James48
James48's JournalUS may not have capacity to take down full barrage of Iranian drones, officials warn
Source: The Guardian
Top military officials told lawmakers in a closed door briefing on Tuesday that they may not be able to shoot down every Iranian drone being launched against US military installations and assets in retaliatory attacks, according to two people familiar with the matter.
The officials, led by the chair of the joint chiefs of staff, Gen Dan Caine, said Iran has been deploying thousands of one-way attack drones and while they have capacity to take down the vast majority but not all of the barrage.
As a result, the officials said in a classified briefing for lawmakers on Capitol Hill, the US was focused on destroying the launch sites for the drones and conventional missiles as quickly as possible. The people spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive details.
In retaliation against US strikes, Iran has been launching its low-cost, one-way attack Shahed drones. By flying low and slow, the drones are seen to be better able to evade conventional air defenses than ballistic missiles.
A senior administration official said Iran’s apparent drone strategy – to get the US to sacrifice its most sophisticated Patriot and Thaad interceptors – was misguided and unsuccessful because the US has been downing the drones with several different measures.
Read more: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/mar/04/us-interceptors-iranian-drones
Trump said we have unlimited ammo. The Joint Chiefs say we are shooting down $20,000 drones with $4 million missiles, and will be running out soon.
US submarine sinks Iranian warship as conflict spreads beyond Middle East
Source: The Guardian
Update: 87 Bodies recovered, still around 70 missing. Only 32 survivors of the Iranian frigate sunk this morning by a U.S. Submarine off Sri Lanka.
A torpedo fired by a US submarine sank an Iranian warship off the south coast of Sri Lanka as the Trump administration followed through on its threats to destroy Tehran’s military and political leadership. At least 87 Iranian sailors were killed in the attack on the Iris Dena on Wednesday. The frigate was sailing in international waters as it returned from a naval exercise organised by India in the Bay of Bengal. The torpedo strike prompted questions from former US officials about whether Washington’s aim of eliminating all of Iran’s military breached international law.
The incident came as the US-Israeli air assault on Iran continued for a fifth day, with Washington officials warning that strikes would soon hit targets “deeper” in Iran. US forces also targeted pro-Iranian militias in Iraq, while the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) announced that it would continue missile and drone strikes on targets throughout the Middle East.
Pete Hegseth, the ex-Fox News host now leading the Pentagon as defence secretary, confirmed that the US sank the Iris Dena as it sailed close to the Sri Lankan coast. The Pentagon released black-and-white footage of a Mark 48 heavyweight torpedo striking the frigate, sending a geyser of seawater into the air. “ An American submarine sank an Iranian warship that thought it was safe in international waters,” Hegseth said. He said the attack was carried out late on Tuesday night.
“It was sunk by a torpedo, a quiet death – the first sinking of an enemy ship by a torpedo since World War II,” added Hegseth. “Like in that war, back when we were still the war department, we are fighting to win.”
Read more: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/mar/04/us-submarine-torpedo-iran-warship-sri-lanka-coast-pete-hegseth
There is a video at the link of the actual torpedo strike on the ship.
Extensive article about the attack and body recovery taking place.
This is an update to earlier reports- this one includes a more substantial death toll.
Pentagon identifies four of the Army Reserve troops killed Sunday in Kuwait
Source: Stars and Stripes
The Defense Department has identified four Army Reserve soldiers who died in Operation Epic Fury, the U.S. and Israeli campaign against Iran: • Capt. Cody A. Khork, 35, of Winter Haven, Fla. • Sgt. 1st Class Noah L. Tietjens, 42, Bellevue, Nebraska, Sgt. 1st Class Nicole M. Amor, 39, of White Bear Lake, Minn. • Sgt. Declan J. Coady, 20, of West Des Moines, Iowa. The soldiers died Sunday in Port Shuaiba, Kuwait, during an unmanned aircraft system attack, according to a Pentagon news release Tuesday. All four were assigned to the 103rd Sustainment Command, Des Moines, Iowa. The incident is under investigation.
Read more: https://www.stripes.com/theaters/us/2026-03-03/army-reserve-troops-identified-20942573.html
They were Army Reserve members.
Russian shadow fleet LNG tanker ablaze southeast of Malta after suspected drone attack
Source: Malta Today
• A Russian-flagged Liquified Natural Gas (LNG) tanker is struck in a suspected drone attack in international waters southeast of Malta • German military marine patrol aircraft circling over the vessel
An LNG tanker, part of Russia's sanctioned shadow fleet, is ablaze in international waters to the southeast of Malta after reportedly being struck by a Ukrainian maritime drone.
Sources close to the Maltese military told MaltaToday that the Armed Forces of Malta deployed an aircraft over the burning vessel shortly after the incident was communicated on maritime radio channels. The sources said the vessel is currently being assisted by another commercial vessel and all crew on board were accounted for.
The incident is understood to have occurred some 150 nautical miles in international waters southeast off Malta. The sources suggested that the incident happened in Libyan search and rescue area. The vessel's current location is not known but aircraft tracking website Flightradar 24 shows that a German military maritime patrol aircraft that departed from Sigonella in Sicily has been circling intensely over an area to Malta's southeast for around three hours.
The Russian-flagged vessel, Arctic Metagaz, was just outside Maltese territorial waters on Hurd's Bank some 23 hours ago, according to ship-tracking website VesselFinder.
Read more: https://www.maltatoday.com.mt/news/national/140097/russian_shadow_fleet_lng_tanker_ablaze_southeast_of_malta_after_suspected_drone_attack1
This is huge- it appears to be an attack on a Russian tanker in the Mediterranean. NOT the Persian Gulf. It’s not clear who attacked- it may bE Ukrainian, or could be Iranian. Nobody is claiming it yet. Just happened today.
It means war has spread to the Med.
6 US service members have died as result of Iran attacks, CENTCOM says
Source: Stars and Stripes
Two more U.S. service members have died as part of Operation Epic Fury against Iran, raising the toll to six as of 4 p.m. ET Monday, U.S. Central Command said. “U.S. forces recently recovered the remains of two previously unaccounted for service members from a facility that was struck during Iran’s initial attacks in the region,” CENTCOM said in a post on X. The identities of the service members are being withheld until next of kin can be notified.
Source - Stars and Stripes
Read more: https://www.stripes.com/theaters/middle_east/2026-03-02/6-us-service-members-killed-iran-attacks-20931872.html
That makes six at the site in Kuwait. We lost a communications post.
At least 9 killed as Shiites storm US Consulate in Pakistan over killing of Iran's supreme leader
Source: Associated Press
KARACHI – At least nine people were killed and about two dozen were wounded in violent clashes with police and paramilitary forces Sunday after hundreds of protesters stormed the U.S. Consulate in the Pakistani port city of Karachi, authorities said.
The violence came hours after the United States and Israel attacked Iran and killed the country’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Police and officials at a hospital in Karachi said at least 25 people were also wounded in the clashes and some of them were in critical condition.
The U.S. Embassy in Pakistan wrote on X that it was monitoring reports of ongoing demonstrations at the U.S. Consulates General in Karachi and Lahore, as well as calls for additional protests at the U.S. Embassy in Islamabad and the Consulate General in Peshawar. It advised U.S. citizens in Pakistan to monitor local news, stay aware of their surroundings, avoid large crowds and keep their travel registration with the U.S. government up to date
Read more: https://www.clickondetroit.com/news/2026/03/01/at-least-6-killed-as-shiites-storm-us-consulate-in-pakistan-over-killing-of-irans-supreme-leader/
Even Pakistan is getting a violent response.
Counter strikes continue at U.S. Naval base in Bahrain
Source: Stars and Stripes
MANAMA, Bahrain — Iranian missiles and drones struck the headquarters of U.S. Naval Forces Central Command and residential buildings elsewhere in the island nation, as retaliatory attacks that began midday Saturday continued into early Sunday.
Shortly after the U.S. announced major combat operations in Iran this morning, military personnel and residents were warned about an incoming missile attack. Within minutes, explosions could be heard across the city and plumes of smoke were seen rising from the U.S. base. Missile and drone attacks have continued well into the night. Multiple explosions rocked the capital of Manama, as air raid warning sirens blared and armored vehicles convoyed along roads.
(Snip)
The U.S. has numerous installations across the Middle East that could be targets for Iranian strikes. In addition to Bahrain and Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar, home to thousands of American troops and their family members, there also are large bases in Kuwait and other locations where U.S. forces operate in Iraq. Bahrain hosts U.S. Naval Forces Central Command headquarters and the Navy’s 5th Fleet, with about 8,300 sailors stationed there. It is also one of the few accompanied postings in the region, with hundreds of spouses and family members living on the island. During the 12-day conflict with Iran last summer, many families temporarily left under an authorized departure.
Read more: https://www.stripes.com/theaters/middle_east/2026-02-28/strikes-on-bahrain-iran-israel-20902624.html
Lots of US Navy personnel are right there. This is not good. Iran has struck back in at least 8 nations now.
This is a good source to get updated info when they can. Stars and Stripes is a good source.
Revolution music
https://youtube.com/shorts/SySUi9h38sI?si=6sB6v6gp-h3iRLUyI like the music coming out now- another good one from Jesse Welles:
https://youtube.com/shorts/SySUi9h38sI?si=6sB6v6gp-h3iRLUy
Special Ed Teacher dead after ICE initiates high speed chase
Source: CNN
(CNN) — What was supposed to be a quiet studentless staff planning day for teachers at a Georgia public school turned into a day of mourning when a man fleeing immigration agents crashed a car into a cherished educator’s vehicle.
Linda Davis, a special education teacher in her first year at Herman W. Hesse K-8 School in Savannah, was killed Monday morning on her commute to the school. The driver of the car that hit her, Oscar Vasquez-Lopez, was arrested and charged with first degree homicide, reckless driving, driving without a valid license and failure to obey a traffic control device, according to the Chatham County Police.
The teacher’s death comes as the nation continues to debate the efficacy of the Trump administration’s mass immigration enforcement efforts, which have impacted people of all ages and races through arrests during traffic stops, at protests, workplace sweeps and outside schools.
Read more: https://www.cnn.com/2026/02/17/us/linda-davis-ice-savannah-ga?cid=ios_app
High speed chase For a failure to deport. Not even a felony. Just another Cosplay Cop trying to murder people.
IRS tasks more staff without any tax experience to process tax returns
(We need a forum for “Good Government”, and one for or federal workers. )
IRS tasks more staff without any tax experience to process tax returns
“This has the potential to be a disaster,” employees warn as the tax agency scrambles to prepare for the already underway filing season.
The Internal Revenue Service is transferring another batch of employees to assist during tax filing season, renewing concerns among the workforce that staff highly specialized in fields not directly related to taxes are being thrust into roles for which they have no qualification. The temporary reassignments follow IRS shedding tens of thousands of employees over the last year and come amid warnings from the agency’s watchdogs that it is ill-prepared for its busiest time of the year. IRS last week shifted hundreds of human resources employees into its taxpayer services office to assist with filing season workload and this week notified former IT staff that they too would work on issues related to tax returns and customer service.
IRS management is placing employees into contact representative and tax examiner roles, though emails obtained by Government Executive stated they will not engage with taxpayers directly or answer phones. Employees will evaluate and research records to answer inquiries from individual taxpayers or analyze tax returns to help correct accounts, the agency told impacted staff.
(Snip)
Employees who shared their new assignments with Government Executive worked in the IRS IT office until December, when they—along with about 1,500 colleagues—were transferred to the Office of the Chief Operating Officer. They have sat in limbo with no work assignments ever since. Now, they will work in Taxpayer Services for 120-day details that may be extended. “I am grateful for no longer sitting on my a-- wasting taxpayer money for months, but this has the potential to be a disaster,” said one detailed employee, noting the lack of relevant experience for those assigned to the new roles.
Employees said they have not received any specifics on what they will be doing outside of Zeigler’s email. They said they and their colleagues had no experience working on tax issues. . Another reassigned employee said they worked as a systems administrator and have spent their entire career in large, enterprise IT departments. “I don’t even do my own taxes at home, my wife does,” the person said. “I do IT, not taxes.”
Employees are set to begin training Feb. 23.
More: https://www.govexec.com/workforce/2026/02/irs-tasks-more-staff-without-any-tax-experience-process-tax-returns/411333/
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