dan/california

https://twitter.com/Hromadske/status/1513597873593663492?t=TmV3_smQXcnFsjdDgihnvA&s=19

Reports are coming through that Russian forces have used a nerve agent in Mariupol.
No evidence provided as of yet but if it is true then we should see proof soon, the new rus commander has a history of using nerve agents in urban areas

Australia, 57 years?
That's a long sentencing. What did you do!? Just how many damn sheep did you steal?!
Teasing as I'm Irish

You come at it from a standpoint of fighting war and achieving military successes like a military commander would.
But these are russians. And they aren't in it to achieve military successes.
There is a screenshot of comments of one of their social network groups a few pages back. "**** your children, we will destroy you like hitler destroyed jews". That's what a perfectly average russian truly wants.
Their task, since they can't grab whole country, is to kill as many Ukrainians as they can and destroy as much infrastructure as they can. To their people it will be enough if they come home with 6 figures of civilians murdered. If they can grab some more land while doing so - then that's a welcome bonus that will look good on maps to an average russian.
Mariupol is a densely populated city. And it dares to resist. Bucha or whole Kyiv oblast will pale in comparison to horrors that happen there.

C3k is correct across the board here. They way to have avoided the Ukraine war was to Declare it a NATO member as two Heavy brigades crossed the border to demonstrate that we weren't kidding, BEFORE the Russians attacked. The complication in Ukraine pre war was a substantial lack of faith in theUkrainian government, we believed what the Russians were telling themselves about Ukraine collapsing like a house of cards, or at least part of the U.S. government did. So we were afraid to commit. The Ukrainians have answered those doubts as emphatically as anybody in human history at this point, and anybody who is following this thread knows what I think NATO ought to be doing now.
As far as Taiwan goes my only quibble with C3ks prescription is that it should be five times larger. The marine base on Taiwan should be the size of Camp Pendelton, and completely integrated with Taiwans own defense forces, and continually helping to upgrade them. We should attempt to sink the island with the weight of missiles awaiting a Chinese attack. Taiwan can probably make most of the missiles it needs itself. It is the center of the worlds chip making industry, but any intellectual property issues with Lockheed and friends need money thrown at them. The war in Ukraines has damaged the world economy, a war over Taiwan would destroy it. The Chinese need to be absolutely convinced that trying to take Taiwan gets them nothing but well fed sharks and crabs in the Taiwan straight,

Clearly US biolabs in Ukraine are a real deal.
Otherwise how would you explain this terror attack by a flock of mutant nazi birds dropping modified covid on a column of peaceful russian liberators?
 

Imagine a group of scientists discussing some of the finer points of cladistic analysis of dinosaurs when suddenly the most inbred, subhuman redneck you can imagine bursts in and says "God made the earth in 7 days though!". That is basically what you just did.

I have tried to be sort of dispassionate in the forum, but how can any us of listen to that a not call for NATO to get involved. And I do mean 500 cruise missiles in the first hour kind of involved.
 

So if I'm Ukraine, which of these battles would *I* rather fight?
1. Because I entirely agree with you that short of Russians escalating to WMD, outside intervention is nae gwinna happen. So it's up to the Ukrainians to carve out victory on their terms, forget how Putin spins it.
2. Because a cease fire followed by a rematch later on won't be so easy. Don't bet your children's future on us, Ukes. Sadly, Putin was correct when he said 'the USA [and the West] is not agreement capable.'  Ask the poor bloody Kurds.
 
So, Sun Tzu, again....
VI.4. If the enemy is taking his ease, he can harass him; if well supplied with food, he can starve him out; if quietly encamped, he can force him to move.
VI.5. Appear at points which the enemy must hasten to defend; march swiftly to places where you are not expected....
VI.11. If we wish to fight, the enemy can be forced to an engagement even though he be sheltered behind a high rampart and a deep ditch. All we need do is attack some other place that he will be obliged to relieve....
VI.19. Knowing the place and the time of the coming battle, we may concentrate from the greatest distances in order to fight....
VI.30. So in war, the way is to avoid what is strong and to strike at what is weak....
VII.29. A clever general, therefore, avoids an army when its spirit is keen, but attacks it when it is sluggish and inclined to return. This is the art of studying moods.
VII.30. Disciplined and calm, to await the appearance of disorder and hubbub amongst the enemy:--this is the art of retaining self-possession....
XI.18. If asked how to cope with a great host of the enemy in orderly array and on the point of marching to the attack, I should say: "Begin by seizing something which your opponent holds dear; then he will be amenable to your will."
XI.19. Rapidity is the essence of war: take advantage of the enemy's unreadiness, make your way by unexpected routes, and attack unguarded spots....
Risky? Hell yes!
But what kind of crisis might the UA be able to force upon the Russians to force them to launch their next offensive early and half-baked?

Someone is doing their job on the higher level intel/political side. I know I am a broken record on this, but a successful rebellion in Belarus turns a grinding defeat of Russia into a complete rout. It totally changes what a post war settlement look like, too. This needs every possible lever pulled.
 
 

NATOs planes need to be in the air.

Cant get the link to post right, 🙃
tractor 1.webp

I have tried to be sort of dispassionate in the forum, but how can any us of listen to that a not call for NATO to get involved. And I do mean 500 cruise missiles in the first hour kind of involved.
 

More "western media propaganda", we've really pulled out all the stops to discredit the glorious russian army haven't we.
 
 

Imagine if CM got as much dev time as this thread 😭

Nothing for it but to keep shipping Cargo 200 back to Russia by the trainload, until they get the point.

Nothing for it but to keep shipping Cargo 200 back to Russia by the trainload, until they get the point.

As Steve said early on UKR only needs to "keep kill Russians".   And Putin looks like he's gonna keep sending worse and worse troops in.
Funny all this LOTR stuff.  I am on my 3rd re-read right now this time via audiobook, I do it every 10 years.  Currently in 3rd book w attack on Minas Tirith coming up.  I think the orcs et al have a better army than RU.  RU can't even seem to get Osgiliath (Mariupol).  They both lost badly at Helm's Deep (Kyiv).

Nothing for it but to keep shipping Cargo 200 back to Russia by the trainload, until they get the point.

NATOs planes need to be in the air.

Already out of likes, So I will just say thank you Haiduk. Glory to Ukraine!

Should we all be referring to Kyiv as Minas Tirith?

Already out of likes, So I will just say thank you Haiduk. Glory to Ukraine!

This is Maxar photos of 8th of April. Reportedly, this conoy was hit with artilelry this night in Izium area. Maybe some videos will apeear soon.