Coffeesforclosers

This is with an economy roughly the same size as Italy. The conversion of Russia into a Garrison State continues. But given their policy of...refusing to accept that Ukraine's juice isn't worth Russia's squeeze, it makes sense. They've got no choice since the blowback from this debacle now includes a centralizing, rearming EU that views the US as an unreliable security guarantor. And therefore needs independent defense capabilities in all areas to protect its 449 million citizens and $17.9 Trillion economy. It would be absolutely hilarious if this trend towards militarization and centralization continues AND the UK decides to reverse Brexit because it's been an economic disaster and the Special Relationship is on life support due to America First/Tarrifs of the Day. And all because Russia's Eurasianist ideologues and their pet Oligarchs wanted a short, victorious war against "the most corrupt nation on the planet".

If you have trouble getting into Hammers, there are a ton of new lots on Allen, Glenn and Fay Streets. The families there good to deal with. FCFS so get there early (pre 730 AM)

The Abrams hasn't been a world-beater in Ukraine, but a good tank is a good tank.

How's about that? We're buying drones from the best drone operators in the west. Makes sense.

Well that sucks and I hope it's wrong. Because if it's right, we brilliantly executed a half-assed operational concept.

Nicely done Volodomyr.

The Russians took your advice and decided not to take the President seriously.

Charlie Kirk: On Epstein, ‘I’m going to trust my friends in the administration’ Does 2019 Charlie know that 2025 Charlie is up to? Remember everyone, when it comes to Groomers, we've got to trust our friends in government.

It's been fun watching all the MAGA influencers fall in line. I guess that list of deep state pedophiles wasn't that important and its time to stop holding the President's feet to the fire.

Sounds like they're going through the same cycle of decline as the UAW. Once leadership sees themselves as partners with management, you're toast.

If he (and Congress) manage to sort out the catastrophe that is our naval shipbuilding infrastructure, he might actually be worth a *****. In the meantime, I'm going to go to my boss and change their policies on my own accord, without telling them and see how that turns out.

No ***** Newt. Iran couldn't have cared less about a Ceasefire. Now they do. It's like somebody killed off their proxies, smashed their military and assassinated a bunch of the generals. Funny how that worked.

That's AC Milan kit with the Pats logo glued on it. Very low effort.

Interesting point. But it begs a question. Is continued war required to keep Russia on this vector? If it is, you've made an argument that this "pointless slaughter" isn't pointless from an America First POV.

Ron's been reading my posts.

"Our final deal is done, save final approval with President Xi and Me". " The USA and China have reached and agreement..." Those are some pretty terrible misspellings of "Ongoing Negotiation".

What a gesture it would be if the President, or Elon Musk, took a rounding error on their net worths and paid for the parade themselves?

Moulds and Aaron Schobel would have been 1st Team AP multiple times if they'd played for any other drought era contender. Had he not played on some horrendous Defenses, Schobel would have been a 120+ sack guy and an HOF'er. Talk about a no drama professional.

Here's the thing. Air Forces and drone swarms are great and all. However to sustain this war, Ukraine and Russia are operating conscription based recruiting regimes, feeding recruits into training programs with 4-12 week training cycles. They're sustaining the equivalent of 1-2 battalions per week KIA/WIA/MIA. Of course their are exceptions, like Azov or the VDV. How do the USMC or Army operate in an environment like this using the All-Volunteer model where every infantry recruit gets 16 weeks of just Basic. Nevermind specialist schools or AIT? How do you execute doctrine if your maneuver battalions depend on peacetime trained specialists, but are losing a squad or a platoon a day just sitting on the contact line?

Hey now! Someone did! There's pictures floating around the Internet of completely enclosed and armored hangars. Complete with armored doors! But the captions are all in Mandarin... The tally is up to 22.

Oddly enough, if any single power is responsible for Russia staying in the fight, it's North Korea. Russia's vaunted industrial mobilization has lagged quite a bit. The Norks supply 30-50% of ALL of Russia's small arms and artillery ammunition is OSINT is to be believed.

Initial OSINT analysis says Ukraine destroyed or damaged 15 Russian strategic bombers, AWACS and heavy cargo lifters. So we're a bit of a ways from the 41 claimed in public, but still quite the coup.

I'll keep reiterating a point BMan made two-ish years ago. The war will continue so long as one side thinks it can win outright or thinks that any kind of fighting is better than the most likely peace deal. The game we're playing right now is the diplomatic equivalent of Rumsfeld, Cheney and Bush telling the military to get this whole Iraqi insurgency sideshow wrapped up so we can move on to what's really important. Which is why the war goes on and on and every day we look more foolish and weak.