Archive for the ‘International’ Category

Hmm. Looks like the airstrike that reportedly killed 24 Pakistani soldiers and has international relations all jacked up again (still) was called in by the Afghan military.

Accident because the Afghans were incompetent? Accident because insurgent fire was originating close to the Paki position and the Afghans thought it was them? Accident because the strike hit the wrong target?

Or not an accident?

I’d put as much effort into determining the who and why of the call-in as anything else. There’s a wild chance that maybe one or two of the the members of the Afghan military are not 100% devoted to our cause (crazy idea, I know, but hypothetically possible) and saw a chance to stir up a little trouble and hamstring logistics by getting us to accidentally whack some friendlies.

Either way, it’s hard to take Pakistan’s outrage all that seriously. Yes, the strike was a regrettable mistake. But if they policed their own territory a bit more effectively, maybe we’d not have to worry about what’s on their side of the border so much.

AT-6 Is Out of the Light Air Support Contest, Award Imminent

The AT-6B was competing with Embraer’s Super Tucano for a U.S. Air Force contract to supply up to 20 light air support — or counterinsurgency planes — to the fledgling Afghan air force. A couple of months ago we reported that the service was supposed to decide this month on which plane it would supply the Afghans with.

Murdoc’s railed on about this topic over the years. He’d sure like to see some fixed-wing Light Air Support in the USAF or US Army. Maybe single-engine prop planes like the AT-6 or Super Tucano (or A-1 Skyraider, for that matter…). Maybe a twin-engine prop plane. Maybe even a jet along the lines of the A-37.

Not likely, though. Not expensive enough for the US military.

Iraq’s Sadr backs embattled Assad

Murdoc is shocked, SHOCKED, to see this:

Iraq’s radical anti-US Shiite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr has expressed support for Syrian President Bashar al-Assad

Apparently the Mook is cool with what Assad’s up to in Syria these days because he continues to defy America and Israel. You’ve got to at least give him points for consistency.

Afghan National Army Special Forces candidates conduct a training exercise at the Commando School of Excellence, Kabul province, Afghanistan, Oct. 29, 2011. (DoD photo by Pfc. Matthew Minkema, U.S. Army/Released)

See also Afghan Commandos.

Updating yesterday’s story:

The uncharted wreck found yesterday, off Rabaul in Papua New Guinea, is likely to be a World War II Japanese submarine.

Underwater vision taken by the Australian Minehunter, HMAS Gascoyne shows the wreck of a submarine, 55 meters below the surface in Simpson Harbour. The wreck is partially buried in the harbour floor but remains upright.

There had been initial media speculation that this may have been the wreck of HMAS AE 1 – Australia’s first submarine, lost in waters east of Rabaul during World War I in September 1914.

The imagery obtained by HMAS Gascoyne was examined by RAN historical staff, who concluded that the wreck is not AE 1 but a Japanese submarine.

The Royal Australian Navy will now work with Japanese authorities to assist in determining the wreck’s identity.

HMAS Gascoyne was taking part in Operation RENDER SAFE – the Australian Defence Force (ADF) contribution to explosive ordnance disposal (EOD) in the Pacific. This year, RENDER SAFE is being conducted in Rabaul over the period 18 October to 4 November.

I noticed that a story about this wreck made the front page of Yahoo News today.

RAN in Papua New Guinea:

The Royal Australian Navy is investigating an uncharted wreck, believed to be a submarine, which was found during the conduct of Operation RENDER SAFE 2011 off Rabaul in Papua New Guinea, on 26 October 2011.

The wreck was discovered in a joint activity by the New Zealand Navy survey ship HMNZS Resolution and the Australian Minehunter HMAS Gascoyne.

The wreck is located in Simpson Harbour, which was an area known for submarine operations during World War II.

As with any wreck discoveries, immediate identification is not possible and work will continue over the coming days to identify both the type and the nationality of the vessel.

Once further details are ascertained, the relevant country authorities will be advised.

Authorities from the USA, Japan, PNG and New Zealand have been informed of the discovery

Operation RENDER SAFE is the Australian Defence Force (ADF) contribution to enduring explosive ordnance disposal (EOD) support to the nations of the south-west Pacific, being conducted over the period 18 October to 4 November.

UPDATE: It appears that the sub is Japanese.

A few years back, I posted a picture of some Swedish troops and their CV90s at Fort Irwin.

One of the troops emailed me and sent a couple more pics, but I “lost” the email until I was sorting through some folders recently. So, better late than never, here they are:

Swedish CV90-40C advancing through the Mojave Desert

Swedish CV90-40Cs line up outside Ft. Irwin, CA

The photos were taken by vehicle commander Sgt. Otto Tuvesson.