“Anybody See My F-35?”

The US Armed Forces’ incompetence is staggering [The Rude Awakening] September 19, 2023 [WEBSITE]( | [UNSUBSCRIBE]( “Anybody See My F-35?” - For reasons unknown yet, a pilot ejected from a F-35B. - The plane was flying over South Carolina. - After ejection, the plane kept going… and going… and going. [An $85 Trillion Gold Shock Is Coming]( [James Altucher]( A [massive $85 trillion shock]( is set to hit the gold market in the next few days. Because of that, I predict anyone who gets in today could see the chance to make a potential fortune. Hurry, though. Once this event begins, you’ll be too late. [Click here right away for the urgent details](. [Click Here To Learn More]( [Sean Ring] SEAN RING Good morning from a cool gray Asti. A few days ago, I misplaced my phone. Pam, annoyed at me for the umpteenth time for losing my phone in our apartment, said, “I’d call it, but you never put your damn ringer on!” I sheepishly looked away. I hate it when she’s so coldly right. Of course, I always find it in the end. But it’s a needless waste of time, exacerbated by the fact that I can’t just ring it to find it. But last night, I felt better. Much better. Sometimes, the newsletter gods just throw me grapefruits. Seriously. I mean, on what other timeline could I check Zero Hedge and have it read, “[Military missing F-35]( But before I get into this episode, let’s revisit the F-35, the hole in the sky the USG continues to pour money into. Chronology of the F-35 I’ve written about this budgetary disaster before, but let’s review the timeline again. This way, you can see how long this saga has been going on… and how much it’s cost. - 2001: The Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) program is launched to develop a new fifth-generation fighter jet for the US Air Force, Navy, and Marine Corps, as well as for allied nations. - 2002: Lockheed Martin is awarded the JSF contract. - 2006: The first F-35 prototype makes its maiden flight. - 2007: The F-35 program begins to experience significant cost overruns and developmental delays. - 2011: The F-35 program undergoes a major restructuring to reduce costs and accelerate development. - 2012: The first F-35 is delivered to the US Air Force. - 2013: The F-35 begins initial operational testing and evaluation (IOT&E). - 2014: The US Government Accountability Office (GAO) criticizes the F-35 program in a report that finds it’s still facing significant challenges and is unlikely to meet its cost and schedule goals. - 2015: The F-35 program is delayed another year, with the first full-rate production aircraft now scheduled for delivery in 2019. - 2016: The F-35 program is again delayed, with the first full-rate production aircraft now scheduled for delivery in 2021. - 2017: The F-35 program is yet again delayed, with the first full-rate production aircraft now scheduled for delivery in 2023. - 2018: The Pentagon criticized the F-35 program in a report that finds it still faces significant problems and is unlikely to meet its cost and schedule goals. - 2019: The first full-rate production F-35 is delivered to the US Air Force. - 2020: The GAO criticizes the F-35 program in a second report that finds it still faces significant problems and is unlikely to meet its cost and schedule goals. - 2021: The F-35 program is further delayed, with the full-rate production schedule now pushed back by two years. - 2022: - Several problems, including supply chain issues, engine problems, and software glitches, plague the F-35 program. - In February 2022, the Pentagon temporarily paused fighter deliveries because it discovered a Chinese-made part was used in production. - In August 2022, deliveries were paused again after an F-35 crashed in Texas. - In December 2022, the GAO released yet another report that found that the F-35 program still needs to improve and is unlikely to meet its cost and schedule goals. - 2023: - The F-35 program continues to be plagued by problems, including those same supply chain issues, engine problems, and software glitches. - In addition to the cost and schedule problems, the F-35 program has also been plagued by a few technical issues. These problems include: - Issues with the stealth coating - Problems with sustained supersonic flight - Issues with the helmet-mounted display - Excessive vibration from the cannon - Vulnerability to being hit by lightning The F-35 program has also been criticized for its lack of spare parts and high maintenance costs. Despite its numerous problems, the F-35 is allegedly the most advanced fighter jet in the world. It is also the most expensive fighter jet ever built, with a total program cost of over $1.5 trillion. The US military expects the F-35 to remain in service for several decades. (I don’t share their optimism.) However, the program's many problems have led to calls for its cancellation or downsizing. I think a cancellation is much more likely. But to be honest, I’m not sure the Pentagon accountants have ever heard of “sunk costs.” [AI Discovers Breakthrough New Cancer Treatment?]( [Click here to learn more]( Just recently, scientists in Canada were able to use AI to create a new cancer treatment in less than 30 days! Now, cancer alone is a significant market worth hundreds of billions of dollars annually… Just think about the implications if AI were to find a cure and take over this market. Now take a moment to picture what might happen if AI were to cure other diseases like Alzheimer’s… heart disease… and more – as I fully expect it will… [It could be worth trillions of dollars of economic impact – and keep in mind we’re still only talking about one industry](. The fact is, AI is the single biggest innovation in the history of humanity. That’s why I believe anyone who invests now – while this new technology is still in its infancy – could see the chance at making generational profits. [Click here now to see the 3 tiny AI stocks best positioned to profit](. [Click Here To Learn More]( What Happened This Time? According to [Zero Hedge]( On Sunday afternoon, Joint Base Charleston, an air base in North Charleston, was working with Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort to "locate an F-35 that was involved in a mishap". The pilot ejected safely from F-35B Lightning II, but there were no immediate crash reports. The fact that the $140 million stealth fighter disappeared without any reports of a crash means it might have gone down in a sparsely populated area. [The Drive]( pointed out, "The DoD is saying the F-35B was put on autopilot prior to the ejection." Military expert and former British military officer Frank Ledwidge told [Newsweek]( the F-35 "could likely travel hundreds of miles without its pilot." "Historically, an aircraft without a pilot can fly a long way on autopilot," added Frederik Mertens, a military analyst with the Hague Center for Security Studies. [The Washington Post]( quoted Jeremy Huggins, a spokesman at Joint Base Charleston, who said the F-35's transponder was not working "for some reason that we haven't yet determined." Thank heavens, my iPhone doesn’t have wings! I’d never find it… At least the government wasn’t shy about asking for help: [TeamCharlseton tweet] Credit: [@TeamCharleston]( But the funnies just kept coming: [thebabylonbee tweet] Credit: [@The BabylonBee]( [ramblerants tweet] Credit: [@ramble_rants]( [thebabylonbees] Credit: [@The BabylonBee]( Wrap-Up If you didn’t laugh, you’d cry. The last time I wrote about the F-35, we learned [it can’t fly near lightning](. Now, it seems like it can fly off a long way without its pilot… and any way to find out where it went. These are your tax dollars at work. Maybe it’s time for the Pentagon to put them to better use. Have a great day! All the best, [Sean Ring] Sean Ring Editor, Rude Awakening X (formerly Twitter): [@seaniechaos]( In Case You Missed It… Iran to Afghanistan: “Water You Doing?” [Sean Ring] SEAN RING Good morning from lovely Il Piemonte! I hope you had a restful, relaxing weekend. Pam and I are taking the train this morning to Turin, where we’ll meet with our bankers regarding this damn house and mortgage again. This stuff takes forever in Italy, especially since no one shows up for work in August! But as we were waiting for our bankers and brokers to return from the beach, I watched a fascinating YouTube video from CaspianReport titled, “[Why Iran and Afghanistan are headed to war]( Credit to CR, as most of this piece’s information is from Shirvan and his team. I thought, “Well, who isn’t going to war these days?” My second thought was, “Why would these two?” I knew they shared a tricky border, but Iran didn’t get too involved in the Afghan War for fear of pissing off the USG even more than it already was. So, I watched. From the video, I could only come to two conclusions. The first is countries can’t do anything without water. The second is because of the first, they’re happy to go to war over it. Unless… unless… they can find a way out if cooler heads prevail. Before I jump into this specific water rights issue, let me show you the myriad issues going on… on every continent! The Current Issues This lists the “Top Ten” current water rights issues besides the Helmand. Some are more pressing than others. - Nile River Basin: Egypt, Sudan, and Ethiopia have been in a long-standing dispute over constructing and filling the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) on the Nile River. This dispute revolves around the allocation of water resources and the potential impacts on downstream countries. - Tigris and Euphrates Rivers: Turkey, Syria, and Iraq have had ongoing disagreements regarding water sharing from the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers. Turkey's construction of dams and irrigation projects has been a source of tension in the region. - Mekong River: Countries along the Mekong River, including China, Myanmar, Laos, Thailand, Cambodia, and Vietnam, have been dealing with issues related to water management and dam construction, affecting downstream countries' water availability and ecosystems. - Indus River: India and Pakistan have had disputes over the sharing of waters from the Indus River system. The Indus Water Treaty has somewhat managed this issue, but tensions still arise. - Danube River: Various European countries, including Hungary, Slovakia, and Ukraine, have had disagreements over the use and management of the Danube River, particularly regarding water quality and navigation. - Jordan River: Israel, Jordan, and Palestine have experienced water disputes due to the scarcity of water resources in the region. There have been efforts to find cooperative solutions, but challenges persist. - Rio Grande/Rio Bravo: The United States and Mexico have a long history of disputes over water use from the Rio Grande/Rio Bravo, particularly during drought. - La Plata Basin: Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, and Uruguay have had disputes over the utilization and management of the water resources in the La Plata Basin. - Niger River: Upstream countries like Mali and Niger have been accused of limiting the flow of the Niger River, affecting downstream Nigeria. - Rhine River: Germany, France, and the Netherlands have had to cooperate in managing water quality and navigation in the Rhine River. There are quite a few flashpoints there. The Nile, believe it or not, certainly deserves the top spot. China wanted Tibet so badly precisely because that’s where the Mekong originates. For India and Pakistan, The Indus is just another thing to argue about. The Niger River issue may come to the fore thanks to Niger’s expulsion of the French. But let’s talk about a problem in a more ancient part of the world. [9/20: The Beginning Of A Brand-New Inflation Surge?]( [James Altucher]( Inflation officially peaked in June 2022 at 9.1% -- and ever since, it’s come back down to just 3.2%. But if you think the worst of this crisis is over, think again… Will Sept. 20 mark the beginning of a new – and far more serious – inflation surge? [Click here now to see my urgent warning.]( [Click Here To Learn More]( Ancient Geography The Helmand River originates in the Hindu Kush mountains of Afghanistan. It flows into Iran's Sistan Basin, a region that has recently faced severe droughts. The river has been a source of contention between Iran and Afghanistan for over a century. Of course, since the British drew their border, this should be no surprise. It’s about as good a job as the [Sykes-Picot Agreement]( that carved up the western part of the Middle East into European spheres of influence. The water dispute between the two nations is rooted in the Helmand River Treaty of 1973, which was never ratified. This treaty allocated 820 million cubic meters of water annually to Iran, with the potential for an additional 4 billion cubic meters in times of surplus. [Map] Credit: [International Water Law Project Blog]( Dam! However, the situation changed dramatically with the construction of the Kajaki Dam in Afghanistan. This dam impounded 50 million cubic meters of water, preventing it from flowing downstream into Iran. After the 2020 Doha agreement signaled an American withdrawal, the Taliban's engagement deepened. The rapid collapse of the Afghan Republic caught many, including the Iranians, off guard. This coincided with the height of the COVID pandemic and widespread water shortages in Iran, leading to nationwide protests and a heavy-handed government response. [Map] Credit: 097ллл - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, [ In July 2022, Iran's president, Ibrahim Raisi, pushed Kabul for a greater water share. The Taliban retaliated by initiating the second phase of the Kajaki Dam, threatening to impound another 1 billion cubic meters of water. This maneuver placed Iran's water security under even more significant strain. A new influx of Afghan refugees heightened tensions, fueling Iran's concerns of separatism in its southeastern regions. There are, however, areas of mutual interest between the two sides. Can They Make Peace Before War? The Taliban has eradicated poppy cultivation, which had soared under the US-installed Afghan Republic. (Surprise, surprise.) Strict enforcement of counternarcotics has seen opium production fall nearly 99% in Taliban strongholds. Many farmers have switched to wheat, leading to slimmer profit margins and occasional violent clashes between Taliban militants and farmers. By assisting the Taliban, Iran could potentially curb trafficking at its source, easing the strain on its counternarcotics efforts. Climate change allegedly further complicates the situation. Opium is more lucrative and less water-intensive than conventional agriculture. Any lapse in enforcement could see poppy yields return to their pre-eradication levels within a single season. For cooperation between the Taliban and Iran, advances in minority rights in eastern Iran are essential. This region has significant anti-Afghan sentiment, primarily due to refugees, border security issues, and an opioid crisis the Iranians see as an Afghan problem. The Taliban's attempts to establish Pashtun cultural hegemony negatively impacted its Persian-speaking minorities. This includes the suppression of Persian literature and language in favor of Pashto. Concessions on this front are necessary. Additionally, a properly ratified treaty needs to address the water rights issue. Both Iran and the Taliban share a commitment to the Helmand Water Treaty. But since it was never ratified, Afghanistan, where the water originates, holds the upper hand in negotiations. The Taliban remains the de facto sovereign authority in Afghanistan, regardless of legal technicalities. Eventually, Iran may recognize the Taliban because it provides greater protection to its ethnoreligious kin within Afghanistan. This would open dispute resolution procedures available under the Helmand River Treaty. Settling the dispute is in the mutual interest of both parties, as shared security issues necessitate it. Beyond that, neither side can afford new enemies. Their differences are significant in religious, cultural, and ethnolinguistic terms. In this case, tolerance is a good starting point. Agreement can come later. Wrap-Up My friend and colleague Byron King loves to talk about minerals and mining, and for good reason. But perhaps the earth’s most precious resource deserves more attention. After all, without water, we wouldn’t have our morning coffee! Have a wonderful week ahead. All the best, [Sean Ring] Sean Ring Editor, Rude Awakening X (formerly Twitter): [@seaniechaos]( [Paradigm]( ☰ ⊗ [ARCHIVE]( [ABOUT]( [Contact Us]( © 2023 Paradigm Press, LLC. 808 Saint Paul Street, Baltimore MD 21202. By submitting your email address, you consent to Paradigm Press, LLC. delivering daily email issues and advertisements. To end your Rude Awakening e-mail subscription and associated external offers sent from Rude Awakening, feel free to [click here.]( Please note: the mailbox associated with this email address is not monitored, so do not reply to this message. We welcome comments or suggestions at feedback@rudeawakening.info. This address is for feedback only. 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