Hawks, or Pigeons in a Bad Mood? American elites have squandered our technological and manufacturing advantage over both Russia and China https://www.theamericanconservative.com/articles/hawks-or-pigeons-in-a-bad-mood/
You do understand that except for 9/11 which only sort of qualified but did trigger article 6, no NATO member has ever been attacked by another country? Seems to work pretty well. https://www.history.com/topics/21st...-to-united-states-following-911-attacks-video
Missiles from Iran target U.S. consulate in Iraq, but no casualties https://www.fox13now.com/news/natio...arget-u-s-consulate-in-iraq-but-no-casualties BAGHDAD (AP) - As many as 12 missiles were fired Sunday toward the U.S. consulate in Iraq’s northern city of Irbil, Iraqi security officials said. A U.S. defense official said missiles had been launched at the city from neighboring Iran.
I saw that news bit this morning. Take another 2% off the SP on Monday. The SP will be in bear market by end of next week. Sux.
The US is not Ready for a Peer to Peer Fight in Europe As we all have, I have been watching the impressive Russian ground forces arrayed to invade Ukraine from three sides. Some comments after consultation with a good friend in the Marines: Upon due consideration, it might have been unthoughtfully wise to not place our military in harm’s way simply because it would have its clock handed to it. Our military, particularly the Army, is tailored for the 20-year war in the Sandboxes-not a Peer conflict. Of equal import is that all the doctrine, tactics and professional skills are on the Sandbox model. None of our uniforms have had any experience in fighting Peer-Peer. We went into Korea and Vietnam with a goodly amount of leaders in both officer and NCO ranks who had such experience and could both adapt and train to the threat level required. That no longer exists. We are also grossly dependent upon sophisticated comms and satellite systems that probably would not exist after the first round. (Sidebar: Find a Lieutenant that can read a map and land navigate with only a compass and paper map.) Our land units-small units (squad-company/team), the cutting edge and only true maneuver elements, are not trained to operate in isolation from higher. The trained ability to make crucial decisions absent guidance and control does not exist. NTC and JRTC routinely proves that. Unfortunately, we are not even close to being a peer force compared to the Russians less nuclear weapons. Consider the following as today’s state of military capabilities: TACTICAL/BATTLEFIELD GROUND FORCE EQUIVALENCIES / COMPARISONS: We removed our relatively competent heavy forces in Germany and cannot replace them in less than six months if that and that is with the acquiescence of German which is problematical-The EU has to ask in its heart of hearts: Do we want a US-Russia conflict on our land? Our ready to go 82d, Ranger Regiment and JSOC forces are completely inappropriate for use against Russia except under the most select of circumstances with minimal to no capability to be a game changer. And casualties are virtually irreplaceable in a timely manner. (Sidebar: The 173d is required to deploy only with NATO approval. If it deploys on an independent operation, the Italians have threatened to bar its return.) Tough to get a carrier into the Black Sea and it would be a new reef very quickly. Concurrently, POMCUS/heavy force lift ships in sufficient quantity to lift a brigade do not exist other than in converting commercial RO/RO’s. A robust F35 structure does not exist in Theatre nor are there sufficient heavy lift aircraft to make a dent in reinforcement requirements. About the Author(s) Keith Nightingale COL Nightingale is a retired Army Colonel who served two tours in Vietnam with Airborne and Ranger (American and Vietnamese) units. He commanded airborne battalions in both the 509th Parachute Infantry Regiment and the 82nd Airborne Division. He later commanded both the 1/75th Rangers and the 1st Ranger Training Brigade. https://smallwarsjournal.com/index.php/jrnl/art/us-not-ready-peer-peer-fight-europe
What this author is really suggesting is that our troops won't be able to handle a mass casualty battle. It's a legit concern since we haven't seen one since WWII, and neither have the Russians for that matter. What happens when the body count is 2500 dead, twice that wounded...in a day? Do they keep pushing forward? How does that play in the news? What's it look like in a week as the numbers run into the tens of thousands? A toe to toe infantry battle with tanks and artillery units blasting away, yeah, that going to be messy in a way we haven't seen in a very long time and staying motivated to fight during that for a fucking gas line...you all be the judge of that.
These Russian clowns are getting more and more insane... Russian member of parliament demands Putin take Alaska while state TV host suggests nuclear strikes: report https://www.alternet.org/2022/03/russia-2656961439/
Which is worse? A limited nuclear war confined to Ukraine, possibly expanding to other european countries, or a large-scale cyber war that goes worldwide? The limited nuclear war, which seems unlikely to me, ceratinly devastates the local area, but the world survives. A full on cyber war, which seems a higher probability, takes it all down IMO. Thoughts, as we specualte. My opinon. This eventually ends up with an east/west Unkraine. Putin longs for the old days with actual walls built. The only real question is how many die before that finally gets negotiaed?