kevinkin

Well maneuver warfare theory would disrupt any attempt by the enemy to do so. And it would not involve sending our kids headlong into minefields like the RA has had the time to set-up. These are not Iraqi minefields. I feel sorry of the UA troops having to so without flights of B52s completely demoralizing those Russians covering the fortifications.

Don't forget about innovations that increase lift/lower weight and extend battery life. I would love to just getting out of college with degree to work on these things. Alas, time flies almost as fast and a cheapo quadcopter.

I don't think the Chairmen of the Joint Chief of Staff is an unknown source. And what I quoted above has been a point of discussion here for 6 plus months. Now it seems like minded advocates for Ukraine are realizing how this proxy war has been mishandled. All you have to do is watch the daily White House news conference to understand how incompetent the executive branch of US government has become along with the media trying to get answers on anything. Everyone seems out to lunch.

This is a bit interesting: https://www.newsweek.com/russia-voices-concern-ally-joint-military-drills-us-armenia-csto-azerbaijan-1825002 The "Eagle Partner 2023" drill, while expected to be only a small exercise, appears to be the latest step in a long-term process of Armenian moving away from Moscow's influence because of the Kremlin's inability to resolve the ongoing Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict over the disputed Nagorno-Karabakh region. If you think Russia is barely hanging on, this is a data point to refer to.

Good question. Perhaps it's less about the NATO organization than the security of Europe in the face of authoritarian nations like Russia. We might be using the term NATO as a short cut since Ukraine is not part of NATO but are considered the good guys. I think NATOs expectations were for a quicker, shorter and less deadly war where by Russia is punished and humiliated without the entire thing spiraling out of control. This is a work in progress on all those points.

Bingo.

Yes, I don't think the US Army can learn anything from UA as it relates to ground warfare like breaking through mine fields. There is not a chance the US would enter into combat where that would be a factor. We would play to our strengths and target the enemy's weaknesses not the other way around. Maybe at the squad level the US could learn a few tricks. But operationally even the Milley recently said the US could not do what we are asking UA to do given no air support.

I could not agree more and acknowledging this is very important. Many have been pointing this out for a year. The policy decisions are not matched up to the rhetoric. One of those have to change. I personally believe the rhetoric is fine, but the policy is too weak.

Great point. The equation for kinetic energy (i.e. warfare) has a key variable - velocity.

I couldn't say it any better. BTW, as a chef, engineer, and chemist I never heard of those things. If I did, they were called something else. Anyway thanks. I try not to let a day go by without learning something new.

There is a young kid at the US Open (Tennis) that's quoted “Sometimes,” Shelton said, “you’ve got to shut off your brain, close your eyes, and just swing.”. Does that work all the time. No. Does that work some of the time. Yes. But it's such an American way of putting things. It's the same thinking that NASA had in the 60's. Anything is possible if you just try.

I think drones will be defeated by some technology we don't know about yet. Not in my lifetime perhaps. Maybe there will have to be an international convention regarding their use. (Get it done quickly). For example, a mosquito sized UAV could be used to kill the POTUS, me, or my good friend next door. Without any thought they could make owing guns irrelevant.

I think the man was lulled into a false sense of security. That's the the way clans and organized crime work. I would assume he was having Stolichnaya on the the rocks when the a/c went down in flames. He never knew what happened.

And I agree with you. Prig killed himself. It's beyond comprehension why the guy didn't "just fade away" and perhaps, maybe resurface at a more opportune time. I can't figure this entire episode out. I don't think anyone even in the CIA can. It's nuts.

Very good point and thanks for acknowledging there is a problem in the US. It might not be so much about money (we, as a couple have plenty of that) or motivation (my spouse is a flag waving hero) but the US is just getting older and those we are accepting into our fold are too young at the moment to enter the work force as engineers. These types of things are never talked about in discussions on policy; they are sweep under the rug. Journalism is America hardly exits.

If I implied that certain demographics should be culled off the planet (which didn't) I apologize. However, we need to think that there are situations into which babies are born into hunger and illness needlessly. Someone used the term "spray of refugees" as mode of warfare. Whatever I said was lot more gentle and thoughtful than that.

Electronic warfare is a big topic in the US military, especially the Army these days. So big they reached to my spouse to come back to work! If you recall, she is an engineer with 35 years at Fort Monmouth. They closed down that shop and move the research to Aberdeen Proving Grounds in Maryland. We are not moving. But I sense a lot of urgency in the reach out. I think they are on boarding a lot of people and need experienced people with solid credentials to manage the process.

Did I use the word "forced"? No. Conflating a known problem with a inhuman solution is not fair.

I agree. It has in the past too.

No, advocating responsibility; a difficult thing for mere humans to adhere to that's for sure.

Not in our lifetimes. And what flag would raised? The stars and stripes?

I could not say it better. The US can and has done very good things. The question is are they random events or planned by "smart" Ivy league people in DC. There is a point were education gets in the way of common sense. My parents, for example, never went to college but I would put any part of the US Federal government in their hands. They were that smart.

Why? They are just words and thoughts. Nothing vulgar. Nothing attacking an individual. "spray of refugees" is harder language than I used by leaps and bounds. Give me a break.

Yep, the third world needs 100% complete access to birth control. And they should be paid to use it. "Paid to get laid" might work better than "Just say no". All we can do is try. There is tremendous demographic pressure on the northern hemisphere. It does not relate to Ukraine directly so I will stop. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Just_Say_No

I don't disagree with that. But I am happy I asked the question. There is nothing wrong with thought experiments.