Everyone is so fascinated by the war but is anyone thinking about AFTER THE WAR????

What if?

What if the land that the Russians has taken is it.  They make no further advances into Ukraine.

What happens then?

Does NATO setup a peacekeeping force in Ukraine?  Does the UN? Does the US participate?

What happens with all the refugees?  Do you think they return or are the permanent residents in the West now?

What happens to Zelensky?  Does he do like most Presidents of war torn countries....leave, hit the lecture circuit, makes millions but doesn't do jack to help the country he once led?

Everyone is so fascinated by the war but is anyone thinking about AFTER THE WAR????  What FURTHER sacrifices are gonna be asked of Western citizens?  The possibility that decisions made today will have a strong bearing on the near future?  What say you?

Terrible but expected. What a waste. The headquarters of the 36th Ukrainian Naval Infantry Brigade based in the southern city of Mykolaiv is no more. UPDATED!

The headquarters of the 36th Ukrainian Naval Infantry Brigade based in the southern city of Mykolaiv is no more. It is now a pile of rubble, where on Saturday rescuers continued to search for bodies of missing marines. https://t.co/KzAIaes0Kn

— New York Times World (@nytimesworld) March 19, 2022

People are posturing and men (on both sides) are dying. I bet money when this is all over we're gonna hear stories about friends, family, relations of some type having killed each other in this fight.

Many talk of the courage to pick up a gun?  Cool.  I got that and I get it (kind funny that the loudest voices in the US will travel halfway around the world but scared to join their local law enforcement but that's a different discussion) but it takes as much or more courage to find peace.

Time for leadership to get courageous.  The time for playing to crowd has long passed.

UPDATE.  Wonder how many guys going over just LARP in their basement and actually have no military experience?

And that is why these amateur fighters do not help anyone

British volunteer fighters may have triggered deadly strike on Ukrainian base after their phones were detected https://t.co/42afRMblxe

— Carlo "Realism, Gedankenfetzen, and Rants" Masala (@CarloMasala1) March 19, 2022

PARS IV 6x6 Special Operations Vehicle has reached the final stage of the durability tests.

PARS IV 6x6 Special Operations Vehicle has reached the final stage of the durability tests. PARS IV 6x6 is promising the highest mobility capabilities among Mine Resistant Ambush Protected Vehicles (MRAP) class.

Is this the future?  360 degree firing arcs (via two RWS) and perhaps enhanced numbers of smoke grenades along with APS? 

A mast sight to see first at distance, along with a couple of scouts that can dismount and take on heavy armor found or call in artillery?

Is a US version of the PARS IV that can swim the future of armor?  If so then the Textron ARV might be just what the doctor ordered.

The only other thing missing would be the ability to launch drones but what size, how far they would fly, do they need to be able to carry a payload or just scout...I just don't know.

Those peace negotiations between Russia and Ukraine have a chance...if cooler heads prevail

Thanks to Tom for the link!

3/10 Neutral status for Ukraine and restrictions on the volume and types of weapons to be held by the Ukrainian army with external guarantees could probably be agreed in exchange for peace and the lifting of some sanctions relatively quickly.

— Alexander Baunov (@baunov) March 18, 2022

If we can get a relatively quick peace plan approved that could help avoid much drama for the rest of the year.  NOT ALL OF IT, but probably more than 50% of it.

Sanctions relief for Russia?  That would save Europe and the world economy.  If the sanctions remain?  Then you can say goodbye to the current economic system and say hi to that global reset that will reshape the world in totally unpredictable ways.

This is where the US State Dept is so annoying.  They once again take a back seat to the Pentagon.  Why is our activity always kinetic?  What happened to our diplomatic corps?  They should be front and center in this drama, not waiting backstage for events to sort themselves!  A real diplomatic corps would be working to SHAPE things, not react to them!

This is our (America's) greatest weakness.  Everything has devolved to military solutions.  We haven't always been like this.

Members of the @queensyorkrangers and The @gghgofficial fire the TAPV’s remote weapons system at 4th Canadian Division Support Base Petawawa during Ex WORTHY TARGET

1st SFG (A) Green Berets conduct a night raid alongside 3rd Battalion, Royal 22e Regiment, Canadian Army during Exercise Joint Pacific Multinational Readiness Center 22-02 at Fort Greely Alaska.

A made for social media drama...

 

As the ambassador of Belarus was leaving Ukraine today, a Ukrainian border guard tossed a bag with coins at him, told him to pass the 30 silver pieces of Judah to the head of Belarusian border service.
Video via @operativnoZSU pic.twitter.com/B1k4ByGuB1

— Olga Tokariuk (@olgatokariuk) March 19, 2022

Why those coins weren't tossed back at him is beyond me. I guess the dude is built different. But the bigger thing is that this was a made for social media drama. It makes no difference one way or another but is designed to stir the heartstrings.

I guess I've always discounted the hearts and minds thing.  I always believed actual performance mattered.

Apparently I was wrong.

Perception is more important today (at least to many).

The best example is Zelensky.  We've been over the dudes arc and its taken another turn today.

Ukraine demands comprehensive peace talks with Russia to end war

https://t.co/TzC7BUEHlk #UkraineRussiaWar #Zelensky #RussiaInvadedUkraine #RussianUkrainianWar #UkraineUnderAttack

— 24x7 Live India (@24x7Live_India) March 19, 2022

The weird thing is that when you're dealing with equals the word "demand" should never be part of your vocabulary.

The same applies to the US "warning" China of dire consequences if they aid Russia.

Who are we to demand anything (warning of dire consequences is in the same ballpark).

Whether you believe it or not, treating Russia as an enemy while at the same time working with them on a number of issues WAS A PART of why this kicked off.

Zelensky demanding peace talks is another social media drama play.

He should act to save his country and get as many of his citizens back rebuilding it...THEN HE SHOULD SLAM the West for as much aid in rebuilding it as possible.  That should be the play.

The time for social media drama has long passed.  But dude is an actor so what should I expect? 

U.S. Navy participates in French-led Exercise WAKRI in Djibouti

U.S. Navy Reserve members with the Maritime Expeditionary Security Squadron 10 (MSRON 10), out of Joint Base Charleston, South Carolina, prepare for the amphibious assault portion of French-led Joint Exercise WAKRI 22, Port Djibouti, Djibouti, March 13, 2022. French-U.S. partnership during the exercise demonstrates Allied interoperability capabilities in austere and complex locations.

Members of the French Armed Forces head to shore during the amphibious assault portion of French-led Joint Exercise WAKRI 22, Port of Djibouti, Djibouti, March 13, 2022. French-U.S. partnership during the exercise demonstrates Allied interoperability capabilities in austere and complex locations.

Norwegian armoured infantry train with USMC Aviation

 

Situational Awareness is a NECESSITY! It's hard but you MUST MASTER THE SKILL!

kawa_m_official

We talk and talk and talk about situational awareness but how situationally aware are you really? How much do you apply it to your life when you’re outside, at work, in your car, out with the family, alone, in populated areas, in small isolated areas?.. - This isn’t something that’s good for your health or happiness or will make you money or help you look fit. This is something that will potentially save your life… - What does it take to be situationally aware? First, you need to just pay more attention to your immediate and intermediate surroundings. Get out of your phone more. Keep your head up more. Pay attention to threat indicators more. What’s a threat indicator, you ask? Anything that looks or sounds to be abnormal to the environment that you’re in… - Be an asset, not a liability… - @2alpha_traininggroup…

I like to think that when I'm in public I'm living in "yellow".  But its hard.  I find that I plan trips when I know that the number of people will be low.

It kinda fits my lifestyle.  Sleep, work, workout, train, blog, rinse and repeat.

It's weird but I kinda like it.

For those of you that lead more "normal" lives, those that like to be in crowds etc...you are at higher risk.

Those of you that live in big cities...well God bless ya.  You're in danger every single second you step outside.  Don't know how ya do it but to each their own.

But instead of me preaching to a choir that might not be listening I ask you to do this instead.

Break down your life and do a worst case scenario of your average day.  Include the most dangerous variable you deal with everyday, your fellow man/woman.  Then if it fits your standards rock on.

If not then I beg you to make changes.  Oh and if you carry concealed then understand that in this case it wouldn't help you in the least.  As a matter of fact this dude could have been killed with his own weapon.

A person said it in the comments and its true.

The super predator from the 80's and 90's is making a comeback.

Don't be his prey.