This is why the IDF is taking unnecessary casualties in the Gaza fight. UPDATE! Check out American Mercenary's latest!

NOTE: Check out American Mercenary's latest on the Gaza issue.  Its well worth your time and in my opinion a must read.  


Check out the above vid.

Did you see it?  Do you notice the problem?

You have heavy armor operating in an urban setting without infantry out and about hunting anti-tank teams!  You have the IDF being restrained by overly restrictive rules of engagement and you have them taking unnecessary casualties.  I will not even dig into the issue of Hamas using civilians as shields...kinda cowardly in my opinion for warriors to hide behind non-combatants.

You have the same issue with the attempts to attack rocket launch locations...you have the same issue with tunnels.

The IDF is fighting this battle with one hand behind their backs and several fingers tied on the other.  Political correctness does nothing but prolong conflicts and inflict increased casualties on both sides.  Instead of a quick, sharp battle we're seeing a protracted one, not because of military necessity but because of political expediency/correctness/false morality.

BLT, 3rd Battalion/ 5th Marines Mechanized Raid Exercise ...pics by GySgt Ismael Pea

Buddy carry...a MilPriority pic.

Note:  If you haven't checked out MilPriority's Facebook page you're missing out.  He's one of the great up and comer's when it comes to military photography...and he's one of the few that focuses on infantrymen and not aviation.

An Infantryman carries the Ruck of an injured marine during a grueling movement at Camp Pendleton.

The champagne is on ice. Dunford confirmed.

Read the article here.

Long story short?  Dunford will replace Amos this fall.  The champagne is on ice, the sour mash is hid in the footlockers (we'll bring that out once the women and children have gone to bed) and a warrior culture will hopefully return to the USMC.

Namer Command Post Variant?

I haven't heard that Israel has designed a command post variant of the Namer but this particular vehicle has an unusually large number of antennas.

Command post or intel variant is my guess.

Ship to Ship transfer tested...photos by Sgt. Sarah Fiocco

Note:  HQMC is highlighted the ship to ship transfer (really just an at sea test of the MLP) concept.  Has anywork been done on selective offloading?  Does this have any utility for the MEU or will this sit on the shelf until a Marine Expeditionary Brigade is needed?  Remember this small factoid.  MEU's are the unit of choice for combatant commanders.

IDF armor and artillery in action in the Gaza Strip.

Note:  All pics are via the IDF Flickr page (captions are embedded in the pic...you can see the caption by downloading them or by going to my Google Picaso and seeing them there)

Sidenote: Any explanation of why the IDF doesn't use towed artillery?  It really does bring the "artillery raid" concept into question.  If any nation would be inclined to use it then it would have to be the Israeli's.