Cider: Ace Hard Pumpkin Cider

This delightful little cider is one for the season. Fast becoming a favorite here around the house. This Cider provides a all spice pumpkin mix that goes down smooth and does not have the same cloying taste as many seasonal try hards who are trying to capitalize on the popularity of Pumpkin & Spiced drinks.

Would recommend.

Song of the day 27 OCT 14: Motionless in White - Reincarnate

Motionless In White - "Reincarnate" Music Video: http://youtu.be/CVQC3bx_AXs

Forces in Profile: Iraqi Special Operations Forces

The Iraqi Special Operations Forces are a group of Elite soldiers created in 2003 by the Coalition. This force, who draws the majority of its personnel from Kurdish and Shia Iraqis, was initially trained by US special forces in Jordan, and as a result sports much of the same tactics and equipment as their US counter parts.
Given the Secular nature of the conflict in Iraq there have been, and are constant fears that this mostly Kurdish/Shia force would follow the pattern set by other Iraqi

forces of persecuting Sunnis. However given the highly professional Nature of this force incidents that are, and were endemic of the Iraqi National Police, and secular Iraqi Army Units are largley absent from this unit.

Additional Resources:
ISOF
Strategy Page Article
ISOF Gold Face Book Page

Military News: QF16 , the $15+mil target

Recently the US Air-force (USAF) announced the flight of its first QF16. They had recently given Boeing a contract ($70mil) to convert its aging fleet of F16 trainers into QF16 target drones. At the average cost of $15mil a pop at construction, these trainers are not cheap targets, however the USAF figures it will be a bargain since the Aircraft are available (First QF16 to take flight had been mothballed for 15 years). So there is no build cost, just the contract and conversion costs.



After the announcement there are two questions that quickly come to mind. 
One: Is it worth spending so much money on these one shot targets? Surely at our level of technology and logistical pull we could create and field low cost, high speed/mobility drones.
Two: Would it be feasible, and probably more cost effective, to convert these Trainers into Attack Drones rather than Targets?
Three: With the US contracts to foreign Nations, would they not be able to sell these surplus aircraft for pure gain?

Additional Resources:
Wired: QF16 Article
Boeing: QF16
BBC: QF16

Song of the Day 26 Sep 13 PT2: Heavan Shall Burn- Hunters Will be Hunted

Song of the Day 26 SEP 2013: Marathonmann - Holzschwert

Song of the Day 24SEP13: Sabaton - Swedish Pagans