"All of Vlad's forces and all of Vlad's men, are out to put Humpty together again." (33 Viewers)

[buffnut453]

This just adds to the confusion over Prigozhin's status...and Kremlin Karl, as usual, provides zero clarity:

Wagner boss Yevgeny Prigozhin met Russia's Vladimir Putin after mutiny

The meeting in Moscow took place days after last month's failed rebellion, the Kremlin says.

www.bbc.com

 

[buffnut453]

Methinks this is prudent:

Ukraine war: Poland strengthens Belarus border over Wagner fears

The prospect of Russian Wagner mercenaries moving to Belarus causes concern across the Polish border.

www.bbc.com

 

[Admiral Beez]

MiG-29 Fulcrums Are Ukraine’s JDAM-ER Bomb Trucks

Ukraine's smart bomb carrier has finally broken cover in the latest Western addition to the Fulcrums' growing arsenal.

www.thedrive.com

I would have never imagined as teenager in the 1980s first reading about the MiG-29, that four decades later the type would become a heroic all-purpose aircraft used by a free Ukraine to defend Europe from the Russian horde. Here's an article about the first Western pilot to fly the MiG-29 in 1989.

How A Canadian Pilot Became The First Westerner To Fly The Feared MiG-29 Fulcrum

With only minutes to prepare, CF-18 Hornet pilot Bob Wade was let loose in the cockpit of one of the Soviet Union’s latest fighter jets.

www.thedrive.com

Can we think of any other unlikely aircraft built in another country, that became the backbone of another nation's defence? Maybe India's Folland Gnat, Israel's Mirage 5, North Korea's MiG-15 or Vietnam's MiG-21.

 

[Thumpalumpacus]

This just adds to the confusion over Prigozhin's status...and Kremlin Karl, as usual, provides zero clarity:

Wagner boss Yevgeny Prigozhin met Russia's Vladimir Putin after mutiny

The meeting in Moscow took place days after last month's failed rebellion, the Kremlin says.

www.bbc.com

From the linked article:


Russian President Vladimir Putin met mercenary leader Yevgeny Prigozhin after the failed Wagner group mutiny last month, the Kremlin says.
Prigozhin, who heads the mercenary group, was among 35 Wagner commanders invited to the meeting in Moscow, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov added.

[...]

The Wagner chief's current whereabouts are unclear.

Obvious trap is obvious.

 

[Admiral Beez]

If I were a pro Russian blogger, diplomat or propagandist in Russia, Iran, India, South Africa etc etc. I'd be dancing a little jig in front of my keyboard. This situation would a total coup.

No one cares what pro Russian bloggers have to say, except for those who've already drunk the Kool-Aid and are fully on Russia's side anyway, and no one care what they have to say.

 

[Thumpalumpacus]

No one cares what pro Russian bloggers have to say, except for those who've already drunk the Kool-Aid and are fully on Russia's side anyway, and no one care what they have to say.

These are folks who, if the truth is inconvenient, will simply lie. Worrying about their good opinion seems a fool's quest to me.

As for the neutrals of the world, sure, cluster bombs is a bad look. But the critics have the luxury of criticizing Ukraine because they're not fighting for national survival.

 

[Admiral Beez]

As for the neutrals of the world, sure, cluster bombs is a bad look. But the critics have the luxury of criticizing Ukraine because they're not fighting for national survival.

Russia is using thermobaric munitions that burn everything, against a democratic, western-leaning country it has illegally invaded. That's where the scorn should lay.

 

[RogerdeLluria]

Rheinmetall will open an armored vehicle plant in Ukraine within the next 12 weeks

https://edition.cnn.com/2023/07/10/business/rheinmetall-german-tank-factory-ukraine/index.html

 

[Greg Boeser]

Russia is using thermobaric munitions that burn everything, against a democratic, western-leaning country it has illegally invaded. That's where the scorn should lay.

But at least they are sharing them with Ukraine.

Ukraine uses captured Russian “heavy flamethrower” against their former owners

Tanks and even TOS-1A “heavy flamethrowers” left behind by retreating Russian forces are now being used against their former owners. Ukrainian Soldiers from the 67th Mechanized Brigade, Da Vinci Wolves battalion reportedly conducted strikes with captured Russian TOS-1A multiple launch rocket...

defence-blog.com

 

[RogerdeLluria]

Giving Ukraine Cluster Munitions is Necessary, Legal and Morally Justified

Cluster munitions would be valuable in breaking through Russian trenches, while the threat to civilians is negligible amid Russia’s mass emplacement of unmarked minefields.

rusi.org

 

[Admiral Beez]

Rheinmetall will open an armored vehicle plant in Ukraine within the next 12 weeks

https://edition.cnn.com/2023/07/10/business/rheinmetall-german-tank-factory-ukraine/index.html

Smart, Rheinmetall probably saw Poland's big purchase of Hyundai's K2 MBTs and thought we need to get ahead of this or our position as the leading supplier of MBTs to Europe is at great risk. And with Germany's prior dithering on Leopards to Ukraine still on the minds of leaders across Europe, it still is.

Hyundai Rotem to Promote Production of K2 Tank in Poland

Hyundai Rotem has completed preparations for main contract negotiations for the Polish K2 tank (K2PL). It has also decided to promote production of the K2 tank

www.businesskorea.co.kr

Hyundai is also hitting Germany where it really hurts, in the luxury car biz.

Hyundai Motor's Genesis delivers Korean luxury to Europe - KED Global

MUNICH – It is always challenging to bring a lesser-known car marque to Europe, home to well-established, globally known brands such as Mercedes-Benz, BM

www.kedglobal.com

 

[Escuadrilla Azul]

Meanwhile in the Grand Bazaar:

Sweden Nato membership: Turkey calls for new EU membership talks

President Erdogan says he will back Sweden's Nato bid in return for the renewed dialogue.

www.bbc.com

I would like that the EU agree to start the conversations for Turkey's membershipand them slams close the door after Sweden is a NATO member while Erdogan and its minions are in power but...

I know is

 

[SaparotRob]

I read on a news site a couple of hours ago that Russians used either thermobaric shells or cluster munitions on a Ukrainian first aid station. I don't remember which as I'm preparing to meet with my divorce attorney.
Anyone hear any "civilized" outrage?

 

[Admiral Beez]

I don't remember which as I'm preparing to meet with my divorce attorney.

Shame. First marriage? My friend refers to his second marriage as the victory of hope over experience. His third marriage, well that was just blind pollyannaism and near bankruptcy.

 

[Frog]

Meanwhile in the Grand Bazaar:

Sweden Nato membership: Turkey calls for new EU membership talks

President Erdogan says he will back Sweden's Nato bid in return for the renewed dialogue.

www.bbc.com

I would like that the EU agree to start the conversations for Turkey's membershipand them slams close the door after Sweden is a NATO member while Erdogan and its minions are in power but...

I know is

Turkey simply cannot become an EU member state. The main but not the single reason being it mililtary occupies the northern part of Cyprus, an EU member state.
Other reason if the notion of Europe has a meaning, only about 3 % of its territory is in Europe in the geographical sense, and only because it was taken by force.

 

[swampyankee]

There are reasons, many of them supplied inadvertently by US actions, why cluster bombs are banned by many countries: historically high dud rates (and possible anti-tampering triggers) and maimed children. This is similar to the reasons why many countries joined in treaties banning landmines.

Ukraine is getting international support because it's a victim of naked aggression. If it cannot keep that moral high ground, especially by using weapons most civilized countries have shunned, it may lose that position. There are politicians, many of whom claim to be pro-democracy and pro-freedom who do not think Putin's invasion is a threat and who do think aid to Ukraine is not in their countries' national interest. They could use this to attack Ukraine's moral position. Of course, the hypocrisy of this by people who have endorsed torture of prisoners is incredible.

 

[Admiral Beez]

only about 3 % of its territory is in Europe in the geographical sense, and only because it was taken by force.

It's too bad Britain didn't keep Istanbul post-1923. If the area is going to be taken by force, it would be better in Europe's interest for it to be British.

Occupation of Istanbul - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

 

[Greg Boeser]

... if the notion of Europe has a meaning, only about 3 % of its territory is in Europe in the geographical sense, and only because it was taken by force.

600 years ago...

 

[GTX]

500 Days of Learning (Part 1)

Ukrainian Strategic Adaptation in Defending their Homeland

mickryan.substack.com

 

[GTX]

Giving Ukraine Cluster Munitions is Necessary, Legal and Morally Justified

Cluster munitions would be valuable in breaking through Russian trenches, while the threat to civilians is negligible amid Russia’s mass emplacement of unmarked minefields.

rusi.org