Missile Fragments Add To Evidence MQ-9 Reaper Drone Carried Out Venezuela Strike
https://www.twz.com/air/missile-fragments-add-to-evidence-mq-9-reaper-drone- carried-out-venezuela-strike CDR Mike Brattland, USN (Ret.) <mailto:mgbrattland@gerlecreek.com> mgbrattland@gerlecreek.com <mailto:mgbrattland@brattland.org> mgbrattland@brattland.org Admin/Moderator SanDiegoCarGuys List & Calendar of Events <mailto:sandiegocarguys@brattland.org> sandiegocarguys@brattland.org 619 454-0496 '38 Willys 2 Dr Sedan Webmaster for <http://www.brattland.org/> www.brattland.org <http://www.overthehillgang.com/> www.overthehillgang.com <http://www.overdrivehotrodnews.com/> www.overdrivehotrodnews.com <http://www.gerlecreek.org/> www.gerlecreek.org <http://www.helobubbas.com/> www.helobubbas.com <http://www.prowlers.org/> www.prowlers.org <http://www.gerlecreek.com/> www.gerlecreek.com <http://www.ford6vcarburetion.com/> www.ford6vcarburetion.com <http://www.westcoastwillysclub.com/> www.westcoastwillysclub.com <http://www.nssha.org/> www.nssha.org <http://www.nhahistoricalsociety.org/> www.nhahistoricalsociety.org <https://sh60fhoas.nhahistoricalsociety.org/> https://sh60fhoas.nhahistoricalsociety.org/
There were certainly plenty of them within striking distance. I think Colombia and Cuba might be next. It’s actually interesting how little naval activity is taking place here. One thing that I also found interesting is that it was a super moon that night. I flew into Miami at 6 am that morning and it was one of the biggest, brightest moons I’ve seen in a while. Very noticeable under the crystal clear skies. I looked it up and moonrise in Caracas was around 7 pm that night and didn’t set until 12 hours later with almost 100% illumination. Certainly not a SOF guy so no idea if it means anything or not, but I always thought darker was better for these kinds of things. On Sun, Jan 4, 2026 at 2:58 PM <mgbrattland@gerlecreek.com> wrote:
https://www.twz.com/air/missile-fragments-add-to-evidence-mq-9-reaper-drone-...
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Brian must have been flying about the same time I was. I took off out of Vegas around 10PM arriving MIA sometime after 5 eastern and it was quite bright that night. It also created some havoc with airlines doing anything around the Caribbean. No gate for us for somewhat of a wait due to a bunch of San Juan flights that got cancelled or altered. If anyone is wondering about where a fair bit of this was coming from. Aguadilla, PR was a former SAC base I mentioned in a previous thread. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ramey_Air_Force_Base I imagine between it and GTMO and whatever shipping we had along with things that could be tanked from all over. My limited time to follow up on this event I haven't picked up on if anything besides snatching the high value targets has continued on. Social media seems full of intrigue on the wider potential effects of this. I have not seen where we have any boots on the ground there right now and maybe I missed it. It would seem we should have some sort of presence there for any of this to go forward and also to maybe ease the fears of reprisals by forces loyal. I need to catch up on that stuff. Seems like we need a insurgent element in Cuba and to do a psyop there to allow people there to get real information and maybe enable them to free themselves which would be optimal. We certainly have plenty of people here who know the country and people and could blend in there instantly. This is probably not the end state but Cuba seems like it would make a fine US state along with Alberta.. only kinda kidding. If they self determine this on their own only with a little help and it's what those people want after a transition and deprogramming period from decades of failed communism. We do seem to have a spreading issue of commies at home that need to be dealt with. On Mon, Jan 5, 2026 at 5:02 AM Brian Miller <brianjmiller1977@gmail.com> wrote:
There were certainly plenty of them within striking distance. I think Colombia and Cuba might be next. It’s actually interesting how little naval activity is taking place here. One thing that I also found interesting is that it was a super moon that night. I flew into Miami at 6 am that morning and it was one of the biggest, brightest moons I’ve seen in a while. Very noticeable under the crystal clear skies. I looked it up and moonrise in Caracas was around 7 pm that night and didn’t set until 12 hours later with almost 100% illumination. Certainly not a SOF guy so no idea if it means anything or not, but I always thought darker was better for these kinds of things.
On Sun, Jan 4, 2026 at 2:58 PM <mgbrattland@gerlecreek.com> wrote:
https://www.twz.com/air/missile-fragments-add-to-evidence-mq-9-reaper-drone-...
*CDR Mike Brattland, USN (Ret.) mgbrattland@gerlecreek.com <mgbrattland@gerlecreek.com> *
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I guess I missed the news that Rosy Roads was re-opened. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roosevelt_Roads_Naval_Station Wonder if Al Sharpton will try and get it closed again... On Mon, Jan 5, 2026 at 5:56 AM Kevin Black <kblack1967@gmail.com> wrote:
Brian must have been flying about the same time I was. I took off out of Vegas around 10PM arriving MIA sometime after 5 eastern and it was quite bright that night. It also created some havoc with airlines doing anything around the Caribbean. No gate for us for somewhat of a wait due to a bunch of San Juan flights that got cancelled or altered. If anyone is wondering about where a fair bit of this was coming from. Aguadilla, PR was a former SAC base I mentioned in a previous thread. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ramey_Air_Force_Base I imagine between it and GTMO and whatever shipping we had along with things that could be tanked from all over. My limited time to follow up on this event I haven't picked up on if anything besides snatching the high value targets has continued on. Social media seems full of intrigue on the wider potential effects of this. I have not seen where we have any boots on the ground there right now and maybe I missed it. It would seem we should have some sort of presence there for any of this to go forward and also to maybe ease the fears of reprisals by forces loyal. I need to catch up on that stuff. Seems like we need a insurgent element in Cuba and to do a psyop there to allow people there to get real information and maybe enable them to free themselves which would be optimal. We certainly have plenty of people here who know the country and people and could blend in there instantly. This is probably not the end state but Cuba seems like it would make a fine US state along with Alberta.. only kinda kidding. If they self determine this on their own only with a little help and it's what those people want after a transition and deprogramming period from decades of failed communism. We do seem to have a spreading issue of commies at home that need to be dealt with.
On Mon, Jan 5, 2026 at 5:02 AM Brian Miller <brianjmiller1977@gmail.com> wrote:
There were certainly plenty of them within striking distance. I think Colombia and Cuba might be next. It’s actually interesting how little naval activity is taking place here. One thing that I also found interesting is that it was a super moon that night. I flew into Miami at 6 am that morning and it was one of the biggest, brightest moons I’ve seen in a while. Very noticeable under the crystal clear skies. I looked it up and moonrise in Caracas was around 7 pm that night and didn’t set until 12 hours later with almost 100% illumination. Certainly not a SOF guy so no idea if it means anything or not, but I always thought darker was better for these kinds of things.
On Sun, Jan 4, 2026 at 2:58 PM <mgbrattland@gerlecreek.com> wrote:
https://www.twz.com/air/missile-fragments-add-to-evidence-mq-9-reaper-drone-...
*CDR Mike Brattland, USN (Ret.) mgbrattland@gerlecreek.com <mgbrattland@gerlecreek.com> *
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I think dark skies are better if you have your scene detail and position well understood and are using ground based designators for strikes over large open areas and things like that. But if you're inserting into unfamiliar urban areas, you're gonna need light in some form- IR illuminators or the Moon, for NVG performance to be effective especially when moving quickly. (at least, using the types of devices conventional forces are flying with). I read that we knocked the power out to the entire base complex so there wasn't much cultural lighting in the target area. I suspect the risk of CFIT was deemed more concerning than the need for covert movement, but it will be interesting to see if we learn more about the rationale behind the weather go/no-go criteria. On Mon, Jan 5, 2026 at 8:02 AM Brian Miller <brianjmiller1977@gmail.com> wrote:
There were certainly plenty of them within striking distance. I think Colombia and Cuba might be next. It’s actually interesting how little naval activity is taking place here. One thing that I also found interesting is that it was a super moon that night. I flew into Miami at 6 am that morning and it was one of the biggest, brightest moons I’ve seen in a while. Very noticeable under the crystal clear skies. I looked it up and moonrise in Caracas was around 7 pm that night and didn’t set until 12 hours later with almost 100% illumination. Certainly not a SOF guy so no idea if it means anything or not, but I always thought darker was better for these kinds of things.
On Sun, Jan 4, 2026 at 2:58 PM <mgbrattland@gerlecreek.com> wrote:
https://www.twz.com/air/missile-fragments-add-to-evidence-mq-9-reaper-drone-...
*CDR Mike Brattland, USN (Ret.) mgbrattland@gerlecreek.com <mgbrattland@gerlecreek.com> *
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