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Israel says bombs target embassies in India, Georgia
Today's Headlines
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-Obits-
Israel Getzler obituary
Posted by: Besoeker || 02/13/2012 15:47 || Comments || Link || [336067 views] Top|| File under:


Britain
21st century airships may join Navy fleet
A new generation of British-built airships may be bought by the Royal Navy to resupply ships, follwoing their use by the US Army on the front line in Afghanistan.
Posted by: tipper || 02/13/2012 07:56 || Comments || Link || [336099 views] Top|| File under:

#1  One word, "Hindenburg".
Posted by: Redneck Jim || 02/13/2012 10:07 Comments || Top||

#2  These aren't flammable.

It makes for a nice UAV and can stay up indefinitely with radio intercept and triangulation gear. Can also rout communications through for better reception and communication without gumming up a satellite. Think mobile cell tower that could expand coverage to half of Afghanistan.

Pretty neat piece of equipment.
Posted by: DarthVader || 02/13/2012 10:38 Comments || Top||

#3  Hindenburg: 1937.

This is 2012. I'd like to think that we, as a culture, have gone past 1937 as a measure of airships, and can think freely.

Nah, screw that. HINDENBURG HINDENBURG HINDENBURG HINDENBURG HINDENBURG HINDENBURG HINDENBURG HINDENBURG HINDENBURG HINDENBURG HINDENBURG HINDENBURG HINDENBURG HINDENBURG
Posted by: gromky || 02/13/2012 10:50 Comments || Top||

#4  There's a video that shows it was the envelope covering that was the cause of the Hindenburg disaster. A shellac containing aluminum powder and iron oxide. Travelling thermite bomb awaiting a fuse. Any geek (takes bow, "Thank you") can tell you that hydrogen burns with a pink, almost invisible flame, whereas thermite goes poof.
Posted by: AlmostAnonymous5839 || 02/13/2012 11:17 Comments || Top||

#5  A very cost effective persistent surveillance tool. Tethered units however, must be returned to their moorings in inclement weather which leaves an obvious collection gap as well as a window of opportunity for nefarious activity.
Posted by: Besoeker || 02/13/2012 11:27 Comments || Top||

#6  The use of airships is pretty irresistible. It is such a multi-role platform that several different classes are hard to beat.

The high altitude giant ship provides a combination AWACS, high bandwidth communication and satellite transceiver, huge area real time surveillance along with highly accurate GPS target identification, national weather service, X-Band radar to detect missiles, etc., etc.

Then there are the heavy lift cargo airships, like the German CargoLifter CL 160 (160 metric tons (176 tons) payload). We would want one that could carry about 200 tons, or three Abrams tanks with ammo.

Medium airships are for cargo transport in high altitude mountainous terrain that is very hard on helicopters, and has no landing area for aircraft. It could also move significant but smaller cargoes in rear areas, in a slow, methodical manner.

Eventually one could be rigged as a gunship with a Metal Storm type weapon (Australian invented, but the Chinese are now developing as well).

Smaller airships, likely unmanned or tethered, have already proven themselves for short to medium range surveillance.
Posted by: Anonymoose || 02/13/2012 11:30 Comments || Top||

#7  I'm looking forward to the Great Zeppelin Wars of the 21st century.
Posted by: SteveS || 02/13/2012 12:03 Comments || Top||

#8 
Posted by: Bright Pebbles || 02/13/2012 12:28 Comments || Top||

#9  We mock them at our own peril PB.

Link
Posted by: Besoeker || 02/13/2012 13:33 Comments || Top||

#10  I imagine a dirigible floating around silently at night with some snipers aboard (or simply spotters) could do a lot of damage. The dirigible doesn't have to be huge, and it doesn't have to use hydrogen.

A dirigible could also make a nice floating air craft carrier for unmanned vehicles. Potentially extending their range and eliminating a lot of the cross-Pakistan problems.
Posted by: rjschwarz || 02/13/2012 14:58 Comments || Top||

#11  Iff the USDOD-Navy hope to detect + destroy TLCMS + UW Strategic SLBMS just under, at, or atop the ocean surface or long-distance air strike, espec from origin/break-point to mid-flight stage(s), then NT Dirigibles is what they need.

Again, the Cold War Soviets recognized the potential, + considered same as "destabilizing", i.e. justifying expansion of the Arms Race + various MilStrike Options including Preemptive or Surrogate Strike - they demanded the US-NATO never dev such advanced-design Dirigibles = AirShips.

Posted by: JosephMendiola || 02/13/2012 19:24 Comments || Top||

#12  Sealing compounds are simply too heavy, a good Machine gun could easily put enough holes in It to leak down to the ground.
Posted by: Redneck Jim || 02/13/2012 19:46 Comments || Top||

#13  Redneck Jim, care to tell me how a) you find a HMG with a range of 10,000 ft, roughly straight up and how to get it within range of the sensor platform before a strike is ordered in on it? Seconly, these are for rear echelon, not front line. They are not "combat zeppelins". I still have my doubts as to the efficacy, but those points are not amongst them. Right tool for the job - low threat environment only, save the expensive stuff for where its really needed.
Posted by: OldSpook || 02/13/2012 21:33 Comments || Top||

#14  US is working on an unmanned airship that is solar powered & can stay at 60,000 feet - indefinitely. First test flight crashed in PA last summer.
Posted by: Anguper Hupomosing9418 || 02/13/2012 22:51 Comments || Top||

#15  These things are not combat survivable. However, 99% of the time we are not in combat. So then they are a huge advantage. And even in combat they soak up a bunch of attacks that otherwise might affect a real combat platform.

Are these things a wartime winner, no.

Are these things a deterrent, oh yes.
Posted by: rammer || 02/13/2012 23:39 Comments || Top||


Caribbean-Latin America
Dupe URL: Comrade Artemio's capture marks end of Peru's Shining Path rebels
PERUVIAN troops have captured the badly wounded leader of a remnant of the once-powerful Shining Path rebel group that lives off the cocaine trade, the defence minister says.

"His right arm is practically lost and at the moment he's receiving medical attention," Defence Minister Alberto Otarola has said in a TV interview.

He provided few other details, including when the rebel, Comrade Artemio, was found.

President Ollanta Humala said in a radio interview that he was headed to the Upper Huallaga Valley, the remote coca-growing region where authorities said Comrade Artemio was wounded early Thursday.

The 50-year-old Artemio commanded about 150 rebels, and the circumstances of his wounding remain unclear.

Mr Otalora said on Friday that it was in combat with government forces in the village of Puerto Pizana, but local journalists have reported that at least one of his own men may have turned on him.

The mayor of the La Polvora district encompassing the village, Nanci Zamora, said that Artemio had been brought before dawn on Thursday to an emergency medical technician in the nearby town of Santa Rosa de Mishoyo. Ms Zamora said Artemio had also suffered a chest and leg wound.

She said that after he was treated, subordinates took him down the Mishoyo river, a tributary of the Huallaga.

The United States had offered a $US5 million (A$4.65 million) reward for information leading to his arrest. Such rewards have proven highly effective in neighbouring Colombia in persuading some rebels to turn against their leaders.

Comrade Artemio's group represents about half of what remains of the Shining Path, which killed thousands during the 1980s and 1990s. The other, also involved in the drug trade, is centred further south.

Comrade Artemio, whose given name is Florindo "Jose" Flores, told visiting journalists in December that his cause was lost and he was seeking a truce with the government.

The self-described Marxist said he wrote Mr Humala twice but received no response. Previous Peruvian governments refused to negotiate a truce, he said, adding that he'd also proposed one in 2003 through the Roman Catholic Church and the International Red Cross.

He said the only way to change the capitalist system was through a socialist government, "but at this moment that is not possible".

Peru is the world's No. 2 producer after Colombia of coca, the basis for cocaine, although the US Drug Enforcement Administration says it has now surpassed its Andean neighbour in potential cocaine production.

DEA officials say that's because comparatively little coca crop eradication occurs in Peru, where plantations tend to be more mature and higher-yieldling.
Posted by: trailing wife || 02/13/2012 00:00 || Comments || Link || [336062 views] Top|| File under:


Comrade Artemio's capture marks end of Peru's Shining Path rebels
PERUVIAN troops have captured the badly maimed leader of a remnant of the once-powerful Shining Path rebel group that lives off the cocaine trade, the defence minister says.

"His right arm is practically lost and at the moment he's receiving medical attention," Defence Minister Alberto Otarola has said in a TV interview.

He provided few other details, including when the rebel, Comrade Artemio, was found.

President Ollanta Humala said in a radio interview that he was headed to the Upper Huallaga Valley, the remote coca-growing region where authorities said Comrade Artemio was maimed early Thursday.

The 50-year-old Artemio commanded about 150 rebels, and the circumstances of his wounding remain unclear.

Mr Otalora said on Friday that it was in combat with government forces in the village of Puerto Pizana, but local journalists have reported that at least one of his own men may have turned on him.
Fortunately for the defence minister's honour, the second does not preclude the first.
The mayor of the La Polvora district encompassing the village, Nanci Zamora, said that Artemio had been brought before dawn on Thursday to an emergency medical technician in the nearby town of Santa Rosa de Mishoyo. Ms Zamora said Artemio had also suffered a chest and leg wound.

She said that after he was treated, subordinates took him down the Mishoyo river, a tributary of the Huallaga.

The United States had offered a $US5 million reward for information leading to his arrest. Such rewards have proven highly effective in neighbouring Colombia in persuading some rebels to turn against their leaders.

Comrade Artemio's group represents about half of what remains of the Shining Path, which killed thousands during the 1980s and 1990s. The other, also involved in the drug trade, is centred further south.

Comrade Artemio, whose given name is Florindo "Jose" Flores, told visiting journalists in December that his cause was lost and he was seeking a truce with the government.
It seems, however, that the government insisted on total surrender. Oh well.
The self-described Marxist said he wrote Mr Humala twice but received no response. Previous Peruvian governments refused to negotiate a truce, he said, adding that he'd also proposed one in 2003 through the Roman Catholic Church and the International Red Thingy.

He said the only way to change the capitalist system was through a socialist government, "but at this moment that is not possible".

Peru is the world's No. 2 producer after Colombia of coca, the basis for cocaine, although the US Drug Enforcement Administration says it has now surpassed its Andean neighbour in potential cocaine production.

DEA officials say that's because comparatively little coca crop eradication occurs in Peru, where plantations tend to be more mature and higher-yieldling.
Posted by: trailing wife || 02/13/2012 00:00 || Comments || Link || [336066 views] Top|| File under:

#1  Take that, Lori Berenson.
Posted by: gromky || 02/13/2012 5:02 Comments || Top||

#2  Lori Berenson was with Tupac Amaru, a different terrorist group. Shining Path were so totally murderous that their closest comparison is to the Red Khmer.

The rural peasants begged the government to take out the Shining Path, because they would go into a village and slaughter everyone.
Posted by: Anonymoose || 02/13/2012 15:16 Comments || Top||


Caucasus/Russia/Central Asia
Vladimir Putin vows to reverse Russian population decline
Donations of Viagra will be appreciated.
Prime Minister Vladimir Putin on Monday vowed to reverse Russia's demographic decline and boost its population to 154 million, as he ramped up his re-election campaign in the face of protests.
Posted by: tipper || 02/13/2012 07:29 || Comments || Link || [336081 views] Top|| File under:

#1  What's he gonna do? Personally impregnate hundreds of thousands of women?
Posted by: Rambler in Virginia || 02/13/2012 7:43 Comments || Top||

#2  Any connection to ll million grandmothers ?
Posted by: Besoeker || 02/13/2012 7:49 Comments || Top||

#3  Request Bill Clinton be appointed Ambassador-at-Large?
Posted by: Procopius2k || 02/13/2012 8:05 Comments || Top||

#4  Beat me to it, Rambler.

I was going to say "By himself?"
Posted by: Mullah Richard || 02/13/2012 8:13 Comments || Top||

#5  Caption below is supposed to mean, "One more generation, and it's over"
Posted by: Anguper Hupomosing9418 || 02/13/2012 8:28 Comments || Top||

#6  Make love, not war.
Posted by: Abu Uluque || 02/13/2012 10:11 Comments || Top||

#7  What, personally?
Posted by: mojo || 02/13/2012 10:45 Comments || Top||

#8  What's he gonna do? Personally impregnate hundreds of thousands of women?


Last I heard, abortion was the birth control method of most women in that part of the world. Perhaps that's changed, but of not, getting them pregnant was never the issue.

Putin will have to start by paying them to have babies. They have been doing that in Western Europe, with absolutely no effect, even though it,s completely indiscriminate -- after trailing daughter #2 was born in Germany, the checks came automatically, and we had to fight hard to make them stop. Even the argument that we were non-citizens with no plans of staying long term did not sway the petty bureaucrat in charge of such things. I don't remember the final argument that made them cancel it for us, but it must have been a doozy.
Posted by: trailing wife || 02/13/2012 12:00 Comments || Top||

#9  ...maybe relying upon the family for support in your later years rather than the state might have an effect?
Posted by: Procopius2k || 02/13/2012 12:17 Comments || Top||

#10  (The) Government's view of the economy could be summed up in a few short phrases: If it moves, tax it. If it keeps moving, regulate it. And if it stops moving, subsidize it.
Reagan (PBUH)

If you have to pay people to have sex, there's something wrong with your country (like all welfare states).
Posted by: Bright Pebbles || 02/13/2012 12:34 Comments || Top||

#11  What does his wife (and presumably mistresses) think of the idea?
Posted by: CrazyFool || 02/13/2012 13:33 Comments || Top||

#12  Fairly primitive abortion techniques from what I've heard, TW, which might well produce difficulties with wanted pregnancies after multiple bouts of uterine scarring.
Posted by: lotp || 02/13/2012 13:47 Comments || Top||

#13  But I suspect the real decline is cultural and environmental. Russian men die young, really serious alcoholism is rampant, as is environmental pollution on a massive scale in parts of the country. And there's a strong sense of futility among many Russians.
Posted by: lotp || 02/13/2012 13:48 Comments || Top||

#14  China massively increased their population at the start of the cold war. Not sure exactly what the policy was but its worth looking into.

Also Russia might want to create incentives for folks to move into Russia/Siberia. Folks not of Chinese or Turkemon decent so they won't dillute the Russian claims to the areas. Perhaps Indians as they have population to spare.
Posted by: rjschwarz || 02/13/2012 14:41 Comments || Top||

#15  First of all Russia needs some place for breeding parents that is not Moscow, and is a healthy, family friendly place, with non-breeders kept out.

No abortion. No birth control. Strict limits on alcohol and tobacco. Boring 9 to 5 administrative jobs for them men. Women are almost all bored homemakers, with hobbies and a few home based businesses.

Very friendly place, with smiling but forceful police who do not tolerate anything that interferes with the mission. Bring in a lot of young, Russian Orthodox priests with instructions that their sermons emphasize "being fruitful and multiplying", and good parenting.

Public schools with an emphasis on patriotism and pride in Russia. Lots of healthy outdoor, Boy Scout recreation for the kiddies.

Housing is set up with an octagonal pattern of homes sharing a "commons" large play area, each home having a small, fenced private yard, and several bedrooms.

Men get promoted (subtly) based on the number of children they have. When the children are teens the family is moved out so a new family can start in their place.

With a few new cities created as breeding factories, Russian demographics would skyrocket.
Posted by: Anonymoose || 02/13/2012 15:11 Comments || Top||

#16  'moose, why wouldn't that work here as well?
Posted by: no mo uro || 02/13/2012 15:19 Comments || Top||

#17  Men get promoted (subtly) based on the number of children they have. When the children are teens the family is moved out so a new family can start in their place.

What!!! No mention of celestial marriage?
Posted by: Besoeker || 02/13/2012 15:27 Comments || Top||

#18  Lets start by abolishing no fault divorce.
Posted by: g(r)omgoru || 02/13/2012 16:28 Comments || Top||

#19 
Posted by: Mizzou Mafia || 02/13/2012 16:32 Comments || Top||

#20  #5
Its a strong picture and point taken, but only guys in the background.
Posted by: swksvolFF || 02/13/2012 17:00 Comments || Top||

#21  For China - Madam Mao said: "Sex is no different than drinking a glass of water".
Posted by: Water Modem || 02/13/2012 17:03 Comments || Top||

#22  g(r)omgoru, that's a double-edged sword. No-fault divorce made it a lot easier for me to cut loose from a 37-year-old man-child, so I could go find a guy (a) firing live ammunition and (b) not afraid of the responsibility. Would've been a protracted, expensive hassle to have to document the affairs, and not even remotely worth it to argue over our minimal assets.

As I hoped/expected, I've found many men who are up to the challenge. I believe the problem is the culture. In particular, women's lib, which did a lot more to "liberate" men than women.
Posted by: RandomJD || 02/13/2012 17:05 Comments || Top||

#23  that's a double-edged sword

Yea, cuts me every time I've to take leave from my 6.5 years old son
Posted by: g(r)omgoru || 02/13/2012 17:20 Comments || Top||

#24  It's a thankless job but someone's got to do it. Now brace yourself Lana, Putie is coming.
Posted by: Shimble Guelph5793 || 02/13/2012 19:30 Comments || Top||

#25  And there's a strong sense of futility among many Russians.

That along with it's twin, hopelessness, is the killer.
Posted by: Shimble Guelph5793 || 02/13/2012 19:34 Comments || Top||

#26  "Sex is no different than drinking a glass of water".

She was doing it wrong then.
Posted by: Glenmore || 02/13/2012 19:44 Comments || Top||

#27  or she gets awesome glasses of water
Posted by: Frank G || 02/13/2012 19:53 Comments || Top||

#28  Scratch a "conservative" find a near-socialist "organiser" other other people "for their own good"...
Posted by: Bright Pebbles || 02/13/2012 20:01 Comments || Top||


Down Under
Mutiny In Townsville, 1942
Posted by: Grunter || 02/13/2012 00:00 || Comments || Link || [336065 views] Top|| File under:


Europe
Athens burns
ATHENS - The Greek parliament approved a deeply unpopular austerity bill to secure a second EU/IMF bailout and avoid national bankruptcy, as buildings burned across central Athens and violence spread around the country.

Cinemas, cafes, shops and banks were set ablaze in central Athens as black-masked protesters fought riot police outside parliament.

State television reported the violence spread to the tourist islands of Corfu and Crete, the northern city of Thessaloniki and towns in central Greece. Shops were looted in the capital where police said 34 buildings were ablaze.

Prime Minister Lucas Papademos denounced the worst breakdown of order since 2008 when violence gripped Greece for weeks after police shot a 15-year-old schoolboy. "Vandalism, violence and destruction have no place in a democratic country and won't be tolerated," he told parliament as it prepared to vote on the new 130 billion euro bailout to save Greece from a chaotic bankruptcy.
Seems like violence and destruction are indeed being tolerated...
Papademos told lawmakers shortly before they voted that they would be gravely mistaken if they rejected the package that demands deep pay, pension and job cuts, as this would threaten Greece's place in the European mainstream.
What place? Greece hasn't had a place in the European mainstream since end of Justinian's reign...
"It would be a huge historical injustice if the country from which European culture sprang ... reached bankruptcy and was led, due to one more mistake, to national isolation and national despair," he said.

The chaos outside parliament showed how tough it will be to implement the measures. The air in Syntagma Square outside parliament was thick with tear gas as riot police fought running battles with youths who smashed marble balustrades and hurled stones and petrol bombs. Terrified Greeks and tourists fled the rock-strewn streets and the clouds of stinging gas, cramming into hotel lobbies for shelter.
Ay Pee updates at 8:15 a.m.: the riots are over, fires in 45 burning buildings in Athens have been put out, streets are being swept, more than 170 civilians and 106 police were injured, 74 were arrested and 92 were detained by police, and the austerity bills passed 199 to 74.
Posted by: Steve White || 02/13/2012 00:00 || Comments || Link || [336086 views] Top|| File under:

#1  BOP "Protesters" RIOTERS.
Posted by: Redneck Jim || 02/13/2012 10:09 Comments || Top||

#2  The old place just haven't been the same since Pericles kicked off.
Posted by: g(r)omgoru || 02/13/2012 11:18 Comments || Top||

#3  Mainstream = major welfare state, lots of bennies, and we want the same income the Germans have.
Posted by: lotp || 02/13/2012 13:50 Comments || Top||

#4  The state should care and provide for these folks 100%, for at least 5-10 years. Perhaps longer depending upon the jury and the specifics.
Posted by: rjschwarz || 02/13/2012 15:00 Comments || Top||

#5  Don't forget free health care!

Link
Posted by: Besoeker || 02/13/2012 15:06 Comments || Top||

#6  Well burning down your city is probably not in your best effort -
I'd be P.O.ed too if I was working class and they'd cut minimum wage from (US Amounts) $7 to $2.5
- and all my bills and rent went up..???
Posted by: linker || 02/13/2012 20:45 Comments || Top||


The Grand Turk
Erdogan discharged after second surgery
ANKARA: Turkey’s state-run news agency says Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan has been discharged from hospital a day after undergoing what officials said was a “second and final” intestinal surgery.

The Anadolu Agency said Erdogan left hospital late on Sunday and was expected to rest at his home in Istanbul.

The 57-year-old Erdogan vanished from public life for nearly a month after an initial surgery on Nov. 26 for non-cancerous intestinal polyps. His office said he had a second, successful half-hour procedure on Saturday but gave no other details.
Sounds like a reduction and internalization of a colostomy.
It said Erdogan was well and was expected to resume work within the next week.
Posted by: Steve White || 02/13/2012 00:00 || Comments || Link || [336066 views] Top|| File under:


India-Pakistan
Maldives President Expands Cabinet as Predecessor Rejects Compromise
[An Nahar] The Maldives' new president expanded his Cabinet on Sunday to strengthen the coalition government that has ruled the Indian Ocean nation since the former leader's resignation last week sparked a political crisis.

Six members from four political parties were sworn in as ministers in the government led by President Mohammed Waheed Hassan.

In a speech after the swearing-in ceremony, Hassan said his government would carry forward the programs initiated by the previous government.

"That is what we have to do to recover from the problems we've had in the last couple of weeks," Hassan said.

His government would work to create a conducive environment in which free and fair elections could be held, Hassan said.

New ministers for health, education, economic development, transport, youth affairs and sports and tourism took the oath of office in a short ceremony at the president's office in the capital, Male.

A new Attorney General for the island nation was also sworn in. Hassan had appointed ministers for defense and home affairs earlier in the week.

Presidential Spokesman Masood Imad said some slots in the Cabinet were being kept open in case former President Mohamed Nasheed's Maldivian Democratic Party changed its mind about joining the coalition government.

But Nasheed rejected a U.S. call for compromise and dismissed proposals for a unity government to end political unrest.
Posted by: Fred || 02/13/2012 00:00 || Comments || Link || [336063 views] Top|| File under:


Imran challenges political parties to unite and contest against his party
[Dawn] Tehrik-e-Insaf
...a political party in Pakistan. PTI was founded by former Pakistani cricket captain and philanthropist Imran Khan. The party's slogan is Justice, Humanity and Self Esteem, each of which is open to widely divergent interpretations....
chief Imran Khan
... aka Taliban Khan, who who convinced himself that playing cricket qualified him to lead a nuclear-armed nation with severe personality problems...
has challenged all the political parties to unite and contest against his party.

"Tehrik-e-Insaf cannot be defeated even if all the political parties jointly contest against it," he claimed while addressing his party workers in Bloody Karachi
...formerly the capital of Pakistain, now merely its most important port and financial center. It may be the largest city in the world, with a population of 18 million, most of whom hate each other and many of whom are armed and dangerous...
on Sunday.

"Nobody can withstand the Tsunami of Tehrik-e-Insaf," he said.

The PTI chief said he would transform Pakistain into such a country where people from other nations would come in search of employment.

He also claimed that his party will bring an end to drone attacks "The new Pakistain will not bow to any superpower," he said.
Posted by: Fred || 02/13/2012 00:00 || Comments || Link || [336065 views] Top|| File under: Govt of Pakistan


Gilani says he will lose PM office if convicted
[Dawn] Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani
... Pakistain's erstwhile current prime minister, whose occasional feats of mental gymnastics can be awe-inspiring ...
said if convicted of contempt of court, he would automatically lose his office so there was no need for him to quit.

"There's no need to step down," he said. "If I'm convicted, then I'm not supposed to be a member of the parliament."

Gilani, in an interview broadcast on Saturday, said corruption charges against President Asif Ali President Ten Percent Zardari
... sticky-fingered husband of the late Benazir Bhutto ...
were "politically motivated" and that the president had immunity as head of state.

The premier's statements were aired on the eve of a hearing at which he faces indictment for contempt of court over his refusal to request the reopening of corruption cases against his party chief.

"There had been a lot of cases against him, and they were all politically motivated," Gilani told Al Jizz television, referring to Zardari.

"He has got immunity. And he has not got immunity only in Pakistain, he has transnational immunity, even all over the world."
Posted by: Fred || 02/13/2012 00:00 || Comments || Link || [336068 views] Top|| File under: Govt of Pakistan


Science & Technology
The amazing USS Wasp
Posted by: Besoeker || 02/13/2012 16:18 || Comments || Link || [336099 views] Top|| File under:

#1  It's pretty cool, but I wonder what one of those things would do on landing after taking some holes in those fancy elvrons after some triple-A.
I remember seeing a A-10 that took so much fire, one wing was essentially more air than metal, but it still made it back to base.
Posted by: Mizzou Mafia || 02/13/2012 16:26 Comments || Top||

#2  Doesn't look like much room for error on that takeoff.
Posted by: swksvolFF || 02/13/2012 17:01 Comments || Top||

#3  "Well, I'm a King Bee..."
Posted by: mojo || 02/13/2012 17:08 Comments || Top||

#4  The advantage is you can use a smaller carrier. The disadvantages are that VTOL sucks down a lot of fuel. The combat radius of a AV-8B Harrier II Plus is only 350 miles (300 nmi). That's about the same as an F-16C Block 30, carrying 6 - 1,000lb bombs.

According to the specs, however, they claim that the F-35B has a combat radius of 679 miles (590 nmi). This means there must have been a huge leap in fuel efficiency while still maintaining engine performance.
Posted by: Anonymoose || 02/13/2012 17:54 Comments || Top||

#5  I really don't like that aircraft and believe it is one huge waste of money. We tried to build a Swiss Army knife aircraft. Have you every tried to cut a side of beef with a Swiss Army knife?
Posted by: crosspatch || 02/13/2012 18:08 Comments || Top||

#6  I take it that it cannot take off vertically - still pretty cool. On one of those landings the aircraft looked a lot like a wasp coming in to it's home.

The media and the program critics had predicted that we would burn holes in the deck and wash sailors overboard.

Sure did.....
Posted by: CrazyFool || 02/13/2012 18:13 Comments || Top||

#7  Why not just have a ramp like the harriers did?
Posted by: Bright Pebbles || 02/13/2012 18:45 Comments || Top||

#8  It takes away 1 or 2 helo landing pads. In my opinion, it's colossal misuse of money. 2 LHDs buys one Nimitz. In any military action against a country with even a squadron of fighter/bombers, the carriers, with 4 times the, and better, aircraft, or the Air Force will be providing the striking power and protection. The LDHs will be be useless in a Pacific war and too slow to run away. Spend the money on aircraft carriers and let the Marines have LPDs with amphibious craft and helicopters on the flight deck.
Posted by: Shimble Guelph5793 || 02/13/2012 19:25 Comments || Top||

#9  The incredibly expensive wasp that delivers only 30% of what it was to deliver and only has 180 rounds of ammo, 14 of which is in the Aviators service weapon.

This has been and still is a disaster. I even makes me long for the days of the Osprey.

The LCS is not working out too well, either.

High minded complex ideas mean systems that will never deliver and too expensive to maintain.
Posted by: newc || 02/13/2012 20:45 Comments || Top||


Navy Puts More Bang Into Unmanned Fleet
From the comments: "can't we just get a shark with a frickin' laser on its head?"
Posted by: GolfBravoUSMC || 02/13/2012 11:26 || Comments || Link || [336088 views] Top|| File under:

#1  "Long range" is relative. Spike is an ATGM, of which there are several versions.

According to its specs, its max range is "800 to 25,000m".

Picture of the Spike NLOS.

Spike NLOS - "Non Line Of Sight" is an ultra long range version of the weapon with a claimed maximum range of up to 25 km (16 mi). As a newer, larger missile with an overall weight of around 70 kg (154 lb 5 oz), it can be fired from helicopters.

The Spike NLOS is already operational with a military customer, which is most likely to be Israel Defense Forces. In a deal concluded on 6 September 2011, the South Korean government has agreed to purchase an unknown number of Spike NLOS missiles.
Posted by: Anonymoose || 02/13/2012 14:53 Comments || Top||

#2  This being said, I think what may be needed is an escort "mothership" that can carry a few dozen of these drone boats, which can be quick launched on request, then recovered. Think of a modified fast cargo ship.

I can also imagine another configuration, designed as anti-submarine boats. With different weaponry, of course. Like a 750lb Mark 54 MAKO Lightweight Torpedo.
Posted by: Anonymoose || 02/13/2012 15:00 Comments || Top||

#3  Same robot boat can drop and retrieve robot subs.
Posted by: Water Modem || 02/13/2012 15:31 Comments || Top||

#4  This being said, I think what may be needed is an escort "mothership" that can carry a few dozen of these drone boats

This is a follow-on/modification to an anti-submarine package designed for the Littoral Combat ship.
Posted by: Pappy || 02/13/2012 15:55 Comments || Top||

#5  As per the #2, the US Navy's new MPS Ships are roughly the right "fit" for a "Mothership" - the ENTERPRISE, NIMITZES, + new FORD-Class CVNS may be too oversized + powerful for Navy-DOD requirements, espec given that the US is formally not antipating the breakout of any major mil conflicts [World Wars, Multi-National]at least thru Year 2050 iff not beyond. IOW, UN-APPROVED MINOR "POLICE ACTION(S)" + "PEACEKEEPING".

US Navy-DOD PLanners may not like the concept of "ARSENAL/FIRE SHIPS", but wid the new MPS design it appears they are moving in that direction anyway.

* 1990's RUSH LIMBAUGH [paraph] > "ITS A TERRIBLE BURDEN TO BE RIGHT = RIGHTIST ALL THE TIME"!
Posted by: JosephMendiola || 02/13/2012 19:48 Comments || Top||

#6  Joe, its always the wars you don't anticipate breaking out that get you, at least that's been my experience.
Posted by: OldSpook || 02/13/2012 21:25 Comments || Top||

#7  Thankfully, the Israeli's "Own" the Unmanned universe.
Posted by: Chesh Squank6666 || 02/13/2012 22:49 Comments || Top||



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Mon 2012-02-13
  Israel says bombs target embassies in India, Georgia
Sun 2012-02-12
  Uzbek man in US pleads guilty in Obama murder plot
Sat 2012-02-11
  Arrests in Quetta Related to Rabbani Assassination
Fri 2012-02-10
  Zawahiri says Somalia's Shebab Joined al-Qaida
Thu 2012-02-09
  Badar Mansoor Dronezapped in North Wazoo
Wed 2012-02-08
  German Police Arrest Lebanese, Syrian for Spying for Damascus
Tue 2012-02-07
  Blasts Rock N. Nigeria, Police Station Attacked
Mon 2012-02-06
  36 Civilians, 28 Troops Killed in Fresh Syria Violence
Sun 2012-02-05
  Expel Syrian Envoys, Says Arab League Official
Sat 2012-02-04
  Libya's ex-envoy to France dies in custody
Fri 2012-02-03
  Britain Appoints First Ambassador to Somalia in 21 Years
Thu 2012-02-02
  Three top terror leaders killed in the Philippines
Wed 2012-02-01
  US raids kill 15 militants in Yemen
Tue 2012-01-31
  12,000 BNP, Jamaat men charged with violence
Mon 2012-01-30
  Assad's family caught trying to escape the country, returned to Damascus

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