Vet 0369

Not necessarily true. I don’t know how the Russian Aviation operations are set up, but the U.S. Military’s aviation mission rotation includes ALL Flight Officers. Unlike in ground units where the Battalion Comanders tend to not be on the “front lines,” Aviation Officers are expected, in fact are required, to be part of the combat mission rotation. I suspect the combat rotation of aircrews in Russian Aviation are the same.

Perhaps the graft, theft, and incompetent maintenance isn’t unique to the Russian Army and Navy and aren’t limited to those Services? What does that say about their Strategic Missile and Nuke Service?

One of the main precepts of the USMC “Human Relations” training” after the U.S.. Army massacre at Mai Lai was that the primary drive for most of Humanity is food, shelter, and security, and that they don’t care who rules them as long as that “drive” is satisfied. I would venture to say that, IMHO, most of the world population fall into this category, especially the Russian population most of whom never made it out of “Serfdom”. No matter what the “ideology” claimed. It is very difficult to affect a regime change when the people who are being ruled pretty much don’t care who is ruling them.

One of the main precepts of the USMC “Human Relations” training” after the U.S.. Army massacre at Mai Lai was that the primary drive for most of Humanity is food, shelter, and security, and that they don’t care who rules them as long as that “drive” is satisfied. I would venture to say that, IMHO, most of the world population fall into this category, especially the Russian population most of whom never made it out of “Serfdom”. No matter what the “ideology” claimed. It is very difficult to affect a regime change when the people who are being ruled pretty much don’t care who is ruling them.

One of the main precepts of the USMC “Human Relations” training” after the U.S.. Army massacre at Mai Lai was that the primary drive for most of Humanity is food, shelter, and security, and that they don’t care who rules them as long as that “drive” is satisfied. I would venture to say that, IMHO, most of the world population fall into this category, especially the Russian population most of whom never made it out of “Serfdom”. No matter what the “ideology” claimed. It is very difficult to affect a regime change when the people who are being ruled pretty much don’t care who is ruling them.

Just a bit of clarity on the “Battle of Bunker Hill” (actually a misnomer because the hill where the battle occurred was actually Breed’s Hill). First, the Rebels fortified the hill against orders. Second, the Rebels outnumbered Howe’s Regulars by a ratio of 2 to 1. Yes, Howe carried the win, but it was a Pyrrhic victory since he was unable to strike out of Boston at all because he suffered such extreme losses. This was actually a good thing for the Rebels because after the battle, because the Rebels only had enough powder and shot to last three minutes in a fight with the Regulars. That equates to nine rounds for each militiaman. Even after Washington took command of the Militia after the battle, they didn’t get any more powder and shot until the Continental Marines took New Providence Island in the Caribbean. If Howe had known that, he could have cleared out the whole bunch.

Just a bit of clarity on the “Battle of Bunker Hill” (actually a misnomer because the hill where the battle occurred was actually Breed’s Hill). First, the Rebels fortified the hill against orders. Second, the Rebels outnumbered Howe’s Regulars by a ratio of 2 to 1. Yes, Howe carried the win, but it was a Pyrrhic victory since he was unable to strike out of Boston at all because he suffered such extreme losses. This was actually a good thing for the Rebels because after the battle, because the Rebels only had enough powder and shot to last three minutes in a fight with the Regulars. That equates to nine rounds for each militiaman. Even after Washington took command of the Militia after the battle, they didn’t get any more powder and shot until the Continental Marines took New Providence Island in the Caribbean. If Howe had known that, he could have cleared out the whole bunch.

Not sure about East or West Prussia, but Poland and Russia (Eastern Europe) were pretty much constantly fighting each other, and the Karelian Peninsula was originally a Russian Grand Duchy after Sweden ceded it to Russia after a Swedish war of aggression against Russia (Finland at that time was part of Sweden). I think @panzermartin is still “basically” correct in a historical sense.

Well then, it looks like you completely misread @panzermartin’s statement. Historically, Russia didn’t attack West unless they were attacked from the west. E.g. The Teutonic Knights, Napoleon, Germany in WWI, because Russia was part of the Triple Entant Alliance even though the Kaiser and the Tsar were cousins, British and American Expeditionary Force at Archangel after WWI during the Revolution, and Germany again after Hitler reneged on the Non-aggression treaty used to divide Poland. Looks to me like Russia had much more to fear from the West than the West had to fear from Russia.

Well then, it looks like you completely misread @panzermartin’s statement. Historically, Russia didn’t attack West unless they were attacked from the west. E.g. The Teutonic Knights, Napoleon, Germany in WWI, because Russia was part of the Triple Entant Alliance even though the Kaiser and the Tsar were cousins, British and American Expeditionary Force at Archangel after WWI during the Revolution, and Germany again after Hitler reneged on the Non-aggression treaty used to divide Poland. Looks to me like Russia had much more to fear from the West than the West had to fear from Russia.

Not sure about East or West Prussia, but Poland and Russia (Eastern Europe) were pretty much constantly fighting each other, and the Karelian Peninsula was originally a Russian Grand Duchy after Sweden ceded it to Russia after a Swedish war of aggression against Russia (Finland at that time was part of Sweden). I think @panzermartin is still “basically” correct in a historical sense.

Well then, it looks like you completely misread @panzermartin’s statement. Historically, Russia didn’t attack West unless they were attacked from the west. E.g. The Teutonic Knights, Napoleon, Germany in WWI, because Russia was part of the Triple Entant Alliance even though the Kaiser and the Tsar were cousins, British and American Expeditionary Force at Archangel after WWI during the Revolution, and Germany again after Hitler reneged on the Non-aggression treaty used to divide Poland. Looks to me like Russia had much more to fear from the West than the West had to fear from Russia.

Not sure about East or West Prussia, but Poland and Russia (Eastern Europe) were pretty much constantly fighting each other, and the Karelian Peninsula was originally a Russian Grand Duchy after Sweden ceded it to Russia after a Swedish war of aggression against Russia (Finland at that time was part of Sweden). I think @panzermartin is still “basically” correct in a historical sense.

In a war such as this, the age of the Commanding Officer is irrelevant. Even experience is only slightly more relevant. The most relevant factor is his or her ability to develop tactics to fit the situation. I don’t know what the issues were behind the Sr. Sgt.’s rants, but if one on my subordinates was going to the media behind my back, I’d get rid of that subordinate  “for the good of the order” also. I don’t know about other military Services, but in the U.S.M.C., if a Marine  Enlisted criticizes an officer within earshot of the Officer, it is a very serious offense. Although it is incomprehensible to me, I can imagine what would happen if the Sgt Major of a Regiment criticized the Regimental Commander in public, even if the Sgt Major had been awarded the Navy/Marine Corps Medal of Honor.

Who wants to bet that Russia deliberately mines the most productive wheat and other agricultural areas to deny their use to Ukraine after the war?

Who wants to bet that Russia deliberately mines the most productive wheat and other agricultural areas to deny their use to Ukraine after the war?

Who wants to bet that Russia deliberately mines the most productive wheat and other agricultural areas to deny their use to Ukraine after the war?

The experiences I have encountered over my long years, from the middle of the previous century, have taught me that there is no such thing as “not possible.” The problem, for example with making something “idiot proof,” is that idiots are so damn inventive that they are always able to find a way to circumvent the “idiot proofing.” Anything that is designed by humans can be defeated by humans!

The experiences I have encountered over my long years, from the middle of the previous century, have taught me that there is no such thing as “not possible.” The problem, for example with making something “idiot proof,” is that idiots are so damn inventive that they are always able to find a way to circumvent the “idiot proofing.” Anything that is designed by humans can be defeated by humans!

The experiences I have encountered over my long years, from the middle of the previous century, have taught me that there is no such thing as “not possible.” The problem, for example with making something “idiot proof,” is that idiots are so damn inventive that they are always able to find a way to circumvent the “idiot proofing.” Anything that is designed by humans can be defeated by humans!

The experiences I have encountered over my long years, from the middle of the previous century, have taught me that there is no such thing as “not possible.” The problem, for example with making something “idiot proof,” is that idiots are so damn inventive that they are always able to find a way to circumvent the “idiot proofing.” Anything that is designed by humans can be defeated by humans!

The experiences I have encountered over my long years, from the middle of the previous century, have taught me that there is no such thing as “not possible.” The problem, for example with making something “idiot proof,” is that idiots are so damn inventive that they are always able to find a way to circumvent the “idiot proofing.” Anything that is designed by humans can be defeated by humans!

The experiences I have encountered over my long years, from the middle of the previous century, have taught me that there is no such thing as “not possible.” The problem, for example with making something “idiot proof,” is that idiots are so damn inventive that they are always able to find a way to circumvent the “idiot proofing.” Anything that is designed by humans can be defeated by humans!

Hmmm, now might be the optimum time for the “restless” break-away prone Republics to start looking to cause some “trouble.”

Zelenskyy is a politician, but I’d judge him to be smarter than and  more able to avoid putting  his foot in his mouth than about 90% of Western politicians and about 99.99% of posters on this forum.