Audgisil

Navalny is dumb. 

Think this Sacks character was discussed here before. Well if anyone wanted to know how Elon really felt about this war, here it is.
I may buy an electric vehicle one day, but it will definitely not be a Tesla.

Or the value of gutting Russia's military capability.   It's the bargain of the century.  I've seen the USA send arms over the years to people who just wouldn't fight the way you hoped.  Not so with the Ukrainians.   You give them a hunting rifle, they go hunting ...  

It's my understanding that surrendering is one of the most dangerous things to attempt during a firefight, likely even more so at those ranges. Those Ukrainian soldiers had less than a fraction of a second to determine if the enemy moving toward or past them are armed, carrying a grenade, attempting to engage in hand-to-hand, etc. The fact that the Ukrainian soldiers called out at one point in the video for the Russians to surrender speaks very well of them. However, this is a clear case of "when in doubt, open fire."

It's my understanding that surrendering is one of the most dangerous things to attempt during a firefight, likely even more so at those ranges. Those Ukrainian soldiers had less than a fraction of a second to determine if the enemy moving toward or past them are armed, carrying a grenade, attempting to engage in hand-to-hand, etc. The fact that the Ukrainian soldiers called out at one point in the video for the Russians to surrender speaks very well of them. However, this is a clear case of "when in doubt, open fire."

It's my understanding that surrendering is one of the most dangerous things to attempt during a firefight, likely even more so at those ranges. Those Ukrainian soldiers had less than a fraction of a second to determine if the enemy moving toward or past them are armed, carrying a grenade, attempting to engage in hand-to-hand, etc. The fact that the Ukrainian soldiers called out at one point in the video for the Russians to surrender speaks very well of them. However, this is a clear case of "when in doubt, open fire."

It's my understanding that surrendering is one of the most dangerous things to attempt during a firefight, likely even more so at those ranges. Those Ukrainian soldiers had less than a fraction of a second to determine if the enemy moving toward or past them are armed, carrying a grenade, attempting to engage in hand-to-hand, etc. The fact that the Ukrainian soldiers called out at one point in the video for the Russians to surrender speaks very well of them. However, this is a clear case of "when in doubt, open fire."

It's my understanding that surrendering is one of the most dangerous things to attempt during a firefight, likely even more so at those ranges. Those Ukrainian soldiers had less than a fraction of a second to determine if the enemy moving toward or past them are armed, carrying a grenade, attempting to engage in hand-to-hand, etc. The fact that the Ukrainian soldiers called out at one point in the video for the Russians to surrender speaks very well of them. However, this is a clear case of "when in doubt, open fire."

This has been a trend we have been seeing for some time - the growing asymmetry of the Ukrainian battle space.  This is just another example.  So this attack clearly demonstrates that Ukraine still has effective capability to deny airspace in depth.  I suspect that it also remains denied for them so at first glance this may look like no change.  However, Ukraine has been slowly armed with PGM stand off weapons - GLSDBs, Storm Shadow etc to add to the arsenal of HIMARs and self loitering munitions.  Ukraine is still patched into what is likely the largest and most ambitious C4ISR architecture in the history of warfare, output of which they are able to receive targeting packages in near real time.
So What?  Ukraines ability to conduct an effective deep strike campaign in support of ground operations has expanded and accelerated.  Even though they have to stand off 100kms or more, they can still pickle barrel HVTs on the RA side with what is looking like impunity.
For the RA….not so much.  Their C4ISR was never world class and they have had it mauled for months now and no one to lean on for replacements.  Their AirPower is denied but they do not have a lot of stand-off PGM left as they pissed it away on terror attacks.  So we are likely to see the Russia. Air Force lobbing dumber munitions from further back in an attempt to stop a UA ground offensive on the move.  This is not good news for the Russian war.
A lot of this lies on the feet of the Winter Offensive.  This was a strategy of putting out a fire with one’s face.  Beyond turning convicts and conscripts into fertilizer it left a lot of hit priced equipment exposed and it got hit.  They spent thousands on long range missiles on apartment buildings and shopping malls, and now when they need them they are short.  Their logistics is a mess.
A lot of people still buy into “Russian Will = steel” well they are definitely going to need it as it may be all they have left at this point.

Every now and again someone here posts a very informative summary of events to date. This one might not be that informative, but I found it highly amusing, nevertheless.

Every now and again someone here posts a very informative summary of events to date. This one might not be that informative, but I found it highly amusing, nevertheless.

Every now and again someone here posts a very informative summary of events to date. This one might not be that informative, but I found it highly amusing, nevertheless.

Every now and again someone here posts a very informative summary of events to date. This one might not be that informative, but I found it highly amusing, nevertheless.

Every now and again someone here posts a very informative summary of events to date. This one might not be that informative, but I found it highly amusing, nevertheless.

Every now and again someone here posts a very informative summary of events to date. This one might not be that informative, but I found it highly amusing, nevertheless.

Same rumour is here from Polish trainers in tank and artillery, quite possibly also infantry- they made a lot of effort to push Ukrainians to the limits, given short time. Definitelly no time-offs for those guys. I also read that some programs in infantry school were upgraded to include fresh perspectives from this war, especially regarding trench warfare. Everybody underlined Ukrainians were fast learners, but a lot of problems, especially regarding high technical skills was caused by need to translate everything. Kudos to those civilian translators (seems like mostly women) who did hell of a job, reportedly around the clock every day.
Is anybody enforcing US language and culture on you? As I understand they also shoot you if you don't buy their guns, right? And this terrible, terrible burden to be able to communicate for free on platforms like this one, consume things from around the world or safely travel around it- is also Amercian imperialism?
The Unbearable Lightness of Being, what a great movie.

Now, now this gentleman has presented a very coherent strategy on how to decisively lose the next Cold War/strategic competition.  This will guarantee a US hard power contraction, which means soft power will be right behind it - I mean why invest in the US on many levels if they refuse to actually “get involved”? What value is US diplomacy if security means America only?  This is right up the alley of a certain political figure that it could be ripped from one of his speeches. 
And into these vacuums other powers are going to quickly pivot - they already have.  With their increased influence investment in the US will start to dry up - deals will be cut to ensure it, as will supply chains and consumption.  In a few years the US dollar will no longer be the global reserve currency.  This will pretty much set up the West for fracture as Europe will figure out pretty quick that it has been largely abandoned to its own devices.  A whole lotta nations in the Indo-Pac are going to also bail.
I mean the logical extension of Step 1 is China can invade Taiwan, North Korea into South Korea, India and Pakistan can totally blow up.  Screw Ukraine. Russia can pretty much do whatever it wants. US out of NATO - because that entire thing rides on allied intervention, so Europe is on its own. 5 EYES is gone.  Forget global cooperation on trans-regional crime and terrorism because unless it happens in the US - “not our problem”.
In fact this is so monumentally stupid that of course people who are looking for easy answers in a very complex and frightening world are gravitating towards it.  I mean the entire deal that keeps the US on top  is built in global stability backed not only by the US dollar but also carrier groups - so it is entirely logical that if you pull those groups back and let them float only 200 miles off the US coastline that US global influence will remain extant.  The US can probably drastically reduce defence spending and focus on building walls though.
Here is a crazy idea: if the US does not step up and in to keep some sort of order on this planet, someone else will. The US does not get to withdraw into fortress North America (while choking out immigration with a declining birth rate) and remain a global economic superpower.  Hard power backs soft- that US dollar as much as whatever the US is selling (or more importantly, buying).  At least 3 generations of Americans had that one figured out, but now for some reason people have totally forgotten.  
Regardless, thankfully these complete amateurs are not running the show, yet.
 

this is getting really old and is a complete derailment of the thread.  Unless you think Ukraine has no right to decide its own future what the heck are you going on about?
If you do feel that Ukraine has no right to make any decision on its future that Russia does not approve of then go somewhere else.
Enough already.  Calling the Ukrainian fight to defend its right to self-determination from a barbaric aggressor state "choosing to become a party to various and sundry conflicts" is insulting to all our Ukrainian members of this forum who are currently part of a fight to defend their country's right to exist.

I just saw in the news that Zelenskyy has invited Xi to visit Ukraine. I think this is a very clever move. It'll be hard for Xi to turn down the invitation while still trying to maintain China's self-appointed image as "arbiter of peace". However, I find it unlikely that Xi accepts. If China did though, Russia will scream like a stuck pig when Ukraine takes advantage of the opportunity to talk one-on-one with China. I can only image what clever things Ukraine might offer or what opportunities they might use to generate positive press.

I just saw in the news that Zelenskyy has invited Xi to visit Ukraine. I think this is a very clever move. It'll be hard for Xi to turn down the invitation while still trying to maintain China's self-appointed image as "arbiter of peace". However, I find it unlikely that Xi accepts. If China did though, Russia will scream like a stuck pig when Ukraine takes advantage of the opportunity to talk one-on-one with China. I can only image what clever things Ukraine might offer or what opportunities they might use to generate positive press.

I just saw in the news that Zelenskyy has invited Xi to visit Ukraine. I think this is a very clever move. It'll be hard for Xi to turn down the invitation while still trying to maintain China's self-appointed image as "arbiter of peace". However, I find it unlikely that Xi accepts. If China did though, Russia will scream like a stuck pig when Ukraine takes advantage of the opportunity to talk one-on-one with China. I can only image what clever things Ukraine might offer or what opportunities they might use to generate positive press.

I just saw in the news that Zelenskyy has invited Xi to visit Ukraine. I think this is a very clever move. It'll be hard for Xi to turn down the invitation while still trying to maintain China's self-appointed image as "arbiter of peace". However, I find it unlikely that Xi accepts. If China did though, Russia will scream like a stuck pig when Ukraine takes advantage of the opportunity to talk one-on-one with China. I can only image what clever things Ukraine might offer or what opportunities they might use to generate positive press.

I just saw in the news that Zelenskyy has invited Xi to visit Ukraine. I think this is a very clever move. It'll be hard for Xi to turn down the invitation while still trying to maintain China's self-appointed image as "arbiter of peace". However, I find it unlikely that Xi accepts. If China did though, Russia will scream like a stuck pig when Ukraine takes advantage of the opportunity to talk one-on-one with China. I can only image what clever things Ukraine might offer or what opportunities they might use to generate positive press.

I just saw in the news that Zelenskyy has invited Xi to visit Ukraine. I think this is a very clever move. It'll be hard for Xi to turn down the invitation while still trying to maintain China's self-appointed image as "arbiter of peace". However, I find it unlikely that Xi accepts. If China did though, Russia will scream like a stuck pig when Ukraine takes advantage of the opportunity to talk one-on-one with China. I can only image what clever things Ukraine might offer or what opportunities they might use to generate positive press.

Well so far, you:
- have applauded a Russian direct attack on a U.S. military assets in international waters.  “Perfect soft kill” was your exact term, which is just wrong on a lotta levels…not perfect, sloppy because we have freakin camera footage…not soft, hard as it was very likely by kinetic impact and not EW jamming etc.
- Argued that is was within some sort of justifiable ROEs because the US is supporting Ukraine while it fights for it’s life.  It is not justified, at least until this war expands outside Ukrainian borders - hell we are tip toeing around hitting targets inside Russia but apparently international waters and airspace are the Wild West now.
- Offered that we re-write international legal norms as they relate to international waters…reasoning and logic TBD.
- Linked the current incident to another over Turkey in 2015 (unless you believe the Russian position because they have a good track record of being truthful in these matters).  And somehow are trying to make the current situation, again, acceptable.
- Made a huge leap between WW3 and a couple banks collapsing in the US.
- And linked it all back to “elites” because we all know they run the world through a Star Chamber near the earths core…ok, I made up that last part but it really wasn’t that far off-narrative.
But I will accept you are not in the “nut-camp”, however, when you decide to join us in the “grown-up, I am over first year philosophy and political science” camp please let us know.