Well somebody has to protect American interests: "Some of Wall Street’s top CEOs spent the last week on a diplomatic mission to Saudi Arabia. " And if it works, Biden will take credit. Tip to Instapundit.
Russia knocked out power and water in Kiev: "Russia has intensified its attacks on Ukraine’s power plants and other key infrastructure as the war enters its ninth month." Much as Britain--and later America--hit German cities because it was the only way to carry the fight to Germany early in World War II, Russia bombards Ukraine's cities from inability to defeat Ukraine's army.
Democrats cynically demand Republicans suspend campaigning to atone for attack on Mr. Pelosi (as if leftists think any atonement is possible from people they call Nazis!) despite the attacker being mentally ill with a history of drug use and progressive politics. Tips to Instapundit.
Russian protection isn't of much value to Armenia lately: "Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan met with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Prague, as part of a new effort to normalize relations."
Why do progressives hate Black people? Tip to Instapundit.
Xi Jinping: "Handed an unprecedented third term in office earlier this month, his
political position unassailable and his every utterance carefully
studied by adoring supporters, Xi Jinping is in total control of his
country." The mission for preserving the power of the Chinese Communist Party has been narrowed to the power of one man. Is the CCP cool with that? Can Xi cope with his mounting problems using security forces?
Well, Twitter is supposed to be a business and not a day care center for young progressives. Via Instapundit.
Will Russia attack the grain ships? "Ukraine says 12 ships loaded with grain left its Black Sea ports on Monday, despite Russia's withdrawal from a key deal facilitating exports." Will the ships exit Ukrainian waters for NATO coastal waters to make it to the Turkish Straits? And have Ukrainian attacks deterred the Russian navy from approaching Ukrainian waters? Would Russia use aircraft when that might just give NATO a reason to provide advanced long-range air defenses to Ukraine? This article says Russia resumed its blockade. But is it a blockade by declaration only?
The answer is "yes." China would prefer North Korea to always be developing nuclear missiles to worry Japan and South Korea. Also, I think North Korea's "arsenal" is exaggerated. I really have no idea how many nuclear weapons that work North Korea has deployed.
If virtual reality simulates "feeling" the real world, will you be able to walk through a virtual wall if your mind thinks it is real? If not, could you build virtual prison cells for convicted criminals? Of course, if you tripped and fell through a virtual wall that would defeat the mind block. Or perhaps if they built a giant badger ...
Are the former Soviet Central Asian states going to take advantage of reduced Russian influence to band together to keep American, European, Chinese, and Turkish influence from replacing that?
The Army is practicing island hopping in the Pacific. That's just a start.
Blowback: "Afghan special forces soldiers who fought alongside American troops and then fled to Iran after the chaotic U.S. withdrawal last year are now being recruited by the Russian military to fight in Ukraine, three former Afghan generals told The Associated Press." I've mentioned this before. Why isn't the CIA recruiting them? Or helping Western private military contractors hire them? Abandoning Afghan security forces was shameful. And worse than that in the case of these soldiers, stupid.
Will AI allow people working from home hold multiple jobs simultaneously? Or will "employers" cut out the middleman?
I believe this is an actual plank of the Democratic Party platform.
Not to be rude, but what's the point given how porous enforcement is? "Federally-activated National Guard troops are expected to continue to deploy along the U.S. southern border through summer 2023, a Pentagon spokesman confirmed to Military Times on Friday."
Welp. Brazilians elected a leftist as president. To coin an expression, Brazil is the country of the future! And with leftists in charge, always will be.
Baluchi separatists in Pakistan really don't like China building Belt and Road infrastructure there, which helps bind the region to Pakistan.
Allies: "The United States is planning to deploy up to six nuclear-capable B-52 bombers to an air base in northern Australia, a source familiar with the matter said on Monday, amid heightened tensions with China."
Understandable versus outrageous political violence. You won't be shocked at how Democrats and their media Siamese twin define them. Via Instapundit.
Bullying the Saudis didn't work. So Biden is bullying American companies: "President Biden on Monday warned that oil companies would face a 'higher tax' on their excess profits if they don’t reinvest in increasing production to bring down prices at the pump." Biden will increase their costs until they reduce their price. Biden was a moron long before he became senile. Tip to Instapundit.
I've noted this before: "Another pattern noticed by foreigners (working from public records) is that 'tigers' accused of corruption tend to be disproportionately people who had not supported Xi Jinping in the past. Those who did support Xi Jinping for a long time before being caught at corruption still tend to get punished, but in the form of quiet retirement and are often allowed to keep much, if not all, of the wealth they stole." Corruption is a crisis for China; but an opportunity for Xi.
Strategypage notes that China's military isn't as good as its shiny weapons appear. True enough. But its military only has to be better than its target to win. Taiwan is the target--not America. Are Taiwan's troops and people really as motivated to resist China as Strategypage thinks? On that I have my doubts. I hope it's true. I really hope China believes it is true. And how should a Chinese victory be defined?
American infantry report the Microsoft magic goggles would get them killed in combat. I assume the forced software updates at the most inconvenient time possible were the major complaint.
Enemies could hurt the American economy more by infiltrating more regulators who enact more rules on business than by sanctions or blockade. Tip to Instapundit.
When I worked for the state legislature, I was once asked about whether the police could ignore crimes. The answer was that police forces had discretion to use their limited resources--personnel and time--to achieve the best result. Back then I assumed the intended result was public safety. It made sense. Now as we see governments and prosecutors administratively repealing entire crimes by refusing to enforce laws, I wonder if I was missing something then. Or maybe the modern left twisted the ordinary into the horrifying.
I noted that the Air Force is pulling aging F-15Cs from Kadena air base in Japan and replacing them with rotational deployments. Eventually the F-15EX is the likely permanent replacement.
Have I said "Fuck the teacher unions" lately. No? Consider it repeated.
Gosh, why would I want to repeat this meme (and it's worse)?
Plastic recycling is a myth. According to Greenpeace. LOL! I don't recycle. It's a waste of my time and taxes. Sadly the Bullshit! clip in my post is dead. Here's a preview.
China appears to be in Earth orbit to stay. In one sense I'm happy about all planetary efforts to get off this planet. But China. And (via Instapundit) another big rocket will crash to Earth. China really needs to change that. Also, why do we assume China's space station is having no problems? Because China says so?
The twisted thought process that leads Democrats to look at DePape's hammer attack on Paul Pelosi and claim the path from DePape's left-wing, drug-abusing, mentally ill life to that attack passes through MAGA territory is frightening to contemplate. Up is down, 2 + 2 = 5, and we have always been at war with Eastasia territory. May Mr. Pelosi recover quickly. Nobody deserves this violence. But his defenders in the media and Democratic Party deserve our contempt. Oh, of course DePape doesn't get the benefit of all the "compassionate" criminal justice crap that most crime victims witness. Mr. Pelosi gets actual criminal justice activity. It's good to be the Duke of Pelosi. Tip to Instapundit.
The United States Coast Guard had a confrontation back in the summer with a Chinese fishing armada poaching off the coast of South America near a Galapagos Islands. We're just hearing about it now.
Iran is cozying up to Russia. Which makes Iran's threats to attack Saudi Arabia (and Erbil in Iraq's Kurdish region) interesting. Does that limit Iran's export of weapons to Russia? Would reducing the supply of Gulf oil make China more reliant on Russian oil? Will this push America and the Saudis closer, possibly convincing the Saudis to increase oil production? And will this push Iraq and Saudi Arabia closer to oppose Iran? Despite an Iran-friendly prime minister? And where does Israel fit in on this potential crisis if Gulf Arab states want help?
The new Iraqi prime minister wants to foster Iran-Saudi Arabia dialog. Good luck with that. I wonder how long this pro-Iran guy will last? Or will he be the last prime minister elected?
Will Iran supply Russia with short-range ballistic missiles?
The Philippines endures typhoons, Chinese aggression, Chinese gangsters, and communist insurgents.
China's tanks. Good enough to fight neighbors. And its own people, of course.
Another American SSBN made a public appearance--in Gibralter port. What's up with this? Does Russia need to be reminded we have nukes? Do the Europeans need reminding?
Does Russia's bombardment of Ukraine's cities mean Putin has abandoned hopes of winning the ground war? I think Ukraine's military forced Russia to abandon hopes of conquering Ukraine. In World War II, Britain and America gathered troops while the bombers struck and eventually invaded for the final ground war. I'll guess Putin still hopes to revive his army and resume the ground war on the defensive. But he may think he can resume the offensive. Why else hold Kherson, which really makes sense only to have a bridgehead on the west side of the Dnieper River to resume the offensive on Odessa. Putin likely overstates his ability to do that, of course.
The Biden administration doesn't want you to know the details (tip to Instapundit) of how enthusiastically it screwed the pooch withdrawing from Afghanistan.
Weaponizing people as a Russian strategic attack on Europe: "Polish soldiers began laying razor wire Wednesday along Poland’s border with the Russian exclave of Kaliningrad after the government ordered the construction of a barrier to prevent what it fears could become another migration crisis."
Kim Jong Un seems to be jealous of the attention Putin is getting as the current "big bad".
Private spaceflight gets contracts to support move into space: "SpaceX’s Falcon Heavy rocket, the most powerful launch vehicle in operation, carried its first National Security Space Launch mission for the U.S. Department of Defense to orbit on Tuesday."
To be fair to the Russians, civilian infrastructure can be legitimate military targets. I'm not sure that Russia cares to distinguish lawful targets from unlawful. But there is a distinction.
When quality counts: "North Korea is covertly supplying a 'significant number' of artillery shells to Russia for use in Ukraine, White House National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said Wednesday." Will they detonate? If so, will they detonate on impact or in the breech? Also, is China using North Korea to help Russia by replacing what North Korea sends to Russia? I heard that claim on a news show. If true, China could begin funneling ammo through North Korea.
Ukraine's cyberwar skills make it an appealing prospective member for the EU and NATO.
I don't feel guilty for jokes about Mr. Pelosi because the media amplified every insane accusation against Kavanaugh (tip to Instapundit). Now you can't even make a joke. Like many issues, the jokes are really about highlighting our biased media. Pelosi survived the attack and I assume he will get the medical attention to recover. If that changes, my view on jokes will change.
Russia's invasion of Ukraine highlights some weirdness: "In fact, it is not uncommon to see [some conservatives]
now off-handedly say that the United States started the war in
Afghanistan. They have become indistinguishable from a leftwing college
professor ranting about the military-industrial complex." Yeah, I don't get it. "We can't face the current threat to focus on the future threat" is standard left-wing stuff. I guess portions of the right adopted that, too.
North Korea continues to stomp and hold its breath for attention.
A record to run away from, to be sure. Sherman's March through Georgia caused less destruction.
The Taliban no doubt view this as tribute from a humiliated enemy: "The U.S. government has funneled more than $1.1 billion in taxpayer dollars into Afghanistan since the Taliban took control of the country in August 2021 with minimal oversight or accountability[.]" I won't say the Taliban are wrong to think that.
Oh? "Republicans are 'winning the messaging war' ahead of the Nov. 8 midterm elections, California Gov. Gavin Newsom lamented in a recent interview." The results of their policies isn't the problem? The problem is that the media, social media, culture, universities, and fundraising don't bolster the Democrats' message sufficiently? Fascinating.
The Navy is increasing Guam's ability to sustain nuclear attack submarines in the western Pacific.
I ignore all pollster phone calls.
Ladies and gentlemen! Introducing ... BlueAnon! So the so-called historian Michael Beschloss went insane. I'd laugh. But people afraid of the threats that exist only inside their heads can do dangerous things. Tip to Instapundit.
Israel's musical chairs government change may lead to supplying Ukraine with weapons. A revolution in Iran would certainly make it easier for Israel to stiff arm Russia, which has been friendly to Israel's attacks on Iranian-controlled assets in Syria. With a side trip to the Queen of the Victims Prom refusing to give up their tiara.
Bulgaria's parliament voted to supply weapons to Ukraine. Until now, Bulgaria has only repaired Ukrainian equipment. Bulgaria has a month to determine what it can supply without harming its own defenses.
If a Republican was president, the continued baby formula shortage would be on the news 24/7, with every Republican asked what they plan to do about it.
Removing the guns that don't have their special ammo allows this: "The trio of Zumwalt-class guided-missile destroyers could each field up to a dozen hypersonic missiles, with the first ship ready for testing in 2025, USNI News has learned." The shore bombardment mission never made sense to me.
A big Chinese rocket booster fell into the South Pacific. This isn't an accident. It's how China designs them. Is this Rocket Roulette designed to inspire some level of fear or do the Chinese just not care? Tip to Instapundit.
To be fair, double standards are still standards: "The Biden DOJ is cracking down on behavior that is no more obviously against the law than behavior the Obama-Biden Justice Department refused to punish." Tip to Instapundit.
Are Ukrainian comments worrying about Russia setting a trap in Kherson and worrying about Russia carrying out a double envelopment of Ukrainian troops in the Donbas using newly mobilized troops genuine? Is Ukraine that weak? Or is Ukraine trying to deceive Russia about a pending Ukrainian counteroffensive? And where will it fall? Luhansk? Kherson? Melitopol?
Chest beating and flinging poo: "South Korea scrambled about 80 military aircraft, including advanced
F-35 fighter jets, on Friday after tracking about 180 flights by North
Korean warplanes inside North Korean territory in what appeared to be a
defiant show of strength." This is a pageant. North Korea's conventional military has rotted away.
Are anti-torpedo torpedoes finally good enough to work? If so, scratch my ASuROC idea.
Turkey and Hungary are dragging their feet on approving Sweden's and Finland's NATO applications.
Kenya has committed troops to the East Africa Community mission to police eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (Zaire). Good luck with that. The DRC has been a basket case for decades. The only hope is to contain the violence to the DRC.
Behold a woke Progressive confronted with a Republican African American!
Disgusting. But far too typical. Tip to Instapundit.
A complete and absolute coincidence. Just stick with that.
ISW writes that Putin is going to throw ill-trained and poorly equipped mobilized men into renewed assaults on the Donetsk sector. Also, Russia will have problems fulfilling financial promises to mobilized men. Is this a case of killing to birds with one stone?
The media hive mind has evolved:
Tensions on the Korean peninsula. I honestly don't worry North Korea will invade. North Korea's military has rotted away. It will die quickly in a war. And while there is a chance Kim Jong Un could be as ignorant of his military's true status as Putin, North Korea deliberately weakened its military as a matter of policy.
Let's see. The people who say I'm a threat to democracy want amnesty for their counter-productive Covid policies? Hard pass.
I believe I noted we were sending older, too-expensive smart ammunition to Ukraine. Well, the older soon-to-expire SADARM shells that provide indirect anti-tank fire using 155mm cannons are working well in Ukraine.
I didn't even want to buy a ticket for the record $1.6 billion Powerball drawing on Saturday. If I did win, I'd just worry for the rest of my life that I was putting family members at risk of being kidnapped.
Oh, now leftists worry about election disinformation on Twitter? Hey dudes, you'll be free to refute it now, at least.
Tar and feathers first, of course. Figuratively, naturally.
Acceptable collateral damage in the war on Covid-19? I won't say the government response to the Xi Jinping Flu caused more deaths than Covid. But I suspect the tallies will be close.
I'd kind of like Republicans to announce they are ending the impeachment drama by declining to go after Biden. But it would be nice to have a ceasefire even if Biden should be impeached and if Democrats deserve a taste of their own politicized medicine. Would Democrats reciprocate in the future? And remember who'd take over if Biden is impeached and removed. Leaving Biden in the White House until 2025 might be mega Patriotism.
Bulgaria will buy 8 more F-16 fighters and more weapons and support for the planes.
Japan gets ready to be an arms exporter. Hopefully that means Japan gets more, too: "Japan’s Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said at an international fleet review Sunday that his country urgently needs to strengthen its military capabilities as security risks increase[.]"
Russia's repeated nuclear threats have tended to obscure that invading Ukraine--a founding member of the United Nations--is a major violation of the UN-based international system. Has Putin pushed back the UN outrage meter from invasion to nuclear weapons use? Has Putin made his conventional invasion with ample war crimes seem not so bad, really, when you consider it could be much worse?
Russian efforts to generate new combat power with its manpower mobilization is undermining Russia's domestic stability. The economy is undermined and resistance is generated.
If it was a true climate emergency, 35,000 people would have an online summit instead of jetting into Egypt. I don't trust any of those fanatics.
I like Pitch Meetings. This was particularly funny.
Diversity. Tip to Instapundit.
I don't think Mr. Pelosi was having an "encounter" with his attacker, DePape. But I find it funny that the Democrats are indignant at the speculation. Is that wrong? I mean, what's wrong with it, if true? I of course hope Mr. Pelosi recovers from this completely unjustified assault.
