Lol, that's all you can say?

did you happen to see the FPS Russia videos on those? Especially the April fools video!

Good point.

Hmm. MSNBC Much? Weapons used in crimes frequently are stolen or obtained illegally. That is a very commen thing to have happen. If you look at numerous high profile shootings, most younger people stole the guns from a relative. Many older people passed background checks that they should have failed. A lot of drug…

I saw a BTR-60 for sale on eBay a couple years ago. And an M113 APC, the seller said it was the only privately owned one in the U.S. I am not sure how accurate that was.

Actually, a guy with a hammer or a bat is more dangerous. I do agree that the background checks for armored vehicles would be difficult to implement. Especially since you can make pretty strong composite armor from Home Depot. That would be like trying to tell people it’s illegal to dip Oreas into milk and then still…

Thanks for the “boots on the ground” style info!

Yah, I was thinking that maintenance could be a problem. I know a lot of smaller countries really neglect their equipment.

Hard to get good reasons for promotions these days. Ejecting is probably more bravery than facing 100 terrorists in a simulator

I am not expert, but seems like the ejection seat should be he most reliable part. Does anybody know how reliable the Gripen is? I always thought it was pretty good. Could the crashes be mainly operator related?

I am very happy about this. I also am thinking of a good target...someone who needs to see some “shock and awe”

Agreed. SA is more corrupt than pretty much any other recognized country int eh Middle East.

That is exactly what I was saying. U.S. Allies in the region are pretty damn evil. On Syrias worst day, I doubt they could approach Saudi Arabia’s record. I did forget to mention turkey though.

On the whole, I personally don’t regard the close intercepts as much. I think they are just a tactic to decrease moral and deter further flight. Not the most professional thing, but not really going to hurt anything unless they collide

Actually, that is a common myth about Russia’s western territory being stolen. A lot got shuffled around during the USSR, but their borders are very close to what they were for Imperial Russia.

Good clarification. I was about to email a friend that was on a KC-10. I was pretty sure that all military aircraft require parachutes for the crew.

And you just described why I don't like Hollywood representing anything military!

Yah, foreign relations is a tough one. I wish more people would not accept that “enemy of my enemy thing. I fell this picture sums up the Middle East.

depends on the definition of “good guy.”

That sucks. Pilots probably were dead due to most of the damage being focussed forward of the wing. Hopefully, Russia will transfer them some more Su-24s