Cobra Gold

[Bump]

I must really lead a sheltered life haven't noticed a thing this year.

10-day war games set to start

BangkokPost.com, Agencies
Thailand and the United States are to kick off their annual live-fire Cobra Gold war games this afternoon. They are the largest US war games in Asia, and will last through May 18, mostly in eastern Thailand.

This year, it has a focus on multinational peacekeeping operations. Troops from Japan, Singapore and Indonesia will participate directly, while many other countries will observe the action, both in the field and during computer simulations.

The war games come amid an intensifying insurgency in the South, and eight months after the military ousted elected prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra in a bloodless coup.

Last month, Bangkok rejected a US offer to help train Thai military forces to quell the insurgency in Muslim-majority provinces, where more than 2,100 people have been killed over the last three years.

The United States suspended $24 million in military aid to Thailand after the coup.

"The US position regarding September's coup is very clear, that it is very disappointed and (was) a setback for Thailand and (bilateral) relations," said Alexander Arvizu, the deputy chief of mission at the US embassy.

"For the exercise itself is a mutual interest of the US, Thailand, and other participants from Japan, Singapore and Indonesia to understand and train with each other," he told reporters.

The United States considers Thailand a non-NATO ally -- the closest US designation a foreign military not a member of the Western alliance can enjoy.

The war games were launched 26 years ago and originally limited to US and Thai troops.

This year, 3,090 personnel from Thailand would take part along with 2,000 US forces. Japan will send 47 troops, with 70 from Singapore and 27 from Indonesia. Forces from those three nations will only participate in computer simulations and observe humanitarian projects.

In earlier years, some 20,000 personnel participated in the war games, but the scale has gone down considerably in recent years.

Arvizu said the decrease was a result of US military actions in Iraq and Afghanistan, but was unrelated to the coup.

[pompui]

Off to Bangkok this evening to get away.How many of the 2000 are here in Udon?Hope the local girls are ready for the action!

[Doc]

Off to Bangkok this evening to get away.How many of the 2000 are here in Udon?Hope the local girls are ready for the action!

Don't know how many - but some of the Fly Boys were here this week end already. As usual, a very well behaved bunch.

The local girls aren't going to be getting too much action since the troops are all under strict curfews and are allowed out only in small groups. They get out long enough to eat a bit, and have a few drinks and then it is back to the hotels for them.

Since the majority of the "pleasure houses" have been closed down - their options there have been virtually eliminated.

[pompui]

But they could try for some action,the last time I checked was s/t 1000 and l/t 1500+ with the bargirls in the main drag. Any strays well anybody's guess and before anyone asks yes the girls will accept $25 s/t and $35 or more l/t.
I think Udon Thani needs a Lolita's bar (chuckwar? no good at spelling ) to help release pressure in the ball department.

[Doc]

What they are asking for, and what they are getting are going to be two different things, I fear. Shoot for the moon - and then take what they can get.

Unfortunately, most of the troops that come over here don't really know what the "actual prevailing" rates are - and it isn't information that the DOD hands out to them.

[rickfarang]

Gosh, didn't you guys hear the jets overhead this morning??????

They are certainly back at it.

[skipvice]

Here is the offical web site for Corba Gold.

http://www1.apan-info.net/tabid/2812/ne ... fault.aspx

[FrazeeDK]

looks like Cobra Gold 2016 has kicked off. We've had a USAF Special Operations MC-130 doing land and takeoffs from Udon RTAFB for 3 days now.. Just roared over my house doing a very short approach five minutes ago.. Bet they're booked into the Centara Hotel getting their big per diem...

[mak]

Cobra Gold ambassadors including US Ambassador Glyn T. Davies.

[rickfarang]

Yes, noticed them a couple of nights ago out on the town. Good timing for the bars as high season is winding down and they can use the additional traffic.

[mak]

The Cobra Gold military exercise will be held between February 22nd and March 4th and will be somewhat scaled down again, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, according a Thai military source.
https://www.thaipbsworld.com/scaled-dow ... o-march-4/

[Khun Paul]

I think as in previous years curfew is working well .

[FrazeeDK]

mind you the official exercise dates are for the planned exercise.. It doesn't include troops staging into Thailand 2-3 weeks early, staying later or the usual additional joint training that takes place such as the obligatory "Jungle Training" by Thai Special Forces of CG participating militaries with the drinking of cobra blood....

[FrazeeDK]

mind you the official exercise dates are for the planned exercise.. It doesn't include troops staging into Thailand 2-3 weeks early, staying later or the usual additional joint training that takes place such as the obligatory "Jungle Training" by Thai Special Forces of CG participating militaries with the drinking of cobra blood....

[mak]

Cobra Gold starts February 27.
https://thepattayanews.com/2023/02/15/6 ... -february/

[mak]

43rd Cobra gold starts February 27, 2024.