OlDawg

Been mowing on this beautiful morning by the Bay. Just saw this post. Not sure which questions you want me to try to address. So, I’ll touch both best I can. Supertankers are coming to the U.S. because the Gulf facilities are operating at a capacity they can process, and still have enough to export—for a substantial profit I might say. Of course, this is a double-edged sword for us. Since a better price can be paid by foreign customers in a global market, we wind up paying a higher price at the pump when it’s all said and done. The only way to stop that would be to regulate how much U.S. companies can sell outside the U.S., and that would be a very bad idea for multiple reasons. The Panama Canal is now back in Panama & U.S. control instead of China, so passage to the Asian/Pacific region is actually safer for insurers. But, the total time will increase as supertankers have to be transloaded from U.S. facilities. You will also need smaller vessels with shallower drafts to reach most of the U.S. offloading facilities to then transport to the transloading stations to load the supertankers. In other words, a multi-stage process. As far as the Strait being cleared, I have no direct knowledge. But, as I described in an earlier post, Navy Divers are the EOD experts for all U.S. military activities. They are the unsung heroes that—many times—accompany our more known SpecOps groups as they are the experts on anything to do with underwater activities. If a mission requires any type of diving, an ND will be involved, and possibly accompany the Teams during the mission. Clearing the Strait will not involve SpecOps as most think of them. (No Seal Teams, or their counterparts.) It will strictly be handled by Navy Dive Teams, and their support groups. Navy Divers are a very specialized part of Special Ops. ND’s physical and tactical training is second only to the SEAL Teams in the Navy, and is actually tougher from the water related activities as that is the focus. ND’s are a proud group. Very few have the cajones to disable explosives in conditions that are somewhat less than ideal. Think of some of the recent movies you’ve seen with EOD personnel on land. Now, think of being underwater, with—sometimes—limited visibility, heavy currents, and various sea life interfering while diagnosing and disposing of an unknown explosive device. Add in possibly having to do this without being known. Jumping out of perfectly good helicopters 40/40 and naked doesn’t sound too bad at all after that. 😉 **NOTE- So I don’t get flagged for saying ‘naked’, 40/40 and naked means jumping from a helo that’s speed is 40 mph, at 40 feet, with no chute, into the water. Quick entry. 😂🤣

La Porte has one District game left in 20-5A, but they’ve already claimed the DC (21-3, 9-1). The Lady Dawgs will be taking on the Baytown Sterling ladies in the first round.

Details, vessels included, and times have been added & updated. [Hidden Content]

DCTX has 9-5AD1 as one of it's Districts to watch for 2026.

Far be it from me to say exactly what's going on. I will say that Navy Divers are the experts in underwater EOD, and have been known to exit flooded tubes to perform mine clearing duties. Yes. It's one of the most dangerous jobs in any Branch of the Service. That's why ND's receive hazardous duty pay from Day 1 after A school. One day, you may be exiting a sub in an unconventional manner. One day, you may jump from a perfectly good helo. One day, you may be at 300 feet below, and the next, you may be clearing a landing zone with a rebreather. You have to be qualified on every type of dive equipment from bare, to a snorkel and fins, to rebreathers, to scuba, to Mark 16's (or whatever they are on nowadays), and gas mixtures. In addition, small arms quals are very rigorous. It wouldn't surprise me in the least if some investigative/clearing type activity wasn't taking place right under everyone's collective noses right now.

The Houthi’s can—and have—hit ships in the Strait as well.

Unlike some of y’all, I’m not celebrating this ceasefire. I personally believe it’s a bad move. But, I’m always happy when our troops are out of harm’s way. Of course, many regional bases aren’t out of harm’s way even now. So, I consider that partial mission failure. I’ll hold final judgement until I read something conclusive about Iran’s nuclear material & ballistic missile program. For the time being, I’ll use another acronym that should be familiar to those that have served. FUBAR

I just added a link to the trailer to that post. I thought it was a pretty entertaining flick. Popcorn action movie.

Iran very much in Control - Gen. Jack Keane [Hidden Content]

I don’t know if that’s cool or scary. Getting more like Terminator every day. I saw a movie called ‘Monsters of Man’ a couple years ago. You should watch it. It’s free on Tubi right now I believe.

Don't get me wrong. As a former Navy Diver who was directly involved in multiple activities supporting our SF's--among other hazardous duties--I'm all for an end to any conflict. But, just like many or most serving in this effort, I never wanted to leave any mission incomplete. This appears incomplete. I will also reiterate the impersonal nature of conflict nowadays with AI and drones cheapens human life, and makes it too easy for leaders to enter into deadly actions. If they believe minimal casualties will occur because of tech, it's way too easy to pull the trigger. I subscribe to ShipwreckedCrew. He should stick to legal opinions. That's where his experience lies.

I believe he's on day 40 of 60. You don't get a restart. If there is a 2 week ceasefire, that puts it at day 54. The withdrawal period means no offensive, kinetic action can take place. Also, he couldn't support Israel in any meaningful way--other than intel--without authorization. Basically, he's saying he's done. Now, he's just trying to make a deal. But, he's left himself with no cards. Restarting isn't going to be a go, and the regime still has control.

Not without an Authorization--which won't be coming. POTUS only had 60 days. If ALL nuclear material is recovered, IAEA is allowed full access forever, and verification is a condition, that would be an improvement. But, anyone that trusts the regime without constant monitoring is twice the fool.

This is a mistake. If mission objectives weren't accomplished--which I fail to see how they have been at this point--the 2 week ceasefire will mean POTUS 60 days will run out. An authorization for extended military action of any kind won't be authorized. The Administration has decided polling is more important than completing the mission. Typical. This will go down as another "Mission half accomplished with a lot of wasted money, and some very valuable lives." Shame. If this was going to be the outcome, nothing should have ever been started. Whoever believed an air campaign alone could accomplish the mission of securing/destroying all nuclear material, removing an oppressive, terrorist regime, and making Hormuz an open international waterway devoid of threats against shipping were fools from the start. I don't blame our military. They developed plans per direction, and carried them out with efficiency. I just get tired of weak-kneed politicians starting something they're not willing to finish. There's a reason war is supposed to be difficult to start. I'm afraid all this remote warfare is making things way too easy.

Iranian General’s Relatives Lived Lavish LA Lifestyle While Promoting Iranian Regime Propaganda [Hidden Content]