Another V-22 crash. God bless the fallen. I have to ask is the airplane substandard or is it just bad luck and alot of publicity....

Another damn V-22 crash.

God bless the fallen and their families.  It has to be hard for them.

Having said that is the V-22 substandard or am I just reacting to all the planes bad publicity and a bit of bad luck.

I remember its development and I seem to recall alot of "we'll fix it once we get it" being tossed around once again by leadership.

That irks me alot more now than back in the day.  Just strikes me as being a whole lot of bad thinking.

I look at our allies and I see the Blackhawk, the Merlin and the Chinook basically doing everything the V-22 does but just a bit slower and at a lower cost.

I'm also looking at the new tilt rotor that the Army is developing and I have to wonder if the Marine Corps didn't jump the technological gun a bit.

I'm off topic.

God bless Marines and BE FUCKING CAREFUL!

If this order of battle of Ukrainian forces deployed to the Robotino fight is correct then geez...

The number of troops that the Ukrainian army attracted in three months to capture half of the village of Rabotino:

🇺🇦33rd Separate Mechanized Brigade (OMBR)
🇺🇦47th Motorized Brigade
🇺🇦65th Motorized Brigade
🇺🇦78th Separate Logistics Battalion
🇺🇦73rd Marine Special Operations… pic.twitter.com/CaAjf3Z0m2

— Zlatti71 (@djuric_zlatko) August 27, 2023

If this is correct then this has turned into a major battle. I would contend that if this is correct the entire offensive is basically riding on this fight.

Ukrainian perspective on Robotino

Exceptional thread and profound insights into the counter-offensive in the South by @solonko1648 (Olexandr Solon'ko), servicemember of the Ukrainian Armed Forces. In his analysis, he sheds light on the situation, discussing both the challenges and achievements.

Translation:… pic.twitter.com/LW1eAHywma

— Tatarigami_UA (@Tatarigami_UA) August 26, 2023

Russian source in Rabotino

 

‼️ Russian source in Rabotino:

“The enemy is simply torn apart. Today long-range guns didn’t stop for a second. Reinforcements were good!
Ukrainians are focusing all attention on Rabotino, pulling all the equipment here, there are loads of mercenaries on radio intercepts.… pic.twitter.com/9yzOuGN4ve

— What the media hides. (@narrative_hole) August 26, 2023

We keep losing not because we're tactically inept but because we're morally out of step/insistent...

 Wind back the clock to the end of Vietnam.

Military leadership did a deep dive and tried to figure out what went wrong, what went right and we would win if we faced the same conditions.

Later we found ourselves in Desert Storm.

We won on the battlefield in a fabulous fashion.  The idea of pushing into Iraq to end the fight once and for all was shelved. 

We would not find ourselves in a COIN fight.

We would not fall for that trap.

Later we had 9/11.  Idiot Bush Jr, a man with daddy issues had to prove his manhood on the back of the US military and allies.

He would finish a fight his daddy wouldn't.  Saddam made an offer to assist the US in the fight on terrorism but instead found him in the sights of the little spoiled prince despite NO EVIDENCE that he participated in the atrocity.

In Afghanistan we had a chance to get Bin Laden and get out clean.

In both cases we had a cabal of people that decided not only would we crush our enemies but that we would rebuild their societies in our image.

So while we won the battlefield and brought much of what they wanted in terms of modernity.  New schools, bridges, roads and other infrastructure we also DEMANDED that they embrace feminist rights, LGBTQ+ rights, and other things that went totally against their culture.

We won every fight.

We brought them the pleasures of modern life.

They rejected our culture.

Because they rejected our culture we lost the fight for their minds.

We were morally out of step/insistent that they should follow our cultural lead which is why we keep losing.

We forgot the fact that it took many decades for the US/West to develop into what it is today and insisted that these conquered people adapt our way of life and sensibilities overnight.

If we do this idiocy again we have to wrap our heads around what the host/victim wants and doesn't.  We can't force it on them.

We have to be smarter in the future.

I'm so sick and tired of casualties being seen as metrics and not humans...

 I did a post on the VDV's 76th Air Assault being deployed to the scene of intensifying combat between Ukrainian and Russian forces.

Somehow someway the conversation devolved into talk of casualty numbers on both sides.

I'm so sick and tired of casualties being seen as simple metrics in this war instead of human beings.

It sickens me and is a disease that originated with that bastard McNamara.

It IS part of war but when you start using people as simple measuring sticks then you've lost a bit of your humanity.

Rant over.

Open Comment Post. 27 Aug 23

VDV 76th Air Assault is committed to the fight around Robotyne

 

Indicates that Russia has possibly committed multiple regiments from the VDV’s 76th Air Assault Division to the south (73rd Center fought in the Robotyne area) from the Kreminna front. The 76th is arguably Russia’s best division and is relatively fresh. https://t.co/meNN6oJONp

— Rob Lee (@RALee85) August 26, 2023

Amazing how minor engagements turn into major fights.

What's behind Zelensky's weapon requests? Is it him pulling it out his ass or is he being advised???

 

Eye of the Tiger 🐯! #F16 Tiger Demo Team 🇵🇱! #AirShow ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/wOkjj2KVlB

— Dowództwo Generalne (@DGeneralneRSZ) August 26, 2023

If you've been a member of this blog then you know that Zelensky's frequent requests for weapons annoys the hell outta me. But is it him just looking at the web and pulling whatever looks cool outta his ass or is he being advised?

I would think that if he was serious about things he would make statements like "we need fighters" but instead he demanded F-16's.

He demanded a whole slew of weapons over time with the fighter being the latest.  

If he's being advised then who is it?  What is their real agenda?  I've observed that every weapon system he's demanded has little to do with the fight on the ground but is designed to strike deeper and deeper into Russia.

ATACMS for example.  Storm Shadow too.  With F-16's and Gripen's then even JDAM will be able to strike deeper than policy makers in the West would like.

Maybe its just paranoia but I have to wonder if the West seriously needs to guard against a provocation that could expand the war.

Why?

Because I think that bringing NATO into the fight would fit their interests best.

Think about it.

Ukraine is at best (from my chair at least), caught up in a quagmire and we're hearing long war being tossed around more and more.

Europe won't accept that even if Washington is good with a 10 year affair on that continent.

Zelensky and his staff know this.

Bringing NATO into the fight would solve their problems.  No longer do they need to propagandize Ukraine fighting for democracy.

NATO would own the fight and by extension (even more than the US) Western Europe.

I'm sure the Ukrainians see that as a win-win.

If the Biden Admin said no to the pipeline attack, the Ukrainians did it anyway (but its beyond their capabilities) does that mean our intel agencies are rogue?

 I read the comments on my post about the Der Spiegel article claiming that Ukraine did the pipeline attack.

Many voiced the opinion that it was beyond their capabilities.

Ok, let's say that's true.  

Then what do we know.  We know that Ukraine and our military advisors are at loggerheads when it comes to strategy.

We know that our intel agencies are providing them with all kinds of information so that they can conduct this war.  I personally suspect that many of the raids we're seeing are beyond what they're able to do so they're being assisted in that too.

Which leads back to the pipeline attack.

If the administration said call it off.  The Ukrainians said fuck you, but its beyond their capabilities then did our intel agencies assist despite what the White House said?  Are they going rogue?

Or is it more simple.  Like many here stated the Ukrainians are simply being credited with the work that others did?  Remember when the 4th ID claimed to told to claim the capture Saddam when it was actual Special Ops?

I can't figure out.  Ukraine punching above its weight, the Admin putting up a smoke screen to throw us off or the intel agencies going rogue?

Open Comment Post. 26 Aug 23

Australian Army conducts Amphibious Landing in PI

LOOK: Philippines and Australian forces conducted the Combined Amphibious Assault exercise in San Antonio, Zambales on August 25, 2023 as part of the countries' first-ever Exercise Alon. (Photos by Australian Government Defence Images) #AFPyoucanTRUST pic.twitter.com/odxnROhsZY

— Armed Forces of the Philippines (@TeamAFP) August 25, 2023

Heavy Fighting is continually ongoing in and around the Settlement of Robotyne

 

Heavy Fighting is continually ongoing in and around the Settlement of Robotyne on the “Zaporizhzhia” Frontline, with an attempted Push by Ukrainian Armor and Mechanized Brigades over the last 24 hours appearing to now be “Stalled” due to the Redeployment of several Units of… pic.twitter.com/bjFPyKspVU

— OSINTdefender (@sentdefender) August 25, 2023

Wonder if the Russians have a problem with using their Naval Infantry as a "second land army"? Probably not. You use your forces where they're needed, not where you WANT them to be used. Fuck Berger.

THIS IS A MUST READ ABOUT THE ATTACK ON NORD STREAM 2! Major Hat Tip To Cdr Salamander...once again he found a jewel!

THIS IS A MUST READ!!! Major Hat Tip To Cdr Salamander!!!

Investigating the Nord Stream Attack: All the Evidence Points To Kyiv https://t.co/kmm3t9NQM9 via @derspiegel

— Solomon (@SnafuBlogspot) August 25, 2023

Der Spiegel did some fantastic investigative reporting on this one!

They did a deep dive on this thing and Jesus H. Christ do they lay bare alot of uncomfortable truths.

What has me spinning and what I never considered is stated in this article....Nord Stream 2 was an attack on Germany.

Additionally Washington got wind of the attack and told Ukraine to call it off.

Ukraine didn't.

Do you get the implications of that?

We have to carefully watch every attack by Russia and determine whether its real or a false flag.

It sucks to be supporting a country that is so off the chain that they willingly bite the hands that are feeding them.

When the truth comes out about this war you will have many wondering why they were shouting so hard to support Ukraine no matter the cost.

America and the West is being used like a back alley whore.

Wait WHAT!!!! Russia to resume offensive in east Ukraine after regrouping, Kyiv says

 

⚡️Russia to resume offensive in east Ukraine after regrouping, Kyiv says — Reuters pic.twitter.com/ySKxmbfOEI

— War Monitor (@WarMonitors) August 25, 2023

THINGS ARE GOING MUCH, MUCH WORSE THAN WE'VE BEEN TOLD IF THE UKRAINIANS ARE SAYING THIS!

We didn't talk about it but India did it. They landed on the moon...

 

India's Chandrayaan-3 rover ramped down on the surface of Moon.
by u/Dicktator_Jaat in nextfuckinglevel

It's weird. The Indians don't get the respect OR the monitoring they should.

Take their immigrants for example.  Everyone is in awe of the Asians but the Indian immigrants earn per capita more than any other group.

You're impressed by Asians when it comes to STEM?  The Indians are on par with them.

Long story short?  Keep an eye on them.  They've made missteps but they're vibrant and they're pushing hard.

Landing on the moon is just the first step.  I truly believe that by 2050 they will be a major power on the global stage.  That along with their history with the Brits will make them a truly independent player.

I don't know if its possible but we should be making every effort to woo them to our side diplomatically while we can.  If you end up having to look up to someone its better if you're facing a friend or at least not an enemy.

Sidenote.  A big fight with Pakistan that turns nuclear, and that is not outside the realm of possibilities, could derail all this.  But on that front I really expect Pakistan to collapse, become a radical state, a full on effort by a united front (US, Russia, China, UK, and damn near everyone else) to grab the nukes for safekeeping and for India to annex territory to act as a buffer for what remains.

OPEC is now part of BRIC. The petro-dollar is dead

 

BREAKING:🚨 Saudi Arabia, Iran, Ethiopia, Egypt, Argentina, and the United Aram Emirates (UAE) just joined BRICS with Russia, China, India, and others..

— Matt Couch (@RealMattCouch) August 24, 2023

Stupid foreign policy leads to stupid results.

This mistake is one that could have easily been avoided.  Upon entering office the Biden admin made a huge show over the slain journalist in order to do the bidding of the MSM in the US.  Our displeasure over the killing should have been handled more diplomatically.

Additionally by taking other stances against Saudi Arabia this admin has basically ripped apart the budding alliance we had against Iran.

The idiocy is strong with these people.

They lost/are losing Africa for two reasons.  The first is that all we have to offer them is military aid while China is at least giving token nods to building their economies and second we went batshit stupid over the LGBTQ++ issue.

India has always gone its own way but the fact that Brazil joined the club should have been a flashing red light of doom for the entire country, not just the foreign policy wonks.

We fucked up and now we're faced with a chilling almost mind boggling situation.

Most of the world....not the West but the world...is uniting and we're not invited to the party.

Next thing to keep an eye on and if you see then its lights out we're uber fucked?

If they're able to rope in a few Asian nations.

For now?  The petro-dollar is dead.  A basket of currencies is on the table.  Which leads to the next unintended consequence.  In order to get continued buy in to the dollar we will have to create instability in the world.  Wars, revolutions and coups will be how we get funding to buy our debt.

Open Comment Post. 25 Aug 23

 

I've always wondered why people run magnifiers on a setup like this.  I run the same length AR but have never found a need for that.

Ukraine war will end up being the most costly and perhaps corrupt foreign operation ever carried out by the United States

 via Asia Times

The US and its allies will need to cough up $60 billion annually to support Ukraine, and expect that a lot of it will be stolen. It will have to keep the funding up for 10 years.

Consider that Germany has committed to support Ukraine “for as long as it takes” at $5 billion annually. But the German government in power is likely to be replaced soon, and that pledge is about as worthless as the Weimar mark. 

Likewise, the UK economy is very dodgy, and finding serious money in future will prove a real challenge. The bottom line is that most of the money will have to come from Uncle Sam.  

+

 When the “big” reconstruction money starts flowing, assuming that happens, political and military officials in Ukraine will enthusiastically help the United States line their pockets.

Ukraine’s corruption was highly visible this month as President Zelensky fired all the military recruiters in the country because they were selling recruitment passes to young men seeking to avoid the war.  

Ukraine will end up being the most costly operation ever carried out by the United States. The US Marshall Plan for European reconstruction after World War II cost the United States $13.3 billion. That amount, in 2023 dollars, would be $173 billion, roughly a third of what reconstruction would cost for Ukraine.

Here 

Just in time to kill more freedoms. This time its covid, the flu & strep....

 

BREAKING: Some US School Districts Halt In-Person Classes Amid COVID, Strep & Flu Outbreaks — CDC Warns of ‘Tripledemic’ https://t.co/d8sGCVqy3r

— Breaking911 (@Breaking911) August 25, 2023

Jesus! America needs to man the fuck up. Why are the healthy being held hostage by the needs of the sickly. If I fall under an at risk category then I've had two choices. Get in shape and make healthy choices so that I'm no longer vulnerable (did you know that being obese was a main risk factor for dying from covid?) OR stay at home to protect myself. That's an individual choice NOT A SOCIETAL DICTATE!

Fear is the most powerful weapon that is used against the populace by those that seek control.

I would think by now that the American people would be tired of being scared.