Hmmm: Per Reuters, "Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) Quds Force commander Esmail Ghaani directed Iranian-backed Iraqi groups to 'pause' attacks on US forces during a January 29 meeting in Baghdad." Our strikes were that intense? Or does Iran know Biden is wrapping gifts?
Ef around. Find out. How many businesses or rich people will want to risk the state apparatus being turned against them for hate or envy? Will red states retaliate? Surely a state judge will reverse this "Kafkaesque" orgasmic case for Democrats without US Supreme Court intervention, right? Via Instapundit.
What could possibly go wrong? In more simpler times this would be the evil plan of a Bond villain that 007 must stop.
Thanks, Russia! "A Moscow-trained missile scientist led the push for China’s [one-child] policy, based on tables of calculations that applied mathematical models used to calculate rocket trajectories to population growth." Oops. I guess that's why Chinese long-range planning failed (with bonus one-child reference).
Morons. Ignorant, vindictive, morons. Idiocracy has arrived. Via Instapundit.
An old science fiction book of mine used technology that did this. Tip to Instapundit.
For now, stopping subliminal assault is enough: "The Estonian fence is not meant to protect Estonia from a Russian attack, but to aid Estonia in controlling its border with Russia. A growing number of people cross the border illegally as smugglers, illegal migrants, or Russian agents up to no good inside Estonia."
They leave rather than be conscripted: "The invasion of Ukraine led to unexpectedly large Russian casualties. Russia had to conscript more medical personnel to provide their troops with adequate ... care." Also: "40 percent of Russian casualties die compared to only 20 percent of Ukrainian casualties[.]"
Also, we had a 6:1 wounded-to-killed ratio in Vietnam? I'd long heard it was 3:1, more on par with World War II and Korea. And the 7.3:1 ratio in the Iraq War is lower than I thought. Hmmm.
It is unclear from the wording to me if it was destroyed at sea or ashore: "Saturday's incident marked the first observed Houthi use of an unmanned underwater vessel since attacks in the Red Sea region started in October, CENTCOM said." We'll see what works there in the Persian Gulf.
Can Europe defend itself without America? In theory. If that was "Europe's" highest priority. It is not. But is that even wise?
How Ukraine's sea drones have put Russia on its heels. Unmentioned: How the drones identify and reach targets before the dramatic video-recorded attack runs. That last part is expensive and lacks sparkly newness.
Hmmm: "Iran’s dream is to force the US to retreat to the Egypt-Cyprus line and
isolate Israel. But not to destroy it – Israel is the perfect enemy,
useful to legitimise the 'axis of resistance', the lintel of Iran’s
sphere of influence between Western Afghanistan and the Levant[.]" Iran wants to strike--not kill--a king?
Yes: "Delays in Western security assistance to Ukraine are likely helping Russia launch opportunistic offensive operations along several sectors of the frontline in order to place pressure on Ukrainian forces along multiple axes." Why is Biden demanding an open southern border to screw Ukraine? Am I right?
She should state right now she isn't suicidal or suffering from vertigo: "Yulia Navalnaya, the wife of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny, said she would carry on her dead husband’s fight against President Vladimir Putin."
Interesting: Jussie Smollett with a news rather than noose angle? Beats me. It is all very odd.
Assuming "hillbillies" were marrying their cousins was a bigoted explanation for birth defects--and completely wrong. Bigotry so easily dons the disguise of "science".
Islamic separatism lingers on there: "Philippine troops clashed with Muslim militants in a gunbattle that left at least six soldiers and two rebels dead in a fog-shrouded hinterland in the south, military officials said Monday."
To cooperate or spy on each other? "Turkey and Greece will join the European Sky Shield Initiative, bringing the total number of countries participating in the German-led initiative to 21."
It's their own woke fault and they want military power to pacify it? No: "Officials have asked Gov. Maura Healey to send in the Massachusetts National Guard to stop violence and address security concerns at a troubled high school in a city south of Boston, some school committee members said Monday.
A dozen Singapore F-15s will have a safer home and space to train on Guam. No doubt, American planes will have a forward home in case of war in the South China Sea.
Hmmm: "Navy SEALs operating in the eastern Mediterranean said that drills carried out off the coast of Cyprus were a signal to adversaries that attacks in the eastern Mediterranean will be opposed with plenty of force." A warning to Hezbollah? To the Houthi? Or to Hamas still holding Americans hostage?
The price of fighting NATO, Nazis, and Satan: "Military operations in Ukraine have cost Russia up to $211 billion and the country has lost $10 billion in canceled or paused arms sales." That arms sales are listed as a separate cost implies that the Pentagon didn't count every imaginable secondary or tertiary cost.
After 9/11 Democrats told America not to become like our jihadi enemies in our rage over the terror attacks that day. America did not become brutal. I believe today's Democrats have become the enemy they have become obsessed with destroying. But without the humor. No jokes in the Woke Jihad, eh?
There is media talk about an "extinction-level" event for the news media. And now for something completely different:
Or get us drunk: "The U.S. Navy and the U.S. Missile Defense Agency are developing and
testing systems that can identify decoys accompanying an incoming
ballistic missile, then ignore the decoys and just destroy the missile.
Decoys used by ballistic missile warheads are also called penetration
aids." Sorry ...
It's a "slight" increase. Still, glad I had the Johnson & Johnson version. Didn't think my kids needed vaccine. They had grandparent worries. So there's that. I think most "pandemic" harm was by government lockdowns. And borrowing under Trump to cope with government policy and then needlessly by Biden.
Will increasing the usual deployment of carriers in the Pacific to 5 provide 5th generation air superiority over China? Big decks? Seriously? With the need to refit and overhaul them, we can't deploy many routinely. Would it work? And if it works, how long before China's land bases let them pass that surge by?
Oh? "Behold Ursula von der Leyen’s transformation from green dove to military hawk." She undermined NATO as Germany's defense minister. Now she undermines NATO--which defends Europe--to build an EU empire via a "European" military. What transformed? Don't trust throne sniffers and their plan.
Yeah, I'm tired of the drama of Trump--stoked by insane Democrats--so wish Republicans would move on from him. But if he is the alternative to any candidate the woke Democrats put up, I'll vote for Trump. We only get two choices and he's the only real choice. I reject end times rhetoric. But trends matter, too.
Any agreement with Maduro for "democracy"--like "peace" with Putin--is just a chance to get past the current crisis, reload, and resume whatever nefarious objective is pursued. No sanctions will follow. Biden will simply offer more for a "better" deal--this time for sure!
Nobody should unleash the puppies of war: "The Houthi movement launched an anti-ship ballistic missile that struck and disabled the UK-owned, Belize-flagged Rubymar cargo ship in the Bab al Mandeb strait on February 18." Smash them. Sink any Iranian vessel in the area. Give them fear. Moderation in war is folly.
Krugman's position on immigration's effect on the economy has evolved. The problem is that experts start with a narrow expertise and then assume they can pronounce on everything. As they have fun with their broader portfolio, they ignore what they once knew in their narrow areas of expertise. And so, worthless.
Were "hundreds" of Ukrainians captured in a "chaotic" retreat from Avdiivka? I've read Russia has ramped up allegations of this without any videos that one would expect. By its nature, retreating while in contact is very hard. If chaotic, Russia's failure to exploit it and pursue damns them more. I'll reserve judgment.
Another reminder that model output is not actually real world data. They may be useful to justify further inquiry--but not for directly affecting policy.
Oh? "I think there's one line of analysis, which is more of a German line of
analysis, which says: We shouldn't win because the Russians will be
upset." Ah, the "Let the Wookie win" strategy. Which is odd for Germans--whose 20th century history belies that line of analysis--to believe.
Following recent heightened tensions, China's coast guard intercepted and "inspected" a Taiwanese civilian vessel near China. The reaction? "Kuan Bi-ling, head of Taiwan’s Ocean Affairs Council, said Tuesday the incident triggered 'panic' among the Taiwanese public." That bolsters my worry.
I thought those were the foundations of Smart Diplomacy®: "The United States vetoed a United Nations Security Council resolution proposed by Algeria on Tuesday that called on Israel to implement a cease-fire against Hamas in the Gaza Strip, criticizing the measure as 'wishful' and 'irresponsible.'"
Because we're sending messages rather than missiles: "Despite a month of U.S.-led airstrikes, Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi rebels remain capable of launching significant attacks[.]" Stop that.
"Sue and settle" collusion between the federal government and progressive allies is back. The Obama administration did this. It's easier than changing laws in the legislative process. What a shock the Biden administration is doing it. Rule of law was nice while we had it.
The Democratic Party is now the party of "1%" wealthy progressives happy in their bubble. Once blue collar, the party now thinks the peasants are revolting and need to shut up. Two areas I used to respect Democrats for are gone. Do read it all.
When law becomes a "nice business you have there, it would be a shame if something happened to it" scheme, the only shock is the speed: "Prominent investors have signaled their intent to halt their business in New York following the $355 million verdict in former President Donald Trump’s civil fraud case."
Seeking the future: "The Navy has built a concept for specialized teams delivering non-kinetic effects in the fleet, and there’s a plan to develop more within the next two years." I'm really not against this ... but shiny new things can lead us to undervaluing kinetics.
European obsession with climate change is creating a financial Holodomar for their farmers. The farmers are noticing.
Soft power: "Palauan President Surangel Whipps Jr in a letter to an unnamed US senator on Feb. 9 said that China has offered to 'fill every hotel room,' in Palau, 'and more if more are built' if the small island nation were to break ties with Taiwan."
Killing the goose that lays the golden eggs. Morons. Vindictive, narrow-minded morons. I hope New Yorkers remember how this "bad luck" started when the scalp of Trump they're waving about isn't so fresh. Watch the video. Via Instapundit.
As that extinction level media event approaches, ponder that it is occurring because the media threw their woke, strident opinions at us 24/7. If the left wants to defeat "deplorable" ideas, they should rethink their strategy of burning books. Or maybe deep down the left knows those views are popular. Rot in Hell.
Ukrainian pilots think F-16s are better than Mig-29s: "NATO offered to supply over 60 F-16 jet fighters and these are supposed to arrive in Ukraine by late 2024." This is taking way too long.
Naval drones are revolutionary after two years? "So far there have been twelve [Ukrainian] attacks which resulted in damage to 12 ships and the sinking of a cruiser, two small landing ships and one missile corvette." I don't know. Not exactly the Marianas Turkey Shoot or Pearl Harbor.
I've been exhausted being unjustifiably called deplorable by progressives. Are progressives finally getting exhausted screeching that accusation? Every tantrum finally ends.
Nobody in the January 6 riot used--or even carried, as far as I can tell--a firearm. But: "Lawmakers should pass gun restrictions in order to prevent an 'insurrection,' an academic paper argues." Tip to Instapundit.
The Minsk agreements weren't a lost opportunity for peace between Russia and Ukraine. They were an opportunity for Putin to reload. The lesson is not to trust the Russians.
So we're assuming free Ukraine has a long run? "The Defense Department transferred Patriot air defense systems and
various combat vehicles to Ukraine without a plan to sustain them
long-term, which could lead to problems down the road, according to a report by the Pentagon’s watchdog." Try winning first.
See what can fly over your subliminal offensive: "A U.S. Air Force B-52 bomber flew alongside three Philippine FA-50 fighters during a patrol over the South China Sea in the Philippines’ Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) on Feb. 19."
Turkey's plane that it aims to be a 5th generation fighter had a test flight. Did Turkey really learn enough from its planned role in building F-35s?
Apparently to counter Ethiopia's move, news that "Somalia announced on Wednesday a defense deal with Turkey that includes support for the Horn of Africa nation’s sea assets[.]" Let's not forget Erdogan's imperial dreams.
Estimated Russian combat losses in the last two years. And how Russia got here.
This seems like a completely pointless comparison.
A book promoting the asymmetric "Overall Defense Concept" for Taiwan. I have problems with the concept. It takes proven combined arms and joint warfare ideas but gives them a new label that risks disaster, IMO. Its major flaw, as I explored in Military Review, is nobody drives the PLA into the sea.
I sure hope the good guys are helped as much as the enemy is helped by AI.
Why is Biden committed to ignoring laws to do this? "The Biden administration has secretly been slashing the number of illegal immigrants who must post bond to enter the United States in a policy of 'releasing everyone,' according to a former top Department of Homeland Security official." Via Instapundit.
Chest-beating and flinging flying nuclear poo: "Russia's President Vladimir Putin
on Thursday took a co-pilot's seat in a nuclear-capable strategic
bomber on a flight that appeared aimed at bolstering his image ahead of next month's election he's all but certain to win." Big talk.
FFS: "Why the captain of a US Navy aircraft carrier fighting in the Red Sea is always posting about things like Taco Tuesday and cookies[.]" Because he spends too little time sending missiles to destroy Houthi anti-ship capabilities he has time to send messages.
We send too many messages and not enough missiles: "A ship was attacked and caught fire Thursday in the Gulf of Aden near Yemen, according to a statement from the British Royal Navy's United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations." We need to be relentless--not reactive or even preemptive.
Hmmm: "A trove of leaked Chinese hacking documents might have given the world a glimpse of how widespread and effective China's hacking operations could be." I assumed China would threaten this to deter American intervention over Taiwan. But is this real or an easy way to send the threat?
Democracy dies in darkness, I'm told. Tip to Instapundit.
Is Britain being colonized by people they invited in to settle? Just wondering because I'm told that's really, really bad. Again, Instapundit.
The first American spacecraft to land on the Moon in 50 years. As a young boy, I saw us reach the Moon and thought the year 2000 would be magnificent, space-wise. Oh well. Via Instapundit.
Huh: "Though their geographical contexts and methods differ, Putin and his Chinese counterpart, Xi Jinping, expressed a desire to recover lost territory or international prestige[.]" Ukraine, Taiwan, and the South China Sea are mentioned. Say, guess what other lost territory does China gaze at?
Oh please, buying votes with our money is already defined by government employee unions. "Canceling" student loans of the top income brackets is just another version. Tip to Instapundit.
Chinese companies are establishing private militias (as they had in Mao's reign): "The private units are known as the People’s Armed Forces (PAF). They are made up of civilians who continue their regular jobs and act as a reserve force to China’s military[.]" Hmmm. Is this part of or different than the PAP?
In 1916, we "were waiting for an external factor to tip the balance one way or the other. In April 1917, the United States entered the war." America in 2024 is a parallel for Ukraine? The Russian revolution had the role in 1916. It failed to help Germany. I looked at World War I efforts to end a stalemate.
To be fair, it's natural for Putin to cause his political enemies to die.
Oddly anti-Russian Democrats who looove Iran too are in a difficult position: "[NSC] spokesman John Kirby said Thursday that the U.S. will be 'imposing additional sanctions on Iran in the coming days' for its efforts to supply Russia with drones and other technology for the war against Ukraine."
This is taking way too long. More planes. Fewer statements. We had an alternative faster way to show our "unwavering support." Even before the stalemate on renewed security assistance, we've lacked a sense of urgency.
Russia threatens France: "Russian forces threatened to shoot down a French surveillance aircraft patrolling in international airspace over the Black Sea[.]" Those surveillance aircraft do more than patrol.
Behind the Potemkin facade: "As Russian arms makers fulfill government orders at a record rate, they are bracing for a shortage in skilled labor and high-tech manufacturing components that belie the image of a defense-industrial juggernaut, according to analysts." You can prioritize scarce resources--for a while.
The Philippines is talking to Sweden about getting long-wanted fighter planes.
Guam will be busy in a war with China so practicing how to use air power there is sadly useful: "More than 2,400 personnel from the U.S., Australia, Canada, France, Japan and South Korea took part [in Cope North 24]."
Sure, Trump didn't "rebuild" America's military. He filled in the growing hollowness: "Of the new money in Mr. Trump’s fiscal 2019 budget request for the Pentagon, nearly 90% flowed to personnel, operations and maintenance accounts." You shouldn't expand a hollow force into a bigger hollow force.
Huh: "After nearly a decade of effort the U.S. Air Force has finally developed a MagNav (Magnetic Navigation) system that works reliably enough to supplement or replace GPS for navigation." But not even close to being miniaturized yet.
Hmmm: "Ukrainians not only received weapons from NATO countries, but they also have since 2014 learned much about current NATO, especially American tactics." Has the dead weight of Soviet tactics really been dropped by Ukraine?
Yeah, Democrats say every Republican--back to 1944, I believe--is Hitler or Hitler-like. Democrats are just trying to bounce the rubble with Trump. And people are noticing that Democrats are destroying the village "our democracy" in order to save it.
But this time for sure! "Much of this kind of talk about a 'European defence' gives a sense of déjà vu: the EU also used past crisis points like Brexit or the first Trump presidency to push for greater integration in the security field[.]" I've mentioned that history. Really, killing NATO is an EU wet dream.
Yes, clashes on the Israel-Lebanon border continue--territory the UN said Hezbollah shouldn't be in. But more than four months after October 7th, Hezbollah still hasn't jumped in to rescue Hamas.
Is Brexit fever spreading? Europeans who produce resent the red tape that strangles them: "the EU is a master at creating underhand non-tariff barriers designed to drive importers away by making their lives a bureaucratic nightmare." Putin weeps with envy. Although he could be using EU tactics with Belarus.
I did say Iraq's demand for the U.S. to leave weren't real: "reports emerged that al-Sudani’s advisors had quickly backtracked, communicating to American officials that the declaration was only 'an attempt to satisfy domestic political audiences' and that no deadline had been set for this 'quick' withdrawal."
And yes, "The Road to Deterring Iran Goes Through Iraq". Fighting Iran in Iraq is critical, as I've long argued.
Interesting: "By now the research is so abundant even most liberals accept it. Children with strong fathers in their lives are far less likely to wind up in prison, divorced, or with emotional problems. They are also less likely to join radical political organizations." No guarantee, of course. Tip to Instapundit.
How the FBI lost trust in a "credible" confidential human source. Spoiler Alert: Hear information that hurts Democrats. Via Instapundit.
Defining a break in relations: "significant US forces and assets are eventually withdrawn from the European theatre, and America’s commitment to NATO and Article 5 becomes unreliable politically[.]" The former happened. And few European NATO states sent maneuver units to fight in Afghanistan.
Solar flares may have caused some cell phone service interruptions last week. Did not notice. Tip to Instapundit.
My 2016 advice to Israel if they choose military power to address the Hezbollah threat still applies today. I don't know if it is wise to embark on a new front when just winning in Gaza in the face of international hatred for Jews is rampant. Although maybe that argues for action. Hard to say.
Keeping aircraft and ships in the fight.
The Abrams dips its toe into the Winter War of 2022. They should put a "cope cage" on it to make it less obviously different than other tanks at a glance.
I had stopped following this blog as the author got busy with other projects, but I kept the tab open. He looks at Winter War of 2022 casualties. The estimates are propaganda or WAGs. But even the lower estimates make our 7,000 KIA in ten times as long in Iraq and Afghanistan look like a walk in the park.
Democrats keen to erase [Republican] election results denial are shifting to denying Republicans the result of an election. Via Instapundit.
Sure, we don't owe Ukraine aid to fight Russia. But I think it is in our interest to do so. Also, we aren't deciding if Ukrainians die for their country. "I really get sick of people who describe every foreign action as a reaction to an American action or lack of action, as if only America has the agency to make choices."
Putin beats his chest and flings poo. We speak softly and carry a big stick: "A pair of B-1 Lancers flew from Ellsworth Air Force Base, S.D., to Luleå-Kallax Air Base, Sweden, to start a Bomber Task Force deployment on Feb. 23[.]" Russia will notice that.
Quantity's quality: "The American military plans to rapidly deploy myriads of small cheap satellites, similar to Space X’s ... Starlink system, to deal with the possibility of Russia and China detonating nuclear EMP (electro-magnetic pulse) weapons in orbit to destroy essential satellite networks."Also, Starshield.
Does Russia think this would help them defeat Ukraine? "The Kremlin has been setting conditions to conduct hybrid warfare operations in the Baltic States and Finland for months and is currently engaged in such operations against Moldova." What about Germany? The effort could backfire, of course.
Huh. I did not know Italian and German immigrants faced internment early in World War II, in addition to the Japanese. That would interfere with the accusation it was purely racist with no basis (if exaggerated) in national security. I often wondered why Italians and Germans didn't face the same scrutiny. They did.
Yeah: "Putin’s aims remain the destruction of NATO as an effective alliance, the breaking of the tie between the United States and Europe, and the construction of a new global order in which Russia’s voice and power are dominant." The EU's drive for "strategic autonomy" fits well with Putin's aim.
Don't answer them. Relentlessly hunt and kill them: "The U.S. and Britain struck 18 Houthi targets in Yemen on Saturday, answering a recent surge in attacks by the Iran-backed militia group on ships in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden" Still, thanks Britain.
I've been collecting H. Beam Piper books for quite some time and check used book stores hoping to score one I don't have. I just bought the entire Kindle collection for 99 cents.
Long before I coined the "let the Wookie win" strategy that some advocate for foreign enemies, I recognized the approach. As I've said, ineffective use of force is counter-productive.
And yes, my resolve to edit down these entries to no more than three lines on my computer in the drafting screen is working out nicely. Which translates into text going into the fifth line at maximum on the published screen.
