| Author | Message | ||
     Aesquire |
https://www.axios.com/russia-putin-war-ukraine-134 083e0-5a2a-48bc-910d-aad3b61eb4d5.html Links get messed up on edit. Sorry. | ||
| Aesquire |
https://www.laughingwolf.net/2022/04/14/the-moskva / One of 3 top tier guided missile cruisers in World of Warships, I mean the Putin Fleet, the class is a very capable warship, although this one is now less useful than the Bismarck. Apparently a smoking sailor started a small fire, and in due care for it's personnel, was carefully evacuated and taken under tow, but a nasty storm sank it, which is always an understood hazard of towing operations. The picture of the tractor towing it is faked. The draft of the Moskva means it has to be in water too deep for the tractor pictured. Just wanted to clear that up for the low IQ folk. There are, of course, rumors that differ from the official Russian press release. The President of Ukraine speculated it was a smoking accident, so verifying the Official News.  There have also been vicious rumours about corruption in the Glorious Russian Utopia. https://threadreaderapp.com/thread/151438555323133 9523.html Certainly nothing but Biden's* propaganda, and thus unworthy of inclusion. Although personally I do give some credence to rumours about Chinese tires aging out. I had a set on my Caravan that had poor traction and one was wrecked on a curb, ( my fault ) so driving into ditches & getting flats can be blamed on the poor design and workmanship. It's pure unfair speculation that the spare tires needed are delayed by corruption. No chance of getting verified means uninteresting to Atlantic or the Washington Post. | ||
| Aesquire |
https://pjmedia.com/vodkapundit/2022/04/14/moskva- down-did-ukraine-really-sink-the-pride-of-russias- black-sea-fleet-n1589752 Some interesting facts on the rumor. But since the Pentagon can't be trusted unless it's reporting on the conversion therapy to give the LGBTQ+ better representation in the force, I'm going with the careless smoking explanation. | ||
| Aesquire |
https://althouse.blogspot.com/2022/04/the-russian- conservative-elites.html From Instapundit. HITLER THOUGHT THE WEST WAS WEAK AND DECADENT, TOO. NAPOLEON THOUGHT THE BRITISH WERE A NATION OF SHOPKEEPERS: “The Russian conservative elites currently in power supported war because they see Western power as decadent and declining.” They may even be right, but that doesn’t mean the West is too weak and decadent to kick their ass. The irony in the link above is the Soviets may be responsible for the Culture Decay in the West. It's spelled out in a Congressional speech in 1964, Iirc. And KGB detectors confirmed it years ago. It's a lousy argument against modern immorality, as it, even true, makes you seem like a paranoid loon. It's been obvious to some for years. Why is Putin so anti gay? Because he is well aware that it's a KGB exploitation strategy, and blackmail tactic. It may be an obsolete tactic in the weirdness of today, but the cold blooded demographic facts were supposed to reward his attitudes and persecution. Aka, gays don't reproduce. But every country seems to have the aging out/not enough kids to sustain, problem when certain levels of wealth & other factors combine. Russia and China too. So Putin jailing gays don't work to fix that. Why is Putin so unconcerned with Global Warming? Again, he knows it's a scam. His agency started the Greenies. So Putin's excuse that he's trying to save Russia from the Decadent West is true, ironic, and hypocritical all at the same time. F- him. | ||
| Aesquire |
https://hotair.com/allahpundit/2022/04/18/is-this- the-moskva-before-sinking-n462995 As a history buff I point out the U.S. Lost a carrier, the USS Lexington, at the battle of Coral Sea. It got hit and fires ran out of control. Remember this is early in the Pacific war, and damage control on carriers was also early and untested. There's endless speculation among history buffs ( and pros ) that the Lexington could have been saved, IF, the crew hadn't been evacuated and damage control parties had continued to fight the fires, while the ship was taken under tow. Maybe, but it's highly likely the Japanese fleet would have caught it, slow & unable to defend itself, so the decision was made to abandon. And it sat there, burning, & refused to sink. Officially, it was scuttled by a U.S. Destroyer to prevent it's capture. But the American torpedoes had faulty fuses, ( a major story in itself ) and the Lexington didn't sink immediately. In fact the pursuing Japanese forces were freaked out by the Lexington drifting, still burning, as they passed it, chasing the American strike force. Later, her sister ship USS Saratoga, was damaged far worse by Kamikaze strikes, and made it home, as did other carriers severely damaged. The difference was in part, the lessons learned from the Lexington. Both in damage control training, and a fundamental change in paint/anti corrosion technique.( In the pre war Navy, when ships got ratty looking, they'd just slap some fresh paint on. But it was partly the thick paint that produced the thick smoke and difficult to stop fires on the Lexington, so the rules changed on that. Sounds minor & silly, but true. ) The Russian Navy is underfunded, thus undertrained, and just has not had practice at damage control in combat since WW2. All the experts are long dead. They have had a problem with fires and not properly maintained equipment, leading to loss of lives and ships. ( if the emergency fire pumps haven't been run & fixed & just don't work, you not only can't fight the fire, you can't fix the problem, because, you know, you're on fire! ) Unfortunately the mechanism/culture to LEARN from disasters and fix the problems, is also broken in the former Soviet services. Complaints that you don't have gear because the gear or money to buy it was stolen by a buddy of the Admiral doesn't do promotions much good. Reports about deficiencies that Contradicts your boss's Reports that everything is awesome is bad for health & career. And won't make it up the chain. Case in point is news From Russia about officers arrested because they claimed everything was 100% ready to rock, but actually only had 55% of the troops in existence. ( and pocketing the pay of 45% of your imaginary personnel & the supplies allocated, is easy money. Until caught & they shoot you. ) So pretty sure corruption isn't just propaganda. My guess is Moskva could have been saved, but poorly maintained equipment, training, and experience led to the choice to save the men. Which was probably the right choice in the circumstances. | ||
| Hootowl |
When the closest land is straight down, you have a great incentive to save the ship. | ||
| Tpehak |
It would be nice if USA provided a few ships to Russia to replace the Moscow ship. | ||
| Aesquire |
Nah, the last time Britain loaned Russia a Battleship, it came back so messed up from zero maintenance and practice that the multi ton main turrets were rusted solid & couldn't move. They had to scrap it. That's the truth. It says something really bad about Ruskie officer training. I mean, if YOU had a Battleship, wouldn't you at least want to see the Big A$$ Guns pointing at stuff for fun? Even if you were not allowed to actually shoot them? The monster has 22 foot wide range finder telescopes that can tell how far a telephone pole is at 12 miles, and is SPECIFICALLY DESIGNED so the Captain can point at something and order it removed from existence, as super cannon move & track simultaneously to do so! How the $%&# can grown men NOT play with that capability for months until they rust solid? That's some messed up culture. I get that the Commisars wouldn't allow just shooting at ice bergs for fun. You'd have to ask the Brits for more ammo, and that might imply the Soviet Utopia couldn't make more. ( actually it would make the Brits respect people who like to practice! ) But not even turning the turrets? ??? | ||
| Aesquire |
https://thedispatch.com/p/russia-decides-to-blame- nato-for?s=r Putin's minions blame NATO for their flagship sinking. Ok, guess the earlier report From Putin minions that it was an accident was a lie. Shocked face! Besides the Obvious, that this is Agitprop to excuse the Putin forces for the corruption that has left them badly equipped, AND set up a bull crap excuse to attack NATO, this should indicate the only hope Putin's War will end is if one of his minions decided his only hope is to stop him. Unlikely. It's only going to get worse and widespread. I don't blame the lied to Russian People. But over a century of brutal experience tells anyone who isn't insane that you don't want to let a Russian army occupy your home. At least when the Romans took over, you got civilization. | ||
| Tpehak |
You don't want to let Ukrainian nazi occupy your home. | ||
| Aesquire |
Of course not. We all remember when Ukraine conquered Europe, right? But I'm far more concerned Fidel Castro's son will invade from the north. Now that we know that Furries run the White House. | ||
| Tpehak |
Ukraine forces use apartment as firing position | ||
| Hootowl |
That’s what happens when someone initiates house to house warfare against you. Where should they fight from? | ||
| Aesquire |
https://hotair.com/ed-morrissey/2022/04/21/has-the -moskva-sunk-putins-propaganda-efforts-n463816 A bit optimistic. We've got lefty anti freedom scum like Congresscritter Swalwell. Who sorta kinda... Threatened to Nuke gun owners who resisted his Class sending armed thugs to steal their property. ( not his exact words, but both implied and intended ) Pretty much the situation in Eastern Europe today. The difference being Putin sent the armed thugs already to steal the Citizens of another country's property & freedom, which Swalwell just wants to do, and Putin commands the nuclear weapons while Swalwell would have to ask the person in the Easter , suit. ( who apparently is in charge at the White House ) So I would not put it past Putin to organize a mass movement of the families of his dead soldiers to "go meet them at the rest camp" to prove they aren't dead, then nuking them as an excuse to Nuke his foreign Enemies. If that sounds insane, it is. Unfortunately it's not very paranoid to think he might do such a thing. If 4 years ago you were told the Capitol police would invite in protesters to persecute in a False Flag Operation to ram through an illegitimate fraudulent election result, and a senile old man who didn't leave his house for months and no one was allowed to see after 7pm, lest his Sundowning dementia rages spook people, was chosen to rule, you'd call that crazy. You might buy The prediction that his Party would block any other candidates except their Chosen one, by Any Means Necessary, as happened, but you'd probably choke on the idea he would then openly chose his running mate as a Token of Racism & Sexism pandering. ( although the practice of picking a Veep so troublesome they're obvious assassination insurance has become a Tradition. Dan Quayle must feel better. ) Predicting the handing of Afghanistan and billions in military vehicles and equipment to the Taliban by the chosen Prez would also get a disbelieving response. So predicting Vladimir making MORE insanely bad decisions is the sanest choice. Hope I'm wrong. | ||
| Ratbuell |
Keep perspective, here. Ukraine is OWNED by the Clinton/0bama/Soros/Biden/Pelosi crime families. Ukraine is 110% embedded in the NWO. Ukraine has dozens (yes - DOZENS) of biowarfare...er, "research" laboratories. Ukraine's president was installed by Soros' will and money, in 2012. Think about all of that. | ||
| Oldog |
Ukraine is OWNED by the Clinton/0bama/Soros/Biden/Pelosi crime families. Ukraine is 110% embedded in the NWO. Ukraine has dozens (yes - DOZENS) of biowarfare...er, "research" laboratories. Ukraine's president was installed by Soros' will and money, in 2012. Think about that I have, what has burnt my grits, is that we (u.s. & russia) signed a treaty with Ukraine asking them to give up nuclear weapons, and promising them if they came under threat we would help them, further Russia signed the same treaty saying that they would not invade. I expect this from the Russian government, I expect better from the USA. I thought that Zelenski(sp) was popularly elected to his post. I heard that report about Bio labs. these are weapons labs? I wish I knew more about GS. I hope that the crime families will be pushed out this cycle, Soros is the boogy man of the right. | ||
| Hootowl |
Bit different. The bogey man isn’t real. | ||
| Aesquire |
I have no doubt the pre-invasion government in Ukraine was a product of the Obama/Soros conspiracy interference. I'm sure Dr. Jill, the Elder Abuse Expert is greatly upset the flow of bribes to her crime family through crack @#$%& Hunter has been disrupted. 2 big surprises have stood out, to me. #1 is the failure of Putin's propaganda efforts to gain support, except among the West's Fellow Travelers. ( who also will insist math is racist ( because it's too hard & inflexible for the Lesser Races ) and the answer to all life's problems is More Power for the Holy State. No one expected videos of tractors towing abandoned missile carriers off to overshadow a well tooled & experienced Putin Propaganda machine. #2 is Zelenskyy. Going from ex-comedian joke, impotent to fix the corruption ( Joe's* payments among them ) to international hero/Diplomat was unexpected. In a horrible way, Putin is the best thing to happen since he took office when it comes to stopping the Oligarch problem endemic to ex Soviet States. Imagine if in 2019, Mexico invading... I mean the Mexican Army, not the current invasion, New Mexico and openly calling for cooperation from the Enemies of Trump. What could that have done to initiate a purge of treasonous scum from D.C. ?! Especially if Donald was half the wannabe tyrant his Enemies constantly accused him of being? Apply that to Ukraine. I don't assume Zelenskyy is a saint. He absolutely had pro Russian factions against him before the Invasion. Surprise #3 isn't a surprise to any history buffs. The propaganda expectation that invading Russian forces would be welcomed with parades, is something only utter ignorance of the last century could support. ( remember, ignorance isn't stupidity, even if results are similar ) Unfortunately, Ignorance is a Deliberate Strategy of the Left. I wonder if the Holodomor is mentioned at all in schools from St. Louis or Leningrad? For some perspective. | ||
| Mnscrounger |
"I wonder if the Holodomor is mentioned at all in schools from St. Louis or Leningrad?" I doubt it: On a business trip to DC a few years ago I walked by the Holodomor memorial. I knew from schoolbooks Stalin was bad, but I had no prior knowledge of this particular note in history. I stopped to read, and a feeling came to me I had only felt once before. It was while standing at the bottom of the pit in Matthausen looking up at the 186 steps. It was a feeling of not anger or revulsion for the tormentors, but complete despair. The understanding that death for those people was the goal, not a consequence. Even if they had the will to fight they could not win, and for so long most of the world did, nothing... (Message edited by mnscrounger on April 22, 2022) | ||
| Aesquire |
https://www.spiked-online.com/2022/04/22/the-warpe d-mind-behind-russias-war/ I haven't read the book most discussed above, and doubt I'll enrich those selling it, but might read a pirated copy. It's a good idea to understand the thinking of the Enemy. That's why I suggest getting a stolen copy of Rules For Radicals by Allinsky, the unholy bible of the American Left. I first read it in high school, actually recommended reading by the CPUSA. Putin has chosen to be an Enemy of the corrupt West. I'm a Citizen of that, much as I may disagree with parts of the culture I grew up with. The overt corruption, the bribe taking politicians, the criminal gangs, etc. are simple and obvious things to stand against. The more subtle long term evil is, mostly, but not entirely, a Leftist plan to take power over a ruined world. Because happy free people won't let them. The Left is evil incarnate. Putin's legacy, his former job, is as a power keeper for the Elite of the second most murderous thugs on the planet. AOC & Bernie with obviously different understanding, are the same ideology. I'm Certain both would deny any connection to the hundreds of millions murdered in the 20th Century alone, and just as certain neither would admit they would wish the questioner murdered. And they may not even admit that rage to themselves. Because you have to self delude to follow those who lead that religious jihad. And those leaders are not blind to their goals or the costs it will take. I have wondered what I would have done if I was an adult in the time & place of the great murders. Almost certainly have died. I pray not a coward. | ||
| Aesquire |
https://www.understandingwar.org/backgrounder/russ ian-offensive-campaign-assessment-april-22 This is where I look for a relatively unbiased opinion on what's going on in the medium picture. The small picture, the individuals and the atrocities and the blown up stuff, I look at multiple sources, especially 9gag, ( meme site ) which is Hong Kong based, and generally biased in multiple bizarre ways. Notably it posts some anti tyranny stuff from China, which the CCP hates, but I assume the political bent is for Putin's 2022 War, at least tacitly approved by the CCP. So I assume propaganda. Remember, a picture of a burnt APC with a Z on the side doesn't tell you how it caught fire ( ok, a HEAT projectile leaves a distinguishing mark ) who set it on fire, or who owned it before the picture was taken. OTOH, while it could be fake, I've seen drone footage where the drone drops a RPG round onto a tank, hiding in the woods, and the crew bailing out, that looks authentic, and is a possible critical change in modern warfare. The Big picture? Your guess. We've got pundits calling for no fly zones and more direct confrontation, & others warning against that lest the nukes fly. Very few of the major players in Russia and here seem particularly sane or well informed. I assume Putin is light years ahead of the Easter Bunny or whoever is running D.C. on the military capabilities and strategy side. Bush the Elder had that savvy, even Bush the Younger was at least a trained fighter pilot. But Bill, Barry, Donald and Joe* were fairly ignorant of how war is waged. (waged... a very interesting word in context ) I assume the first 3 had the intellectual capacity to learn enough to ask some right questions, even if ego made them ignore the experts. What I don't assume is that Vladimir is getting accurate reports on anything. At this point there has to be glaring differences between reports from different branches, and it's natural for him to have political officers informing in a separate channel. The amount of CYA in Moscow has to be incredible. I'm sure there are many in the system frantically looking for escape from being purged in the next wave. When you shoot the messenger, ( and that appears to be happening ) you encourage the next one to only say what the King wants to hear. ( then run with your family ) Stay skeptical. | ||
| Mnscrounger |
"When you shoot the messenger, ( and that appears to be happening ) you encourage the next one to only say what the King wants to hear. ( then run with your family )" As the world gets smaller running becomes a less viable option. At some point there is nowhere to escape. Putin doesn't care how many people he needs to kill to stay in power. Those around him may not care about the people in other countries, or even their fellow citizens, but most will have someone close they care about. I hope that some in Putin's inner circle, if given the order to "launch", would recognize the consequences, and just say: "No, we're not going to do that, and its time for you to go." (And then of course take appropriate actions to ensure both actually happen.) | ||
| Aesquire |
The Russians have had one foiled launch before. Big hero. Totally different scenario. False alarm & panic, & Stanislav Petrov saved world. Iirc the old silo controls here require 2 man cooperation. Subs, ditto. Thus, theoretically, it's "impossible" to launch by a lone rogue, and possible for any launch to be vetoed. That's on the individual platform level. The command from the top, Biden* or some Officer, is a chain of communication thing, designed to get through. I'd expect confirmation delays in some cases, but there's a guy in The Hole ( used to be? under Omaha ) Cheyenne mountain? or Kneecap, or??? that's the emergency temporary boss of the armed forces. There's redundancy, and a completely separate system for the Civil leadership. It's possible some lt. Colonel be the Commanding officer & a Senator Be sworn in as Prez in a brothel. Or hunting cabin. Russia's current command & control system is a mystery, today, to me at least. I'd hope there's experts in the basement at the Pentagon. https://amgreatness.com/2022/04/24/our-spanish-civ il-war/ I'm not first in seeing the parallels with military hardware being tested in the Spanish Civil war and Ukraine. | ||
| Aesquire |
https://nypost.com/2022/04/25/russia-appears-to-co nfuse-the-sims-for-sim-cards-in-possible-staged-as sassination-attempt/ I suppose the lesson is be extra critical about Ukrainian propaganda, since the Russian stuff is surprisingly poor. And there absolutely is bull coming out from both sides. Most people not under total mind control propaganda like in Russia, and D.C. are going to cheer for the underdogs and those attacked. The natural automatic bad guy is the invader. Before 2016, and the Hillary Campaign lies about Russian Collusion and the Bad Orange Man, the American Left were Russophiles. Bernie loved the place. He lived here as a millionaire with multiple dachas, since he's not stupid. Evil, but not AOC, Swalwell or Biden* stupid. His pretence of rebellion against the machine that made him rich would not fly in Putinville. Plus not being KGB Royalty, he wouldn't be an elite like here. Convenient for the Ds that they've been whipping up Russia hate for 6 years as a side effect of anti Trump conspiracy theories. I'm assuming coincidence and luck & Not planning. Remember the post above where I speculate Putin might murder thousands of his subjects to create a False Flag to "justify" nuking Kiev and Europe? I got a "better" paranoid fantasy for you.  Ukraine is now hitting targets hundreds of kilometers behind the border. The May big parade is real soon. Drones cluster bombing the Parade in Moscow would be both possible and a massive escalation in multiple ways. After all, a kid in a Cessna proved the massive air defense ring around Moscow that would devastate a WW2 B-29 bombing raid and do pretty good against B-52s ( Which are not much younger than me, the ones my age were scrapped decades ago ) isn't effective against low slow targets, like a Cessna 172 rental. Or the Turkish built drones about the same size. | ||
| Aesquire |
https://pjmedia.com/vodkapundit/2022/04/28/what-th e-hell-is-going-on-in-russia-n1593602 I don't know, but I bet Putin does. | ||
| Tpehak |
Ukrainian terrorists attacked Russia. | ||
| Crusty |
Who cares? | ||
| Tpehak |
Russia cares. | ||
| Crusty |
I don't. | ||
| Tpehak |
Good for you. |
