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Posted
  On 3/15/2022 at 2:08 PM, Brisketexan said:

You've been following along pretty well these past few weeks, and you see what I see.

Do you see a Russia that will be able to integrate into civilization without waging war against it?  No, you don't.  The only path forward is to end the Russian state in its present incarnation.

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Joshing with you.  I don't see "countries" in the aggregate, I see people, leaders, and intentions.  Russia has a leadership problem.  I think you have to separate the two.  With better leadership at the top, you have a completely different scenario as most people are so busy with their d2d lives, trying to just make ends meet.  

That's why Russia needs a way back.  We need a stabilized Russia to help stabilize the region.  

You realize much of the world views us in the same light.  Invading countries under false pretenses.  Sticking our noses all over the place.  Does that make you and I "bad"?

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Posted
  On 3/15/2022 at 2:08 PM, Brisketexan said:

You've been following along pretty well these past few weeks, and you see what I see.

Do you see a Russia that will be able to integrate into civilization without waging war against it?  No, you don't.  The only path forward is to end the Russian state in its present incarnation.

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That requires a leadership change and a few oligarchs deciding that they want their toys more than they want the west to have them. Not destruction of the state. 
 

BTW, I’m relatively sure that WWIII is already underway, and it largely won’t be a kinetic fight. 

Posted
  On 3/15/2022 at 2:12 PM, BabaYaga said:

Joshing with you.  I don't see "countries" in the aggregate, I see people, leaders, and intentions.  Russia has a leadership problem.  I think you have to separate the two.  With better leadership at the top, you have a completely different scenario as most people are so busy with their d2d lives, trying to just make ends meet.  

That's why Russia needs a way back.  We need a stabilized Russia to help stabilize the region.  

You realize much of the world views us in the same light.  Invading countries under false pretenses.  Sticking our noses all over the place.  Does that make you and I "bad"?

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Don't make me go CR.  The bold is a very, very, very good question.

And you can't have the leadership without some collaboration from the people.  Russia is the way it is because, above all else, a very significant portion of the Russian people WANT it to be that way.  And the way it is.....is as a warring state that wishes to continue to wage war, open as well as asymmetric, on dozens and dozens of fronts.  On this planet, Russia is a flaming weight, dragging down civilization and burning us all in the process.

Would changing their leadership fix shit?  Well, without that, everything else is pointless.  But changing the leadership today is not nearly enough to resolve the huge problem that Russia and the Russian worldview presents.

Posted
  On 3/15/2022 at 2:14 PM, Bobby_Batronic said:

That requires a leadership change and a few oligarchs deciding that they want their toys more than they want the west to have them. Not destruction of the state. 
 

BTW, I’m relatively sure that WWIII is already underway, and it largely won’t be a kinetic fight. 

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Agree with you on the first bolded clause, starting to strongly disagree with you on the second.

Sometimes, you realize a big fight is coming, and there's nothing you can do to stop it because the other side insists on having it.

Posted
  On 3/15/2022 at 2:05 PM, TXSG8R said:

Very surprising, was he an XO at some level?  GOs at command level almost always travel in C2 vehicles to maintain connectivity and SA (Armor and mech infantry usually in armor, everyone else in C2 helos).  They may venture forward into a TAC for some specific missions or fights, but it’s a rarity. They are TOC creatures by and large. The system I worked for almost 20 years was a C2 package in helos, once force on force was over it became a FOB hopping taxi. 

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I forget his exact role as he wasn’t in my chain of command but we were Artillerymen doing an in lieu of mission and went to Tal Afar to get the 172 Infantry Brigade’s Strykers and move them to Baghdad in support of Operation Together Forward and the General was heavily involved in the planning as at the time that unit from Fort Wainwright, Alaska was the first to be ‘extended’ beyond 12 months. Those Strykers drew a lot of attention from the enemy as they called them the ‘ghost riders’ but they were awesome and that unit was badass.

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Posted

Fucked up. The US/NATO needs to quit fucking around and call Putin's bluff. Give Ukraine jets. Or dare I say, get involved. Once we control the air and take out their convoys, Putin's war goes to shit. What is he going to do? Send nukes because we stopped his invasion of Ukraine? No one is attacking Russia. He can't say he's launching nukes to defend Russia cause that would be bullshit. Fuck this bullshit.

 

 

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Posted

Not good

China and Saudi strengthen ties

  Quote
  • Saudi Arabia and China have renewed discussions over a refining and petrochemical complex that were shelved in 2020 due to the oil price crash.
  • This deal is yet another sign of the strengthening alliance between China and Saudi Arabia, a development that will worry the Biden administration.
  • Worryingly for the U.S., the Chinese company that will be involved in this deal with Saudi Arabia is also one of China’s major defense contractors.
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Posted (edited)
  On 3/15/2022 at 2:18 PM, Brisketexan said:

Agree with you on the first bolded clause, starting to strongly disagree with you on the second.

Sometimes, you realize a big fight is coming, and there's nothing you can do to stop it because the other side insists on having it.

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All relevant military objectives can be accomplished electronically these days. Other than China annexing Taiwan there really isn’t a case for securing land or resources in the immediate future that couldn’t be done through more subversive and less overt means. I’m not saying that major land or sea battles are no longer a thing, but they’re less of a thing  than they used to be. 
 

Russia is spent. They will not be able to raise another effective fighting force for decades. Europe will not want to be under their thumb with regard to oil, gas and nuclear energy, but those aims can be handled by domestic policy or regime change. Destruction of the Russian state is about the surest way to start WWIII conventionally and end it in a nuclear fashion. 
 

Honestly, your passions are ahead of your reasoning in this matter imoho. There is no ideologically driven, genocidal horde hellbent on world domination romping around Europe. And the Empire in the East is well established with little thought of expansionism beyond that troublesome island.  China might look West to a de-clawed Russian state, but there’s simply no need to start a global war. I think the desire to settle all accounts now while we have the wherewithal to do it  has some merit, but it’s likely the end of all things if we pull that lever. 

Edited by Bobby_Batronic
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Posted
  On 3/15/2022 at 1:02 PM, TXSG8R said:

No, I think it’s still a fair question. An Army division might have 3 GOs depending on when promotions hit, but usually it’s 2 at most. I thought Russia only pushed like 5 divisions into Ukraine, and lots of detached brigades, which would be run by colonels. I think the bigger oddity is the number of Russian GOs that are in the shit. GOs aren’t there to execute, they are there to plan. They live in TOCs, not TACs, and are usually detached from any fighting. There’s always a magic bullet that can catch one, but 4 GOs in a couple of weeks is pretty bizarre. I don’t know that we lost 4 GOs in a decade in Afghanistan or Iraq. 

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At least in WW2, the Soviets were fielding lots of really understrength units that had less independence than a Western unit. IE, where the Brits or US or Germans would use a platoon for one job, or assign a company to another, the Russians would throw in a company for the first or a battalion for the second. At that time I believe they tended to have lower-ranking commanders than you'd expect, from attrition.

I wonder if now there's a continuation of understrength unit (from corruption or general fuckery) combined with inflated ranks (more corruption and general fuckery) with yes-men "Generals" who are running around doing the jobs of Colonels and Majors?

It would be of a piece with their arrogance and incompetence if they are demanding that the troops salute them within view of the enemy.

Posted
  On 3/15/2022 at 2:36 PM, crash_davis said:

What is he going to do? Send nukes because we stopped his invasion of Ukraine?

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Crash our power grid? Shut down our pipelines? F with our banking system. There’s a lot of options on the table that don’t start with mushroom clouds. Russia’s conventional military is hurting. They are not toothless in non conventional ways. 

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Posted
  On 3/15/2022 at 2:53 PM, RDCanecutter said:

At least in WW2, the Soviets were fielding lots of really understrength units that had less independence than a Western unit. IE, where the Brits or US or Germans would use a platoon for one job, or assign a company to another, the Russians would throw in a company for the first or a battalion for the second. At that time I believe they tended to have lower-ranking commanders than you'd expect, from attrition.

I wonder if now there's a continuation of understrength unit (from corruption or general fuckery) combined with inflated ranks (more corruption and general fuckery) with yes-men "Generals" who are running around doing the jobs of Colonels and Majors?

It would be of a piece with their arrogance and incompetence if they are demanding that the troops salute them within view of the enemy.

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They did that because of training and material.  Instead of training them up, they just used the one resource they had in spades.  Same seems true today.  

Posted
  On 3/15/2022 at 1:27 PM, Francisco 2.0 said:

https://www.thedailybeast.com/wild-kremlin-tv-hosts-threaten-the-us-with-nuclear-strikes-unless-sanctions-end-and-reparations-are-paid

 

 

 

  Reveal hidden contents

 

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I'm quoting this again as EVERYONE needs to read the last "hidden" contents section.  Not only to see the delusion, but to see what future atrocities Putin and Russia is trying to prepare their people for to accept as "reasonable."  

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Posted
  On 3/15/2022 at 2:46 PM, BabaYaga said:
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That sort of thing is inevitable, but how BAD is it really? The US is oil independent, and the developed world insists it's going no-carbon.  So how bad do we need SA?  China does.  India will, but the west does not.*

*So long as we're able to actually go green.  But that's an entire different discussion.

Posted

24 OMBR named after King Daniel showed the result of coordinated and successful work of infantry and artillery of the Royal Brigade in Luhansk region.

 Minus three T-72 tanks, one BMP-3 and all orc personnel.

Rashi assassins in Energodar destroyed a monument to the Heroes of the Heavenly Hundred.

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Posted
  On 3/15/2022 at 2:05 PM, BabaYaga said:

Ah fuck, Brisket's off his meds again.  Guys?  Can someone help him out.....;)

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after watching some US military TikTok, we would wipe Ukraine clean of those Russian dogs in no time. If the Russians stuck around to fight, they’d be on borrowed time. 
 

hell, blast them with military TikToks a week ahead and they’ll be running home crying to their moms. 
 

fucking A 

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Posted
  On 3/15/2022 at 2:59 AM, victory88 said:

Jeez, CNN was showing footage of the pregnant woman in the process of dying as men are escorting her to the ambulance.  Watching her grab her belly really fucked me up.  My wife is pregnant with my first kid so watching that really ate me up.  
 

Fuck Putin.  This has to stop.  Watching to those civilians packed like sardines under a bridge in fear of being shelled was sobering as well.  

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Congrats on you and your wife! 
 

fuck Putin! This does have to stop! And yes, it might come with a cost. But i highly doubt it will come to nuclear war. And Putin needs to be stopped period. But don’t take my word for it…take it from Zelenskyy’s right hand man who has been bravely going to the negotiating table with these fucking assholes. 
 

I admit I’m emotionally invested. I admit Zelenskyy is my hero. I admit being part Jewish myself has some to do with how I feel. But I am tired of watching them plead for help. Either Putin is killed or NATO steps in and pushes them back. I know there are rumblings in the EU and some NATO countries that we should help and secure the skies. But his words carry more weight and will always be better than anything I can post on the subject:

 

 

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Posted
  On 3/15/2022 at 3:24 PM, tx 3 putt said:


after watching some US military TikTok, we would wipe Ukraine clean of those Russian dogs in no time. If the Russians stuck around to fight, they’d be on borrowed time. 
 

hell, blast them with military TikToks a week ahead and they’ll be running home crying to their moms. 
 

fucking A 

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It couldn't even be the entire "military".  The air force alone would empty the skies of all Russian planes, destroy all the Russian supply routes, and then systematically pick off much of the mechanized forces, leaving the scraps for the UA to pick apart.

It's the potential for Russian nuclear escalation in the face of such overwhelming defeat that would be probable, as defeat would be certain, leaving them with the probable thought that nuke's are their only option.  

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Posted
  On 3/15/2022 at 1:02 PM, Lobo said:
The Ukrainica?  By Pavel Picasso?  
Jokes aside, I'm really starting to wish Germany had wiped Russia from the face of this planet.  

Germany had to be defeated at all costs. They were a greater threat to world stability. That said, we realized very quickly we had our hands full with the Russians. It was a partnership of necessity in WWII, but we were never "allies " in the true sense of the word.
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Posted
  On 3/15/2022 at 3:32 PM, BabaYaga said:

It couldn't even be the entire "military".  The air force alone would empty the skies of all Russian planes, destroy all the Russian supply routes, and then systematically pick off much of the mechanized forces, leaving the scraps for the UA to pick apart.

It's the potential for Russian nuclear escalation in the face of such overwhelming defeat that would be probable, as defeat would be certain, leaving them with the probable thought that nuke's are their only option.  

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The bolded.  And I'm not holding out much hope that we can continue to walk the tightrope.  Put plainly, Russia cannot be allowed to "win" in Ukraine.  Their intentions there, and their remaining ambitions, are unacceptable to civilization.  Whether we like it or not, Ukraine is where the line has been drawn.  We can't afford any outcome that isn't some semblance of a Russian defeat.

Which is why I'm thinking it's more and more likely that NATO air power will eventually be deployed, and we'll be in a full-on shooting war with Russia.....which, yes, we'll win easily.  Thus, the nuclear option is a real threat.

There is only one possible path to a positive outcome here -- decapitation of the Russian kleptostate.  Putin has to die.

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Posted
  On 3/15/2022 at 3:24 PM, tx 3 putt said:


after watching some US military TikTok, we would wipe Ukraine clean of those Russian dogs in no time. If the Russians stuck around to fight, they’d be on borrowed time. 
 

hell, blast them with military TikToks a week ahead and they’ll be running home crying to their moms. 
 

fucking A 

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How's your Russian sugar baby feel about all of this 🙂

 

Posted
  On 3/15/2022 at 3:34 PM, Sbbruin said:


Germany had to be defeated at all costs. They were a greater threat to world stability. That said, we realized very quickly we had our hands full with the Russians. It was a partnership of necessity in WWII, but we were never "allies " in the true sense of the word.

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We also realized that Versailles was a poignant reminder that a stable, democratic Germany was necessary for the stability of the region.  So we stayed and helped facilitate what we have today.  I know I sound like a broken record, but Russia needs the same.  They are not going anywhere, and a destabilized, fragmented Russia is dangerous.  I don't know the answer, but a democratic, stable Russia supports the entire region.  

So "what" seems easy.  The "how", not so much.

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Posted
  On 3/15/2022 at 3:36 PM, Brisketexan said:

The bolded.  And I'm not holding out much hope that we can continue to walk the tightrope.  Put plainly, Russia cannot be allowed to "win" in Ukraine.  Their intentions there, and their remaining ambitions, are unacceptable to civilization.  Whether we like it or not, Ukraine is where the line has been drawn.  We can't afford any outcome that isn't some semblance of a Russian defeat.

Which is why I'm thinking it's more and more likely that NATO air power will eventually be deployed, and we'll be in a full-on shooting war with Russia.....which, yes, we'll win easily.  Thus, the nuclear option is a real threat.

There is only one possible path to a positive outcome here -- decapitation of the Russian kleptostate.  Putin has to die.

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I don't even know what a Russian "win" looks like?  The Balkans?  Decades of insurgency?  

The bigger problem is Ukraine territory already lost.  Do they get that back?  How?  They can fight on their heels, but what about on the balls of their feet?  Can that land be retaken?  That's the immediate concern.  

Posted
  On 3/15/2022 at 3:40 PM, BabaYaga said:

I don't even know what a Russian "win" looks like?  The Balkans?  Decades of insurgency?  

The bigger problem is Ukraine territory already lost.  Do they get that back?  How?  They can fight on their heels, but what about on the balls of their feet?  Can that land be retaken?  That's the immediate concern.  

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Maybe my second-best hope is that this just becomes a "stalemate with dug-in positions."  Which lasts for months.  Years even.  With Russia acting like the governor of the "conquered" territory, and Ukraine refusing to recognize their claims.  And fighting along the fronts, but not much else.  

But I don't see it.  I see Russia throwing everything they have at Ukraine.  EVERYTHING.  Which, yes, will leave their military gutted.  But which will also leave it armed, angry, and sitting right next to NATO nations.  And numbers alone....along with a willingness to completely level every Ukrainian city, including Kyiv....can give them a "win."  Russia will rule the rubble.  And will stand there and threaten to add to it.

It would be suicidal-stupid for Russia to move on the Baltics, but at this point, I'm back around to the odds favoring such a move.  Because Russia has left no path for itself other than violent conquest until it it stopped.  Russia will not stop until someone stops it.

Posted
  On 3/15/2022 at 12:38 AM, TaxMaster said:

It seems they’ve been saying this for almost a week now. I wonder if this keeps getting brought up because the media keeps asking US/UK officials because it’s doom porn-ish, the US/Uk officials keep bring it up because they’re getting continuing intel, or if US/Uk officials keeping bringing it up for deterrence.

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The US was saying that Russia was going to invade for months before they did and everyone else denied it.  It is believed that when the US releases this intel that one or two things happen. 1) RU pauses their plans and does it at a later date 2) they call it off all together.  

At this point I think the threat is credible for a false flag of either nuclear or biological from the russians.

 

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Posted

I’m surprised that the journalists being wounded or killed is as low as it is. With the Russians giving no fucks about where, when and with what they use to bomb and shell cities with.

 

Damn! That’s horrible news to hear about the Fox journalist and cameraman and the other journalist that Zelenskyy honored regardless. I know Twitter and regular people reporting from the ground has increased but those journalists on assignment will always have my respect. Fuck The Kremlin. Fuck Putin! 

Posted
  On 3/15/2022 at 2:53 PM, RDCanecutter said:

At least in WW2, the Soviets were fielding lots of really understrength units that had less independence than a Western unit. IE, where the Brits or US or Germans would use a platoon for one job, or assign a company to another, the Russians would throw in a company for the first or a battalion for the second. At that time I believe they tended to have lower-ranking commanders than you'd expect, from attrition.

I wonder if now there's a continuation of understrength unit (from corruption or general fuckery) combined with inflated ranks (more corruption and general fuckery) with yes-men "Generals" who are running around doing the jobs of Colonels and Majors?

It would be of a piece with their arrogance and incompetence if they are demanding that the troops salute them within view of the enemy.

Expand  

The best example of the difference I can find is that scene in Band of Brothers when Spiers takes over the assault from Dike. Col. Sink stops Winters from directly intervening. He appoints Spiers to take over.

If it were the Russians, Sink would have lead the assault himself, because he couldn’t/wouldn’t rely on his Sargents/LT.

 

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Posted
  On 3/15/2022 at 3:45 PM, Brisketexan said:

Maybe my second-best hope is that this just becomes a "stalemate with dug-in positions."  Which lasts for months.  Years even.  With Russia acting like the governor of the "conquered" territory, and Ukraine refusing to recognize their claims.  And fighting along the fronts, but not much else.  

But I don't see it.  I see Russia throwing everything they have at Ukraine.  EVERYTHING.  Which, yes, will leave their military gutted.  But which will also leave it armed, angry, and sitting right next to NATO nations.  And numbers alone....along with a willingness to completely level every Ukrainian city, including Kyiv....can give them a "win."  Russia will rule the rubble.  And will stand there and threaten to add to it.

It would be suicidal-stupid for Russia to move on the Baltics, but at this point, I'm back around to the odds favoring such a move.  Because Russia has left no path for itself other than violent conquest until it it stopped.  Russia will not stop until someone stops it.

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A stalemate favors the Russians, as they have new territory and access to the port, and the UA has little means to take it back.  That means essentially a civil-war type level of destruction that guts the nation.  This is not Afghanistan, so Russian supply lines are much more favorable....even though they are still problematic.  

Posted
  On 3/15/2022 at 3:50 PM, BabaYaga said:

A stalemate favors the Russians, as they have new territory and access to the port, and the UA has little means to take it back.  That means essentially a civil-war type level of destruction that guts the nation.  This is not Afghanistan, so Russian supply lines are much more favorable....even though they are still problematic.  

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Thus why it's my distant "second best" outcome.

At this point, the world needs to be playing for one outcome, and one outcome only: full Russian defeat.  Preferably with a Putin decapitation along with it.

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