What's the pulse of the American people, concerning aid to Ukraine?

[almostgone]

And of the things that you listed, Kim is the least of the world's concerns.

I believe that Iran, if they are not a nuclear power, they are destined to become one and upset the delicate balance of power in the ME. Iran, I believe is destined to be a major force in the region, and rightly so, considering her geographic size and population. Furthermore, we can forget about a Desert Storm or an OIF lightening strike and clean sweep repeat in that topography; she sits like an Afghanistan on steroids , (Pun intended.) for lack of a better term. I have read that they had watched wisely what the Israelis did to the Iraqi nuclear facility, and constructed any critical infrastructure underground or burrowed deep into mountains. I believe in the unfortunate game changing fait accompli in this case. I bet the Jews are shitting themselves; either that or they are planning a first strike (I mean nuclear.) against the Iranians. In this case I believe that the best, but most unlikely course of action would be to find a peaceful solution here. Even though I fully understand that having a viable nuclear device, is light years away from an accurate, functioning ICBM which can drop on NY City. Also, I Do not subscribe to the theory that they could physically impede our access and block the Straits of Hormuz either. I know that this statement smacks of USN hubris; I doubt that you expected anything other from me. There is a reason that the unofficial moto of the USN is "The Sea is Ours". I still stand with the peace initiative here.


Again I must agree with you on the Taiwan "tight rope" which the west (That means us.) is walking. This too is just around the corner. The death knell, if not sounding already, will definitely commence when western nations, after viewing the Russians predicament in procuring chips leads to the major players (Again, the USA as a buyer.) begin manufacture at home. I heard somewhere that this has already started, after observing countries are seeing the dilemma the Bear has found itself in.

I think we see the same picture, although I do see them mining the sh!t out of the Straits or possibly deploying underwater drones. I'll be the first to admit I can be waaay off base, so take the Hormuz thoughts with a grain of salt.

Russia didn't have much luck with the Shahed-136 drones, did they?

[almostgone]

Oops... Excuse my above post. I guess I should have just DMd you.

Nah, man, I should have PM'ed you. I didn't mean to disrespect your request. I just got to running scenarios in my mind while doing some "necessary" work, and from there things expanded.

[XnavyHMCS]

I think we see the same picture, although I do see them mining the sh!t out of the Straits or possibly deploying underwater drones. I'll be the first to admit I can be waaay off base, so take the Hormuz thoughts with a grain of salt.

Russia didn't have much luck with the Shahed-136 drones, did they?

Well, you certainly present a salient point here.

Thankfully we obviously enjoy technological advantage; for the moment anyway. Lets hope that we can maintain it; which I am beginning to doubt.

My doubts rest with what our esteemed member Cuz said earlier, "... this Woke culture...". I fear a degradation of not only of masculinity, but also defense capabilities, directly linked to how this movement has impacted todays military personnel and force readiness. Maybe I am just getting old and sounding like Aristotle or some shit. I just hope that we wake up, pull our collective heads out of our asses and let the masculin military culture continue. We don't want to project this type of attitude to our enemies.

[XnavyHMCS]

Nah, man, I should have PM'ed you. I didn't mean to disrespect your request. I just got to running scenarios in my mind while doing some "necessary" work, and from there things expanded.

Hey, the first line in the post was about the conflict under discussion...

Gotta hit the rack. I just got out of bed when I observed on Instagram that an arrest had been made in the Idaho murders. It's closing on 0200 on my side of the planet, and I need my beauty sleep. I'll be back here with my morning coffee.

[Test Monsterone]

America has a massive stockpile of weapons and this form of war is much cheaper than direct conflict. Hopefully we don’t reach nuclear warfare. Nvm

[XnavyHMCS]

America has a massive stockpile of weapons and this form of war is much cheaper than direct conflict. Hopefully we don’t reach nuclear warfare. Nvm

I agree with TM here.

Fighting a proxy war carries a far more affordable price tag than a direct confrontation.

[< <Samson> >]

Hold up - save a hoe US coming to the rescue

My ass

It’s all about money of the tax payer pumping into high end politician’s pockets

Whatever - I can really careless, thankfully I have no family left in RU

[XnavyHMCS]

Hold up - save a hoe US coming to the rescue

My ass

It’s all about money of the tax payer pumping into high end politician’s pockets

Whatever - I can really careless, thankfully I have no family left in RU

Hey brother,

Me too. I got no skin in the game over there. Personally and perhaps sadly for the Ukrainians; I don't give a shit who's calling the shots in the Ukraine. If I wasn't living an approximate 110 klicks from the frontier, I would care even less than I do. Even now though, hell, especially now; we can see that todays totalitarian regime in Russia is by no means a match for the USA / combined NATO forces; so I sleep quite soundly. This was not necessarily the case when the conflict first kicked off. I remember waking up in early March, at about 0100, to a strange wailing of sirens (My girlfriend's house is a mere 500 meters from the Jasionka airport. She is sitting smack dab in the middle of what is destined to be a smoking hole in the ground, if the Motherland launches a tactical / conventional nuclear strike targeting the aid which is flowing into Ukraine.) that I had never heard before. I shot up out of bed -didn't know whether to grab her son- and dashed to the skylight window; unaware if I was going to see a series of flashes or not. When I looked out across the neighborhood, I could see lights popping on in nearly every home; I was not the only one concerned by the different sound emitting from the local fire station (200m distant)...

On the "hoe" (sic) note, and I trust that you are not referencing the garden implement...
I would back the UA to the hilt, if the deal included the exportation and discounted exploitation of Ukrainian prostitutes and porn stars. My university where I have a contract has a gang-load of them in attendance, and damn are they smoking hot...

[Fluidic Kimbo]

If all the nuclear powers of NATO could work together in concerted tandem here, that would be nice.

I mean Belgium, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Turkey could all aim nukes at Moscow and then simultaneously launch.

[Cuz]

If all the nuclear powers of NATO could work together in concerted tandem here, that would be nice.

I mean Belgium, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Turkey could all aim nukes at Moscow and then simultaneously launch.

I thought you were a little more intelligent but this post definitely invalidates that theory

[XnavyHMCS]

I thought you were a little more intelligent but this post definitely invalidates that theory

He has installed himself as the TROLL of the forum. Notice how he writes the most outlandish shit to garner a response...

[wango]

After knowing and loving my honey for going on 40 years, and knowing I really couldn’t go on without her - this picture from today’s newspaper really got to me more than other pics I’ve seen from this war. Honestly, I wish her head and hair weren’t so visible.

[< <Samson> >]

It really does suck ass for the people themselves. Always does - I remember living in Russia dreaming of days where there would just be unlimited supplies of food - 32 years later, here it is

Governments

Sure would like me so Ukrainian hookers tho

[Test Monsterone]

Hey brother,

Me too. I got no skin in the game over there. Personally and perhaps sadly for the Ukrainians; I don't give a shit who's calling the shots in the Ukraine. If I wasn't living an approximate 110 klicks from the frontier, I would care even less than I do. Even now though, hell, especially now; we can see that todays totalitarian regime in Russia is by no means a match for the USA / combined NATO forces; so I sleep quite soundly. This was not necessarily the case when the conflict first kicked off. I remember waking up in early March, at about 0100, to a strange wailing of sirens (My girlfriend's house is a mere 500 meters from the Jasionka airport. She is sitting smack dab in the middle of what is destined to be a smoking hole in the ground, if the Motherland launches a tactical / conventional nuclear strike targeting the aid which is flowing into Ukraine.) that I had never heard before. I shot up out of bed -didn't know whether to grab her son- and dashed to the skylight window; unaware if I was going to see a series of flashes or not. When I looked out across the neighborhood, I could see lights popping on in nearly every home; I was not the only one concerned by the different sound emitting from the local fire station (200m distant)...

On the "hoe" (sic) note, and I trust that you are not referencing the garden implement...
I would back the UA to the hilt, if the deal included the exportation and discounted exploitation of Ukrainian prostitutes and porn stars. My university where I have a contract has a gang-load of them in attendance, and damn are they smoking hot...

In eastern europe they’re either crazy hot or look like a nuclear experiment. I might be exaggerating a bit.

[Honkey_Kong]

It really does suck ass for the people themselves. Always does - I remember living in Russia dreaming of days where there would just be unlimited supplies of food - 32 years later, here it is

Governments

Sure would like me so Ukrainian hookers tho

I always heard Russia had really good hleb during the Soviet era. Like that was one of the few good things they had a lot of and for cheap (it was subsidized).

[XnavyHMCS]

After knowing and loving my honey for going on 40 years, and knowing I really couldn’t go on without her - this picture from today’s newspaper really got to me more than other pics I’ve seen from this war. Honestly, I wish her head and hair weren’t so visible.

Jake, excuse me Brother Blues but; I can't "LIKE" this post, for the obvious reasons.

This, as Samson stated just below your post, is the TRAGIC collateral damage of warfare. I balk at suggesting that civilians have "always" suffered, only because perhaps during the times of muscle powered weapons, collateral damage was undoubtedly limited. Once gunpowder swept knights and swords from the field of conflict and the cannon joined the fray; the errant projectile was born.

I don't excuse any of the combatants, from any conflict; but it is the sad, brutal byproduct of what occurs in war.

We, as Americans, take it for granted -in the extreme sense- how fortunate we've been to not have this wanton death and destruction visited upon our shores, our industries, our families. Thank geography for the great gulfs created by our biggest barriers; the Pacific and Atlantic which have insulated us so well from external attack; unlike our European neighbors.

Lets hope that this conflict comes to a close in 2023.

[Honkey_Kong]

Jake, excuse me Brother Blues but; I can't "LIKE" this post, for the obvious reasons.

This, as Samson stated just below your post, is the TRAGIC collateral damage of warfare. I balk at suggesting that civilians have "always" suffered, only because perhaps during the times of muscle powered weapons, collateral damage was undoubtedly limited. Once gunpowder swept knights and swords from the field of conflict and the cannon joined the fray; the errant projectile was born.

I don't excuse any of the combatants, from any conflict; but it is the sad, brutal byproduct of what occurs in war.

We, as Americans, take it for granted -in the extreme sense- how fortunate we've been to not have this wanton death and destruction visited upon our shores, our industries, our families. Thank geography for the great gulfs created by our biggest barriers; the Pacific and Atlantic which have insulated us so well from external attack; unlike our European neighbors.

Lets hope that this conflict comes to a close in 2023.

There's really no such thing as a "civilian." Civilians farm food, do business, build things, pay taxes. They provide the means for war that the soldiers use to fight. They're just as involved (whether they like to be or not) as the guy pulling the trigger, because if they didn't do their part, the soldier (on their side) wouldn't even have a trigger to pull.

If I was in some country's "war room" devising a strategy to attack another country, I'd go after their means to wage war. In other words, I'd go after the country's civilian infrastructure and possible the civilians working at it.

Now if that country was getting "help" from other countries, I'd probably attack their infrastructure too. Maybe not overtly, but I'd definitely do shit like blowing up electric substations (not saying Russia was responsible for it here), blow up dams, poisoning fields where crops are grown, etc.

Now here I'm saying I don't want America in any way shape or form being involved in this bullshit. It's not our problem and we gain absolutely nothing from it. The only people who benefit from it are the war profiteers and the biolab contractors that operate in Ukraine. Now why should I be paying for it? More importantly why should my grandchildren's grandchildren pay for it? This is money we don't have and we'll borrow it without any real intent of paying back.

And for what? So one band of asshole can take over another band of asshole's land? To be honest, if everybody in Ukraine and Russia died today, it wouldn't affect my life in the slightest. I'm sorry about all the people who die in this on both sides, but it's not my problem and I don't want anything to do with it.

To the people who want the government to finance Ukraine and possible even send our forces there. I tell you what, write me a check for every cent I paid in taxes and write me IOUs for my share of the debt that's going to be picked up from financing this and enjoy being World Police.

[Fluidic Kimbo]

And for what? So one band of asshole can take over another band of asshole's land? To be honest, if everybody in Ukraine and Russia died today, it wouldn't affect my life in the slightest. I'm sorry about all the people who die in this on both sides, but it's not my problem and I don't want anything to do with it.

There are two extremes to this line of thinking.

The first extreme is to always get involved in everyone's problems all around you.

The second extreme is to never get involved in people's problems all around you.

The first kind of people are nosey, intrusive, and get caught up in bullshit all the time (some people like to call them 'social justice warriors').

The second kind of people might be wise to keep their own life in order, but you could also say that there's cowardice in never sticking up for other people. Also, if you get a reputation for never being helpful when other people need help, then in the future people might be unwilling to help you when you're in need.

I don't think that there's a 'conflict' between Russia and Ukraine. I mean if you have two 9-year-old boys in school, and both of them are regularly antagonising each other, then that's a bilateral conflict. But if you have one 9-year-old boy who is bullying another 9-year-old boy, then that's just bullying -- it is one-sided. That's not a conflict.

If you ask me where I am on the spectrum between never getting involved and always getting involved, on a scale like this:

0-1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10
|         |          |
|         |          |
never     |          always
          |
          |
          sometimes

then I'd probably give myself a 7.

To give an example of a person who is a 0 on this scale, I was living in a homeless hostel a few years ago, and one day there was a guy who had climbed out a 4th storey window, he was standing on the gutter and was going to jump. Of course all of us in the hostel were busily involved in the situation, some people were shouting up at him not to jump, and me and three others were trying to gain access to the room where he climbed out the window. I knocked on the door of my neighbour Patrick to get him to come help, and he came out and said "Nothing to do with me". Patrick is a 0 on the scale of getting involved in other people's problems. To this day I have zero time for Patrick -- if he needed a ride to the hospital, or if he was a dollar short at the store, I wouldn't help him. If I was working in a company and I heard that he was coming in for a job interview, I'd go to my boss and tell them what Patrick's made off.

With regard to the Ukraine war, a 10 on the scale would probably be those English guys who went to Ukraine to lift a gun and fight against the Russians. A 7 or an 8 might be the guys who drove bus loads and truck loads of food and blankets over there. A 5 might be a person willing to boycott Russian business, is friendly to Ukrainian refugees in their neighbourhood, and who is supportive of Russian banks being removed from the Swift payment system.

I find it very ignoble and dishonourable when a person is a low number on the scale, it's a petty existence. Perhaps if I were to practise more Buddhist metta (i.e. loving kindness) then I would have sympathy and compassion for the people who are low on the scale, but after what Patrick did that day he won't get the steam off my piss.

[XnavyHMCS]

There's really no such thing as a "civilian." Civilians farm food, do business, build things, pay taxes. They provide the means for war that the soldiers use to fight. They're just as involved (whether they like to be or not) as the guy pulling the trigger, because if they didn't do their part, the soldier (on their side) wouldn't even have a trigger to pull.

If I was in some country's "war room" devising a strategy to attack another country, I'd go after their means to wage war. In other words, I'd go after the country's civilian infrastructure and possible the civilians working at it.

Now if that country was getting "help" from other countries, I'd probably attack their infrastructure too. Maybe not overtly, but I'd definitely do shit like blowing up electric substations (not saying Russia was responsible for it here), blow up dams, poisoning fields where crops are grown, etc.

Now here I'm saying I don't want America in any way shape or form being involved in this bullshit. It's not our problem and we gain absolutely nothing from it. The only people who benefit from it are the war profiteers and the biolab contractors that operate in Ukraine. Now why should I be paying for it? More importantly why should my grandchildren's grandchildren pay for it? This is money we don't have and we'll borrow it without any real intent of paying back.

And for what? So one band of asshole can take over another band of asshole's land? To be honest, if everybody in Ukraine and Russia died today, it wouldn't affect my life in the slightest. I'm sorry about all the people who die in this on both sides, but it's not my problem and I don't want anything to do with it.

To the people who want the government to finance Ukraine and possible even send our forces there. I tell you what, write me a check for every cent I paid in taxes and write me IOUs for my share of the debt that's going to be picked up from financing this and enjoy being World Police.

Very well stated, H&K.

Related to the TAXES:
I just saw an article, on my reading application, that the money for Ukraine (Be it for arms, ammo, whatever.) amounts to roughly 700 USD contributed by each taxpayer. This sounds like a lot of money, too much, per taxpayer... It's straight up robbery, especially if you are at the lower end of the income bracket... Unbelievable.

[wango]

I think part of the “problem” is that those Americans that are just now are aware of Ukraine vs. Russia and Ukraine being accepted into NATO are looking through “Zelenskyy -rose colored glasses”. What I mean is that he is a very likable & personable dude.

Regrettably Ukraine has been trying to get into NATO since the 90’s and Putin has been consistent in his threats since he took over. Once again, there’s a reason that Ukraine hasn’t been accepted into NATO and that is for a variety of reasons, all before Zelenskyy. What happens when he’s gone & its “business as usual” in Ukraine?

When and if Russia succeeds, let them foot the bill for the massive reconstruction costs due to their inflicted damage. Of course, China will be right there to help. That is while they are taking over Taiwan. China’s doing pretty well geopolitically these days.

Can you imagine the two loose nuclear cannons; Iran and N. Korea causing simultaneous chaos while Russia and China back them but don’t directly get involved. What a cluster fuck.

I think that this last funding bill that just passed might be the end of it. We best get ready for bigger problems looming in the future imo. Perhaps focus on the importance of our Western Hemisphere neighbors: Mexico, Central America & South America.

[< <Samson> >]

I always heard Russia had really good hleb during the Soviet era. Like that was one of the few good things they had a lot of and for cheap (it was subsidized).

Ha ha

Good one - exactly what we had, hleb & water - then rations of what my dad could scavenge from the meat processing plant he worked at

[XnavyHMCS]

https://www.yahoo.com/news/ukraine-w...153043292.html

Interesting read.

[Test Monsterone]

It’s crazy to me how quickly tanks have become irrelevant in many ways. The rocket launchers that can focus in on a target miles away, without the person launching it having to risk their life while also trying to aim. Then these drones. I got a Phantom 4 I mess around with once in a while. Very fun to fly. Such a novel way of warfare. I don’t think I’d feel good at night knowing I just eliminated a squad from the safety of distance. It feels like cheating, but I guess all is fair in love and war.

[XnavyHMCS]

It’s crazy to me how quickly tanks have become irrelevant in many ways. The rocket launchers that can focus in on a target miles away, without the person launching it having to risk their life while also trying to aim. Then these drones. I got a Phantom 4 I mess around with once in a while. Very fun to fly. Such a novel way of warfare. I don’t think I’d feel good at night knowing I just eliminated a squad from the safety of distance. It feels like cheating, but I guess all is fair in love and war.

The USA was even discussing an award / medal for these pilots. I don't know what became of the idea, but I would like to believe that they are given something for their work.

[Honkey_Kong]

I read that they're going to start training Ukrainians to use patriot missile systems... In America:

https://www.cnn.com/2023/01/10/polit...ill/index.html

Can't America stay out of anything? I kind of hope it instigates Vlad into nuking the shit out of DC. I'm tired of them involving us in to their shit. We can't even stop kids from being brought to transvestite story-hour, but we're going to play Team America World Police. Risking our lives and spending what's left of our wealth on shit that doesn't benefit Americans in any way shape or form.

[wango]

We can't even stop kids from being brought to transvestite story-hour, .

I’m thinking that’s what motivated that little 6 year old. “Hell no, I ain’t listening to that sh**, mf’r!” Bang! The little dude even put up a fight afterwards with police/security. He’s obviously fed up with that b.s.

[wango]

https://www.yahoo.com/news/ukraine-w...153043292.html

Interesting read.

Definitely interesting, thanks! I like that dudes math - what was it - $3000 drone + $200 grenade > $3 million tank. Clever!

[XnavyHMCS]

https://www.yahoo.com/news/petraeus-...205337440.html

Nothing earth shattering or ground breaking here, gents. Ret. Gen. Petraeus (You remember; America's top spy, who couldn't conceal an extramarital affaire, which culminated in his being fired as Director of the CIA.) expounds on the inevitable resolution to the conflict; at the round table, basically, and not on the battlefield...

Interesting read, none the less. He is quite an intelligent individual, well informed (as he should be) and perceptive towards future developments across the world stage.

[Euroholic]

I hope you lads have food, water, firearms, munitions and other supplies on hand because when the economic collapse comes things are going to get really rough.

They reckon most losers only have around a weeks worth of food in their house.

[XnavyHMCS]

[QUOTE=Euroholic;7586352]I hope you lads have food, water, firearms, munitions and other supplies on hand because when the economic collapse comes things are going to get really rough.
The by-product of urban development and peoples exodus from the countryside to the community, thereby surrendering our self-sufficiency.

I wouldn't worry too much about a vast number of the "goodol'boys" on the Forum, as they no doubt are in posession of the requisite arms, ammunition and savoir faire to maintain themselves and their families during the apocalypse.

[< <Samson> >]

It’s crazy to me how quickly tanks have become irrelevant in many ways. The rocket launchers that can focus in on a target miles away, without the person launching it having to risk their life while also trying to aim. Then these drones. I got a Phantom 4 I mess around with once in a while. Very fun to fly. Such a novel way of warfare. I don’t think I’d feel good at night knowing I just eliminated a squad from the safety of distance. It feels like cheating, but I guess all is fair in love and war.

Ain’t this the truth

Seriously long range/distance shit they can do now - why bother rolling a tank or anything when you can send out a dozen drones that can take out whatever target - same with missiles

Def seems now like the Ruskies were a tad behind in their weapon technology. Can’t see why their Chinese buds next door can’t just fill a couple of thousand order over nite tho.

[Cuz]

Ain’t this the truth

Seriously long range/distance shit they can do now - why bother rolling a tank or anything when you can send out a dozen drones that can take out whatever target - same with missiles

Def seems now like the Ruskies were a tad behind in their weapon technology. Can’t see why their Chinese buds next door can’t just fill a couple of thousand order over nite tho.

Chinese metal is shit full of impurities and weak. Id imagine there so called military is full of this pig iron. Oh hell, ill just say it. Fuck china

[XnavyHMCS]

Ain’t this the truth

Seriously long range/distance shit they can do now - why bother rolling a tank or anything when you can send out a dozen drones that can take out whatever target - same with missiles

Def seems now like the Ruskies were a tad behind in their weapon technology. Can’t see why their Chinese buds next door can’t just fill a couple of thousand order over nite tho.

President Biden met with President Xi Jinping in Bali, during the G20. It can't be much of a stretch to imagine that the west, the most lucrative of Chinese markets, spoke with their Chinese merchants, in a language that they could both understand; the language of money. The relationship looks a bit like Russia and Belarus, where Belarus, who looked like they could cross their southern border at any moment to join the fray and partake of the spoils, is now seen to be distancing themselves from their Moscow partners.

One might also consider that we, America / NATO may be just as far ahead of China, as we are of Russia... China is a continental and littoral power; they currently lack the naval capabilities to project force abroad. What do they have, one or two aircraft carriers? These are nothing but targets for the USN, we will deep-six their prized possessions with the opening salvos in any engagement at sea; they would be wise to consider sallying forth from an Chinese ports, for fear of what American assets are lurking below the waves.

Almostgone has brought up the tensions with Taiwan. I believe that perhaps Pres. Biden had permission from the powers that be in D.C. to make concessions regarding the breakaway island.
"As a leading democracy and a technological powerhouse, Taiwan is a key US partner in the Indo-Pacific. Though the United States does not
have diplomatic relations with Taiwan, we have a robust unofficial relationship.May 28, 2022"

US Relations With Taiwan - United States Department of Statehttps://www.state.gov › us-relations-with-taiwan

I would put my money on a closed door meeting last November, where our Washington clowns sold the Taiwanese Big-Top on the cross, with the promise to turn a blind eye in the not too distant future to a Chinese reunion, in exchange for them not assisting the Russians... We will have to see how it all plays out in the future. I feel that, once the west relocates all of the high-tech production from Taiwan, the country's days are numbered. China, on the other hand, must be watching quite closely the conflict and combat in Ukraine, to glean as much knowledge as they can, in the event that a shootout with Taiwan occurs.

Gonna be interesting, gents.

[XnavyHMCS]

Chinese metal is shit full of impurities and weak. Id imagine there so called military is full of this pig iron. Oh hell, ill just say it. Fuck china

I agree with Cuz here.

[XnavyHMCS]

https://www.yahoo.com/news/ukraine-f...145102553.html

Another truth bomb here, gents.

We tend to focus on getting our struggling (I believe that is the reality over there.) ally the latest and greatest weapons platforms (HIMARS, M777, etc...) and forget just how complex the operating and maintenance is. Anything which is "high speed and low drag" nowadays requires extensive maintenance and supply. This has proven to be a constant hurdle in our assistance to Ukraine. I know that NATO has built maintenance facilities just across the borders in both Poland and Slovakia. This in itself presents the logistical issue of having to transport these systems 3/4 of the length of the country, as the combat is occurring on the Eastern Front, just for routine maintenance. Not to mention the fact that the artillery fires US/NATO sized shells, which were not the standard over there.

I have been watching a page on YT, and there is a whole other side (the Russian side) of the story. One which says that Russia isn't exactly getting their asses handed to them, by the Ukrainian forces... We are going to see, and quite obviously, this spring and summer are going to be decisive on the field of conflict. I was watching Gen. Petraeus Ret., and he says that Russia can still win this thing... He said that they are by no means out of the running.

Let's sit back and enjoy the show.

[almostgone]

https://www.yahoo.com/news/ukraine-f...145102553.html

Another truth bomb here, gents.

We tend to focus on getting our struggling (I believe that is the reality over there.) ally the latest and greatest weapons platforms (HIMARS, M777, etc...) and forget just how complex the operating and maintenance is. Anything which is "high speed and low drag" nowadays requires extensive maintenance and supply. This has proven to be a constant hurdle in our assistance to Ukraine. I know that NATO has built maintenance facilities just across the borders in both Poland and Slovakia. This in itself presents the logistical issue of having to transport these systems 3/4 of the length of the country, as the combat is occurring on the Easter Front, just for routine maintenance. Not to mention the fact that the artillery fires US/NATO sized shells, which were not the standard over there.

I have been watching a page on YT, and there is a whole other side (the Russian side) of the story. One which says that Russia isn't exactly getting their asses handed to them, by the Ukrainian forces... We are going to see, and quite obviously, this spring and summer are going to be decisive on the field of conflict. I was watching Gen. Petraeus Ret., and he says that Russia can still win this thing... He said that they are by no means out of the running.

Let's sit back and enjoy the show.

That's one thing that helps both Russia and Ukraine to a lesser extent. Plenty of outdated equipment to to rob for spares. The vast majority of the mech infantry I've seen deployed by both sides was Khrushchev/Brezhnev era gear.

[XnavyHMCS]

That's one thing that helps both Russia and Ukraine to a lesser extent. Plenty of outdated equipment to to rob for spares. The vast majority of the mech infantry I've seen deployed by both sides was Khrushchev/Brezhnev era gear.

The cannibalization of spent machines has been a hallmark of mechanized warfare.

The early model (Khrushchev/Brezhnev) machines are all that the Central/Eastern European powers could put in the field. These weapons have rapidly been disabled and or destroyed during the preceding 11 months of fighting. Central European nations armories are about empty; the well of Ex-Soviet era gear is gone, hence the appeal for the west to continue and to increase supply. Ukraine was commonly known as a producer of arms for USSR/Rus., but all of the major production facilities were (as most of them are either in Rus. hands, or have been totally destroyed) located in the Donbas region.

Granted, Rus. hasn't been impressive, thus far, but I am of the belief that the conflict is far from over, and the the Bear could still tip the scales, pull a rabbit out, and walk off the field a victor.

It will be interesting to see just what is defined as a "victory", but I doubt that it will be anything less than a significant slice of the once rich section of the east.

[XnavyHMCS]

https://www.yahoo.com/news/exclusive...191920496.html

Interesting... REALLY interesting...

True or False???

I don't have time to search or comment, as I have to leave for Saturday classes at the university...

Later gents.

[almostgone]

https://www.yahoo.com/news/exclusive...191920496.html

Interesting... REALLY interesting...

True or False???

I don't have time to search or comment, as I have to leave for Saturday classes at the university...

Later gents.

Hard to say. He may have gone dark and then these events gave him purpose or he felt like that was where he belonged.

From what info was released, it looks like he put in some good years, so that's how I'll choose to remember that name

[almostgone]

The cannibalization of spent machines has been a hallmark of mechanized warfare.

The early model (Khrushchev/Brezhnev) machines are all that the Central/Eastern European powers could put in the field. These weapons have rapidly been disabled and or destroyed during the preceding 11 months of fighting. Central European nations armories are about empty; the well of Ex-Soviet era gear is gone, hence the appeal for the west to continue and to increase supply. Ukraine was commonly known as a producer of arms for USSR/Rus., but all of the major production facilities were (as most of them are either in Rus. hands, or have been totally destroyed) located in the Donbas region.

Granted, Rus. hasn't been impressive, thus far, but I am of the belief that the conflict is far from over, and the the Bear could still tip the scales, pull a rabbit out, and walk off the field a victor.

It will be interesting to see just what is defined as a "victory", but I doubt that it will be anything less than a significant slice of the once rich section of the east.

You know how that goes. The victor tends to define the victory.