Category: Military

Gettin’ Serious

Military

A leading indicator that some serious work will be needing done is heralded by stuff like this:

The U.S. Army on Monday released a recruitment ad that critics argue is a sure sign the military is gearing up for war.

There are no signs of diversity, equity, and inclusion in the 30-second spot, which features white males jumping out of a plane. 

Yup:  when it comes time to make war in earnest, ain’t nothin’ like a bunch of White men to get the job done.

And for those People Of Color who won’t respond to the ads because “there ain’t no Black men in the picture”:  by all means, stay the fuck away and let the professionals do the work.

When there’s hard work to be done, there’s no time for “feelings” or “representation”.  As the Army seems to have realized.

A Good Start

Good Stuff, Military

Looks like the Izzies have got the bit between their teeth:

The Israeli Air Force (IAF) destroyed the Islamic University of Gaza — dropping bombs on what the Israeli military said was a training hub for engineers who helped carry out terrorist attacks.

The Israel Defense Force (IDF) confirmed the bombing, saying the university served as “an important center of political and military power” for Hamas and a “training institution for the development and production of weapons,” The Times of Israel reported.

Sorta like the West Point of Muslim Terrorism, huh?  One can only hope that there were lots of casualties among both staff and students.

Keep it up, guys.

Dot-Mil Idiocy

Bad News, Military, The Gun Thing

I know, the title is somewhat redundant, but this beats them all (sent by Reader Tony M., thankee — I think):

After 123 years, the immortal Colt-Browning 1911 pistol has finally left U.S. military service.

The immortal 1911 really has no historical equal. It has been the longest-serving sidearm in U.S. military history. Almost every company in the business of manufacturing handguns today makes some variation of the 1911.

And yet, it’s no longer good enough for our troops?  To continue:

While nothing lasts forever, and while it’s easy to see the logistical advantage in a sidearm that uses the NATO-standard 9x19mm cartridge, it’s a sad day for gun aficionados, especially those of us with a fondness for John Browning’s 1911.

For those of little historical learning, I should point out that the reason that the U.S. Army adopted the Colt 1911 .45 ACP in the first place was that their .38 cartridges (similar to the 9x19mm) just weren’t killing savages efficiently.  But of course, people who make “logistical” choices are seldom the same ones who actually have to shoot people dead.

Never mind:  let our troops use three rounds of 9mm Europellet fired from their German-designed peashooters to do the same job as the .45 Automatic Colt Pistol bullet can do with one.

I’ll just continue to carry my 1911 and be glad of it.

Bah.

Green Is Good

Military

…or not really, as The Greatest Living Englishman explains:

DEFENCE chiefs announced this week that British soldiers could soon be given electric bicycles so they can sneak up more quietly (and cheaply) than if they were in a tank.

Yes. But have you ever tried to ride a bicycle in soft sand? Or in a bog? It’s impossible.

So if stealth (and savings) are the main consideration, I have a better idea. Why not give them horses?  They are extremely good off-road and won’t short out if asked to cross a river.  Plus, most cost much less than a £6,500 e-bike and if properly trained, can move around very quietly indeed.  Also, you don’t need to charge up their batteries every half an hour.

And then we could go further and, instead of guns, which are noisy and also expensive, issue our troops with swords.

It’d be the most eco-friendly and modern army in the world.

And it’d lose every single battle it took part in. But in these green and cost-conscious times, it seems that sort of thing doesn’t matter.

FFS, don’t anyone tell the Pentagon about this.

Wait, What?

Military

Simple, rugged, cheap, low-maintenance… what the hell is a cropduster doing in today’s U.S. dotmil?

Just about everything, it seems.

Sheesh, pretty soon the Pentagon will announce that the Jeep Wrangler will replace the Hummvee and the Colt Government 1911 is going to be re-adopted as the official military sidearm.

Okay, maybe not.