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Russia Invades Ukraine

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neeneko
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Russia Invades Ukraine

#1901

Post by neeneko »

Gregg wrote: Fri Jan 06, 2023 11:22 pm I got the impression last time that Russian Basic Training now consists of telling them where to buy tampons to use to plug bullet holes and how to charge machine guns as a method of escaping the machine guns behind you.
Eh, when you can still win by killing only one enemy soldier for every fifty of yours, that is all the training you need.
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Russia Invades Ukraine

#1902

Post by Ben-Prime »

neeneko wrote: Sat Jan 07, 2023 8:43 am
Gregg wrote: Fri Jan 06, 2023 11:22 pm I got the impression last time that Russian Basic Training now consists of telling them where to buy tampons to use to plug bullet holes and how to charge machine guns as a method of escaping the machine guns behind you.
Eh, when you can still win by killing only one enemy soldier for every fifty of yours, that is all the training you need.
I should think you would also need the brainwashing that makes you not mind being one of the 50 that dies to make sure the one enemy goes down.
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Russia Invades Ukraine

#1903

Post by neeneko »

Ben-Prime wrote: Sat Jan 07, 2023 9:49 am I should think you would also need the brainwashing that makes you not mind being one of the 50 that dies to make sure the one enemy goes down.
No brainwashing needed, just the threat of your family paying a price if you do not cooperate.
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Russia Invades Ukraine

#1904

Post by Gregg »

neeneko wrote: Sat Jan 07, 2023 8:43 am
Gregg wrote: Fri Jan 06, 2023 11:22 pm I got the impression last time that Russian Basic Training now consists of telling them where to buy tampons to use to plug bullet holes and how to charge machine guns as a method of escaping the machine guns behind you.
Eh, when you can still win by killing only one enemy soldier for every fifty of yours, that is all the training you need.
They ain't China. They can't afford that ratio.
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Russia Invades Ukraine

#1905

Post by RTH10260 »

US-trained Afghan commandos are fighting in Ukraine. Some are there for the pay. Others are there for revenge.

Antonio Giustozzi, World Politics Review
Jan 4, 2023, 4:43 PM

Afghan commandos who fled the Taliban are being recruited to fight alongside Russia in Ukraine.

Afghan volunteers because they lack stable incomes and are being offerred high salaries.

Many of these US-trained fighters see joining Russia's war in Ukraine as the least bad option.




paywall https://www.businessinsider.com/russia- ... ned-2023-1

note: most other sources reported this news in Oct / Nov 2022
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Russia Invades Ukraine

#1906

Post by Tiredretiredlawyer »

https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2023/1 ... ut-Ukraine
Paul Krugman has a Must-Read about Ukraine - with an update

What Ukraine Teaches Us About Power
(The link should allow passage through The NY Times paywall.)

In a subscriber-only newsletter, Paul Krugman has been looking at what’s been happening in Ukraine, and has some observations of note.

It starts with a burn:
...And one important strain of MAGAism was and is the belief that wokeness is making America militarily weak. Back in 2021 Senator Ted Cruz famously shared a video comparing Russian military ads, which feature manly men doing manly things, with a U.S. ad telling the story of a female recruit raised by two mothers. “Perhaps a weak, emasculated military is not the best idea,” Cruz declared.

Remarkably, the idea that wokeness makes us weak has persisted despite the failures of the decidedly un-woke Russian military in Ukraine. Senator Tom Cotton, who has published a book titled “Only the Strong: Reversing the Left’s Plot to Sabotage American Power,” recently declared that “soldiers join the army to kill the bad guys — not to learn to speak like they’re in a faculty lounge.” :bag:

OK, there are so many things wrong with this worldview that it’s hard to know where to begin. National power in the modern world has far more to do with economic strength than it does with military might and also reflects “soft power” — the influence of a country’s values and culture. Even when it comes to military prowess, modern wars don’t involve much hand-to-hand combat among guys with bulging muscles. What they involve, mainly, are strategic duels using long-range weapons, aided by a lot of technology. And winning such duels surely depends in part on having leadership that is smart and well informed — that is, an officer corps that has indeed learned to speak as if it’s in a faculty lounge.
emphasis added

Krugman admits he’s not a military expert, but he does know economics and makes a strong case for looking at the numbers.
Even before Putin’s invasion of Ukraine I was a fan of the military historian Phillips O’Brien, whose 2015 book about World War II, “How the War Was Won,” has a memorable opening sentence: “There were no decisive battles in World War II.” What he meant was that the conflict was mainly a war of attrition, in which no single battle did much to shift the balance of power, especially given the rate at which all the main players were producing new weapons until late in the game.
O’Brien was, as it happens, one of the few commentators to reject the idea that Russia could overrun Ukraine in a few days. He predicted, instead, that Russia-Ukraine would turn into a war of attrition — and that Ukraine stood a good chance of winning such a war.

Krugman looks at one of the key factors in the conflict. Against Russia’s seemingly overwhelming military power, Ukraine has been able to wield soft power — relationships and actions that have made it possible for Ukraine to be the recipient of aid from the west that has countered the Russian advantage in numbers.

(He notes that there’s also another factor: the Ukrainians have shown an unexpected talent for “MacGyvering,” improvising effective military technology from civilian equipment.)
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Russia Invades Ukraine

#1907

Post by MN-Skeptic »

I saw a tweet last week commenting about the Republicans wanting to scale back military items going to Ukraine. The point the tweeter made was that much of the military ammunition and vehicles are manufactured in Red states.
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#1908

Post by Gregg »

MN-Skeptic wrote: Mon Jan 09, 2023 1:28 pm I saw a tweet last week commenting about the Republicans wanting to scale back military items going to Ukraine. The point the tweeter made was that much of the military ammunition and vehicles are manufactured in Red states.
Military equipement is, by and large, spread out to me manufactured in as many congressional districts as possible, making it harder to cut. As far back as Eisenhower some people were a little concerned about that.
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Russia Invades Ukraine

#1909

Post by noblepa »

Gregg wrote: Mon Jan 09, 2023 3:42 pm
MN-Skeptic wrote: Mon Jan 09, 2023 1:28 pm I saw a tweet last week commenting about the Republicans wanting to scale back military items going to Ukraine. The point the tweeter made was that much of the military ammunition and vehicles are manufactured in Red states.
Military equipement is, by and large, spread out to me manufactured in as many congressional districts as possible, making it harder to cut. As far back as Eisenhower some people were a little concerned about that.
Didn't Ike warn about the "military-industrial complex" in his farewell address?
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#1910

Post by noblepa »

Another point.

In WWII, the US military fought bravely and, for the most part, effectively, alongside our allies against the Axis powers.

But, the real reason we won the war was not our military prowess or strength. It was our manufacturing base. By 1943 or '44, we were able to build airplanes faster than the Germans or Japanese could shoot them down. Henry Kaiser was launching Liberty ships at a fantastic rate. At one point, they built a ship from keel laying to launching in a week. Again, the Axis couldn't sink them as fast as we could build them.

The shipyards had to be near the ocean, making them vulnerable to attack from the sea, but the vast distances of the oceans made that unlikely. No serious attempt was ever made to attack any east or west coast ports or shipyards.

Aircraft and other factories could be located in the middle of the continent, making them virtually attack-proof.

Then, too, we had a population large enough to supply soldiers and sailors in enormous numbers and the luxury of time to train and equip them properly. One of the reasons that the Japanese undertook the Kamikaze program was that they could not take the time to train pilots well. It doesn't take much skill or training to take off in a plane, fly in a straight line and crash into your target, without engaging in dogfights along the way.

In short, our biggest advantage in WWII was our manufacturing capability.

There's an old saying to the effect that the army is always fighting the last war. Times have changed, and warfare has changed along with it. It is increasingly more important to have tech-savvy soldiers. It doesn't take a lot of macho men with lots of upper-body strength to pilot a remote-controlled drone from halfway around the world. It takes intelligence and training.

Technology like the Blackhawk helicopter with weaponry that literally never misses its target has made tanks much less of a deciding factor in battle. We say that in Operation Desert Storm, where the vaunted Russian tanks were destroyed, one after another.

Also, society has changed. We no longer (at least in theory) relegate women to subservient support roles. We allow gays and minorities to serve in the military. Many of these people are very talented. We can't afford to ignore that resource, even in the military. Why not make it a little less of an old-boys club and a little more palatable for women and others who wish to serve?

Can some proponents of the "woke" culture go a little too far? Sure, but I don't see that being a little more accepting of others' differences and feelings is a sign of weakness. On the contrary, once it pervades our national culture (if there is such a thing), it will make for a stronger, more inclusive team.
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Russia Invades Ukraine

#1911

Post by Gregg »

Yes. And one of the things that worried him was contractors spreading projects out to different congressional districts so as to get budget votes to start them up and make it hard to cancel them. It was somewhat quaint that a 5 star General thought it made sense for a thing to be made in as small a space as possible, as a matter of national defense. Think about it, it might be hard to kill off a plane that has major components built in 350 House districts but in time of war its damn easy to cripple production or something that has critical supply chain chokepoints in 350 different places.

Not to mention it leading to all kinds of stuff that the military just doesn't need. What rational reason exists for us spending multiples of what the next 5 countries combined spend on defense? Even if Canada was poised to invade Montana. Doubtless we have obligations and it is still cheaper to be a presence around the world than to fight wars all over, but our defesne budget is grown so large and unmanagable because there is incentive for anyone who has the power to check it to look the other way.
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#1912

Post by Frater I*I »

Gregg wrote: Mon Jan 09, 2023 4:40 pm :snippity: .

Even if Canada was poised to invade Montana.
Like the Canadian army has any chance of catching a half dozen heavily armed hicks in an '83 F 250....
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Russia Invades Ukraine

#1913

Post by humblescribe »

Frater I*I wrote: Mon Jan 09, 2023 5:41 pm
Gregg wrote: Mon Jan 09, 2023 4:40 pm :snippity: .

Even if Canada was poised to invade Montana.
Like the Canadian army has any chance of catching a half dozen heavily armed hicks in an '83 F 250....
Actually, Canada would be better off if they invaded North Dakota. :bag:
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#1914

Post by Slim Cognito »

humblescribe wrote: Mon Jan 09, 2023 6:24 pm
Frater I*I wrote: Mon Jan 09, 2023 5:41 pm
Gregg wrote: Mon Jan 09, 2023 4:40 pm :snippity: .

Even if Canada was poised to invade Montana.
Like the Canadian army has any chance of catching a half dozen heavily armed hicks in an '83 F 250....
Actually, Canada would be better off if they invaded North Dakota. :bag:
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#1915

Post by Gregg »

I don't know any Canadians dumb enough to want either one. :rotflmao:
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Russia Invades Ukraine

#1916

Post by Frater I*I »

humblescribe wrote: Mon Jan 09, 2023 6:24 pm :snippity:

Actually, Canada would be better off if they invaded North Dakota. :bag:
At this point I think Biden would just let them have both Dakotas...
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Russia Invades Ukraine

#1917

Post by Gregg »

Frater I*I wrote: Mon Jan 09, 2023 7:04 pm
humblescribe wrote: Mon Jan 09, 2023 6:24 pm :snippity:

Actually, Canada would be better off if they invaded North Dakota. :bag:
At this point I think Biden would just let them have both Dakotas...
Now if we could just get Mexico to take back Texas and Arizona.
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Russia Invades Ukraine

#1918

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https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-01-11/ ... /101843874

About 100 Ukrainian troops are expected head to Oklahoma's Fort Sill as soon as next week to begin training on the Patriot missile defence system.

Key points:
Patriot training normally takes several months but the Ukrainian troops' training will be shortened
They will learn to both operate and maintain the missile defence system
The US and Germany are providing Ukraine with one Patriot system each
For months, Ukraine has been asking the US to provide the surface-to-air guided missile defence system because it can target aircraft, cruise missiles and shorter-range ballistic missiles.

During his late-December visit to the US, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said the battery would make a significant difference in bolstering Kyiv's defences against Russia's invasion.

The number of Ukrainians heading to Fort Sill was approximately the number it takes to operate one battery, Pentagon spokesman Air Force General Pat Ryder said.
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Russia Invades Ukraine

#1919

Post by jemcanada2 »

Gregg wrote: Mon Jan 09, 2023 6:50 pm I don't know any Canadians dumb enough to want either one. :rotflmao:
Thanks, but no thanks! :kiss: :kiss:
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Russia Invades Ukraine

#1920

Post by Sam the Centipede »

jemcanada2 wrote: Tue Jan 10, 2023 10:04 pm
Gregg wrote: Mon Jan 09, 2023 6:50 pm I don't know any Canadians dumb enough to want either one. :rotflmao:
Thanks, but no thanks! :kiss: :kiss:
You don't envisage the Καναδική Федерация (formerly the Union of North American Socialist Republics) attempting southward expansion into territories historically occupied by peoples related to its indigenous population? Phewww!

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#1921

Post by humblescribe »

We wouldn't be having this discussion if "54-40 or Fight!" had become our northern boundary and perhaps extending further east.
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#1922

Post by Dave from down under »

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-01-12/ ... /101847028

Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu has appointed Chief of the General Staff Valery Gerasimov to oversee the military campaign in Ukraine, in the latest shake-up of Moscow's military leadership.

Key points:
Mr Gerasimov will replace Sergey Surovikin, nicknamed "General Armageddon"
Mr Surovikin will stay on as a deputy of Mr Gerasimov
Moscow said the changes are designed to increase the effectiveness of military operations

In a statement, the defence ministry said Mr Shoigu had appointed Mr Gerasimov as commander of the combined forces group for the "special military operation" in Ukraine. It is the most senior position among Russia's battlefield generals.

Only last October, Russia had put Sergey Surovikin, nicknamed "General Armageddon" by the Russian media for his reputed ruthlessness, in overall charge of Ukraine operations following a series of counter-offensives by Ukrainian forces that turned the tide of the conflict.

Mr Surovikin will stay on as a deputy of Mr Gerasimov, the defence ministry said.

----------------

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#1923

Post by Gregg »

So in a war that's last just short of a year, they've had now many commanders in charge of it? Putin changes Generals more than I change my socks.

I have seen a couple of stories in the last week or two that leads me to think that Putin is in a bit of trouble at home and might be getting a little antsy to resolve his little adventure before he catches a Kalishna-cough.

When Stalin died, it was a central policy of the USSR and later Russia to never again let a single man have so much power, and to always diffuse athourity to prevent another reign or terror. Putin is the first leader since that has come close collecting so much power to himself personally and, well, he's doing a good job reminding them why they used to avoid it.
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#1924

Post by RTH10260 »

as seen from up top rather than down under ;)
Russia replaces general in charge of Ukraine war in latest military shake-up
Valery Gerasimov to replace Sergei Surovikin, who was appointed in October, as Zelenskiy mocks claims of Russian victory in Soledar

Peter Beaumont and Pjotr Sauer
Wed 11 Jan 2023 18.44 GMT

Russia has appointed Valery Gerasimov, chief of the general staff, as its overall commander for the war in Ukraine, in the latest of several major shake-ups of Moscow’s military leadership during the stumbling invasion of its neighbour.

In a statement on Wednesday, the defence ministry said that Gerasimov’s appointment constituted a “raising of the status of the leadership” of the military force in Ukraine and was implemented to “improve the quality … and effectiveness of the management of Russian forces”.

Sergei Surovikin, a notorious general nicknamed “General Armageddon” by the Russian media, who was appointed as overall commander of the army in October, would stay on as a deputy of Gerasimov, the defence ministry said.

Gerasimov, like the defence minister, Sergei Shoigu, has faced sharp criticism from Russia’s hawkish military bloggers for multiple setbacks on the battlefield and Moscow’s failure to secure victory in a campaign the Kremlin had expected to take just a short time.

The latest change in leadership comes amid ongoing tensions between senior figures in charge of Russia’s war in Ukraine.




https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/ ... y-shake-up
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#1925

Post by RTH10260 »

Russian conscript sentenced to years in prison after rebelling against superiors
It is the first known ruling against a soldier who criticised Kremlin’s unpopular mobilisation

Pjotr Sauer
Wed 11 Jan 2023 16.03 GMT

A Russian conscript has been sentenced to five and a half years in prison after getting into an altercation with his superiors over poor training conditions, in the first known ruling against a soldier who criticised the Kremlin’s unpopular mobilisation.

In a widely shared video filmed on 13 November, draftee Alexander Leshkov is seen shouting profanities and shoving Lt Col Denis Mazanov at a training ground outside Moscow.

In the footage, Leshkov is heard telling his commander: “You are sabotaging the commander-in-chief’s direct orders [to supply and train mobilised soldiers],” adding: “You should be arrested.”

Leshkov then blows smoke from his e-cigarette in the face of the officer, who is pushed back by Leshkov after he approaches him.



https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/ ... -superiors
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