MSBoxer

Amen.  I have been skipping most of the posts on the last few pages.

Amen.  I have been skipping most of the posts on the last few pages.

Amen.  I have been skipping most of the posts on the last few pages.

Amen.  I have been skipping most of the posts on the last few pages.

Amen.  I have been skipping most of the posts on the last few pages.

Amen.  I have been skipping most of the posts on the last few pages.

Back in the mid-late 80s I was in Berlin working for a branch of our govt that I cannot name performing duties I cannot discuss (not as exciting as it sounds).

At the time I had the opportunity to visit many of the Soviet/East German memorials and I was always impressed with the effort that was put into representing a mythical recounting of history.  Now this is nothing new in how we stylize our desired perceptions of our particular cultures, but I distinctly recall thinking that these works were probably the grandest form of social/cultural masturbation I had ever encountered.

Back in the mid-late 80s I was in Berlin working for a branch of our govt that I cannot name performing duties I cannot discuss (not as exciting as it sounds).

At the time I had the opportunity to visit many of the Soviet/East German memorials and I was always impressed with the effort that was put into representing a mythical recounting of history.  Now this is nothing new in how we stylize our desired perceptions of our particular cultures, but I distinctly recall thinking that these works were probably the grandest form of social/cultural masturbation I had ever encountered.

Back in the mid-late 80s I was in Berlin working for a branch of our govt that I cannot name performing duties I cannot discuss (not as exciting as it sounds).

At the time I had the opportunity to visit many of the Soviet/East German memorials and I was always impressed with the effort that was put into representing a mythical recounting of history.  Now this is nothing new in how we stylize our desired perceptions of our particular cultures, but I distinctly recall thinking that these works were probably the grandest form of social/cultural masturbation I had ever encountered.

Back in the mid-late 80s I was in Berlin working for a branch of our govt that I cannot name performing duties I cannot discuss (not as exciting as it sounds).

At the time I had the opportunity to visit many of the Soviet/East German memorials and I was always impressed with the effort that was put into representing a mythical recounting of history.  Now this is nothing new in how we stylize our desired perceptions of our particular cultures, but I distinctly recall thinking that these works were probably the grandest form of social/cultural masturbation I had ever encountered.

Back in the mid-late 80s I was in Berlin working for a branch of our govt that I cannot name performing duties I cannot discuss (not as exciting as it sounds).

At the time I had the opportunity to visit many of the Soviet/East German memorials and I was always impressed with the effort that was put into representing a mythical recounting of history.  Now this is nothing new in how we stylize our desired perceptions of our particular cultures, but I distinctly recall thinking that these works were probably the grandest form of social/cultural masturbation I had ever encountered.

Steve, do you see anything significant about the date? 

There are the Defender 22 exercises going on in Poland right now, this sabre reattling is equally directed at NATO. Here's an English link:
https://www.thefirstnews.com/article/us-led-military-exercises-start-in-poland-30078

In simple terms ... decidedly average.  Now that is a sweeping statement because the army is a broad church in which some jobs require more current knowledge than others but, if the professionals are gash then it is a fair assumption that the reservists will be totally gash.

And even equip them properly.  The guy in the back row is probably wondering about that, unless he just chose a bad time to try 'photo-bombing'.
 

A few other questions concerning RU reservists.

If the active duty forces were so severely impacted by shortages due to corruption and falsified readiness reports, how bad are the reservists going to be?

How long will it take to train them up to even the low standards of active duty forces concerning unit cohesion?

Well don't feel sad (no don't feeeel saaad) because none outta three ain't bad....
-- Meat Loaf (RIP)

Some news from Kharkiv/Izium areas
UKR forces after yesteraday's attack pushed off Russian troops from Rus'ka Lozova north from Kharkiv. Decisive role in seizeng of this large village played SOF units. 
The map corresponds to yesterday's news that UKR forces in proces of libaration of this village. Now it already cleaned up. 

On Izium axis Russians today didn't condut active offensive actions, but they actively used recon units and shelled our positions with artilery
Our soldier has written from there: we have a madhouse for third day. Russians are jamming GSM comms. There were more rockets for these three days than for all days before. Artilley works endlessly. Orcs rod from all slits, they are being driven to slaugter, but we are also losing good boys.... 
Several videos from Izium axis from Roman Donik:
UKR artillery struck Russian armor near Topolske village 
UKR Grad hit rear control post of Russian BTGnear Zabavne village (6 km north from Izium). Rear control post is a second control post in battalion's rear, where places all logistic, supply and maintenance units as well as part of battalion HQ, respondining for theese units
  
   

Amazing how our perspective changes.

A few months ago, I would have viewed this as a collection of formidable equipment.  Now, all I see is a convoy of units that are primed for unscheduled rapid disassembly.

 

Based upon the miniscule change log between plans, I think it is it more like
Plan 1.0
Plan 1.2
Plan 1.25

Actually that might be the reason for this whole circus - giving the internal audience impression that war is expanding, we are going into WW3, etc. so it's easier to swallow the need for mobilization. Additionally it puts a bit of pressure on Ukraine/ West, even if marginal. 

As crazy as it sounds there are still lines not to be crossed in the world of geopolitics.
It's weird and doesn't make sense to a lot of people, but it is what it is.
Another factor is Javelins, Matadors, PF3 and Stingers are considered defensively oriented weapons.
Tanks on the other hand are considered offensive weapons.

That would probably give China issues getting any new lithography machines of the same type, or getting their current ones serviced. AFAIK only Nikon and ASML provide these.