A friend who has reason to know told me that German 155mm shells don't work in our cannons. WTAF. So much for NATO common standards. How many violations of that objective exist?
As long as drones can't operate in fog, these will work: "The U.S. military is tinkering with high-energy lasers in Iraq as part of a broader effort to refine directed-energy weapons and more effectively counter drones[.]"
The Baltic Security Initiative was given $228 million: "The focus of the U.S. funding is on developing air defense, maritime situational awareness and land forces in the Baltic nations[.]"
Yes: "if Republicans cut off U.S. military aid to Ukraine, ... they will
own [the debacle] in the same way that Biden owns the exit from Afghanistan." Biden would welcome the ability to lose the war while blaming Republicans. The big difference is that the media would attack--not defend--Republicans.
Good luck: "The industries of Germany and France will have an equal share of work in developing and producing a future tank, the countries’ defense ministers announced March 22."
The tale of how India's navy tracked and captured Somali pirates who'd taken over a civilian ship.
The rise of FPV drones. Note that Russia's FPV drones have a 12% kill rate. Plus a 15% damage rate. How does this compare to precision artillery, anti-tank missiles or guns, or even dumb artillery? On that answer--and how counter-measures develop--rests the question of whether FPV drones are decisive.
I think Russia's performance in the Winter War of 2022 validates this pre-war TDR assessment of the value of Russia's combat experience in the "frozen" Donbas fight from 2014-2022.
Memory holed: "The top brass ordered by President Joe Biden to abruptly evacuate Afghanistan had no clue how many Americans were still hiding in or near Kabul as the Taliban took back control, and do not know how many were left behind." Biden obscured his failure with random volume. Tip to Instapundit.
AI censorship is denser than even partisan human censorship. But no less wrong. Tip to Instapundit.
Good: "The surface fleet has been clear: it wants more warfare tactics instructors, officers highly trained in areas like air and missile defense and anti-submarine warfare, to serve in a growing number of roles at sea and ashore." Now execute. The Navy assumed sea control and persisted in that belief too long.
America and Japan see China as enough of a threat to compel combined operations: "Restructuring the U.S. military command in Japan could result in a combined U.S.-Japanese headquarters, according to security experts."
America has no Plan B for the Winter War of 2022? Pushing for Plan B is nuts. Russia decided to wage war. Plan A is winning the war. Plan B is simply a search for a way to disguise losing the war to Russia--and getting more war anyway.
American intelligence organizations can't call Islamist terrorists "jihadists". But isn't that their preferred pronoun? Back in the Obama era the approved term was the vague "violent extremist organization." I say claiming Moslems are offended by the term implies all Moslems are or support jihadists.
An odd exemption given that its enemies hate Jews: "Benjamin Netanyahu’s government is at odds with some ministers over plans to conscript ultra-Orthodox men into the Israeli Defense Forces. All Israeli adults must serve in the nation’s army, but ultra-Orthodox Haredi men are exempt."
Well, yes: "The art of war isn't just knowing how to attack or defend. It's also knowing how to retreat with minimum losses in personnel and equipment." I thought Ukraine did a decent job at Avdiivka, all things considered. Or maybe Russia isn't good at maintaining contact and pursuing.
And Trump will abandon allies?
"Washington stood aside and allowed the UN Security Council to pass a
resolution calling for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza." If we let weak
terror groups like Hamas win, how can we deter China? Or Russia? Or even
North Korea or Iran? Oh, well never mind about Iran, of course.
My bad: "The Houthis said they would refrain from attacking Chinese ships off the coast of Yemen, but this past weekend, the Iran-backed rebels did exactly what they said they wouldn't." Did the Houthi use Iranian targeting data or did they find the target themselves?
Even in our Revolution and Civil War, recruiting became more difficult after a couple years of war: "Ukraine’s armed forces desperately need fresh troops to hold back massed
Russian offensives. But political dithering is leaving front-line units
threadbare." The need is no less desperate for that history.
Why do progressives hate responsible people so much? I really should say "progressives" rather than "Democrats" even though progressives drive the Democratic Party bus these days.
Russia is blaming Ukraine, Britain, and America for the jihadi terror attack near Moscow. Is that propaganda? Is Russia quietly focused on jihadis? Or is Russia blinded by the need to blame Ukraine? Will Russia get seriously stupid? Will jihadis exploit the blindness to launch more attacks on Russia?
A State Department official resigned in protest and now tries to thwart Israel outside of the government. Well, berserkers who wish to destroy humans with relentless evil can always find goodlife. Interesting how the media is now reviving the glory of dissent from government policy.
American troops defend the fragile win in Kosovo. You may recall Allied Force in 1999 and the "victory through air power" urge. Huh, later this old essay about the 1999 limits of air power was in my krill flow.
Britain wants its own submarine-launched nuclear warhead not dependent on American components. As much as I doubt Russian nuke functionality, can simulations really validate the design of our new nukes? I'm skeptical about this. And even if they can, did we build the nukes to the standards of the simulation?
A reminder--so long after 9/11--that you can inflict a lot of damage without explosives: "The Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore, Maryland, has collapsed after a large container boat collided with it early Tuesday morning." Although there are no indications this was terrorism.
China needs the trade and technology of South Korea more than it needs dirt-poor and aggressive North Korea on its border. It was all fun and games for Peking when North Korea's progress toward nuclear missiles scared South Korea, Japan, and America. But nuclear-armed North Korea is a threat to China.
The Navy is testing TRAM to reload VLS cells at sea. Currently ships have to go to port to reload. Which takes time and makes it easier to target the warships. If TRAM works, some ships will have it installed.
Jihadi terrorists invaded Israel. They struck in Russia. They believe they are the strong horse. How long before jihadis strike here? An open border and bizarre focus on "deplorables" argues we're vulnerable. Our Congress even refused to block "migrant" flights to our interior cities. Is Biden the jihad's travel agent?
The LCS is absent from the Red Sea littorals: "Why? Simple. They cannot conduct combat on the littorals." I've long noted that. To be fair, the LCS concept had merit in the blue waters if the modules worked. I liked the modules. But they--and much else, too--did not work. Via Instapundit.
The real minimum wage is zero. Destructive left-wing activism to push the minimum wage sky high helps the activists when those who keep their jobs get a raise; and gives them more unemployed who can be told their woes are the fault of free-market capitalism and cruel governments that won't spend more on welfare.
Don't believe Russian bluster that it shrugs off sanctions. But I reject that it is a "charade" that Congress delays a vote on needed military aid for Ukraine. I blame Biden for holding Ukraine hostage to bizarrely keep our southern border wide open. Republicans are right to value our border's security. Do both!
Can F-16s counter this? "Russia has apparently fielded another low-cost glide weapon, adding pressure on Ukraine’s stretched ground-based air defences amid concern over Kyiv’s remaining inventory of surface-to-air missiles (SAMs)."
Is the long-overdue Third Plenum "a sign of a notable divide within the CCP, particularly among its top leaders"? That's outside of my lane. But if Xi is unable to orchestrate agreement for his policies, that conclusion seems reasonable. What does that mean for foreign policy? Caution or aggression?
Asking someone else do your work--even if an AI aggregating other people's work--will do that: "reliance on ChatGPT is linked to procrastination, memory loss, and a decline in academic performance." At best these people learn how to ask a machine the question their instructor asked them. Tip to Instapundit.
Gonna be honest. I assumed the hostages Hamas took on October 7, 2023 were doomed. So yeah, they are likely dead or soon will be. I'm shocked Israel got as many out as they did. Preventing future hostages is the mission. By making good jihadis, of course.
You think you distrust and hate our media enough. You do not. Tip to Instapundit.
Progress: "In 2018, upon assuming duties as logistics director for U.S. Forces Korea, I considered U.S. military forces’ preparedness to conduct large-scale ground combat in the Indo-Pacific region." I was a pioneer in Military Review. And I wrote about the synergy of services achieving their core competencies.
Science: "hurricanes aren’t getting bigger or more intense. He said that as temperatures naturally warm coming out of the Little Ice Age, hurricanes and weather events will get less intense—not exponentially worse." Which is different than The Science! twisted by climate activist fanatics. Tip to Instapundit.
I won't go down this path despite Biden screwing the pooch in Afghanistan: "CNN National Security Analyst Peter Bergen is laying the responsibility of one of the deadliest terror attacks in Moscow at President Joe Biden’s feet." Jihadis are responsible for the terrorism. Blame Biden for not killing jihadis.
FFS, a call to accept violent militias in Iraq who attack us rather than strike them in order to solve the deep-seated "root causes" of the militias. The echelon above reality strikes again.
Ukraine is trying to get home-grown ammunition and weapons as Western supplies falter. This is good for the long run. But Ukraine needs Western supplies now to have a long run.
Good: "France will soon be able to deliver 78 Caesar howitzers to Ukraine and will boost its supply of shells[.]" Macron--at the moment--believes supporting Ukraine is good for him.
The Army will finally put an active protection system on its Bradleys. Not many. But it's a start.
The Army will slow the stressful pace of rotations for its much-in-demand armored brigades.
If real, that should be ended. But I'm going to guess this is a phantom Nazi panic like past accusations. I recall a tattoo that was identified as problematic but was not. Sadly, the current picture is blurred ... to protect us? Or prevent us from judging?
If Biden loses, the reason might be his China-strengthening "ill-conceived drive to push electric vehicles into making up over three-fifths of all car purchases by the 2030s." I just want a reliable, less-expensive internal combustion engine car. Why do progressive-dominated Democrats hate us so much?
Get the figurative tar and feathers: "Where these laws allow squatters to occupy houses without the owner's consent, they qualify as takings of private property that require payment of compensation under the Fifth Amendment." Our officials who hate responsible people must pay financial consequences.
Ukraine's anti-access/area denial: "Russian warships are still in the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov extension in the northeast, and the more distant naval base at Novorossiysk, but rarely move out of port, even for a few days." Suicide surface drones get credit. Wouldn't CAPTOR for surface targets do better?
For Democrats, "victim" allies are just the X auxiliary to harness for their progressive objectives. If you are a member of the minority X group but don't support progressive policies, "you ain't X", to coin an expression.
Anybody who says Ukraine's success against Russia's Black Sea Fleet should cause China to worry about what Taiwan could do ignores that Ukraine has inflicted this damage over 25 months. Taiwan would need to inflict multiples of that damage in 25 hours.
More will follow: "The Army may introduce a drone and robotics platoon into its armored brigade combat teams[.]"
LOL: "Can the European Union facilitate a more stable and prosperous Indo-Pacific? Brussels believes so." Brussels believes no such thing. Brussels believes the authority to implement even a plan doomed to fail helps erase the inconvenient prefix of their proto-imperial union. But you know my opinion by now.
Democrat accusations that Republicans are pawns of Russia really infuriate me given their persistent recent role as useful idiots for the Russians. Going back to Soviet times, too.
Bugger off: "Sens. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) and Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) on Tuesday accused Meta of suppressing Palestine-related content on its platforms, calling its actions 'deeply troubling.'" They're only troubled when what they agree with is suppressed. End--don't guide--censorship.
Putin is a dangerous bastard: "Planes flying over and around the Baltic Sea in northern Europe have been suffering technical problems caused by jamming since Sunday, with 1614 planes, mostly civilian, reporting problems since then." Proving my point that Kaliningrad must be the first NATO war objective.
The twilight of the rule of policy wonks. Deservedly so. The "experts" pretend to know about more than their narrow areas of expertise--when they can even develop that core knowledge.
No Democrat is an alternative to Trump. Progressive autocrats run the Democratic Party. But I'm realistic. Trump is not conservative--although he governed in a more conservative way than I expected. But he listens to blue collar concerns. And he's no threat to democracy. Why don't all Republicans get that?
Could "innovations in artificial intelligence, robotics, genetically-modified crops, and space travel" restore population growth? I seriously doubt expensive space travel could do that given the lack of terraformed living space in our solar system. But maybe space would be a psychological boost.
Sometimes I wonder if Lukashenko is maneuvering to defect from Russian control: "Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko said that the Crocus City Hall attackers originally fled toward Belarus not Ukraine, directly undermining the Kremlin narrative on Ukraine’s involvement[.]" He preempted revelation of that.
I still wonder if the land that has emerged (is emerging?) from the Kakhovka Reservoir following the 2023 destruction of the main dam that created the reservoir will become an avenue for ground attacks.
As long as I'm wondering about old wondering, why haven't we seen mining on the static front inside Ukraine? Or Ukraine burying a massive explosive in the path of Russia's advance where Ukraine falls back?
I've heard this before: "Rich NYC teens are getting fake ADHD diagnoses to win extra time on the SATs leading to huge surge in points: 'Everyone is doing it[.]'" The road to corruption is paved with good intentions. Tip to Instapundit.
Fingers crossed for an easier way to kill threats: "The U.S. Navy plans to mount a high-powered microwave prototype system on one of its vessels as early as 2026, according to the Navy’s Fiscal Year 2025 budget documents." It has "tactically significant range". Am I wrong to assume point defense?
Ukraine's aerial drone offensive: "Targets are usually industrial facilities that support the war effort.
These include numerous oil refineries and oil fuel storage facilities
plus facilities involving specialty steels for tube artillery and tanks." Biden pressures Ukraine to stop the oil attacks to help his reelection. Huh.
The M10 Booker. Burn, baby burn.
Comrades! Adjust your Newspeak Dictionary accordingly.
Persistent autocratic impulses: "Three separate investigations took over a year to nail down the case that government agencies were improperly censoring by proxy. Forced by courts to stop, they're desperately trying for a reboot[.]" Tar. Feathers. Tip to Instapundit.
Why on Earth is Biden crippling America's ability to replace Russia's money-generating natural gas exports? Yet Democrats say Putin has blackmail material on Trump? Tip to Instapundit.
Why does the government assume American Moslems support terrorists? "The United States' top intelligence agency wants to ban its spies from using ... the terms 'radical Islamists' and 'jihadist,' saying these words are "hurtful to Muslim-Americans[.]" Seems pretty racist to me. Tip to Instapundit.
Why do climate fanatics hate humans so much? "North Sea energy companies could be forced to close oil and gas fields or be prevented from opening new rigs unless they slash emissions." Tip to Instapundit.
While I appreciate anybody who pushes for network-centric rather than platform-centric naval warfare, what does the author's proposal to add aerial drones to all of our ships achieve that anti-ship missiles can't provide if the warships are networked?
Europe "races" to rearm to face Russian aggression. Well, they are probably in the "crawl" stage of "crawl, walk, run." To be fair, at best we're in a brisk walk right now.
Why is Europe moving rightward? Maybe because their proto-imperial EU rulers keep ignoring people who express concerns and calling them fascists. When you aren't even listened to, you will appeal to those who will listen and maybe act on your concerns. Imagine that. The author's answer? Remove the prefix!
Terrorist dangers from Afghanistan territory are rising. "Republicans blamed President Biden for the debacle. Democrats blamed President Trump for his deal with the Taliban." Trump's plan was bad but better than Biden's. We didn't need to lose on Biden's watch. The pooch stopped in front of Biden.
Radical greens have complained about our regular farms for decades. Now more dense indoor farms are bad, too. I'm starting to think the global warmers just want us to die.
India has an interest in preventing China from winning a war against Taiwan--but is unlikely to fight China there. So it does not want a war to start. Sure. India has gone from Look East to Act East. It takes time to Fight East.
For too many, yes: "Have we really forgotten so quickly the monstrous events of October 7 last year that we genuinely want an immediate ceasefire in Gaza before Hamas has been utterly destroyed as a military force and potential government there?" Hamas endures, expecting Western rescue. Shameful and stupid.
Progressives have revived the nonsensical notion that respect for Islam demands a ceasefire. So Israel should stop trying to defeat the Hamas murderers and rapists, they say. Feel the respect: "Al Shabaab has launched several large-scale and complex attacks [in Somalia] since the beginning of Ramadan[.]"
Oh: "Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. CQ Brown said he is confident that U.S. troops working to provide humanitarian aid
to residents of Gaza will be protected from violence in the region."
Our leaders were also confident that our Afghan allies wouldn't be
defeated until two years after we left.
Perhaps he is more confident American military aid will resume: "Ukraine's military will need to mobilise fewer people than initially expected to fend off Russia's two-year-old invasion, Kyiv's top general said on Friday."
Good point: "The Russian Aerospace Forces, or VKS, continues to burn through the life span of its fighter aircraft in the war against Ukraine." Russia likely doesn't have the resources to extend aircraft life spans.
Can anybody do their job in this administration? Now (via Instapundit) it has effed up the FAFSA part of the college financial aid process. Biden rejected money to fix the problem to keep illegal student loan "forgiveness". On the bright side he can't make us pay for loans he can't grant. No, there's no bright side:
The Stupid is strong in this one: "The Biden administration could use 'indigenous knowledge' to jettison a critical mining proposal projected to yield billions of dollars in precious metals used for renewable energy projects." No worries. We'll buy from China. Progressives delay Peak Stupid again. Via Instapundit.
The second Ford-class carrier is already 18 months late. There are problems getting the design to work and delays increase costs even more. Maybe we'll consider whether the ship is worth the money when we need networked numbers.
Israel has used their new Lahav MLRS in combat, intended to replace their American-made M270 tracked MLRS. It can fire different rockets with varying ranges and payloads. And fire and move quickly.
They'll sell each car at a substantial loss, but make a profit on volume! "California-based electric vehicle startup Fisker slashed the prices of some of its vehicles as it fights to avoid bankruptcy after a potential deal with another automaker fell through." Tip to Instapundit.
For a while it seemed like Russia had shifted focus to attacking Ukraine's defense industry: "Moscow launched a large-scale attack on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure Friday[.]" Did Putin pull a Hitler during the Battle of Britain and take his eye off the ball of Britain's air defenses to attack civilians?
Seems like a waste of money when so many have done it for free since there was a USSR: "A Russian-backed 'propaganda' network has been broken up for spreading anti-Ukraine stories and paying unnamed European politicians, according to authorities in several countries." But hey, it's actual real collusion!
The Saudis are reaching the limits of their patience on Israel's offensive against Hamas. As I said from the start, tick tock, Israel. But would the Saudis have reached their limit now if not for Biden turning against Israel? This encourages Iran to back Hamas more, of course, to encourage Saudi-Israeli tension.
A Christian revival is going on in Britain? The Biden administration won't say "Islamist." But I bet they'll work up some "Christianist" accusations! Tip to Instapundit.
And now for something completely different:
Is France ready to fight Russia? France can sneer at the Russians--or nuke Moscow. Between those extremes, the answer is no. To be fair, no Europeans are ready yet.
Hamas must be reeling to praise Iran, which has done the minimum to look supportive: "The heads of the two leading Palestinian groups at war with Israel have praised Iran's role in an increasingly international conflict over the Gaza Strip in talks with Tehran's top authority."
Honoring those who exposed American censorship: "When I grew up, I didn't know anybody who was for censorship. There was nobody among the liberals I knew... who had any feelings in that direction. I think as recently as ten years ago, 95% of journalists would have been in agreement[.]" TDS broke them.
The Russians who fight Putin alongside Ukrainians. There aren't many. But then again, not many Wagner fighters advanced a long way toward Moscow with nobody willing to stop them.
You think you distrust and hate the media enough. You do not.
These days I assume increased government control over American businesses is about protecting the government from Americans rather than protecting Americans from hostile foreigners. But the details are outside my lane.
Self-inflicted wound for our military: "Race-conscious “diversity, equity, and inclusion' (DEI) policies are making personnel shortages worse." Diversity is fine. Perhaps even an edge. But only if the military is focused on winning wars. Sadly, contra MacArthur, our woke military has many substitutes for victory.
But they aren't as sexy and chic as drones: "An element of that strong defense, experts argue, could be one of the cheapest naval tactics: sea mines. The under-the-water, hidden explosives could be key to derailing an amphibious assault and waging asymmetric warfare against China's superior navy."
Democrats claim Americans are too stupid to know the economy is great. But inflation hurts us. And since 1983 inflation statistics ignores the effects of high loan interest rates. Which was fine with low rates. So the statistics fail to reflect reality--like woke era crime statistics. I don't trust any economic statistics.
Hawaii isn't covered by the NATO Article V defense clause because it isn't in the North Atlantic? Sure, NATO formed before Hawaii was a state. But this seems like an argument only lawyers would make. America is part of NATO and Hawaii is a full-fledged state in America no less than covered Alaska is.
Will Russian men accept being treated no better than spent shell casings or empty ration pouches? "One difference between the Ukrainian and Russian armies is their treatment of the dead. The Russians just leave their dead behind and move on. The Ukrainian and NATO armies identify and bury their war dead."
I've long read women are fine as snipers and insurgents: "After Russia invaded Ukraine, one of the responses was that more than 60,000 Ukrainian women volunteered to join the military. Most of the women served in non-combat jobs but at least 5,000 served in the combat zone, many of them as snipers."
Collective defense at the western end of European NATO: "There isn’t a better poster child for freeloading in the trans-Atlantic alliance than that of Spain." In case you wonder why Trump complains about Europeans.
Hopefully not too late: "French Defense Minister Sébastien Lecornu said France is to deliver 'hundreds' of armored vehicles by the beginning of next year to Ukraine as part of a new package of military aid for the country that just entered its third year since the Russian invasion."
If only current and recent presidents felt the same way: "When asked in a press conference near the end of his time in office what his administration’s most important accomplishment was, Coolidge was quoted as replying, 'I think it would have to be, minding our own business.'"
This is normal: "The annual spring decree calling up around 150,000 conscripts to the Russian military signed by President Vladimir Putin was published in Moscow on Sunday in line with longstanding practice." Will there be a more general mobilization? Will young men evade this conscription round?
I argued in this article that China just needs to get ashore to beat Taiwan: "Much of the world—perhaps America especially—would be relieved to have a cease-fire before American and Chinese forces are openly shooting at each other." After cease-fire calls for Ukraine and Israel to help enemies, am I wrong?
