SNAFU!

Biden's sanctions plan is gonna be painful for not only for Russia but the West/World too...

I'm monitoring Biden's speech and the fantasy island approach he's taking is breathtaking.

I sat up when he talked about European energy dependence on Russia.

Does he really believe the alliance will not fragment once people start having to ration gas (Germany is already talking about it)?

Does he really believe the alliance will hold together once southern European countries get hit with triple the energy bills they have now?

Does he really believe that the American people will stand with him once they see prices RISE this summer?

Once again this is just energy. The knock on effects of this conflict have yet to raise its ugly head.

Biden is trapped by his own words and his own stance.

He seems to be locked in the effort to destroy Russia (or at least force a regime change) instead of trying to solve this crisis.

Strap in tight boys and girls.

Most of you wanted this (based on your comments) and what we're about to get is gonna be devastating.

We're in for some serious pain. Maybe not conflict, but the economy is gonna be WRECKED beyond description.

Russian MoD video of the launch of Kalibr cruise missiles by a small missile ship last night.

Russian MoD video of the launch of Kalibr cruise missiles by a small missile ship last night. https://t.co/tvtZrl1BLw pic.twitter.com/N3j0LfYASw
— Rob Lee (@RALee85) March 26, 2022

The naval fight isn't getting much attention but...

I think the Marine Corps in particular should be looking at seeing how the sea battle affects the effort on land (THE REAL SEAT OF POWER!!!! PEOPLE LIVE ON LAND, NOT AT SEA!!!).

Take this example.

We see a small Russian missile ship launching effective strikes at land targets.

The US Navy is a destroyer centric force and failed at building smaller combatants (looking at you LCS). But what if they could get it right?

What if instead of 30 to 40 light amphibious warships that would hardly affect the sea battle with its small loadout of Missile Marines they instead focused on crewing the same number of effective smallish warships that could strike at land and sea?

Wouldn't that be a more capable force?

It would also allow the Marine Corps to go back to its Force In Readiness role and not fly off on this tangent.

Just a thought.

US B-52s and Norwegian F-35s at Cold Response 22

Allied integration in air over Bardufoss yesterday🇺🇸🇳🇴 The B-52 strategic bombers have participated in several missions with Norwegian and allied forces during the large winter exercise Cold Response 2022. Here with Norwegian F-35s. pic.twitter.com/Qh4fH1xIR7
— Royal Norwegian Air Force (@Luftforsvaret) March 26, 2022

If signalling is a part of politics/warfare then this is ominous. Pic of B61 (closeup) in weapons bay of F-35

Nice close up of F35 with B61-12 Thermonuclear Gravity Bomb inside weapons bay!
Source: Sandia pic.twitter.com/AMPCPXorrD
— Casillic (@Casillic) March 26, 2022

Sidenote. I talk about Zelensky's arc but my own has been pretty interesting. A reader commented on it and I had to chew on it for a minute before talking about it. I'm the same guy that around the early 2000's was talking about killing China in its crib before it got too big. Now? Now I've been harping about how Ukraine isn't our war and how we need leadership to walk us back from the ledge. Not quite amazing but interesting.

On to this mess.

Signalling is a part of politics/warfare. Unfortunately from my chair at least, we've seen too much posturing and signalling to the mob and not enough tough, yet realistic views on what cost we're imposing on OURSELVES with the actions that are being taken.

Again, I have been hoping that we'd walk back from the ledge but this pic is like taking a sprint toward the abyss.

There has been talk of Russia using chemical/nuclear weapons (no intel, just the elite raging at each other and the minions in the public picking it up), and now we see this?

Just plain wow.

It's almost like someone, somewhere WANTS the big fight with Russia.

The pity for all of us?

It won't go like they're thinking.

Probably sounds good at cocktail parties but we're all (everyone) gonna be in for a ton of pain if they get their way.

Is Russia usning a new type of munition?

Russia destroys a Ukrainian Buk. But what did hit it? pic.twitter.com/IPDvYoJiPS
— Vinod (@VinodDX9) March 26, 2022

We've seen all kinds of armored vehicles clapped in this conflict but I've never seen an explosion of that type. Apparently the person that posted this hasn't either. Is this a new type of munition?

Berger's Force Design 2030 is a repeat of the Army's mistake in the 1950s....Why America's Nuclear Army Failed | Pentomic

Interesting isn't it.

While not a 1 for 1 copy of the mistakes the Army made, the outlines are clear.

The Army attempted to plot out a role for itself and tried to predict the next war.

They altered their entire force structure and got it wrong. It took a decade for them to sort out the mess...and that was without a major war (meaning between super powers).

Is the Marine Corps making the same mistake?

Does the war in Ukraine justify the decisions made or are factors at play that make the decision to scrap combined arms irrelevant an idiotic viewpoint?

We'll never know the real facts behind this war but to think that an unprofessional, corruption filled force backed up with irregulars going against a competent opponent would somehow win is pushing the boundaries of credibility.

This war is an outlier. It's being fought in ways that make no sense.

To draw any lessons for the future based on what we're seeing is fool hardy.

The Army made a mistake with its Pentomic Army. The Marine Corps is repeating that mistake with Force Design 2030.

U.S. Marines and Dutch Marines Perform an Amphibious Landing During Exercise Cold Response 22

Soldiers conduct reconnaissance training in the Donnelly Training Area, Alaska for JPMRC 22-02

US Army...the new "Any Clime or Place" Force
DELTA JUNCTION, Alaska (March 22, 2022) - Soldiers from B Company, 1st Battalion, 24th Infantry Regiment, 1st Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division (ID), US Army Alaska conduct reconnaissance in Donnelly Training Area March 22, 2022 during Joint Pacific Multinational Readiness Center 22-02. The near-peer scenario used in JPMRC 22-02 assists Soldiers and leaders to develop and refine the tactics, techniques, and procedures necessary to successfully operate in remote and extreme Arctic winter conditions and overcome both environmental and military challenges.