Historically, I tend to keep you readership abreast of changes in Japan's military regarding government status and disposition. As such, you are all now well aware of the fact that Japan can do a whole lot more militarily than they have been allowed to do for a very long time. This, based off of the nation's revision of Article 9 of its constitution. We remember that … [Read more...] about Japan’s military makes the switch to offense
This poor girl can't win for losin'. I've been pretty on the ball with giving you cats a decent run-down on this whole cluster, and I've been pretty upfront about how this thing is only going to end with epic amounts of drama and legal shenanigans. The shit happening to South Korea's recently ousted president, Park Geun-hye—the shit that she has brought upon herself—is exactly … [Read more...] about SITREP: Ousted South Korean President Park Geun-hye
Ahlan, sports fans. Since you frequent SOFREP, you are no doubt well informed. And since you are well informed, you'll know that the Northern Korean Twin is flaring up like a pack of hemorrhoids. What started as nut-flexing for NK's fearless leader turned into a scene from The Interview, as the internationally televised "big event" fell flat on it's face. At this point, … [Read more...] about Japanese government issues citizens DEFCON warning because of North Korea
Just a few hours ago, South Korea's constitutional court followed through with their impeachment proceedings, and dismissed President Park Geun-hye...unanimously. I am certain this will not be the last installment in what has been a long and twisted plot. I brought everyone into it fairly recently here , and here. As you'll get with just about political dynasty, the drama's … [Read more...] about South Korean President Park Gets Shown the Door
SOCOM's got an OPSEC (OPerational SECurity) problem. Or is it an OSINT (Open Source INTelligence) problem? Maybe both. The lines blur. I know what both terms mean (you should look them up if you don't). And I know how they both apply in theory, and practice. The practical application of both, in the following tale, is nothing short of a joke. Idle hands are the Devil's … [Read more...] about SOCOM’s Operational Security Problem
As you all may have heard by now, Japan's Prime Minister, Shinzo Abe (Abe Shinzo, in Japanese) visited the US, and POTUS Trump. That visit went swimmingly. Everything that had been previously covered J-side by SecDef Mattis was solidified, blessed, and signed off on. And there was that awkward handshake. (Lemme sidebar here a teensy bit. Standard info ratlines have gone … [Read more...] about The long handshake: Trump and Abe seal the gap
Immediately after taking office as the current Secretary of Defense of the United States, Secretary Mattis set to work on the US's Defense and National Policy posture in the AOR (Area of Responsibility) of yours truly. With visits to both South Korea and Japan, SecDef made it absolutely crystal clear what his disposition--and the disposition of his boss--was. This was the … [Read more...] about Secretary of Defense Mattis’ Northeast Asia
Tuesday, the USN 7th Fleet Ticonderoga-class guided missile cruiser, the USS Antietam (CG-54), ran aground off the Japanese coast. No one was hurt. More than 1,000 gallons of oil were lost in the drink, though. The ship, commanded by Captain Joseph Carrigan, anchored in high winds near Yokosuka (its port). The ship drug anchor. As the crew got the ship underway, they … [Read more...] about US Navy Ship runs aground
Recently, the video below has been circulating showing Daesh using a small hand-launched tactical drone (or just remote control airplane)... In this video, you can see two Daesh members walking out in the desert in their sweet desert pattern pajamas and ski masks. Then, on a cliff side--in hi-def Hollywood slow-mo--they launch it. SPOILER ALERT: The video appears to be … [Read more...] about Watch: Daesh makes a drone movie
This past year brought us a number of firsts. Like, for instance, a dude who's never held political office or a military command was elected POTUS. Or, the U.S. won a record 121 medals at the Rio Olympics. A private space company vertically landed a rocket. We also witnessed the first presidential visit to Hiroshima, Japan since World War II. And, while there, there was this … [Read more...] about The slow dance of pseudo apologies: The US and Japan need to make nice
South Korea's [current] 11th President, Park Geun-hye (whose current "situation" I recently covered here, was recently impeached. This impeachment carries with it a 180 day suspension of duties and authorities. All of which have been subsumed by the current PM. In my last article on the subject, I covered just about all the causes leading up to this ultimate effect. … [Read more...] about South Korea’s President gets a time-out
When I think of a scandal, I think of meat-n-taters stuff like marital infidelity, shady money stuff, Weinerish kid sexting, pedo-island, or Patty Smyth "shootin' down the walls of heartache." But in case you haven't been keeping up with the craziness happening outside the craziness that's been happening in the U.S. 0f late...South Korea is going completely apeshit. Lemme … [Read more...] about South Korean presidential scandal becoming increasingly tangled
