"All of Vlad's forces and all of Vlad's men, are out to put Humpty together again." (16 Viewers)

[Jabberwocky]

Ben Wittes at Lawfare - a long-time and ardent Ukraine supporter, as well as a keen national security observer - has written an excellent piece about what US decisions around Ukraine and Russia mean.

It expresses much of what I feel in this moment, but probably couldn't say in this thread. I can't urge people strongly enough to read it and digest its meaning.

The Situation: What America Stands for Now

Great powers keep what they can grab. And smaller powers suck it up.

www.lawfaremedia.org

 

[Thumpalumpacus]

I'm not feeling too well myself.

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FoAO0851FwA

 

[Thumpalumpacus]

Ben Wittes at Lawfare - a long-time and ardent Ukraine supporter, as well as a keen national security observer - has written an excellent piece about what US decisions around Ukraine and Russia mean.

It expresses much of what I feel in this moment, but probably couldn't say in this thread. I can't urge people strongly enough to read it and digest its meaning.

The Situation: What America Stands for Now

Great powers keep what they can grab. And smaller powers suck it up.

www.lawfaremedia.org

The American swivel driven by the current administration will without a doubt embolden China and dishearten any nations that have relied upon our resolve; our current government has shown itself to all to be feckless.

Who will trust us? And who can blame them for not doing so?

 

[Escuadrilla Azul]

Beware of politics

 

[Thumpalumpacus]

I'm not talking politics, I'm talking diplomacy.

 

[Wildcat]

The American swivel driven by the current administration will without a doubt embolden China and dishearten any nations that have relied upon our resolve; our current government has shown itself to all to be feckless.

Who will trust us? And who can blame them for not doing so?

Today PLAN warships conducted a live fire exercise 340 nautical miles from Sydney causing issues for commercial flights between NZ and Aus. China is already testing the west.
MSN
MSN

 

[Thumpalumpacus]

Today PLAN warships conducted a live fire exercise 340 nautical miles from Sydney causing issues for commercial flights between NZ and Aus. China is already testing the west.
MSN
MSN

No doubt protests were lodged through diplomatic channels.

 

[GTX]

Rare S-350 Vityaz spotted in combat zone

Russia has deployed its latest-generation S-350 “Vityaz” medium-range air defense system on the battlefield, according to newly released footage. The rare system, which was introduced into service in 2020, appears to have been modified with improvised armor plating over its launcher and command...

defence-blog.com

 

[GTX]

North Korea’s Special Missile Vehicles Roll Into Battle

The Bulsae-4s have hit Ukrainian positions in Kursk.

www.forbes.com

 

[GTX]

Will Ukraine turn into WW3? Macron doesn’t rule it out.

The French president’s comments came during a live appearance on his social media channels.

www.politico.eu

 

[GTX]

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yihd9ohW_fo

 

[GTX]

US withdrawal from NATO and failure to challenge Putin in ceasefire talks would cause a war in Europe in five years warns Former Deputy Supreme Allied Commander Richard Shirreff


View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=907PCXXm_Lo

 

[GTX]

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eeuFuUxORys

 

[GTX]

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IUBdMTOeBEA

 

[GTX]

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7hyNepo5aZA

Describing things as a "21st Century Molotov Ribbentrop Pact" is interesting

 

[GTX]

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HL7KM70wpfw

 

[Denniss]

Ukrainian V1 ?

View: https://mastodon.social/@MAKS23/114041981829240316

NOELREPORTS 🇪🇺 🇺🇦 (@[email protected])

Attached: 1 video ⚡️ The first public demonstration of the "Trembita" missile-drone took place. This version is a decoy, meaning it lacks a warhead. Stated specifications include a range of up to 200 km, a 20 kg warhead, a speed of 150 m/s, and a cost of only $4,000.

mstdn.social

 

[GTX]

Russia’s BMP-2: a death trap for troops

The ongoing war in Ukraine has exposed the severe shortcomings of Soviet-designed infantry fighting vehicles (IFVs), particularly the BMP-2. Russian forces have been forced to implement makeshift modifications to compensate for these flaws, attempting to increase their chances of survival in...

defence-blog.com

 

[Dimlee]

Before clicking the bookmark of this thread, I sat down in front of the mirror with a serious look, breathed in and out and told myself, "No politics." Ten times. Breathe in...breathe out...

 

[Dimlee]

This is a good piece from the journalist who became a soldier in 2022. He is an ethnic Russian from Crimea - our common homeland.

Поки інші копають помиральні ями, ми копаємо бліндажі

Війна народила попит на прогнози – і наразі його заповнюють випадкові люди. Якщо хтось продає мені емоцію – я волію її не купувати

www-liga-net.translate.goog

(refresh the web page if English text doesn't appear)

Google Translate is almost perfect. Just a few things:
"Pike vest" is a reference to the (very famous in ex-USSR) novel where elderly citizens of Odesa sat on the park benches dressed in old-fashioned clothes and pike vests and discussed world politics.
"...who silently disappear into the shadows" should be translated as "who silently put on their pixel camouflage uniform".
"This rain is long overdue" should be translated as "This rain will last long".