Iowa - There was somewhat of a community uprising outside Fairfield Tuesday morning. Law enforcement officers from surrounding agencies were called to help with the disturbance.

It broke out in what may seem like an unlikely place: among a group know as Pandits, who live near Fairfield.

The confrontation happened at the Pandit campus near Vedic City. Pandits are young men brought over from India, and they are housed in a fenced campus. They are paid $200 a month to chant and meditate, $150 of which is sent back to their families in India.

"They were actually brought over for very high goals," said Hauth. "So it's kind of too bad if they are rioting right now."
Around 6 a.m. Tuesday, the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office received a call to help back up security personnel on campus.

A Pandit leader was being escorted from the property in a van for internal disciplinary reasons. A large group of this Pandit's friends were apparently upset at this decision by the Pandit administration and attempted to block his transport.

Sixty to 70 Pandits surrounded the sheriff's office patrol car and shook it. Police say they also threw rocks at the car, breaking its back window.

The angry Pandits also kicked out one of the cruiser's back lights and tried to pull its mirrors off.

With additional assistance, sheriff's deputies were eventually able to stop the group from traveling away from the property and escorted them back to campus.

KTVO spoke to several Fairfield residents to gauge their opinion on the Pandits and the incident that took place.

Madison, who wanted to remain anonymous, told us she thinks the riots started out of the pandits fear of being sent back to India after the two-year paid program is over.

Pandits have made headlines frequently for disappearing after their two years are up. It is likely they disappear because they do not want to return to India but cannot stay on campus.
"The movement will probably say, 'they want to stay here', that's not the truth," said Madison. "If you're staying in a better country, working for your family that can't eat and lives in squalor, then you're not going to want to leave. That's what happens and that's what I think this is coming from."

Cat Grayson said she thinks the program mistreats the pandits.

"I wouldn't be surprised to learn that they were holding people against their will because they have a history of violating human rights
When they're defined by the state or an NGO they don't mean much...
," said Grayson. "They just don't treat their people very well."

While Michael Hauth said it's unfortunate the incident occurred.

"They were actually brought over for very high goals," said Hauth. "So it's kind of too bad if they are rioting right now."

Pandits have made headlines frequently for disappearing after their two years are up. They receive visas as part of the program. It is likely they disappear because they do not want to return to India but cannot stay on campus.

The pandits were also recently in the national spotlight when Oprah Winfrey featured the program on her show.
Posted by: Fred || 03/13/2014 00:00 || Comments || Link || [0 views] Top|| File under:

#1  Pandits, paid chanters for world peace, disturbing the peace in Vedic City and assaulting officers sent to enforce the peace?
Posted by: Flaiger Uneamp8181 || 03/13/2014 11:57 Comments || Top||

#2  They were off-duty.
Posted by: Pappy || 03/13/2014 12:35 Comments || Top||

#3  Punched out early?
Posted by: swksvolFF || 03/13/2014 15:13 Comments || Top||

#4  Pandits. Sounds like a Tranny Rainbow Coalition biker gang.
Posted by: Snusort Spomose2148 || 03/13/2014 15:55 Comments || Top||

#5  PAID parishioners, and they expect peace?
Posted by: Redneck Jim || 03/13/2014 16:34 Comments || Top||

#6  deport at altitude
Posted by: Frank G || 03/13/2014 22:22 Comments || Top||


Africa North
Zeidan flouts travel ban and heads for Europe
[Libya Herald] Former Prime Minister Ali Zeidan
... served as a diplomat for Libya during the 1970s, serving in India under Ambassador Mohammed Magariaf. Both men defected in 1980 and went on to form the National Front for the Salvation of Libya. Zeidan spent nearly three decades in exile in Geneva after the defection. During the revolution Zeidan served as the National Transitional Council's Europe envoy, and is credited as having played a key role in persuading French President Nicolas Sarkozy to support the anti-Qadaffy forces...
left Libya last night and headed for Europe, after the General National Congress (GNC) passed a vote of no-confidence against him.

Zeidan flew first to Malta, where he spent two hours waiting for his plane to refuel, according to the Maltese press.

Maltese Prime Minister Joseph Muscat said that he had briefly spoken to Zeidan who, he said, was en route to another European country.

By leaving Libya, Zeidan flouted a travel ban imposed by Attorney General Abdel Qadar Radwan. The ban, directed to the head of the Passports Agency, was issued last night. It said Zeidan was to be prevented from leaving the country until ongoing investigations into financial irregularities had been completed.
Apparently he had more financial resources than they had irregularities...
An airport source told the Libya Herald that Zeidan left from Tripoli
...a confusing city, one end of which is located in Lebanon and the other end of which is the capital of Libya. Its chief distinction is being mentioned in the Marine Hymn...
International Airport last night at 9pm. He said that authorities at the airport had been tricked into allowing the private jet to both land and depart.

"The private plane put in a call to Tripoli Air Traffic Control requesting permission to land to pick up some diplomatic persons, whose names were not given," a source said. The plane was given permission to land in a special area of the airport set aside for VIP flights, and a member of the airport's immigration staff was sent to check the passports of the diplomatic person or persons leaving, he said.

When the official arrived at the plane, however, he was apparently grabbed and held until the plane had safely taken off, the source said.

The investigations cited by the Attorney General as prompting the travel ban appear to relate to allegations that money was offered to gangs controlling three oil export terminals in the east of the country to end their blockades. Ibrahim Jadhran, the self-styled leader of the federalists occupying the ports, accused GNC Energy Committee head Naji Mukhtar and the government of trying to bribe him with LD 30 million to end the blockade in September last year.

Zeidan denied any involvement but Mukhtar admitted giving a number of cheques to one of Jadhran's brothers Salem. He said that these could not be considered bribery because the accounts held insufficient funds for them to be honoured. One cheque for LD2.5 million was, however, reportedly cashed.
Posted by: Fred || 03/13/2014 00:00 || Comments || Link || [0 views] Top|| File under: Arab Spring


Caribbean-Latin America
3 shot dead during unrest in central Venezuela
[USATODAY] A university student, a National Guard captain and a third man were shot to death in separate incidents Wednesday as anti-government protests roiled the central Venezuelan city of Valencia. Three National Guardsmen and several protesters were maimed.

Two of the deaths came in the opposition-dominated Isabelica neighborhood, where residents unhappy with the scarcity of basic items and rising unemployment from the closure of some businesses in the area have protested for weeks by blocking streets and throwing rocks at police.

Valencia Mayor Miguel Cocchiola said a man was killed and six people maimed in Isabelica. The newspaper Notitarde de Valencia said the dead man's cousin, Luis Acosta, identified him as 20-year-old student Jesus Enrique Acosta and said he was killed near his home by men on cycle of violences, but it was unclear if the victim was participating in a protest.

The opposition has accused the government of supporting armed civilian thugs who attack protests.

The mayor later said through his Twitter account that another man, 42-year-old Guillermo Sanchez, also died from a gunshot wound in Isabelica. He said Sanchez was painting the front of his house when he was shot.
Posted by: Fred || 03/13/2014 00:00 || Comments || Link || [2 views] Top|| File under:

#1  when they start killing the Cuban thugs I'll be more optimistic. Zero won't assist the overthrow of a Bolivarian slackjaw loser
Posted by: Frank G || 03/13/2014 22:24 Comments || Top||


China-Japan-Koreas
Top Gun takeover: Stolen F-35 secrets showing up in China’s stealth fighter
A cyber espionage operation by China seven years ago produced sensitive technology and aircraft secrets that were incorporated into the latest version of China’s new J-20 stealth fighter jet, according to U.S. officials and private defense analysts.

The Chinese cyber spying against the Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II took place in 2007 under what U.S. intelligence agencies codenamed Operation Byzantine Hades, a large-scale, multi-year cyber program that targeted governments and industry.

Defense officials said the stolen data was obtained by a Chinese military unit called a Technical Reconnaissance Bureau in the Chengdu province. The data was then passed to the state-run Aviation Industry Corp. of China (AVIC).

An AVIC subsidiary, the Chengdu Aircraft Industry Group, used the stolen data in building the J-20, said defense and intelligence officials familiar with reports of the illicit tech transfer.

Pentagon technology security officials in 2011 opposed a joint venture between General Electric and AVIC over concerns that U.S. fighter jet technology would be diverted to AVIC’s military aircraft programs. The Obama administration ignored the concerns and instead has since promoted the systematic loosening of technology controls on transfers to China.

The Office of Director of National Intelligence is known to have details of AVIC’s past involvement in illicit arms transfers and its role in obtaining sensitive F-35 technology through cyber espionage, the officials said.
Posted by: Sherry || 03/13/2014 16:03 || Comments || Link || [0 views] Top|| File under:

#1  Sounds good to me, let the Chinese bankrupt themselves, I recall a Comic where the Chinese stole a laptop with "The latest Managment Practices" And ruined themselves.

So, let them steal all they want, (Obama's) Best Practices, and fail accordingly.
Posted by: Redneck Jim || 03/13/2014 16:40 Comments || Top||

#2  It's not stolen. They paid for it with illegal campaign contributions fair and square!
Posted by: Iblis || 03/13/2014 16:56 Comments || Top||

#3  Didn't these morons ever hear of a firewall?
Posted by: Ebbang Uluque6305 || 03/13/2014 19:12 Comments || Top||


Europe
John Kerry: Russia has until Monday to reverse course in Ukraine
Posted by: DarthVader || 03/13/2014 16:03 || Comments || Link || [0 views] Top|| File under:

#1  Or what?

Obumble will hold his breath?
Posted by: DarthVader || 03/13/2014 16:04 Comments || Top||

#2  Let him, He cant turn Blue, I wonder what color he'd turn?
Posted by: Redneck Jim || 03/13/2014 16:17 Comments || Top||

#3  oooh, oooh, another "red" line!!

How's he gonna fold this time? Is Assad going to insure that Putin will be a good boy?
Posted by: AlanC || 03/13/2014 16:24 Comments || Top||

#4  .dunno..maybe it's just me talking through my tinfoil hat, but I think these idiots could very easily stumble/bloviate us into a war..
Posted by: Uncle Phester || 03/13/2014 16:26 Comments || Top||

#5  I thought the "Deep State" kept these guys on a leash?
Posted by: bigjim-CA || 03/13/2014 16:57 Comments || Top||

#6  Thought he had a Global Warming meeting on Monday?
Posted by: Skidmark || 03/13/2014 17:23 Comments || Top||

#7  Or Else!

)
Posted by: OldSpook || 03/13/2014 17:43 Comments || Top||

#8  Meanwhile, it's being reported elsewhere that the US turned down Ukraine's request for arms. I guess they're scared it might actually be useful.
Posted by: Thing From Snowy Mountain || 03/13/2014 18:23 Comments || Top||

#9  Uncle has my vote as well, these jerkoffs could very well phuque things up so they cannot be unscrewed......
Posted by: USN, Ret. || 03/13/2014 18:44 Comments || Top||

#10  And iff PUTIN = NOT-AL-BUNDY = NOT-JOHN-WAYNE-SKINOV SAYS "NO"???

I'm presuming that Kerry as official US SecState has the Bammer's formal consent to make this deadline = "red line".

I still standby my Gitmo scenario/option.
Posted by: JosephMendiola || 03/13/2014 22:28 Comments || Top||

#11  I still standby my Gitmo scenario/option.

I think Joe has called it. The Russians will be happy as long as they have access to Crimea. If they can get this without exchanging pieces, so much the better.

Over time, Ukraine partitions and the eastern portion becomes a friendly buffer next door to the Rodina.
Posted by: SteveS || 03/13/2014 23:27 Comments || Top||


The Grand Turk
Turkish Police, Protesters Clash After Funeral
[ONLINE.WSJ] Turkish police fired tear gas and water cannons to disperse protesters in several cities on Wednesday after the funeral of a teenager whose death kicked off the largest antigovernment demonstrations since unrest swept the nation last year.

The festivities are feeding fears the country could plunge into unrest ahead of crucial elections later this month and underscore the polarization between supporters and opponents of Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan
... Turkey's version of Mohammed Morsi only they haven't dumped him yet...
. He remained defiant, insisting at a rally that the people taking to the streets were subverting democracy.

One policeman died in festivities with protesters in the Eastern city of Tunceli, Turkey's state news agency reported. Several Turkish news channels said the policeman, identified as 30-year-old Ahmet Kucuktag, died from a heart attack triggered by tear gas. There were no official reports of fatalities or injuries among protesters, though television broadcasts showed images of demonstrators maimed in the melee.

Tens of thousands of protesters gathered in Istanbul to mark the funeral of 15-year-old Berkin Elvan, who died on Tuesday, nine months after he was hit in the head with a tear-gas canister during June demonstrations against Mr. Erdogan's government. Many chanted demands that the prime minister, who has become entangled in a massive corruption scandal, resign.

Marchers headed toward Istanbul's Taksim Square--the epicenter of last summer's demonstrations--but were stopped by security forces, prompting festivities between police and protesters.

Authorities also broke up smaller gatherings in the capital, Ankara, and the western cities of Izmir and Bursa.

Turkish news organizations estimated that hundreds of thousands of people joined the demonstrations. Their scale reflects the challenge Mr. Erdogan faces before the March 30 local elections
One of Turkey's biggest trade unions, DISK, halted work to join Mr. Elvan's funeral procession. Some markets stopped selling bread, and university students across the country staged boycotts. Boyner Buyuk Magazacilik AS, one of Turkey's leading retailers, stopped music broadcasts at its shops.

Turkish news organizations estimated that hundreds of thousands of people joined the demonstrations. Their scale reflects the challenge Mr. Erdogan faces before the March 30 local elections, widely seen as a referendum on his government after a decade in power.

His backers and opponents have become increasingly entrenched, analysts said. "This polarization is dangerous and it's deepening," said Sinan Ulgen, chairman of the Center for Economics and Foreign Policy Studies, an Istanbul-based think tank. "Initially, we hoped the trend would be diminished with the March elections, but the political volatility has added a new layer of complication and difficulty, which in all likelihood will not allow it to be a pressure valve."

Some analysts forecast that the local elections, which would be the first poll since the protests in June, would help ease tensions by giving both sides the chance to air their views. But the corruption scandal and the government's response--which includes reassigning thousands of coppers and judges, and passing sweeping laws to tighten executive control of the Internet and the judiciary--have magnified perceptions of Turkish politics as a zero-sum game.
Posted by: Fred || 03/13/2014 00:00 || Comments || Link || [0 views] Top|| File under:


Erdogan warns against new protests
Those who smell a victory for Turkey's governing Justice and Development Party in local elections this month are working to trigger street protests, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Wednesday, Anadolu Agency reported.

During an election rally for his party, known in Turkey by the initials AK, in the southeastern province of Mardin, Erdogan warned listeners about possible street protests prior to the elections, which are scheduled for March 30. He called on the people and his political rivals to act in a patient and responsible way.

"Whatever issue you do have, solve them in election polls on March 30," Erdogan said.
Turkish streets have been tense since Tuesday, when a teenager injured during last summer's Gezi Park protests, succumbed to his injuries and died. He had been in a coma for 269 days.

The Gezi Park protests began as a small environmental demonstration and mushroomed into nationwide anti-government protests.

During his speech, Erdogan also referred to an anti-corruption operation, launched December 17, calling it a "conspiracy" orchestrated by followers of the U.S.-based Islamic preacher Fethullah Gulen. "Unfortunately, the opposition parties have danced to the conspirators' tunes throughout this process," the prime minister said.

The operation and subsequent probes into the activities of a number of high-ranking figures considered to be allies of the government have had a significant effect on Turkey's political atmosphere.

The Erdogan administration has decried the operation as a "dirty plot" targeting Turkey's stability and development.
Posted by: Steve White || 03/13/2014 00:00 || Comments || Link || [0 views] Top|| File under:


India-Pakistan
US to seek new indictment against Indian diplomat
[SEATTLEPI] Federal prosecutors suggest they plan to seek another indictment against an Indian diplomat who was arrested and strip-searched but had charges against her dismissed by a judge.

The judge's ruling says Devyani Khobragade had diplomatic immunity when she was indicted on charges of fraudulently obtaining a work visa for her housekeeper and lying about the maid's pay.

But the ruling left open the possibility prosecutors could bring a new indictment against her. The U.S. attorney's office in Manhattan said Wednesday it intends "to proceed accordingly."

Khobragade's attorney, Daniel Arshack, says she feels the rule of law prevailed.

After being indicted, she complied with a Department of State order to leave the U.S. The Indian government then asked Washington to withdraw a diplomat from the U.S. Embassy in New Delhi. The U.S. complied.
Posted by: Fred || 03/13/2014 00:00 || Comments || Link || [0 views] Top|| File under:

#1  JFC. The point has been made. Let it die.
Posted by: gorb || 03/13/2014 23:29 Comments || Top||


Southeast Asia
Reports indictate Malaysian plane's engines continued status reporting for hours.
Posted by: Besoeker || 03/13/2014 07:33 || Comments || Link || [1 views] Top|| File under:

#1  So what airfield big enough to land a triple 7 is within four hours of the transponder that was turned off an hour out of Kuala Lampur? Knowing the cargo is key--smuggling into NK or WMD's out to the west? Is there radar coverage over international waters?
Posted by: Flaiger Uneamp8181 || 03/13/2014 11:43 Comments || Top||

#2 
Aviation investigators and national security officials believe the plane flew for a total of five hours based on data automatically downloaded and sent to the ground from the Boeing Co 777's engines as part of a standard monitoring program, the Journal said.

What other standard monitoring programs were being used that have not yet been disclosed? What is the point of sending ships, plans & men to search open ocean, if the engines continued to run for 4 hours from that point -- does a 777 fly underwater?
Posted by: Anguper Hupomosing9418 || 03/13/2014 12:06 Comments || Top||

#3  This is getting very odd. They should have picked up the salt water activated locating beacon by now as well. If its a hijacking, they did it perfectly.
Posted by: 49 Pan || 03/13/2014 12:28 Comments || Top||

#4  Malaysia has denied this entire story states last engine data was received 23 minutes before MH370 vanished from the radar screens.
Posted by: Anguper Hupomosing9418 || 03/13/2014 12:48 Comments || Top||

#5  Engine data will go to the EPBH provider in real time as well. Over to Rolls for an answer...
Posted by: 49 Pan || 03/13/2014 16:08 Comments || Top||

#6  Just wondering, did terrorists botch a landing?
Or not land properly,

That would account for all the confusion, And silence?

Oh, Oh, Look we hijacked the Plan---OOPs , never mind.
Posted by: Redneck Jim || 03/13/2014 16:28 Comments || Top||

#7  Halliburton cloaking device?
Posted by: Bill Big Foot1337 || 03/13/2014 16:36 Comments || Top||

#8  One conjecture is that the maintenance data was still being emitted by the aircraft over VHF outside the range of civilian ground stations but picked up by "national technical assets". Another conjecture is that a satellite transceiver of some kind (e.g. Iridium or Inmarsat) was periodically pinging its network in the manner that a mobile phone pings for network availability. The conjectures are not mutually exclusive.
Posted by: Classical_Liberal || 03/13/2014 18:57 Comments || Top||

#9  The Missing Flight Could Be Anywhere In This Giant Circle <LINK>
Posted by: Uncle Phester || 03/13/2014 19:16 Comments || Top||

#10  The map is obscured on the upper left, Uncle P. Is Iran in the circle?
Posted by: Barbara || 03/13/2014 21:35 Comments || Top||

#11  Pakistan for sure. Maybe Iran. But would involve overflying India.
Posted by: Classical_Liberal || 03/13/2014 22:55 Comments || Top||


Government
The Great American Warplane Cull
Posted by: GolfBravoUSMC || 03/13/2014 11:44 || Comments || Link || [1 views] Top|| File under:

#1  The five-year scheme retires all of the roughly 340 A-10 Warthog attack jets in the active Air Force, Air Force Reserve and state-controlled Air National Guard. The Warthogs account for the majority of the planned warplane cuts.

I think I've seen this movie.
Posted by: Bobby || 03/13/2014 12:46 Comments || Top||

#2  a smaller and more capable force.”

More capable of what?

I saw this movie too, Bobby. IIRC those A-10s turned out to be needed after all.
Posted by: AlanC || 03/13/2014 13:04 Comments || Top||

#3  Last time they did cuts when I was in the Army (1993) the mantra was "No more Task Force Smiths"

Well, that didn't work too well as the peace keeping forces deployed by Clinton found out later and the early days of 9/11.

I expect the same pattern to happen this time too.
Posted by: DarthVader || 03/13/2014 13:12 Comments || Top||

#4  Give 'em to Ukraine with the same payment terms Hezbollah pays for its SMERCHes with.
Posted by: Thing From Snowy Mountain || 03/13/2014 13:45 Comments || Top||

#5  The Air Force Plays the politics well. They have career political officers in DC. They know well that the term ground support is where the dollars flow. So the F35 was a ground support aircraft marketed to congress as easily modded for both ground and air superiority. Reality is something different. The F16 was initially sold to support ground troops. Turns out not really the truth also, that is unless your idea is in 500 pound bombs and slow response with no real station time. They tried to rid themselves of the ground support mission in the late 80's and give the A10 to the Army. Transition planning was mid stride when desert storm kicked off and the A10 was a hero of the war, meaning lots of kudos for generals and money for pet programs. With the loser in chief as president, dingy and the cry baby running the houses I think they will finally, through slight of hand, rid themselves of that nasty support role to ground troops and stick to air superiority only.

And remember its only another $10 million per F35 to upgrade for ground support.... What a deal.
Posted by: 49 Pan || 03/13/2014 14:16 Comments || Top||

#6  My last point, Darth, TF Smith is alive and well. The Air Force will say the Army outstretched is security capability. Not their fault....
Posted by: 49 Pan || 03/13/2014 14:18 Comments || Top||

#7  Wish I could buy one of the surplus A-10's.
Posted by: Deacon Blues || 03/13/2014 16:15 Comments || Top||

#8  DB, need any help with targeting assignments?
Posted by: AlanC || 03/13/2014 16:27 Comments || Top||

#9  Already gave'em to china, Thing.
Posted by: Skidmark || 03/13/2014 17:24 Comments || Top||

#10  Expect them to be back in play following the mid term elections.
Posted by: USN, Ret. || 03/13/2014 18:48 Comments || Top||

#11  Believe the A-10s were all moved to the Guard and Reserve Units many years ago. They were considered career wreckers, for active duty pilots. When I was stationed in the UK, saw one auger in at an airshow. The problem with close ground support, is the ground. Sadly the pilot didn't survive.


Bye the way, that is an terrible random name assignment.
Posted by: Bugs Hitler6550 || 03/13/2014 19:56 Comments || Top||

#12  See also FREEREPUBLIC > [The Hill] OVERNIGHT DEFENSE: US ARMY CUTTING COMBAT BRIGADES.

FYI ditto wid the Brits ...

* VOICE OF RUSSIA > UK ARMY CUTS MAY LEAVE ARMY UNABLE TO HANDLE [major or any] THREATS - LAWMAKERS.

Unless something changes, post-9-11/GWOT OWG Amerika W-I-L-L, NOT M-I-G-H-T, IN FUTURE TIME HAVE TO DE FACTO RELY ON OWG CO-SUPERPOWERS RISING IRAN + RISING CHINA, ...@ETAL, FOR ITS GEOPOL + NUCLEAR SECURITY.

Again, Rising Iran + Rising China, etal. cannot be same unless the Sole Superpower USA + Other Great Powers unilaterally give up saidsame Power-n-Influence, + maybe a few or number of overseas Territories + Regions, so that Iran + China, etal. can "rise" to "parity" in OWG Globalist goodness.
Posted by: JosephMendiola || 03/13/2014 22:37 Comments || Top||

#13  They'll use it to force development and procurement of another plane.
Posted by: gorb || 03/13/2014 23:26 Comments || Top||


Missing from the F-35: A Clear Purpose
Yep. It's not an air superiority fighter (unless we're fighting Zimbabwe), and it's no better attack plane than the F-18, F-16 and A-10.

If I were president (or, better, Fred were president and I was national security advisor), my advise would be this:

1) kill the F-35. Kill it dead, dead, dead, today
2) restart the F-22 production line, get up to about 600 aircraft total
3) retire the F-15 as F-22s become available
4) upgrade the F-16 for the Air Force
5) upgrade the F-18 for the Navy and Air Force
6) develop an A-10 successor specifically to do what it does
7) more and better drones, especially for the Navy
Posted by: GolfBravoUSMC || 03/13/2014 11:43 || Comments || Link || [2 views] Top|| File under:

#1  Did they ever come up with a replacemtent refueling tanker? I thought the old ones were about worn out, and none of those fast-movers are worth a dime without go-juice.
Posted by: Glenmore || 03/13/2014 12:19 Comments || Top||

#2  Once upon a time it had a clear purpose. Then the Clinton kids kept adding requirements on it till it looked like a Christmas tree. Then, to get costs down they started removing features until it couldn't fight a bumble bee. It still cost a lot though.

For the record, I was in favor of canceling the f-35 back when it was the Next Big Thing. I caught considerable heat on the 'Burg for suggesting the Superfighter had no clothes. Where are those great defenders of the F-35 now?

Al
Posted by: Florida Al || 03/13/2014 13:41 Comments || Top||

#3  It was supposed to be a do all plane. Then the truth about modification costs for each role came up. The reality about a strike fighter being converted to a ground support aircraft went away with the breeze. The fighter community wants to fight planes not ground enemies. It is beneath them, pardon the pun.

Turn the A10 into a drone.
Posted by: 49 Pan || 03/13/2014 14:22 Comments || Top||

#4  It's like a Super Hornet with More Super! and a super-sized price tag. The idea of a do-it-all plane is appealing, especially to bean counters, but more the roles you add, the worse it is at any of them.

It's like trying to take apart an engine with a crescent wrench instead of a set of sockets. Sure, it *should* work...

My advice to the Army: Unionize. Your President will support you. Then go on strike until they let you keep the A-10. Or bring back the Sandys.

Posted by: SteveS || 03/13/2014 16:10 Comments || Top||

#5  What are the Sandys?

BTW In France they say: "Good for everything, good for nothing"
Posted by: JFM || 03/13/2014 16:13 Comments || Top||

#6  What are the Sandys?

The old Douglas A-1 Skyraider. Called Sandy when used in a search & rescue / helicopter escort role in Viet Nam. Good at flying low and slow, and blowing stuff up. Things the A-10 does *very* well.
Posted by: SteveS || 03/13/2014 16:28 Comments || Top||

#7  It's like trying to take apart an engine with a crescent wrench

Pliers - and needle nose ones to boot.
Posted by: CrazyFool || 03/13/2014 17:07 Comments || Top||

#8  A Clear Purpose?
Part of the 'Bankrupt China' strategy.
Posted by: Skidmark || 03/13/2014 17:27 Comments || Top||

#9  According by the end of the Vietnam war the Norty Vietnamese were making mince meat with the Sandys and that was forty years ago.
Posted by: JFM || 03/13/2014 17:58 Comments || Top||

#10  Go watch Flight of the Intruder for some Sandy action.....
we damn near crashed one when he clipped a wing tip
Posted by: USN, Ret. || 03/13/2014 18:54 Comments || Top||

#11  A-10s are heavily up armored, Sandys not so much if any armor.


Wasn't the F-4 supposed to be the fighter for all needs. And they forgot to put a gun on it.
Posted by: Bugs Hitler6550 || 03/13/2014 20:03 Comments || Top||



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