February 21, 2020 | Get The SITREP​

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The SITREP

Stay sharp, stay informed. A weekly intel roundup for frontline leaders.

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♠ Welcome to The SITREP. After a brief hiatus, your weekly intel report is back (pesky day jobs). In this edition you'll find coverage of the rocket attacks in Iraq, skirmishes in the Himalayas, drama in the US Space Force, and more. Thank you for reading SITREP 005 and remember: Ignorance is Failure. ♠

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♠ The Storm of Rockets Continues in Iraq

The violence continues in the struggling nation of Iraq as two rocket attacks on US bases occurred this week, including one which killed a civilian contractor contractor working for the US company Sallyport.

• The first attack happened on Monday when a volley of rockets landed near the US controlled area in Erbil and resulted in the death of one contractor and nine injuries.
• The second incident then happened on Saturday as another four rockets were launched at Balad, an area north of Baghdad. This attack wounded another civilian contractor; an employee of the US defense firm Sallyport (who maintains Iraq's F-16s).
• A little-known Shia militant group known as Saraya Awliya al-Dam (Guardians of Blood) claimed responsibility for the attack, although the general consensus is that they are a subsidiary of one of the many Iran-backed extremist groups responsible for the uptick of violence in the area.

The US State Department released a statement condemning the violence, but it's unclear as to what the long term approach to Iraq (and really to Iran) will be for the new administration in the White House. Appeasement and "lines in the sand," or a firm (and blunt) approach a-la Trump? Time will tell. ♠

♠ Brawl in the Himalayas: China vs India

China just announced the death of People's Liberation Army soldiers this week resulting from a showdown along the Pangong Tso Lake between PLA soldiers and Indian Army troops. The lake serves as a key portion of the disputed border between India and China in the Himalayan mountains, and a fight along the shore left over 20 Indian Soldiers and four PLA dead, including a PLA Battalion Commander.

• Disputes around the territory have been ongoing for the last several months, with both India and China deploying troops, tanks, and weapons systems to the border.
• The clash occurred along the Line of Actual Control, a demarcation established in 1962 to roughly define the territorial border. However, recent activity has sparked fears that the small skirmishes might escalate into a full-blown shooting war between the two nuclear powers.
• This time, Chinese media released a video showing part of the brawl, which consisted of Chinese and Indian soldiers fighting with what appear to be spiked bats and riot shields. No reports of gunfire or heavy weapons have surfaced just yet, and India has released a statement blaming the Chinese troops for the skirmish.

It appears that both India and China are wary to actually employ firearms or serious weapons in these brawls, likely to avoid international condemnation or an escalation of violence in the region. However, the death of the Chinese Battalion Commander will likely lead to serious action on the part of the PLA. ♠

♠ More Amphibious Vics for the Corps

BAE Systems, one of the world's largest defense contractors, just announced an expansion of its contract with the US Marine Corps for the latest generation of ship-to-shore fighting vehicles, the Amphibious Combat Vehicle (ACV).

• The ACV is currently in the process of replacing the outdated, outgunned (and unsafe) Amphibious Assault Vehicle (AAV) which has been around in various forms since the 1970s.
• The AAV was originally slated for replacement in the early 2010s, but the replacement was scrapped due to developmental problems (and in order to free up funds for the Marine Corps' F-35 program).
• This update to the contract will bring the number of ACVs headed for the Corps from 36 to 72, although critics claim that the ACV is still too slow and too limited in range and armaments. Specifically when faced with the latest-generation missile tech from China and others.

Here's hoping the ACV will prove to be an exception to the beleaguered defense procurement system and actually be delivered on time, under budget, and is able to provide the USMC with the mobility and lethality the warfighting organization will need to contend on the modern battlefield (or likely, island chain). And after all, the Corps isn't the only one getting new wheels. ♠

♠ Corruption in the Space Force?

When Donald Trump declared the creation of a new branch of the military, the US Space Force, the announcement was met with a combination of amusement, annoyance, and also a fair amount of "about time." It's true that the US has lagged in the development of space-based defensive capabilities and space infrastructure (mainly satellites) is incredibly vulnerable. So what's the controversy now?

• The Space Force was created by Executive Order in June 2018 with the mission of "American dominance in space." However, the political theatre surrounding the announcement caused the fledgeling branch of the military to struggle to be taken seriously.​
• Since the Space Force was being created out of the already existing Air Force Space Command, the initial headquarters of the branch was slated to be Space Command's existing HQ in Colorado Springs. However, the DoD announced an open competition for cities to advocate that they should host the Space Force permanent HQ.
• Everyone expected Colorado Springs to win the competition as it's a massive Air Force hub already, and well... the HQ was already there. However, at the last minute before stepping down, Air Force Secretary Barrett announced an unexpected winner... Redstone Arsenal in Alabama.
• Now, Representatives from Colorado are requesting the Biden Administration investigate the relocation as they claim that Donald Trump pressured Barrett to change the location as a political favor or payback to his supporters in Alabama.

The Air Force has now announced an Investigator General investigation which is likely to explore whether the decision to relocate Space Force HQ was conducted fairly or whether there was a political factor at play. Perhaps the allegations of corruption will allow the Space Force to be finally taken seriously. And maybe they'll reconsider the Star Trek logo. ♠

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♠ Weapon of the Week: The Browning Automatic Rifle

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This issue's Weapon of the Week is the devastating Browning Automatic Rifle, a Squad Automatic Weapon popularized in WWII by the US Army and Marine Corps. Originally developed by the legendary John Moses Browning (also creator of the Browning Hi-Power, the M2 .50cal, and the 1911 pistol), the BAR and its variants saw service in WWII, Korea, Vietnam, and dozens of smaller conflicts. According to legend, this 20 lb (unloaded) beast was issued to the shortest members of the USMC Fire Teams as they would present the smallest target for enemy fire. More on Wikipedia. ♠

• Range: ~1,500 yrds (max effective)
• Action: Gas-operated, rising bolt lock
• Rate of Fire: 500-650 rounds/min (variant dependant)
• Calibers: .30-06 Springfield, .303 British, 7.92x57mm Mauser, 6.5x55m
• Used By: US, UK, and over 50 other countries

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♠ Weekly Read: Guns, Germs, and Steel: The Fates of Human Societies

This political science classic from NYT Bestseller and Pulitzer Prize Winner Jared Diamond explores history's great societies through the lenses of foundational principles including three major topics: weapons, disease, and raw manufacturing capabilities. By dissecting the factors behind what makes nations rise and fall, Diamond reveals new insights into the fate of fallen societies... and the future for those still standing. ♠

Get it on Amazon: Guns, Germs, and Steel: The Fates of Human Societies. (referral link).

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♠ Saved Rounds

• ​Unfurl the Banners! - The case for privateers in the 21st Century.
• ​Cartels in Europe? - Vice reports on Narco-violence in the Netherlands.
• ​Gadhafi's Jet - Slain dictator's custom Airbus is abandoned on a runway in France.
• ​Aliens in Florida - Locals mistake ballistic missile launch for UFO.

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♠ Closing Quote

“Hard pressed on my right. My center is yielding. Impossible to maneuver. Situation excellent. I am attacking.”

― Ferdinand Foch at the Battle of the Marne

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♠ We Need Your Feedback!

The SITREP is a project dedicated to informing and educating ground-level leaders in the military, government, and private sector with approachable foreign policy and military news. In order to improve, we need to hear from you, SITREP readers. What did you like about this edition? What do you think we should add? Do you prefer deep dives into a few topics (like today), or more topics with shorter summaries (like SITREP 001)? Let us know by replying to this email (team@thesitrep.co) or by hitting us up on Instagram @the__sitrep.

Stay Sharp,

-SITREP Staff

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