Sequoia

How much better will this be (if any) over current equipment?

In a way I can't say I blame the "Internationalist" such as Merkel and Clinton, and even George (I have seen his soul through his eyes ) W. for the idea that bringing China and Russia fully into the world markets would convince them that there's more money to be made that way than in conquest. First of all it's true. The status quo coalition the Captain talked about a few pages back, was making most countries rich. Yes, some countries slower than others, as some were at the trickle-down end of it all. And again, corruption in many countries ensured only a small percentage of the population were benefiting in others. But overall the system worked about as well as could be found in history. Integrating China and Russia into the status que coalition seemed logical. The flaw I think is dictators are never content with cooperation. The world is always a zero sum game for them. Putin in particular had fantasies about righting wrongs and Russian natural rights to certain lands as part of its Empire that Western leaders missed picking up on.

Russia is the world's biggest country in size and 9th in population. It had and has all the potential to be a great country- one of the world's greatest. A one paragraph (and therefore over-simplified) version of why it I think it made the wrong choices was there was too much corruption in its leadership, and its population had never known anything else. And its leadership was butt-hurt by not being giving the respect they thought they deserved being a superpower that "voluntarily" disbanded, but "merely" that of other major European powers such as Germany or France.

If I may ask, Russia has been going around the world recruiting people as troops and often using them as canon fodder. Ukraine, to its credit (afaik) has not. Is this decision for international public relations, military (such troops are unreliable), economic (we have better uses for the money), or something else?

Damn you Jon Stewart! It will be years before I'll be able to eat a bagel again!

Might Putin think capturing towns such as Avdiivka, despite fierce Ukrainian resistance, will break Ukrainian will (which even the Captain posited as a hypothetical).

I think we both agree that far too many politicians have and continue to put their own ambition and status above the good of the country. I strongly suspect a strong streak of vanity and desire for power are necessary qualities one needs to enter into politics.

No, Kraft had it right. He said that rat of Ron's , not that rat Ron. I made the same mistake myself at first.

I agree M. Johnson is a poor representative of and for the US public. I also think he owes his current speakership to the Freedom (for only people like us) Caucus. But deep down, I have a hunch he and many like him feel about the Orange one like that line in the Night Moves- that is "I used her, she used me and neither one cared," and will dump him and do the right thing on Ukraine once he becomes irrelevant, which I'm thinking may be well before the November election. Johnson has to appear just reluctant enough to for now keep his job (though like McCarthy he'll probably lose it anyway) .

C This is an oversimplified answer but, it's because the Speaker won't let the vote come to the floor. Yes, there are ways it can be forced, but those GOPers who did force it would be severely punished by the party for not toeing the line.. I agree that's more than a bit cowardly, BUT, I think it the GOPers supporting the aid are counting on the speaker letting it come to a floor vote relatively soon (and I think they're right). There's more than a little theatre going on here. p.s. Ninja's by Sburke

I think it's a mistake to label it as the GOP blocking it. I would say it's the more like MAGA's outside influence blocking it, but even that's an oversimplification. Perhaps I'm repeating what's already been said, but with the tiny GOP majority every GOP speaker is afraid of being ousted by one outspoken House member, as McCarthy was. In effect the GOP house is just as weak, if not weaker than the Biden Administration. Anyway, it looks as if Matt Gaetz, who called for Mcarthy's removal might be joining George Santos on being booted from Congress.

LotR deservedly should be more popular, but I think you might be thinking of Peter Pettigrew in the Harry Potter books. ps. I mis-read your post. I did not see the of before Ronald so we're thinking of the same person.

I'm hopeful significant US aide will still be passed soon. Most of the US public still supports it, despite the bs campaign by the usual suspects, and IMHO many more Republicans actually want to support it, and will if they can find the "cover" to do so.

You do understand that longing for a government where the leader has unrestricted power is the type of government one finds in Russia currently. As Winston Churchill purportedly once said, Democracy is a terrible way to run a country, but it's far better than anything else that's been tried.

Good analogy, but he actually looks more like Barliman Butterbur.

Even the Poland collusion with the Nazis part?

Yep, not the right forum for this but I'm with Bill above on that.

Right, and especially since "Kursk" actually means everything between July (possibly June) '43 and May '44.

Poutine? Maine's at least half Canada already.

The BFC owners still don't have interest in Cold War gone hot. If it weren't for a dedicated team of superfans/testers signing on and doing much of the development work before the Cold War game was announced, it wouldn't have happened. That said, Cold War has none of the major drawbacks a Pacific or Vietnam game would have which has been well discussed previously.

IIRC Battlefront has done work for the British and New Zealand Armies. I have a vague recollection of perhaps the Canadian Army too. Is that correct? This does not include off the self use of at least CMSF that I know has been used for training.

I'd like to add, and some may not believe me on this, but Steve and Charles keep a tight lid on some of the things they share with others working for and with Battlefront. The quote from the Capt here may be speculation on CMX being currently under development. MikeyD has worked as a graphics artist for Battlefront for many years. If he reads this, I bet he'd confirm his surprise at announcements from Steve in the past.

A lot of folks have read into Steve's comments that Battlefront is going to announce something really big, such as a new game family or cmx3. .I don't think that's necessarily the case.

I don't know German AT gun doctrine. I would think though, after their position is revealed, a good tactic would be, if possible, pack and hitch up and move. I suspect it's not in the game is because of the work involved in the animation of having every different gun and crew doing that, and have it look passably real.