Politics

[sgt_zim]

I don't understand why we haven't completely overtaken Cuba, and ran the drug dealers out of Mexico and taken Venezuelas.

goodness. I think that would take a larger occupation force than what we had throughout Europe and Japan following WWII.

That's a non-starter.

 

[Ray B]

Appears there are those that continue to be brain-washed by Putin's press- and as Muldoon said to Tooty (Car 54) he only needed a slight rinse.

 

[Sabattiboy]

You’re getting into the philosophical legal discussion of “police power”. A court, or whomever, can claim anything they want, but they need the muscle to back it up.

Look at the US with Marijuana, it is a Federal crime, but if the Feds don’t enforce it it’s muted by inaction alone. Same thing with the hypothetical you give, someone has to enforce it. The court can decide if they believe the executioner’s action was extrajudicial or not…just depends on politics at that point.

That seems to describe the United Nations.

 

[Red Leg]

Attack On Europe: Documenting Russian Equipment Losses During The Russian Invasion Of Ukraine

www.oryxspioenkop.com

Someone else may have cited this group, but if they are doing what they are claiming to do (verifying kills through photos and video), this Turkish team is pulling together the best equipment kill list I have seen and they keep updating it. They also are trying to account for both sides.

 

[spike.t]

BBC News - On the front line: If Kharkiv falls, all of Ukraine falls

Ukraine war: On the front line of the battle for Kharkiv

Quentin Sommerville and cameraman Darren Conway are with Ukrainian forces fighting to stop the Russian advance on the country's second city.

www.bbc.co.uk

 

[CoElkHunter]

Well, I read today where the Russians have not just one, but FOUR "armored" trains. That's great. Rolling on into Ukrainian cities, "striking fear in the hearts and minds" of the citizens there. I think the German army in WW2 might have had one and we might have had one during the Civil War. The absolute terror will come when the box cars open up and dozens of Russian cavalrymen leap to their destiny and ride their mounts through the cities and countryside burning and pillaging with sabers in hand and their Mosin Nagants secured safely in their scabbards until needed. What century is Putin's military mind in at this moment? Unbelievable! Just one opening for some drone strikes, PLEASE just ONE! I'd even settle for a squadron of P47s. LOL

 

[Randy F]

I try, I really try to give people the benefit of the doubt, but geez, our Vice President is no less embarrassing than her numbskull boss. At least his dementia gives him some semblance of an excuse. She when to Poland to “represent” us with no message, no plan, and no answers and that stupid cackle that pierces awkward silence like no other. I painfully tried listening to as much as I could about her trip today and I could find absolutely nothing that was not cringeworthy. If anyone knows of anything productive that emerged from her existence over there, please show it.
I’m struggling to not write paragraph after paragraph that drip with sarcasm so I guess I’d better stop.

Ex-Zelensky rep rips Harris for laughter, says it would be ‘tragedy’ if she’s ever president

The two leaders had been asked similar questions about the US accepting Ukrainian refugees or otherwise easing pressure on Poland’s strained humanitarian resources.

nypost.com

 

[Red Leg]

Well, I read today where the Russians have not just one, but FOUR "armored" trains. That's great. Rolling on into Ukrainian cities, "striking fear in the hearts and minds" of the citizens there. I think the German army in WW2 might have had one and we might have had one during the Civil War. The absolute terror will come when the box cars open up and dozens of Russian cavalrymen leap to their destiny and ride their mounts through the cities and countryside burning and pillaging with sabers in hand and their Mosin Nagants secured safely in their scabbards until needed. What century is Putin's military mind in at this moment? Unbelievable! Just one opening for some drone strikes, PLEASE just ONE! I'd even settle for a squadron of P47s. LOL

My immediate reaction was the armored train in Dr. Zhivago. I expect Putin could even locate a few old Bolsheviks to ride it. A pound of C4 (or semtex - these are Ukrainians) under the outer rail on a curve would be just the ticket.

 

[One Day...]

Attack On Europe: Documenting Russian Equipment Losses During The Russian Invasion Of Ukraine

www.oryxspioenkop.com

Someone else may have cited this group, but if they are doing what they are claiming to do (verifying kills through photos and video), this Turkish team is pulling together the best equipment kill list I have seen and they keep updating it. They also are trying to account for both sides.

I have used numbers from them in my SitRep (Situation Report) on Monday.

I am being told by European friends "in the know" and whom I have every reason to trust, that this open source material is reliable... Stijn Mitzer and Joost Oliemans, the authors of Oryx blog, are based in Amsterdam, The Netherlands.

What I think is fascinating is that out of 1034 vehicles lost by the Russians at this stage, 438 were captured. That is 42% !!!!!!!!!!

Now, all the captured vehicles may not be road or battle worthy, but one would assume that a fair number are pressed back into the war on the Ukrainian side, especially since Ukrainian forces are essentially equipped with identical vehicles, even if maybe not of the exact same modernization block.

 

[sgt_zim]

My immediate reaction was the armored train in Dr. Zhivago. I expect Putin could even locate a few old Bolsheviks to ride it. A pound of C4 (or semtex - these are Ukrainians) under the outer rail on a curve would be just the ticket.

funny you bring that up.

Dad and I have talked about such things at length. He's 84 and not far from the end of his journey on this mortal coil, and one of his greatest fears is that we end up doing things like scavenging pickets for fuel to keep ourselves warm in the winter.

 

[sgt_zim]

I try, I really try to give people the benefit of the doubt, but geez, our Vice President is no less embarrassing than her numbskull boss. At least his dementia gives him some semblance of an excuse. She when to Poland to “represent” us with no message, no plan, and no answers and that stupid cackle that pierces awkward silence like no other. I painfully tried listening to as much as I could about her trip today and I could find absolutely nothing that was not cringeworthy. If anyone knows of anything productive that emerged from her existence over there, please show it.
I’m struggling to not write paragraph after paragraph that drip with sarcasm so I guess I’d better stop.

Ex-Zelensky rep rips Harris for laughter, says it would be ‘tragedy’ if she’s ever president

The two leaders had been asked similar questions about the US accepting Ukrainian refugees or otherwise easing pressure on Poland’s strained humanitarian resources.

nypost.com

Brother, you ain't alone. It is a daily struggle to keep the cynicism at bay. My faith wins, but never easily.

 

[Red Leg]

I have used numbers from them in my SitRep (Situation Report) on Monday.

I am being told by European friends "in the know" and whom I have every reason to trust, that this open source material is reliable... Stijn Mitzer and Joost Oliemans, the authors of Oryx blog, are based in Amsterdam, The Netherlands.

What I think is fascinating is that out of 1034 vehicles lost by the Russians at this stage, 438 were captured. That is 42% !!!!!!!!!!

Now, all the captured vehicles may not be road or battle worthy, but one would assume that a fair number are pressed back into the war on the Ukrainian side, especially since Ukrainian forces are essentially equipped with identical vehicles, even if maybe not of the exact same modernization block.

The other take away is what might this say about the morale of the Russian forces? Capturing abandoned operational tanks is the sort of thing one would expect of a fleeing third world army - not a purported first world army in the "attack." Indeed, I can't think of another instance in history.

A lot of Panthers (PzKpfw V) fell out in their first year of deployment in 1943 due to teething issues and fell into Russian hands as German forces retreated. But abandoning armored vehicles so that a defending infantry force can seize them - and in large numbers? Never that I am aware of. It is almost impossible to come up with the scenario unless, the crews are bailing as soon as the first one goes up after an ATGM hit. And as you note, the same general percentages hold up across their various armored fighting vehicles.

 

[John Wasmuth]

The dead in the water convoy on its was to Kyiv, is well, on its way to Kyiv…….

 

[Red Leg]

The dead in the water convoy on its was to Kyiv, is well, on its way to Kyiv…….

Don't think so. Looks like it has dispersed into the surrounding terrain. Probably growing tired of being picked off one by one at three or four clicks by Javelins.

 

[John Wasmuth]

We can only hope. Different media outlets are showing different footage and as usual it’s hard to tell with out land marks if it’s from the same area.

 

[BourbonTrail]

The other take away is what might this say about the morale of the Russian forces? Capturing abandoned operational tanks is the sort of thing one would expect of a fleeing third world army - not a purported first world army in the "attack." Indeed, I can't think of another instance in history.

A lot of Panthers (PzKpfw V) fell out in their first year of deployment in 1943 due to teething issues and fell into Russian hands as German forces retreated. But abandoning armored vehicles so that a defending infantry force can seize them - and in large numbers? Never that I am aware of. It is almost impossible to come up with the scenario unless, the crews are bailing as soon as the first one goes up after an ATGM hit. And as you note, the same general percentages hold up across their various armored fighting vehicles.

“Mercenaries and auxiliaries are useless and dangerous; and if one holds his state based on these arms, he will stand neither firm nor safe; for they are disunited, ambitious and without discipline, unfaithful, valiant before friends, cowardly before enemies; they have neither the fear of God nor fidelity to men, and [one’s own] destruction is deferred only so long as the attack is; for in peace one is robbed by them, and in war by the enemy. The fact is, that they have no other attraction or reason for keeping the field than a trifle of stipend, which is not sufficient to make them willing to die for you. They are ready enough to be your soldiers whilst you do not make war, but if war comes they take themselves off or run from the foe…”

-Niccolo Machiavelli

Sounds familiar…

Maybe Putin should have read up on Machiavelli before fashioning himself a “prince”

 

[sgt_zim]

“Mercenaries and auxiliaries are useless and dangerous; and if one holds his state based on these arms, he will stand neither firm nor safe; for they are disunited, ambitious and without discipline, unfaithful, valiant before friends, cowardly before enemies; they have neither the fear of God nor fidelity to men, and [one’s own] destruction is deferred only so long as the attack is; for in peace one is robbed by them, and in war by the enemy. The fact is, that they have no other attraction or reason for keeping the field than a trifle of stipend, which is not sufficient to make them willing to die for you. They are ready enough to be your soldiers whilst you do not make war, but if war comes they take themselves off or run from the foe…”

-Niccolo Machiavelli

Sounds familiar…

Maybe Putin should have read up on Machiavelli before fashioning himself a “prince”

Mostly true, but...

The Legion Etrangere is most ricky tick a brigade of mercenaries. In general, Machiavelli wasn't wrong, but wasn't completely correct, either. AFAIK, only the USMC is as feared as The Legion.

They take that Kepi Blanc shit quite seriously.

 

[Dragan N.]

Mariupol is being stormed not by the Russian army, but by the army of the Donetsk Republic. The dead civilians are their citizens who are under the occupation of the Ukrainian Nazis. Who do not let the population out through humanitarian corridors, hiding behind them as a human shield.
When the same thing happened in Donetsk for 8 years, no one in the West protested, and many even rejoiced.

I personally find the moral indignation in the West over Ukraine and their condemnation of "Russian barbarism" laughable and rather hypocritical. Look at the "moral outrage" over the war in Ukraine but the comparative silence over Saudi Arabia's war with Yemen or even the American invasion of Iraq, bombing of Libya, Yugoslavia etc... Not to mention America's war with Vietnam. While Russia is portrayed as the ravenous bear that "menaces" Eastern Europe, America is arguably the same bear "menacing" Central and South America and in recent decades the Middle East as well. The CIAs plots in SA, and Western support for death squads, are all well documented. And to be sure the USSR and Russia has more than its own share of dirty laundry too.

Lets face it every war will lead to civilian deaths and destruction.

However, despite this extreme hypocrisy and crocodile tears by western politicians, I would say these Russian claims over Ukraine being a Nazi state are equally laughable. Do most Russians actually even believe this ??

America like Russia is an empire. It intervenes where it feels its national, imperial interests will be served. I would say most honest or "realistic" people/scholars etc... from America or the West would admit as much. Then off course you have "moralists and humanists" like batty-boy drama teacher Trudeau Jr- who have a rather selective memory when it comes to defending human rights and their views/relations/stances when it comes to "dictators". I would imagine Russia's real reason behind the war in Ukraine is motivated by a desire to keep Ukraine and other former Soviet countries from joining NATO. This is not a particularly unreasonable stance. However any time a country intervenes militarily you run the risk of creating a disaster, like the one that is presently unfolding in Ukraine.

I personally find John Mearsheimer's thoughts on the war/conflict in Ukraine most intriguing:

 

[Pondoro]

How many troops have Putin lost on the battle ground..? Is there some reliable source for this..?

 

[mark-hunter]

@Pondoro
As per official press releases (from CIA), between 2-4.000 troops.