Politics

[flatwater bill]

@Corey0372 I have not heard that......can you quote a source please?......FWB

 

[Jfet]

States’ Rights at Work.

 

[flatwater bill]

I have a lot of respect for David Albright both as a physicist and as a nuclear weapons inspector. He was one of the principals in debunking Pres Bush's claim that Saddam had nuclear weapons. Now he reports the opposite: Iran is nearly there. The entire report cites Biden's failures to maintain Pres Trump's pressure on Iran as the main cause...........FWB

 

[Corey0372]

@Corey0372 I have not heard that......can you quote a source please?......FWB

There's been consistent "countdowns" going back years, Benjamin Netanyahu and Benny Gantz have both given testimony on numerous occasions warning about this (not to mention the multitude of US personnel), just google "Iran weeks away from nuclear weapons" and click news, it's kind of become a meme at this point.
I'm not saying Iran's nuclear pursuits flat out don't exist, I'm sure there's plenty there that want one. However, I also think it's entirely possible that the Iranian government takes Ayatollah Khamenei's fatwa against nuclear weapons seriously (could be Taqiiya as some have speculated, don't know). Now that we are out of the JCPOA there's a lot less opportunity for certainty, and a lot more room for speculation and itchy trigger fingers.
One of the main drivers behind Stuxnet was the Israelis warning about Iranian nuclear weapons proliferation, and that they were willing to launch conventional strikes onto Natanz to stop it, mind you this program began as early as 2005/2006. Stuxnet was intended to be non-attributable weapon, not how it turned out. The US and Israel can deny their hand in it all they want but the evidence is there. Myself and plenty others would argue that Stuxnet being in the wild... and a precedent now set where you can attack a nations infrastructure with a cyber weapon... is a much greater threat to the US than Iran potentially getting a a nuclear weapon.

 

[Boyd Brooks]

 

[Daniel Cary]

"Siri", etc is creepy. Q: 2024 Elections Results. A: war "with" the US will keep the Biden in Power.

I also asked "Alexa" "What Women Want"? The answer went on for 9 hours & running, I had to unplug it.

 

[barryk]

A Very Cool College Professor! Enjoy!

Always encouraging to see people willing to fight and defend their families and beliefs.

 

[flatwater bill]

@Corey0372 Good points.....thanks for your post. I disagree with which activity poses the greatest threat, but we will see. I am not relating a post from Netanyahu....who has an obvious vested interest in hyping the Iran nuclear threat, but a US trained and prize winning physicist, who is also one of the World's authorities on nuclear weapons proliferation........and yes, Stuxnet has a lot of fingerprints on it.....once Iran has two nuckes, they will detonate one for demonstration, and then we will see the power structure in the shipping lanes change forever.............but that's my opinion.....FWB

 

[Tanks]

...
One of the main drivers behind Stuxnet was the Israelis warning about Iranian nuclear weapons proliferation, and that they were willing to launch conventional strikes onto Natanz to stop it, mind you this program began as early as 2005/2006. Stuxnet was intended to be non-attributable weapon, not how it turned out. The US and Israel can deny their hand in it all they want but the evidence is there. Myself and plenty others would argue that Stuxnet being in the wild... and a precedent now set where you can attack a nations infrastructure with a cyber weapon... is a much greater threat to the US than Iran potentially getting a a nuclear weapon.

As an aside, because of Stuxnet we had several clients show concern about security in regard to Siemens automation products (we prefer and use Siemens and Phoenix Contact, both German companies) whenever we can.

What is ironic is that a lot of government entities, as recent, as a few months ago, are in the process of replacing automation systems due to security issues in the previously installed systems. Stuxnet has forced them to do security audits. We are replacing them with Siemens Automation products as Siemens has replaced/upgraded the security of their automation products that exceeds all requirements.

 

[Corey0372]

@Corey0372 Good points.....thanks for your post. I disagree with which activity poses the greatest threat, but we will see. I am not relating a post from Netanyahu....who has an obvious vested interest in hyping the Iran nuclear threat, but a US trained and prize winning physicist, who is also one of the World's authorities on nuclear weapons proliferation........and yes, Stuxnet has a lot of fingerprints on it.....once Iran has two nuckes, they will detonate one for demonstration, and then we will see the power structure in the shipping lanes change forever.............but that's my opinion.....FWB

Red Sea dynamics are very likely to be changing in many ways regardless, keep an eye on Somaliland. I've been watching this for a while, seems like there could be something boiling over soon.

 

[Creigh]

..... America calls Germany an enemy......and treats it like an enemy!!!

Simply watch your president.

Today, Germany is a well respected country all over the world.

How many real friends America does have any more?


HWL

Well, this South African right here, but that's not what you mean.

There's a bunch of us here that look across the Atlantic and marvel at the National architecture, the founding if you like, that is America. And if I had to guess, Elon did exactly that.

But my American friends have lost their way. When things go well, apathy returns. Their deficit increases while their economy strains. Who does that?!

I'm not sure America gets to a Nov '24 election cycle TBH. Doesn't take a genius to map out the current trajectory with enshrined political beliefs.

 

[Jfet]

I'm not sure America gets to a Nov '24 election cycle TBH. Doesn't take a genius to map out the current trajectory with enshrined political beliefs.

It was much worse in the U.S. on Dec. 20 1860 when South Carolina was the first state to succeed from the Union. Then it got even worse on April 12, 1861 when Confederate forces fired on Fort Sumter. Then over the next 4 years it was an even darker time in our history.

Hang on! Don’t Panic! We are just figuring out the next stage of the Great American Experiment.

 

[Altitude sickness]

Identifying, and packaging then selling “Zero Days” is now a lucrative business. Unfortunately, the business that has the vulnerability pays for the info. And often leaves their customers in the dark.

Even Apple IPhones are now impacted by Zero Days.

I can not vouch for any links posted on the article below. It’s for information purposes only. I recommend you never click a link from an unknown source. But you should update your smart devices to the latest.

Update your iPhones! Apple fixes two zero-days in iOS

Apple has released an emergency security update for two zero-day vulnerabilities which may have already been exploited.

www.malwarebytes.com

 

[Red Leg]

Meanwhile back in Ukraine - or technically, just outside it - the Ukrainian armed forces carried out another of these rather remarkable ambushes of Russian military aircraft. Since the start of the war, the Russians have been flying their surveillance aircraft over the Sea of Azov. The day before yesterday, two were attacked by Ukraine. One, an IL-22, was an airborne command and control aircraft. that was apparently severely damaged, but managed an emergency landing in Crimea. The below photo has emerged.

https://www.reddit.com/r/UkraineWarVideoReport/comments/1977j1z

The second was an A-50 which is an airborne radar surveillance aircraft equivalent to our AWACS (the AWACS would typically do the job of an A-50 and IL-22 working together. These are, as you might imagine, very limited and expensive assets.

Zaluzhnyi Confirms Downing of Two Russian Aircraft Over Sea of Azov

gwaramedia.com

No indication yet how it was accomplished, but again I would bet a Patriot ambush.

 

[Red Leg]

I thought I also would post this short clip because it graphically demonstrates the design flaw of the T-72 family of tanks. To remind, the commander and gunner sit surrounded by a carrousel of ammunition ready for the auto-loader. It also demonstrates the remarkable target acquisition and attack capabilities of Ukrainian forces in acquiring and attacking fleeting targets.

In this case, a recon drones picks up the tank and a call for fire is issued to what is likely a loitering drone carrying an anti-tank warhead. The attack drone strikes the T-72 low in the turret causing a jet of molten metal to penetrate setting off a catastrophic explosion of the on board ammunition. It is important to realize that such losses do not only result in destroyed combat platforms, but also the loss of an entire trained crew - something that can't be quickly replaced by the sweepings of a prison.

https://www.reddit.com/r/UkraineWarVideoReport/comments/19747jb

 

[Dewald]

Meanwhile back in Ukraine - or technically, just outside it - the Ukrainian armed forces carried out another of these rather remarkable ambushes of Russian military aircraft. Since the start of the war, the Russians have been flying their surveillance aircraft over the Sea of Azov. The day before yesterday, two were attacked by Ukraine. One, an IL-22, was an airborne command and control aircraft. that was apparently severely damaged, but managed an emergency landing in Crimea. The below photo has emerged.

https://www.reddit.com/r/UkraineWarVideoReport/comments/1977j1z

The second was an A-50 which is an airborne radar surveillance aircraft equivalent to our AWACS (the AWACS would typically do the job of an A-50 and IL-22 working together. These are, as you might imagine, very limited and expensive assets.

View attachment 580642

Zaluzhnyi Confirms Downing of Two Russian Aircraft Over Sea of Azov

gwaramedia.com

No indication yet how it was accomplished, but again I would bet a Patriot ambush.

Is the Ilyushin 22 not a 1970’s relict of the past. Just thinking off the top of my head from my Dad’s aviation an SA Airforce days. Will Russia have the capability to fix her up if the damage is severe enough?

 

[mark-hunter]

Is the Ilyushin 22 not a 1970’s relict of the past

Checked wiki on this, First flight made in 22 July 1947, as prototype.

 

[Red Leg]

Is the Ilyushin 22 not a 1970’s relict of the past. Just thinking off the top of my head from my Dad’s aviation an SA Airforce days. Will Russia have the capability to fix her up if the damage is severe enough?

Checked wiki on this, First flight made in 22 July 1947, as prototype.

Both planes are originally Soviet era. The IL 22 is a turbo prop. The platform is less important than the mission. The IL 22 is used in both command and control configurations and signals collection and jamming configuration (much like our RC-135 - also a repurposed platform). I would suspect this aircraft was being used in the second role in conjunction with the A-50's radar surveillance mission. The latest version (signals collection and jamming) of the IL 22 was fielded in 2017 (IL 22PP / NATO designation "Mute."

Can it be repaired? Who knows. I would assume it is possible since it seems to have actually landed. The photo indicates substantial shrapnel damage. If a IL22PP it has extensive sensor and antenna arrays along both sides of the aircraft. Those and their supporting electronic systems would not respond well to shrapnel. During its emergency approach to the airport it used, the pilot was recorded asking for ambulances and firefighting equipment. The former would indicate that the body of the aircraft containing the processing equipment (and signals personnel) was also penetrated. In short, if it flies again, it almost certainly will not be to support this war.

 

[flying sailor]

View attachment 580549

That is hilarious!

 

[cash_tx]

Will be interesting to see the response to this. I think it was @Red Leg who called it when he said one of these missiles would eventually get through the defenses.

Houthi rebels strike a US-owned ship off the coast of Yemen in the Gulf of Aden, raising tensions

Houthi rebels fired a missile that struck a U.S.-owned ship Monday just off the coast of Yemen in the Gulf of Aden, less than a day after they launched an anti-ship cruise missile toward an American destroyer in the Red Sea. The attack on the Gibraltar Eagle, later claimed by the Houthis...

news.yahoo.com