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Haftar's forces declare victory in battle for Benghazi
Today's Headlines
Headline Comments [Views]
Page 4: Opinion
14 21:08 Whiskey Mike [5] 
6 14:45 SteveS [4] 
8 21:18 Sock Puppet of Doom [5] 
13 22:25 Thuse Phusons1534 [1] 
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3 22:17 Thuse Phusons1534 [3]
5 19:26 Anomalous Sources [3]
6 23:51 Skidmark [6]
7 16:36 Rex Mundi [2]
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Page 6: Politix
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China-Japan-Koreas
Ralph Peters: It's delusional to think China is going to help us with NORK problem
[Right Scoop] Ralph Peters made it pretty clear this morning that anyone who thinks that China is actually going to help with the N. Korea problem is delusional. He said they’ve never done it before and given the choice now between American good will and the N. Korean regime, China will ALWAYS choose N. Korea.

Peters points out that China doesn’t see N. Korea as a problem, but rather as a "very valuable ally" during both peace and war. In fact he argues that China likes that the US is focused and distracted by the Korean peninsula, so that they can make mischief elsewhere.

China will never help us and he hopes that Trump is finally coming around to realizing this with this latest tweets on the issue:
Posted by: Besoeker || 07/06/2017 01:07 || Comments || Link || [4 views] Top|| File under:

#1  This is a typical Russian-China proxy action. All NORK hardware comes from these bastids or Pakistan. Take it to them. Delay or close down entirely, shipping from China to the Ports of Long Beach and Savannah. Provide Japan and South Korea a nuclear capability. Continue to strengthen ties with Poland and other former Soviet satellite states. Bolster ties with India. Sell Europe more LNG and crude oil, undercutting Russian prices. Increase the Political-Military footprint in key African states. Target for destruction Iranian troops in Syria. Oh, we're already doing that, ok then please continue and add the reactivation of the 'Northern No Fly Zone' to Iraq to non-Iraqi aircraft. Put a U.S. tactical fighter squadron at Al Sahra Airfield (the old Camp Speicher) near Tikrit, Iraqi.

Initiate additional actions as required.

Posted by: Besoeker || 07/06/2017 5:57 Comments || Top||

#2  Any different than the last administration who believed that the Muslim Brotherhood would help with the jihad problem? /rhet question
Posted by: Procopius2k || 07/06/2017 9:30 Comments || Top||

#3  Any different than the last administration who believed that the Muslim Brotherhood would help with the jihad problem? /rhet question

Yes, for reasons that are long in explanation and you wouldn't want to hear about them. /non-rhetorical answer
Posted by: Pappy || 07/06/2017 11:09 Comments || Top||

#4  I do believe in giving the Chinese the choice to be part of the global community or allied with North Korea before we take action.

They have the opportunity to save face and save their economy and may just piss it away, but the opportunity is there.
Posted by: rjschwarz || 07/06/2017 11:36 Comments || Top||

#5  Delay or close down entirely, shipping from China to the Ports of Long Beach and Savannah.

Can't understand why this wasn't done a long, long time ago unless it has something to do with all the corporations that make big bucks selling cheap plastic crap from China. They'd scream bloody murder but some of those jobs might start finding their way back to America.
Posted by: Abu Uluque || 07/06/2017 12:26 Comments || Top||

#6  given the choice now between American good will and the N. Korean regime, China will ALWAYS choose N. Korea.

True. But more than American good will was involved in the offer. Stuff like a nuclear-armed Japan, missile defense systems with radars that can peer into China, some trade action, military assistance to countries like Japan and Viet Nam that are worried about Chinese expansion, chaos at the NKor-China border if something jumps off.

The Chinese have gotten a lot of mileage out of their vicious little pet. Trump's negotiation is in one sense a test of how much future value the Chinese place on that.
Posted by: SteveS || 07/06/2017 14:45 Comments || Top||


Experts' Letter to Trump on North Korea
[RealClearDefense] President Trump should carefully review, and summarily reject, the recommendations laid out in a letter from six self-described "experts with decades of military, political, and technical involvement with North Korean issues."

The experts (some of whom I have worked with or under, directly or indirectly, in government or academia, and greatly respect), are well-regarded in their fields and as well-meaning and patriotic as any of the rest of us.

But their call for the immediate and unconditional opening of talks with North Korea defies the history in which they have been involved. They state something they know to be refuted by experience, their own and others’:

"Talking is not a reward or a concession to Pyongyang and should not be construed as signaling acceptance of a nuclear-armed North Korea."

Yet, that is precisely how it will be seen by Pyongyang and its supporters (Beijing and Moscow), collaborators (Iran, Syria, Pakistan) and other rogue states and parties who defy and undermine the international order (Cuba, Hamas, Hezbollah et al.)

The writers believe it is incumbent on the United States "to show good faith ... and make clear that Washington does not have hostile intentions toward North Korea and wants to explore peaceful paths forward." This after sixty-four years of North Korean aggression, insults, and provocations, American restraint in declining to resort to it its overwhelming military power, and endless appeals for a peaceful resolution accompanied by generous economic rewards to North Korea.

"In return," they write, " Pyongyang could announce a freeze on tests of ballistic missiles and nuclear weapons. We expect China would support such talks and help to bring them about." (my emphasis).

As the authors know from their own painful dealings with the regime’s negotiators, they have previously announced good things only to cheat and renege at the earliest opportunity. And China is only too happy to go along with the charade.

Nevertheless, the experts argue: "[S]anctions alone will not solve the problem. Pyongyang has shown it can make progress on missile and nuclear technology despite its isolation."

But that is only because serious, biting sanctions have never truly been tried. Beijing, and Moscow to a lesser extent, have consistently opposed, undermined, circumvented, or simply ignored previous sanctions regimes, doing just enough to show the West their own "good faith" but never enough to actually incentivize North Korea to halt its nuclear and ballistic missile programs.

Indeed, China now openly says it fears North Korean regime collapse more than a nuclear North Korea and that collapse would occur if it imposed substantial economic pain on the regime with tightened sanctions.

In other words, the Kim family dynasty would choose regime suicide rather than give up deliverable nuclear weapons--and China cares more about the regime’s survival than does the regime itself!

Yet, the experts tell us : "Kim Jong Un is not irrational and highly values preserving his regime."

"Instead the primary danger is a miscalculation or mistake that could lead to war". True, and such miscalculation can arise precisely from a perception that the West lacks the will to confront the danger: "there are no good military options." There rarely are, but dangers only increase when allowed to by indecision and self-delusion. As Henry Kissinger said of the Korean War: "We did not expect the invasion, China did not expect our response".

President Trump has made it clear he is not deceived by China’s protestations of innocence and impotence regarding the growing North Korean threat to South Korea, Japan, and the United States.

At some point, Washington policy-makers will come to the full realization that Beijing has all along colluded with and "enabled" North Korea’s nuclear and missile programs. They have provided a major diplomatic distraction and resource diversion for the West and a great strategic advantage for China, allowing it to pose as a responsible stakeholder and good-faith negotiating partner.

Successive presidents, including this one up to a point, have made preemptive concessions to Beijing on trade, human rights, Taiwan, the South China Sea because "we need China on North Korea."

President Trump is well-positioned to put an end to that destructive dynamic and has given signs he intends to do just that.
Posted by: Vast Right Wing Conspiracy || 07/06/2017 00:00 || Comments || Link || [1 views] Top|| File under: Commies

#1  I'm thinking assasinating Kim is the best way forward. With no obvious heir, any military response would soon peter out, as the factions fight each other.
Posted by: phil_b || 07/06/2017 1:43 Comments || Top||

#2  It also has the benefit of telling the Muzzie goat humpers in Iran - you're next.
Posted by: Raj || 07/06/2017 2:06 Comments || Top||

#3  And it will tell the Chicom elite that if the US can track the whereabouts of Kim, they can track them as well.
Posted by: phil_b || 07/06/2017 2:45 Comments || Top||

#4  Do not under estimate this young Dictator.

It is said that instead of all agricultural produce being required by the state, he is allowing up to 40-60 percent to be kept by the farmer.

Kim has set up economic enrichment zones in every region that allows successful enterprises to actually make money for themselves, unlike his father and grandfather.

What he has done militarily is to have removed those loyal to his father and replaced them with younger more innovative military people. Thus the progress with ICBM development.

He is worshiped by his people as a custom and they are conditioned to cheer, applaud and show tears of joy when he enters the presence. His ruthlessness has created extreme fear of him.

Even though Kim is young, he has mastered acting much older than his age when in the company of his top loyalists.

He intends to leverage nuclear military capability as a tool that is to inflict fear in the world and he intends to do so very effectively.

This situation will be a major challenge for the rest of the world to try to deal with.
Posted by: Victor Emmanuel Hitler4589 || 07/06/2017 3:45 Comments || Top||

#5  Just publicity notify both the Chinese and the Russians, the other players in the region will get their nukes and delivery systems. When everyone screams, just put a deadline that the other parties denuclearize the Norks or game over. If the Norks can play by their own rules, so can we.
Posted by: Procopius2k || 07/06/2017 9:45 Comments || Top||

#6  "The letter was co–written by former US Defence Secretary William J Perry, US Senator Richard Lugar, Nuclear scientist Siegfried Hecker, Governor Bill Richardson, former Secretary of State George Shultz and diplomat Robert Gallucci."

http://eheadlines.com/experts-demand-trump-to-solve-the-problem-of-north-korea-sanctions-are-not-enough/
Posted by: OregonGuy || 07/06/2017 10:55 Comments || Top||

#7  Japan can exert enormous influence by merely mentioning the possibility of them going nuclear in self defense.
Posted by: CrazyFool || 07/06/2017 11:00 Comments || Top||

#8  Be wary of the "experts." Your instincts have been pretty good so far.
Posted by: JohnQC || 07/06/2017 11:51 Comments || Top||

#9  "The letter was co–written by former US Defence Secretary William J Perry, US Senator Richard Lugar, Nuclear scientist Siegfried Hecker, Governor Bill Richardson, former Secretary of State George Shultz and diplomat Robert Gallucci."

Looks like the same gang of idiots who have been wringing their hands for the last several decades, appeasing the NORKS and their Chicom sponsors and allowing the situation to degenerate as far as it has.
Posted by: Abu Uluque || 07/06/2017 12:36 Comments || Top||

#10  They inadvertently left off Dennis Rodman
Posted by: Frank G || 07/06/2017 13:53 Comments || Top||

#11  "Do not under estimate this young Dictator. ...

Holy crap! A real North Korean posts here!
Posted by: Cholumble Gleater3222 || 07/06/2017 16:54 Comments || Top||

#12  Tell North Korea that if they don't behave we'll send Jimmy Carter and Dennis Rodman!
Posted by: rjschwarz || 07/06/2017 17:49 Comments || Top||

#13  TRULLY Know your enemy #11. If you know them better than they know themselves, you might can defeat them.

North Korea is WWII Japan (emperor worship) only with Nukes.

Posted by: Thuse Phusons1534 || 07/06/2017 22:25 Comments || Top||


Science & Technology
Air Force says F-35 pilots may be too reliant on oxygen while flying
Duffel Blog
WASHINGTON — After weeks of testing and analysis, Lockheed engineers have been unable to determine the reason why some F-35 pilots have experienced hypoxia-like symptoms during flight, though some believe the problem could be that pilots have become far too reliant on oxygen, sources confirmed today.

Earlier this month, officials at Luke Air Force base halted all F-35 flights after five separate incidents were recorded in which pilots were unable to magically convert carbon dioxide into oxygen in order to survive.

“This is something we’re looking into,” said Brig. Gen. Brook Leonard, 56th Fighter Wing commander, “and if necessary, there will be disciplinary proceedings for pilots who cannot perform maneuvers at 30,000 feet without whining that they don’t have enough O2.”

According to senior defense officials, the issue could be related to the F-35’s On-Board Oxygen Generating System, or OBOGS, because there aren’t enough goddamn acronyms in the military and Lockheed decided we needed one more.

Leonard believes it’s most likely pilot error making some pass out and dream of their past experience flying aircraft that flew from point A to point B without killing them.

“We have received some reports from the engineers that some pilots were taking breaths into their masks,” Leonard told reporters. “Additionally, we’re investigating some disturbing reports that some of our fliers were also handling the flight controls while in the air.”
Posted by: badanov || 07/06/2017 00:00 || Comments || Link || [5 views] Top|| File under:

#1  Too reliant on oxygen? WTF are they supposed to breath at altitudes above 10,000 feet? Typical Lockheed Martin wud'n us, blame-game response.

Pilot in-flight dream assessments?

Posted by: Besoeker || 07/06/2017 6:08 Comments || Top||

#2  B: It's satire and the Duffel Blog is a military satire site.
Posted by: badanov || 07/06/2017 6:31 Comments || Top||

#3  They got me :-(
Posted by: Besoeker || 07/06/2017 8:40 Comments || Top||

#4  It is a sad thing when truth and satire become indistinguishable.
Posted by: Glenmore || 07/06/2017 10:42 Comments || Top||

#5  It is F-35 after all
Posted by: Cheaderhead || 07/06/2017 11:01 Comments || Top||

#6  I think I'd buy this guy some beverages. The price would be nothing compared to the stories.
Posted by: BrerRabbit || 07/06/2017 14:34 Comments || Top||

#7  They'll fix it, but..
(drum roll)
Don't hold your breath.
(rim shot)
Posted by: ed in texas || 07/06/2017 18:37 Comments || Top||

#8  Damn that is some really funny stuff about SecDef Mathis

Apparently some people in the officer ranks still has a sense of humor
Posted by: Sock Puppet of Doom || 07/06/2017 21:18 Comments || Top||


Government
‘We've been talking about it FOR SEVEN YEARS!' – Chaffetz bashes GOP on health care
[Right Scoop] Former Congressguy Jason Chaffetz says that the GOP doesn’t even have a real plan to pass their health care bill.

He kinda sums up a lot of frustration that people have with the GOP right now, and highlights why Chaffetz is leaving. He literally says that he’s grown too pessimistic about the ability for anything to get done in politics. Health care is a fantastic example. As much as Trump seems to be completely useless in the effort, it should be a grand slam touchdown for the Republicans if they had actually done any *planning* in all the years that they were whining and pretending to be against Obamacare....
Posted by: Besoeker || 07/06/2017 01:14 || Comments || Link || [5 views] Top|| File under:

#1  When both parties are effectively endorsing Big Gubmint to one degree or another, he should not be surprised at this being one of the results.
Posted by: Raj || 07/06/2017 1:34 Comments || Top||

#2  If they do nothing, Obamacare will die anyway.
Posted by: trailing wife || 07/06/2017 8:29 Comments || Top||

#3  Failure is an option. (on so many levels)
Posted by: Procopius2k || 07/06/2017 9:29 Comments || Top||

#4  Really don't have any interest in hearing the Tim Curry look-alike who investigated everything and prosecuted nothing throughout his grand-standing career analyse anything. Even if he's correct, he's still part of the problem. Can we set him and Trey Gowdy adrift on the same raft with no food, mid-Pacific?
Posted by: M. Murcek || 07/06/2017 13:14 Comments || Top||

#5  If they do nothing, Obamacare will die anyway.

While dying, it will jack up premiums for tens of millions causing them them to drop coverage and be fined for not having coverage. Which will cause many of formerly GOP voters to fail to vote in 2018 or vote for the Democrats. The GOP needs to either repeal or replace. If it doesn't, it will lose bigly in 2018.
Posted by: Zhang Fei || 07/06/2017 15:37 Comments || Top||

#6  While dying, it will jack up premiums for tens of millions causing them them to drop coverage and be fined for not having coverage. Which will cause many of formerly GOP voters to fail to vote in 2018 or vote for the Democrats. The GOP needs to either repeal or replace. If it doesn't, it will lose bigly in 2018.

And knowing GOP, we can all predict what it'll do.
Posted by: g(r)omgoru || 07/06/2017 15:43 Comments || Top||

#7  It's not called the stupid party for nothing!
Posted by: CrazyFool || 07/06/2017 15:50 Comments || Top||

#8  It's not called the stupid party for nothing!
Posted by: CrazyFool || 07/06/2017 15:50 Comments || Top||

#9  Fokkin' BS. Single Payer is coming. The GOP is already setting the plate for the Turtle Gambit, "We tried and tried and tried, but we just couldn't get the votes". The shit has already been canned and is just waiting for distribution. Too much money and power to be had, don't ya know. I'm sure you'll all understand.
Posted by: Rex Mundi || 07/06/2017 16:47 Comments || Top||

#10  I fear you are right RM.
Posted by: Besoeker || 07/06/2017 16:55 Comments || Top||

#11  RINOs have been lying for 7 years. There is no room for doubt. They never intended to repeal, but were happy to lie about it thinking the day would never come.
Posted by: Iblis || 07/06/2017 17:08 Comments || Top||

#12  Republicans are watching the pitches go by one by one hoping to be walked.

Democrats are giving the sign again and again for the pitcher to bean the Republican better but so far they simply can't manage to do so.

Libertarians are on the bench hoping to get in the big game.

Meanwhile Trump is playing football and scoring touchdowns on a nearly empty field.
Posted by: rjschwarz || 07/06/2017 17:46 Comments || Top||

#13  Libertarians are on the bench hoping to get in the big game

More like doing bong-hits in the parking lot.
Posted by: Pappy || 07/06/2017 18:41 Comments || Top||

#14  And now turtle neck et al are saying they 'may need Dem support'? If a meteor were to strike Congress while in session, would we care at all? Not I. I pray for such.
Posted by: Whiskey Mike || 07/06/2017 21:08 Comments || Top||



Who's in the News
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4Taliban
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1Govt of Saudi Arabia
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1Arab Spring
1Muslim Brotherhood
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Meet the Mods
In no particular order...
Steve White
Seafarious
tu3031
badanov
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Two weeks of WOT
Thu 2017-07-06
  Haftar's forces declare victory in battle for Benghazi
Wed 2017-07-05
  Baghdadi’s “mail man” killed in security ambush in Diyala
Tue 2017-07-04
  US-backed SDF breaches Raqqa's Old City wall
Mon 2017-07-03
  British soldier drowns ISIS thug in puddle after being ambushed
Sun 2017-07-02
  Palestinian Forces Hand Over Most Wanted Fugitive in Ain Hilweh
Sat 2017-07-01
  ISIS abandons Aleppo
Fri 2017-06-30
  Raqqa fully encircled
Thu 2017-06-29
   ISIS Number 4 and human shield deaths west of Mosul
Wed 2017-06-28
  Ottoman Turkish artillery opens fire on Kurdish forces across entire frontier in northern Aleppo
Tue 2017-06-27
  IS suicide bomber’s belt explodes, kills 12 well-wishing comrades in Diyala
Mon 2017-06-26
  High Court reinstates Trump travel ban, will hear arguments
Sun 2017-06-25
  Evolution theory to be scrapped from Turkish schoolbooks
Sat 2017-06-24
  Jihadist who threw grenade in French kosher shop gets 28 years
Fri 2017-06-23
  Philippine military: Omar Maute likely dead
Thu 2017-06-22
  BIFF Bravely Takes Hostages at Philippine School


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