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Over the next few weeks, keep your eyes on the Middle East

HunterPKP

HunterPKP

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P. Marlowe said:
Stood like 45 degrees off the back of a B-1 taking off. Probably 400-450 yards. You can feel it. Viscerally. Never seen a B-2 take off. They can be eerily quiet though. They used to do night runs following the ICW near our old beach place. They could be very quiet. On nights with no moon to backlight them, they looked like the weirdest set of lights just gliding up the ICW. I’m convinced after seeing it multiple times that they are responsible for roughly 30% of UFO “sightings.”
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My sister retired as a Chief from the 116th at Robins. Before they had the JStars, they had the Bone. Getting to watch a Max-Effort take off after an Elephant Walk on Saturday morning at Robins is still to this day one of the most awesome things I've ever witnessed. Ground felt like a minor earthquake and those afterburners are fully visible even in perfect sunlight.
 
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ChucktownK

ChucktownK

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The Ford sailed from Puerto Rico and is now going into the Med, on her way to the Suez Canal. Thats a long deployment for those guys, it was already 6+ months and they got extended. I figured the CNO would try to get the Bush to sail from Norfolk based on his recent comments but I guess she's not ready to deploy. The Roosevelt was transiting back and forth from San Diego to Seattle (well, Bremerton) and isn't going to deploy until later this year. That'll be two CSGs along with 5-7 other Aegis ships in the area.

AWACS, F-16s (some from McEntire here), F35s and F22s etc all have flown over to Lakenheath and are heading to the ME. Some of that you can track yourself with flight trackers.

I wouldn't expect any shooting until after the Olympics, if the negotiations fail.
 
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GDead_Tiger

GDead_Tiger

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I think this is incredibly stupid and wrong but with Dementia Donny in charge who knows if they go through with it. I bet it happens Friday after the market closes. The thing to watch will be if Iran hits Saudi Arabia’s big processing plant in retaliation. A big enough hit could take it out for an extended period of time
 
tigerragman

tigerragman

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pickenstiger said:
I always have my eyes on the Middle East. Because at the end of times, that's where the ultimate battle will take place. Glad we are still on Israel's side.
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Don’t you mean “back” on Israel’s side after 4 years wandering in the desert?
 
Esso13

Esso13

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GDead_Tiger said:
I think this is incredibly stupid and wrong but with Dementia Donny in charge who knows if they go through with it. I bet it happens Friday after the market closes. The thing to watch will be if Iran hits Saudi Arabia’s big processing plant in retaliation. A big enough hit could take it out for an extended period of time
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Close friend son is in the Air Force and stationed in Prince Sultan (Saudi Arabia ) and communication with him has gone silent within the last week. He told them several weeks ago that Saudi's are tired of Iran's games and think it's time for regime change privately but publically they will stay neutral.
 
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GDead_Tiger

GDead_Tiger

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tigerragman said:
Don’t you mean “back” on Israel’s side after 4 years wandering in the desert?
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Biden was a huge supporter of Israel. I know it is a huge talking point on the right that the Dems and Biden hate Israel but Biden has been a huge supporter of them going back to the 70s. His administration may have made some noises otherwise but they backed Israel to hilt and quashed a bunch of dissenting voices. Fortunately this will not be the case in the future.
 
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BigPapaWhit

BigPapaWhit

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Esso13 said:
Close friend son is in the Air Force and stationed in Prince Sultan (Saudi Arabia ) and communication with him has gone silent within the last week. He told them several weeks ago that Saudi's are tired of Iran's games and think it's time for regime change privately but publically they will stay neutral.
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If the Middle East did a better job of policing themselves, perhaps the US would not have to get involved? When have the Saudi's ever really gotten their hands dirty or stuck their necks out? The political situation and cultural dynamics are way more nuanced than how my statements make it seem. I have to wonder what Washington/Defense Think Tanks are driving current strategy. Perhaps, it is none of the usual suspects. @P. Marlowe care to share your current read on the situation?
 
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GDead_Tiger

GDead_Tiger

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BigPapaWhit said:
If the Middle East did a better job of policing themselves, perhaps the US would not have to get involved? When have the Saudi's ever really gotten their hands dirty or stuck their necks out? The political situation and cultural dynamics are way more nuanced than how my statements make it seem. I have to wonder what Washington/Defense Think Tanks are driving current strategy. Perhaps, it is none of the usual suspects. @P. Marlowe care to share your current read on the situation?
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Well just look to the Yemen situation to see how the Saudis handle things.

Centcom is driving a bunch of this imo, just like JSOC/the Fort Bragg cartel were helping drive Venezuela (and eventually Mexico)
 
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kidmike41

kidmike41

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GDead_Tiger said:
Biden was a huge supporter of Israel. I know it is a huge talking point on the right that the Dems and Biden hate Israel but Biden has been a huge supporter of them going back to the 70s. His administration may have made some noises otherwise but they backed Israel to hilt and quashed a bunch of dissenting voices. Fortunately this will not be the case in the future.
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This is a negative. America first no Israel first.
 
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kidmike41

kidmike41

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P. Marlowe said:
Again - can you dipshits shut the fũck up about politics? Take it to your other board. Y’all can play tummy sticks and talk about the latest on r/pol over there. Keep this to actual updates/discussion.
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What is everyone’s concerns about the Ford aircraft carrier not being fully operational in a war zone? Lots of bugs still to work out on the new hardware.
 
tigerragman

tigerragman

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GDead_Tiger said:
Biden was a huge supporter of Israel. I know it is a huge talking point on the right that the Dems and Biden hate Israel but Biden has been a huge supporter of them going back to the 70s. His administration may have made some noises otherwise but they backed Israel to hilt and quashed a bunch of dissenting voices. Fortunately this will not be the case in the future.
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We will just have to agree to disagree on this one.
 
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ChucktownK

ChucktownK

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kidmike41 said:
What is everyone’s concerns about the Ford aircraft carrier not being fully operational in a war zone? Lots of bugs still to work out on the new hardware.
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You recall the ship was just in the Red Sea supporting the Yemen and Israel ops and got extended to deploy to the Caribbean to support the Maduro op?

Not concerned about accomplishing the mission. Bugs and maintenance problems are going to come up with any extended deployment.
 
BigPapaWhit

BigPapaWhit

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ChucktownK said:
You recall the ship was just in the Red Sea supporting the Yemen and Israel ops and got extended to deploy to the Caribbean to support the Maduro op?

Not concerned about accomplishing the mission. Bugs and maintenance problems are going to come up with any extended deployment.
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Not my branch so not very familiar with Naval deployment practices. To your point, mission accomplishment, but at what cost? What about wear and tear on crew? Extra maintenance on ship and equipment? Genuinely curious.

Another question. Do I understand that we are pulling assets from Indo-Pacom to support? Does that create more strain on Pacific Resources?
 
ChucktownK

ChucktownK

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BigPapaWhit said:
Not my branch so not very familiar with Naval deployment practices. To your point, mission accomplishment, but at what cost? What about wear and tear on crew? Extra maintenance on ship and equipment? Genuinely curious.

Another question. Do I understand that we are pulling assets from Indo-Pacom to support? Does that create more strain on Pacific Resources?
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Any ship on extended deployment will have maintenance issues, but the ship is fine and able to accomplish.

Lincoln was pulled from Indopacom, but there is always a forward deployed CSG to Japan, and its still there. 7th always has a large presence.

Most of what has been moved has come from Eucom or directly from USA.
 
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BigPapaWhit

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From the WSJ - It is behind a paywall just like TigerIllustrated. If someone else wants to post the full article go for it.

apple.news

The U.S. Military Hardware Pouring Into the Middle East — The Wall Street Journal

A look at the warships, fighters and missiles massing at Iran’s doorstep
apple.news apple.news


“The U.S. military has deployed scores of combat aircraft across the Middle East and will soon have a second aircraft carrier within range of Iran if President Trump gives the order to strike. Over the past month, dozens of jet fighters and support aircraft have flown from the U.S. and Europe to bases in Jordan and Saudi Arabia, according to flight-tracking data. ”



Excerpt From


“The U.S. Military Hardware Pouring Into the Middle East”

Roque Ruiz, Marcus Weisgerber, Carl Churchill

This material may be protected by copyright.
 
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BigPapaWhit

BigPapaWhit

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P. Marlowe said:
Uninformed. Pretty terrible.
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The Big Lebowski Dude GIF

Jk

Started popping in my feeds. But didn’t seem to have any traction elsewhere nor supported by mainstream reporting.

Do you have any other sources worth plugging?

edit to add my current access is WSJ, Post, Reuters AP etc. let Economist expire a while back. Priced out. But considering all the other rubbish tv I subscribe might need to reconsider my priorities.
 
P. Marlowe

P. Marlowe

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Supposedly Greek and German officials have been told to expect NOTAMs around Ramstein and Souda Bay starting Tuesday night. Would track with other rumblings I’ve heard that things won’t kick off until after the SOTU.
 
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leetp

leetp

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ChucktownK said:
The Ford sailed from Puerto Rico and is now going into the Med, on her way to the Suez Canal. Thats a long deployment for those guys, it was already 6+ months and they got extended. I figured the CNO would try to get the Bush to sail from Norfolk based on his recent comments but I guess she's not ready to deploy. The Roosevelt was transiting back and forth from San Diego to Seattle (well, Bremerton) and isn't going to deploy until later this year. That'll be two CSGs along with 5-7 other Aegis ships in the area.

AWACS, F-16s (some from McEntire here), F35s and F22s etc all have flown over to Lakenheath and are heading to the ME. Some of that you can track yourself with flight trackers.

I wouldn't expect any shooting until after the Olympics, if the negotiations fail.
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I worked on this system for the better part of ten years:


The capability of our modern Navel fleet is so far beyond what most can comprehend.
 
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P. Marlowe

P. Marlowe

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Witkoff set to meet Iranian officials on Thursday in Geneva for a final attempt at negotiation. I firmly believe that the talks will essentially be capitulate or get lit up. Honestly not sure the scheduled talks aren’t just a flimsy attempt at obfuscation. Will be interesting to see the response to the escalating student protests across the country, as well. Entering day two of renewed protests. How iran responds as the protests gain momentum will be the tell.
 
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P. Marlowe

P. Marlowe

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Widespread GPS issues across Syria, Iraq, and iran tonight. 1 rivet joint and 4 stratotankers out of Souda Bay active over Iraq. 4 seems excessive for a single rivet joint…

NATO E-3 working the Iranian border, as well.
 
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